Taxi charges are fairly reasonable - between ?6.10 and ?10.67 for a central daytime journey, though considerably more if you call one out. There are three different fare rates: indicator lights on the roof of the taxi tell you which fare is being applied. "A" indicates the daytime rate (7am-7pm; around ?0.53/km) for Paris and the boulevard périphérique; "B" is the rate for Paris at night (7pm-7am), on Sundays and on public holidays, and for the suburbs during the day (around ?0.83/km); "C" is the night rate for the suburbs (?1.07/km). When you get into the taxi, check that the meter shows the appropriate fare rate. In addition, there's a pick-up charge of around ?1.98 and a time charge (around ?18.29/hr) for when the car is stationary, an additional ?0.76 charge if you're picked up from a mainline train station, and a ?0.95 charge per piece of luggage.

Taxis will often refuse to take more than three people (they don't like you to sit in the front seat); if they do take you, they'll charge extra for the fourth person (about ?1.37). Tipping is not mandatory, but ten percent will be expected. Finding one of Paris's 470 taxi ranks ( arrêt taxi ) is usually better than trying to hail one down in the street. The large white light means the taxi is free; the orange light below means it's engaged.