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01 76 40 35 38VTC drivers: clarification
For a long time, VTC drivers battled with taxis and then saw the regulation of their employment change. Law No. 2014-1104 of 1 October 2014 on taxis and chauffeur-driven transport vehicles (presented by Secretary of State Thomas Thévenoud) clarified the profession. The profession has become "Exploitation de voitures de transport avec chauffeur" (VTC). VTC drivers are now recognised and must register with the Register of VTC operatorsheld by the Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Energy.
Once you've completed your VTC driver training, that's when things start to take shape. You have to pass your VTC exam.
Good to know, since the decree of 2 February 2016, if you can prove with your payslips that you have at least 12 months' experience over the last 10 years in the transport sector (bus driver, taxi driver, ambulance driver, etc.) you will be exempt from the exam.
Once you have passed the exam, you need to apply for your VTC card from the Prefect of Police in your department. Once you have your VTC card, you can start work.
You will then need to choose the status of your company and the type of cars you want to drive. But how do you make the right decisions?
The first thing to bear in mind is that a car is very expensive, especially for jobs that involve a lot of driving, such as VTC drivers. You'll be driving an average of 200 to 300 km a day.
Why choose an electric vehicle when you're a VTC?
A VTC driver's salary depends on a number of factors:
- Working hours (day, night, week, weekend)
- The application with which it works and the commission charged by the matchmaking platform
- Company status (auto-entreprise or SASU)
- The cost of your vehicle
If you want to know the net monthly income you can expect to earn by becoming a VTC driver, go to this pagesimulator.
You have a choice about your working hours, but often the application you work with can choose to increase or change its commission.
One thing you can do is reduce the load on your vehicle. This is where electric vehicles are a very good option for VTC drivers.
Why is this?
- Top-up charges are 4 times cheaper than a full tank of petrol about €2 / 100 km
- The maintenance costs are very low up to 4 times less expensive than a thermal vehicle
- Some cities offer discounted or free parking for electric vehicles
- You benefit from a wide range of support as a professional if you buy a 100% electric vehicle
- It's a very effective way of stand out from the crowd and create their own clientele so that they are no longer dependent on matchmaking platforms
Lease an electric car
Would you like to lease an electric car? Beev offers you 100 % electric cars at negotiated prices, as well as recharging solutions.
Leasing my electric carWhat legal status should a VTC choose?
Once you've successfully completed your VTC training, you'll need to take all the necessary steps to start your business. This is where VTC drivers have to choose their legal status, and the question of what type of company to set up arises. Many drivers opt for auto-entrepreneur status, while others opt for more traditional organisations. Which is best for you? Let's find out.
To choose the right legal status, you need to ask yourself two questions?
- Is this my main activity?
- Or does it complement another activity?
VTC auto-entrepreneur status
Many VTC drivers opt for auto-entrepreneur status.
This status allows you to set up your business very quickly and free of charge.
When you are a self-employed entrepreneur, you are taxed on the turnover you make from your shopping activities (and not on profits).
The advantages of VTC auto-entrepreneur status
- The process is quick: it takes just a few minutes to set up your business. Some new banks even offer to take care of the formalities for you free of charge. These includeShinewhich helps its members with all their administrative formalities.
- If your turnover is zero, you pay no tax or social security contributions.
- It is possible to combine this status with ACRE and benefit from reduced social security contributions.
The limits of VTC auto-entrepreneur status
- You are taxed on your turnoverYou will not be able to deduct business expenses such as petrol, your lunches, washing the vehicle, and so on. This is a loss of earnings because these expenses are often substantial.
- As a VTC auto-entrepreneur, the contributions are calculated on the basis of turnover rather than profit. In other structures, contributions are calculated on the basis of net results. In other words, if you make a journey with Uber and the If the fare is €30, you must declare €30 to URSSAF..
- The annual ceiling for auto-entrepreneurs in any profession is €70,000, i.e. just over €5,000 per month.
- VAT cannot be reclaimed which is highly problematic given some of the expenses involved in being a VTC driver
- There is no distinction between business assets and personal assets: if you have debts, it will be possible to sue you personally to recover the amounts owed.
This status is therefore unsuitable for VTC drivers who want to make it a full-time activity, as your expenses are high. On the other hand, if you are an occasional VTC driver, i.e. in addition to your main job, this is an ideal status because it takes very little time to set up. It's also simpler to manage: you don't have to draw up a balance sheet, for example. On the other hand, if you want to try out the profession of VTC driver without making a commitment, it's probably best to start out as an auto-entrepreneur.
If, on the other hand, you wish to become a VTC driver on a permanent basis, you will need to set up your own company.
Registering as a company
If the VTC auto-entrepreneur status is not suited to your needs, you need to set up a company. Before going any further, let's look at the various advantages and disadvantages of setting up a company for VTCs.
The advantages of registering as a company
- It is possible to deduct costs and charges. You are taxed on profits only.
- Your liability is limited This means you won't have to worry about bankruptcy, for example. Professional and personal assets are kept separate. In other words, it will be impossible for bailiffs to barge in and seize your personal assets.
- You can recover VAT
- You are more flexible If you want to increase your turnover or hire VTC drivers to work for you, it's possible. All you need is for several people to have a VTC card to create either a joint company or a single-shareholder company employing several VTC drivers.
- There is no no annual ceiling on turnover You can increase your profits without having to change your status.
The disadvantages of registering as a company
- Administrative formalities to be carried out when the company is set up, and the associated cost: publication in the official gazette, capital deposit.
- Drawing up a balance sheet at the end of the year
This table summarises the advantages and disadvantages of each type of company status. As far as accounting obligations are concerned, you are obliged to keep regular accounts, with compulsory accounting books and the drawing up of annual accounts for these structures.
| SARL/EURL | SAS/SASU | |
|---|---|---|
| Number of people | 1 (EURL) 100 | 1 (SASU) to unlimited |
| Liability | Limited to contributions | Limited to contributions |
| Share capital | No minimum required | No minimum required |
| Articles of association to be drawn up | Yes | Yes |
| Management | Manager (one or more), must be a natural person, partner or not | Chairman + other possible bodies, natural or legal person, partner or not |
| Manager's social status | TNS if majority shareholder, employee status in other cases | As an employee |
| Executive remuneration | The EURL manager is affiliated to Sécurité Sociale des Indépendants (formerly RSI) as a self-employed worker, so will have fewer social security contributions to pay and will receive more remuneration. | Chairmen are covered by the general Social Security system, thanks to their status as salaried employees. As such, you enjoy virtually the same protection as employees and are subject to the same contributions. |
| Help with setting up a business | ACCRE, ARCE or ARE continuation (full continuation possible if IS option and unpaid manager) | ACCRE, ARCE or ARE continuation (full continuation possible if unpaid manager) |
Which platforms are best suited to electric VTCs?
Now that you've chosen the status that suits you best, you need to choose the platform you want to work with. There are several booking platforms in France, and they don't all work in the same way.
This table lists all the information on the ride-sharing platforms that exist in France today. Note that not all of them have a specific policy for electric VTC vehicles, but don't panic. Your electric vehicle may still be accepted, even if these companies do not have a specific programme for electric VTCs.
| Uber | Marcel | Kapten | Bolt | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Commission (incl. VAT) | 30% | 20% | 22% | 19% |
| Advantages of the platform | 1 per journey made with an electric vehicle, up to a maximum of €4,000 over 24 months | No bonus | NA | NA |
| Seniority | 10 years service | 6 years old | NA | NA |
| Vehicle specifications | Everything but the Renault Zoé | see list of authorised vehicles | NA | NA |
| Vehicles accepted | All types of electric vehicles except city cars (Zoé, e208, etc.) | All electric vehicles meeting the criteria for acceptance on the Marcel platform | NA | NA |
Which electric vehicle should you choose if you're a VTC?
Today, 5 models represent half of the flotte VTCin circulation in France, and the Peugeot 508 remains the most popular model among VTC drivers.
As you can imagine, the choice depends on the platform you work with. Some vehicles are not accepted by the platforms, so if you ever want to work with them, you'll have to adapt your choice of electric vehicle for VTCs.
Typically, city cars such as the Renault Zoé, for example, are not accepted on VTC platforms. The exception is the Marcel platform, which has signed anpartnership with Renault in 2017to boost electric vehicles for VTCs.
Once we have eliminated the electric vehicles that are not accepted on VTC platforms, we can choose the vehicle. What criteria should we take into account? Design? Prices? Reliability?
Of course, this depends on the individual, but we can make a selection of models for you to choose from. Our main criteria areautonomy and the prize for the following ranking.
Nissan Leaf e+ (62 kWh)
The first-generation Nissan Leaf has sold over 400,000 units since its launch in 2010. Now, the second generation has arrived with more power, better range and a relatively affordable price.
The new Nissan Leaf e+ 62 kWh retains everything that worked in previous generations to improve one key point: range. With the new Nissan Leaf 62 kWh, you can drive up to 400 km without recharging in the city, which is very practical, especially in Paris. The Leaf is the most complete electric vehicle in terms of price and range today.
Technical Data https://youtu.be/0KG4zkRLdyoA version of the Nissan Leaf 40 kWh is also available with a range of
270 km and a starting price of €35,400 excluding the environmental bonus.
Also read - Our test of the Nissan Leaf 62 KWh
Kia Niro EV 64 kWh
Le Kia Niro EV was first launched in South Korea in 2018, and has since been exported around the world. It is the Korean brand's second electric vehicle after the Kia Soul. Bonus? A battery from 64 kWh which gives it a range of 485 km on mixed journeys and 615 km on urban journeys, to satisfy heavy-duty drivers. It is available in several versions to suit all motorists:
- e - ACTIVE from €42,500 (excluding environmental bonus)
- e - DESIGN from €44,500 (excluding environmental bonus)
- e - PREMIUM from €46,500 (excluding environmental bonus)
Technical Data https://youtu.be/J5W1mGSEeYARead also : Our test of the Kia e-Niro 64 kWh
Hyundai KONA Electric 64 kWh
There are three things you need to know about the Hyundai Kona Electric: it's a small electric SUV, it has a range of 450 km and it costs €42,400 (excluding the environmental bonus). The Hyundai KONA Electric is a genuine competitor to its cousin the Kia Niro EV and the Japanese Nissan Leaf. A veritable electric UFO, the Kona's youthful, urban styling is sure to turn heads at any crossroads.
It is available in two versions:
- Creative from €43,900 (excluding environmental bonus)
- Executive from €46,400 (excluding environmental bonus)
Technical Data https://youtu.be/exg2tIU0TDIRead also : Our test of the Hyundai Kona Electric 64 kWh
Tesla Model 3 Standard Range +
Originally, the Tesla Model 3 was supposed to be the consumer model of Tesla. Presented in 2019, the Tesla Model 3 is more of an electric 100 % alternative to the classic luxury saloon. It is now available to order in three versions:
- Tesla Model 3 Standard Range + from £48,600
- Tesla Model 3 Long Range from €59,000
- Tesla Model 3 Performance from £63,990
The basic range starts at 410 km for the Autonomie Standard Plus Range + version and goes up to 560 km for the Grande Autonomie version. Deliveries are fairly rapid, and are scheduled for M+1 at the time of writing.
Technical Data The best electric cars: how do you choose?
To sum up, if we bring together the main information, here is a summary table of the different electric vehicles suitable for VTC use in 2019.
| Models | Power | Battery (estimated usable) | Range (WLTP) | Price (excluding environmental bonus) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nissan Leaf 40 kWh | 110 kW (150 hp) | 38 kWh | 270 km | 35 400 € |
| Nissan Leaf 62 kWh | 160 kW (218 hp) | 60 kWh | 385 km | 43 700 € |
| Kia e-Niro 64 kWh | 150 kW (204 hp) | 64 kWh | 455 km | 42 500 € |
| Hyundai Kona 64 kWh | 150 kW (204 hp) | 64 kWh | 449 km | 42 400 € |
| Tesla Model 3 Autonomie Standard Plus | 150 kW (204 hp) | 54.5 kWh | 415 km | 48 600 € |
| Tesla Model 3 Long Range | 258 kW (351 hp) | 74 kWh | 560 km | 59 000 € |
How do you recharge your electric vehicle?
Depending on the vehicle you choose, the socket will be different and you will recharge differently. There are several types of socket for recharging your electric vehicle: Type 2, CCS, CHAdeMOetc...
You have several options for topping up:
- Charging at home using a domestic socket
- Recharging at home using a charging point
- Charging at public charging stations
Charging at home
This is the easiest way to recharge your electric vehicle. You have the option of recharging your electric vehicle using a normal household socket, but this will undoubtedly take a long time.
You can also opt for a Wallbox. As its name suggests, it's a wall-mounted box that allows you to recharge your mobile phone. electric car faster and smarter by taking advantage of off-peak hours and without the risk of tripping your meter.
This allows you to keep control of your charging and recharge according to your electricity contract. Recharging is faster, so you can get a full charge overnight. You can find the list of all suppliers of recharging points on the website of the National Association for the Development of Electric Mobility.
Would you like to install a recharging point? Get my offerIt's good to know that you should ask for several quotes to make sure you make the best choice.
Charging at public charging stations
As a VTC driver, you will also need to recharge at public charging points. You can find the charging points nearest you on theapplication Chargemap which lists charging points near you.
If you work as a VTC driver in Paris, there are several options for recharging your vehicle. The main networks of charging points in the capital are those of Paris recharge (formerly Autolib') and Belib'. There are also other charging points in and around the capital, including those operated by IZIVIA at Paris-CDG and Paris-Orly airports.
https://youtu.be/70gsZDBFohAParis recharge (standard recharge - 15 to 20 km/hour recharge)
With more than 1,000 kiosks and 200 stations across the capital, theParis recharging stationsare ubiquitous. As a VTC driver, you'll need to pay a subscription fee of €600/year to recharge your battery on this network on an unlimited basis. This is a very good deal if you intend to recharge regularly at these terminals, at a cost of just €50/month.
Belib' (semi-rapid recharging 150 to 200 km/hour)
This is theParis public network of recharging stationsfor electric vehicles. With a maximum output of 22 kW, Belib' charging stations will give you enough range for a break or while you're waiting for a customer. The first hour's charging costs just €1. After that, rates soar to over €15 an hour. So it's best to recharge several times, but never spend more than an hour at a charging point.
Corri-Door IZIVIA (rapid recharging (300 to 500 km/hour recharging))
Ideally located at Paris-CDG and Paris-ORLY airports, on the Paris ring road at Porte d'Aubervilliers and in the La Défense district, theCorri-Doorwill allow you to recover 80 % from your battery in no time at all, so you can get on with your day if you have several long journeys to make during the day. The charge is €1/5 minutes.
Rapid recharging at airports
New: Paris airports have invested in recharging infrastructure dedicated to Taxis and VTCs. In the Orly pro car park, 20 22kW charging points (up to 150km of range per hour of charging) and one 50kW point (up to 350km of range per hour of charging) have been installed. A similar installation is planned for the "new Taxis rear base" pro car park at the eastern end of Charles de Gaulle airport.
Other terminals
Not necessarily part of a large network, a number of additional charging points exist in Paris. Some are self-service, such as the fast charging points at Nissan dealerships in Montrouge, Paris 12 and Nanterre.
Car parks Effia are also equipped with standard kiosks that can be useful during a break. A number of shopping centres are also equipped with standard, semi-rapid and rapid charging stations in the Paris suburbs, including Auchans in Villebon-sur-Yvette and Villiers-sur-Marne, and IKEA in Vélizy-Villacoublay and Franconville. All the charging points can be found on the Chargemap application, which lists all the charging stations.
Public charging points in Lyon and Nice
As in Paris, the towns of Lyon and Nice are very well equipped with recharging stations, including the Bluely (standard charge) and CNR (fast charge) at Lyon and the network intake Nice.
What are your advantages as an electric VTC driver?
Like many people, you may have doubts about the usefulness of a electric car given the high purchase price. But don't panic, there are several advantages to switching to an electric vehicle as a VTC.
Savings on usage
As an electric vehicle owner, you'll no longer have to fill up but recharge your vehicle.
Expect to pay an average of €2/100 km (compared with €8.5/100 km for a diesel and €11.5/100 km for a petrol engine).
Depending on when you choose to charge your vehicle, these savings can increase even further. For example, if you choose to charge your vehicle during off-peak hours, the price of a 'full tank' of electricity will be cheaper. You are also not affected by fluctuations in the price of oil and their negative effects on motorists.
Good to know: during the day, off-peak times are between 10am and 5pm. At night, you should connect between 10pm and 6am.
Read also : When should you recharge your electric car?
Low maintenance costs
Electric vehicles have fewer parts (around forty) than traditional vehicles (over 300).
They are therefore less expensive to maintain because there are fewer parts that could potentially fail or need to be replaced.
For example, there are no oil changes, belt changes or gearbox changes. The only maintenance required is for consumables (tyres, brake pads, etc). It's worth noting that brake pads and discs last twice as long on average, thanks to the regenerative braking of electric vehicles.
Electric vehicles are therefore much more reliable than their combustion-powered equivalents, and allow you to drive long distances without hassle.
Silence on board
When you're a VTC driver, you deal with many different types of customer. And sometimes silence makes all the difference. In an electric vehicle, there's silence on board. You can put on some music or enjoy the drive to your destination in silence. And don't forget, no noise pollution: it's practical, especially if you're driving at night, and your neighbours will thank you.
Support for the purchase of an electric vehicle
In addition to the €6,000 eco-bonus, you can also claim up to €2,500 from the conversion bonus (if you already own a car) and regional bonuses depending on the region in which your company is registered.
Ecological bonus
The ecological bonus only applies to new vehicles and is worth up to €6,000 for a new electric vehicle.
| Passenger cars emitting less than 20g CO2/km | 6,000 limited to 27 % of the cost |
| Commercial vehicles and vans emitting less than 20 g CO2/km | 6,000 limited to 27 % of the cost |
Conversion premium
The conversion allowance has changed, and from 1 January 2022 the following scale will apply to electric vehicles.
| Conversion premium | New electric vehicle | Used electric vehicles |
|---|---|---|
| Companies | 3 000 € | 3 000 € |
Regional aid
The Île-de-France region is offering €6,000 in aid for the purchase of an electric vehicle if you are a VTC, in addition to the €6,000 environmental bonus. That's a total saving of €12,000 in the Île-de-France region.
They've gone electric: Yacine, VTC driver in a Kia e-Niro
Yacine, a VTC (Véhicule de Tourisme avec Chauffeur) driver for 4 years, switched to an electric car a year ago. At the wheel of his Kia e-NiroHe does most of his shopping in Paris and the inner suburbs. He tells us his story.
In the highly competitive VTC In Paris, where ride-sharing platforms earn a commission on each journey, you have to either reduce your fixed costs or build up a personal clientele in order to maximise your sales. If, like Yacine, the majority of VTC sales are generated by ride-sharing platforms, you need to be able to take advantage of these opportunities, optimising your car and your costs is a strategic necessity. How do you optimise your car as a VTC? You need to take stock of the costs generated by your car (fuel, maintenance and insurance) and try to find ways of paying less. This is where the electric car can help VTCs: fuel costs are eliminated and, given the construction of the vehicle, maintenance costs are very low.
It was against this backdrop that Yacine decided to go electric. We asked him a few questions about his choice and his assessment after several months in an electric car.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqMCjF09NQkWhy choose an electric VTC?
Yacine explains that he launched his VTC business 4 years ago and has gone through a number of different vehicles: when he started out he drove a diesel model, which consumed a lot of fuel, and then he tried a hybrid car. Indeed, when you drive a lot on the motorway and in town, a hybrid car isn't the best option. After going through the hybrid process, Yacine finally took the plunge and switched to an electric VTC 100%. He first drove a Nissan Leaf for several months, which didn't suit him because of its lack ofautonomy of the vehicle. He then opted for a Kia e-NiroThis model has a range of over 400 km on the motorway and almost 500 km in the city, making it ideal for a VTC.
Good to know, the Kia e-Niro holds the "electric range record" of 455 km over a combined cycle. WLTP (Worldwide harmonized Light vehicles Test Procedures: a new standard for measuring the real range of electric cars and their CO2 and pollutant emissions). Consumers will be able to see more clearly, so as to avoid falling into the marketing figures announced by manufacturers, particularly in terms of range.
How can I finance my electric VTC?
Yacine obtained information beforehand so that he could take advantage of the aids from the government, in particular the ecological bonus. He also sought advice from dealers to find the best deal for his future electric VTC. He financed his VTC with a personal loan.
It's good to know that there are several types of assistance available for buyers of electric cars: ecological bonus, conversion premium and certain regional grants.
What problems have you encountered?
At first, the recharge. But Yacine has found a solution: charging at home. Yacine had to wait for government support for the installation of home charging points before taking the plunge. As the cost was significant, Yacine was able to benefit from discounts on the installation of his Wallbox charging point.
The installation project had to be voted on at the general meeting of his co-ownership and installed by a professional. After taking the necessary steps within his co-ownership, he was able to launch his project to purchase his electric VTC. Having said that, Yacine deplores the lack of charging points for long distances.
"Normally, a motorist is supposed to find an electric recharging point every 80 km, but some don't work or are poorly maintained. And if someone is already at one, you have to wait 2 hours before you can recharge your VTC, which is impossible for me in my job. That's why I charge my VTC at home.
It's precisely for this reason that he sold his Nissan Leaf, as the distances on motorways were not suitable for VTC work.
Good to know: there are several organisations offering electric charging points in Paris, including Autolib' and Belib'. Owners of electric cars can recharge at a lower cost in Paris thanks to the subscriptions offered by the city.
How do you make sure you don't run out of fuel while on duty?
He charges his electric VTC at home. His Kia e-Niro allows it to cover long distances on motorways (over 400 km) and even longer distances in town (over 500 km).
This autonomy is more than enough for him to work. When he gets home, he can recharge his car without stress.
Are customers satisfied?
He tells us that on several occasions he has received amused comments from customers: "That's strange, have you started the engine? Customers are very impressed by the silence of the car, especially in the Paris traffic jams where the car isolates the noise from the outside world and allows customers to enjoy the music in peace while waiting to arrive at their destination.
If I had to do it all over again?
Without hesitation. Yacine has no regrets and even uses his electric VTC for personal travel.
"I received my electricity bill. I only paid €450 for 20,000 km".
Good to know: for a combustion car, the same distance would have cost between €2,500 and €3,000, depending on the model (petrol or diesel).
Any advice for future electric VTC 100% drivers?
Yacine advises VTC drivers to take the plunge, both for the savings they will make and for the satisfaction of their customers. You need to think carefully about the question of recharging when you buy, and don't rely too much on the good Autolib' stations. It's a good idea to install a charging point at home so that you don't have to rely on the charging points at charging in the city, especially in Paris. You also have to choose your model carefully. For Yacine, the Kia e-Niro is the model best suited to its business today.
