Expressions when taking a taxi｜Practical French Phrases for Transportation

When traveling abroad, whether for leisure or business, taking a taxi is often unavoidable. Especially in an unfamiliar city, being able to clearly tell the driver your destination or confirm the fare can make the experience much less stressful.

By learning some common French expressions, you will be able to communicate smoothly with taxi drivers.

In this lesson, I will introduce practical phrases you can use when taking a taxi, along with explanations of the grammar behind them.

Dialogue

A

Bonjour, vous êtes libre ?
（Hello, are you available?）

B

Oui, montez, s’il vous plaît.
（Yes, please get in.）

A

Je voudrais aller à la gare Saint-Lazare.
（I would like to go to Saint-Lazare station.）

B

Très bien. Vous préférez quel chemin ?
（All right. Which route do you prefer?）

A

Comme vous voulez.
（As you wish. / I’ll leave it up to you.）

B

Voilà, nous sommes arrivés. Ça fait 18 euros.
（Here we are. That will be 18 euros.）

A

Tenez, voici 20 euros. Gardez la monnaie.
（Here, 20 euros. Keep the change.）

Grammar and Expression Points

1. Asking if a Taxi Is Available

The most common phrase to use when approaching a taxi is:

This is short and easy to remember, making it perfect for travelers.

A more polite alternative is “Est-ce que vous êtes disponible ?” (Are you available?), but in everyday use “Vous êtes libre ?” is more natural and sufficient.

2. Stating Your Destination

When telling the driver where you want to go, use:

Examples:

Here, voudrais is the conditional form of vouloir (to want) and makes the request more polite, similar to English “I would like to …”.

3. Leaving the Route Up to the Driver

The driver may ask: “Vous préférez quel chemin ?” (Which route do you prefer?). If you don’t know the area, a useful reply is:

This phrase literally means “as you want” and politely hands the decision to the other person.

4. Confirming and Paying the Fare

Upon arrival, the driver will tell you the fare using:

If you want to ask the price yourself, say:

When handing over money, a polite phrase is:

To leave a tip or decline change, say:

Tipping is not obligatory in France, but leaving a small amount is considered polite.

5. Useful Vocabulary for Common Destinations

It is helpful to know the French words for places travelers often use:

You can also write down or show the destination on your phone and say:

Summary

泉（Izumi）

Author

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