Short answer: it depends on what happens if you are late. For a short trip in the centre, take the metro or walk, and keep your money. For one or two people with a flexible plan, a taxi at the airport flat rate of €56 to €65 from CDG is hard to beat, if you can find one. For a flight, a long-distance train, a family with luggage or anyone who struggles with stairs, book a private driver in advance: from €110 per vehicle, with a car assigned to you, a fixed price and free cancellation up to 24 hours before pickup. Uber and other apps sit in the middle: they run on strike days, but the price and the wait depend on the demand of the moment.

Last updated: 5 November 2026. We are a chauffeur company, so we have an interest in this question. We have tried to be fair: every figure about taxis and apps comes from an official or published source listed at the end, and we tell you when not to book us.

Already know you need a car? Send us your flight or train, pickup and destination on WhatsApp, we usually reply within 30 minutes. A booking request is free and does not commit you.

The Verdict in One Minute

Short hop in the centre: metro, bus or walking. Do not book a car.
Alone, light bag, flexible: public transport, with a good margin.
Two people, no deadline: a taxi from the rank, or an app if the price looks fair.
A flight or train you cannot miss: a booked private driver.
Family, group or heavy luggage: a booked V-Class, up to 7 passengers and 8 large suitcases.
Stairs are a problem: a door-to-door car, booked in advance.
Hotel near a march or a closed station: a booked driver, who can agree on a pickup point with you.

What Each Option Costs: CDG to Central Paris

Prices below are for 2026. Orly works the same way, with cheaper taxis (€36 for the Left Bank, €45 for the Right Bank).

RER B or airport ticket: €14 per person, so €28 for two, €56 for four and €98 for seven. The cheapest, and the most exposed to a strike.
Taxi: a flat €56 to the Right Bank or €65 to the Left Bank, for the car. Nothing is added for luggage, booking or traffic, and the price does not change on strike days. Five or more passengers may need a van taxi or a second car.
Uber and other apps: the price moves with demand. Uber says surge pricing varies from one area to another and can change quickly, so we will not quote a figure that would be wrong by the time you read it.
Samantha Travels, Mercedes E-Class: from €110 for the car, up to 3 passengers. That is about €37 each for three.
Samantha Travels, Mercedes V-Class: from €150 for the car, up to 7 passengers. That is about €38 each for four and about €21 each for seven.

Our tip: use the taxi flat rate as your benchmark. If an app quotes you more than €56 or €65 from CDG, the taxi is the better deal, as long as you can get one.

So the honest gap is this: for two people going to the Right Bank, a booked E-Class costs about €54 more than a taxi. For seven people, a V-Class costs €20 to €38 more than two taxis, and about €52 more than seven airport tickets. The question is what that difference buys you.

What You Actually Get for the Extra €50

A car that exists before you need it. Once your booking is confirmed, it is yours, so you are not looking for one on the day. In the long strike of December 2019, AFP described taxis booked out "sometimes days in advance".
A chauffeur who waits for you. We track your flight and meet you inside the arrivals hall, with 60 minutes of free waiting after landing for passport control, baggage and customs.
A price that cannot move. The price in your quote is the price you pay, even if a diversion makes the ride longer.
Someone who has read the closures. We check the march route, closed stations and curfew zones before each ride, and we suggest a pickup time with enough margin for the day.
A person to talk to. The evening before, you receive an SMS with your chauffeur's name and direct number. Your chauffeur contacts you again one hour before pickup, and we answer on WhatsApp 24/7.
A way out. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before pickup, and if your flight is cancelled we move your transfer to a new time at no charge.

Eight Situations, Eight Answers

You have a morning flight from CDG

Our answer: book a driver. On 5 November, the forecast for the RER B was one train in two on the airport section, and more people take to the roads on strike days. This is the journey where a late arrival costs the most. Leave at least one hour earlier than usual, whatever you choose. Our guide to getting to CDG and Orly during a strike compares every option.

You land at CDG in the evening

Our answer: book a driver, or accept the queue. On many evenings this autumn, the RER B stops between the airport and Châtelet-Les Halles from 10:45 pm for engineering works, with replacement buses instead. The taxi rank may be busier too. With a booked transfer, your chauffeur follows your flight and waits for you if you land late.

You are a family with luggage

Our answer: book a V-Class. Up to 7 passengers with 8 large suitcases and 5 carry-on bags, in one car. Infant, toddler and booster seats are available at no extra charge: tell us the age and weight of each child when you book. Strike-day crowds on the RER are hard enough without a pushchair.

Your train was cancelled and you still need to get there

Our answer: first claim your refund, then compare. Reims is about 1 hour 30 minutes from Paris by road, Lille about 2 hours 30 minutes and Brussels about 3 hours 30 minutes to 4 hours, depending on traffic. Our chauffeur service covers France, Belgium, Switzerland and Monaco at a price per vehicle, on quote within 2 hours, which can come close to several last-minute train tickets for a group. Our guide on what to do if your train is cancelled explains your rights.

Stairs are a problem

Our answer: door to door, booked in advance. Line 14 is the only fully accessible metro line in Paris. Nearly all buses are accessible, but they can be diverted around a march. Tell us about any mobility needs when you book, so we can confirm the right vehicle.

Your hotel is next to the march

Our answer: book a driver, and expect to walk a little. No car can enter a closed street, whoever is driving it. What changes is the planning: your chauffeur contacts you before pickup and agrees on a nearby meeting point, such as a side street or another hotel entrance. With an app, you set the pickup yourself, so walk away from the route first.

You are on your own with a small bag

Our answer: do not book us. The metro was expected to run normally on 5 November, apart from the closed stations, and central Paris is very walkable. Save the money for a good dinner. Our strike survival guide shows you how to get around. Book a car only if you have a flight to catch and a reduced RER B would put it at risk.

Your museum closed and the day is free

Our answer: leave the city. The Eiffel Tower was closed all day on 5 November, and a protest day is a good day to be somewhere else. A private day trip to Champagne, Normandy or Mont-Saint-Michel starts at your hotel, in the morning, before the marches gather. See which day trips are still possible.

What a Private Driver Cannot Do

Drive through a closed street. We adapt the route and the pickup point, but a police cordon applies to us too.
Beat every traffic jam. Our chauffeurs know the alternatives, but on a strike day we share the roads with everyone else. That is why we ask you to leave earlier.
Promise a car at the last minute. Demand rises on strike days, and your booking is confirmed only by our written confirmation by email. Send your request early.
Be the cheapest option. For one person, it never will be.

The Timing Trap: Book Before the Forecast

Do not wait for the forecast to decide. Here is why, with a pickup at 8 am on a Thursday strike day:

Wednesday, 8 am: our free cancellation ends, 24 hours before pickup.
Wednesday, from 5 pm: the forecast comes out, nine hours later.

So decide when the strike is announced, not when the forecast appears. If the strike is called off at least 24 hours before your pickup, you cancel free of charge.

The Cost Nobody Counts: a Missed Flight

The real price of a strike day is not the transfer. EU air passenger rules give you rights if your flight is cancelled or delayed, or if you are denied boarding after presenting yourself on time for check-in. We found nothing in them for a passenger who reaches the airport late because the trains were reduced. Check your airline's conditions and your travel insurance, but plan as if that cost were yours. A last-minute replacement ticket for two or three people may cost far more than a car.

How to Book a Driver for a Strike Day

Send your details by WhatsApp or on our booking form: date, flight or train, pickup, destination, passengers and luggage. The request is free and does not commit you.
Receive your quote within 2 hours, 24/7, or usually within 30 minutes on WhatsApp. Your booking is confirmed by email.
Pay when it suits you: on the day by card or in cash, or in advance through a secure link.
The evening before, you receive your chauffeur's name and number by SMS. On strike days, we also suggest a departure time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Uber work during a strike in Paris?

Yes. Uber and other ride-hailing apps are not part of rail strikes. Demand is higher, so waits can be longer and prices can rise, and cars cannot reach streets closed by a protest.

Is Uber more expensive during a Paris strike?

It can be. Uber says prices may increase when demand is very high, and that rates can change quickly and differ by area. AFP reported Uber fares rising in line with demand during the 2019 strike. Uber says its app tells riders when surge pricing applies.

Are Paris taxis on strike?

We have seen no taxi strike announced at the time of writing. Taxis are not usually part of rail and metro strikes, but they are in higher demand, so queues at airports and stations are longer.

How much is a taxi from CDG to Paris during a strike?

The same as on any other day: a flat €56 to the Right Bank or €65 to the Left Bank in 2026, for the car. From Orly, it is €45 to the Right Bank or €36 to the Left Bank.

How much does a private driver cost in Paris?

With Samantha Travels, airport transfers between CDG or Orly and central Paris start from €110 per vehicle in a Mercedes E-Class, and from €150 in a V-Class or S-Class. Beauvais airport, the Sprinter, hourly hire and long-distance trips are on quote.

Is a private driver worth it during a strike?

For a flight, a long-distance train, a family with luggage or anyone who struggles with stairs, usually yes. For a short trip in the centre or a solo traveller with a small bag, no: the metro and your feet will do.

Can I book a driver for tomorrow?

You can send a request at any time, and we reply within 2 hours, or usually within 30 minutes on WhatsApp. Your booking is confirmed once you receive our written confirmation by email, so ask as early as you can.

What if the strike is cancelled after I book?

Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before pickup. Within 24 hours, the ride is charged in full. If your flight is cancelled, we move your transfer to a new time at no charge.

Book Your Strike-Day Transfer with Samantha Travels

We remain available 24/7 during the protests and strikes of autumn 2026, for airport transfers, hourly hire and long-distance trips. Our chauffeurs are licensed and speak fluent English and French, our fleet is Mercedes, from the E-Class to the V-Class and the Sprinter for up to 20 passengers, and we are rated 5/5 on Google and Tripadvisor. Full conditions are in our booking terms.

Send us your date, pickup and destination: message us on WhatsApp, we usually reply within 30 minutes, or use our request form and get an answer within 2 hours.

Sources

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Taxi, Uber or Private Driver During a Paris Strike: Which One Should You Book?