Front seat in Taxis

Is it legal for taxi drivers to prevent you from sitting in the front seat?

I ask in that I have been prevented from using the front seat when traveling with 3 passengers.

While it is possible to seat 3 in the back it is terribly uncomfortable, especially for three tall guys.

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I think this is a Catch 22 situation.

According to the FAQ on the G7 website, taxi drivers cannot legally refuse a party of four if their cars are allowed to carry up to five passengers (and all taxis are).

So, this means they are obligated to give up the front passenger seat - but that would be for a party of four.

Taxis that make airport runs typically have a clear front passenger seat and floor. Those that service the city, however, are typically loaded with the drivers maps, water, snacks, lunch, and other personal items.

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I%26#39;ve always been told that Paris cabdrivers regard the entire front seat as their personal domain, so have never tried asking about sitting in front.

Last year, when three of us were catching a cab, one of my friends did ask the driver if she could sit up front. He seemed a bit affronted and rather brusquely told her no. After that, though, he couldn%26#39;t have been nicer to us and practiced his very good English on us for much of the ride.

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Oops, meant to add this:

We were left with the impression that he considered my friend%26#39;s request to be in poor taste - an invasion of his private space or something like that - but didn%26#39;t hold it against us.

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Some Paris taxi drivers seem to have a problem with passengers using the front seat. But a lot of them don%26#39;t mind at all.

I can%26#39;t tell for sure whether or not a taxi driver can legally refuse a third passenger on the front seat - the Préfecture de Police has a special leaflet (in French) about the rights of taxi passengers, but this issue isn%26#39;t mentioned.

…gouv.fr/circuler/taxis_tarifs.htm

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If a taxi driver does not take you in, get an other one. It is up to them and not worth starting an argument over.

There are bigger cars available today as well.

I have had both situations.

One time taxi driver had his puppy in a basket on front seat.

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I’ve also noticed that some taxi drivers we’ve hired will allow a passenger to occupy the front passenger seat, but the majority do not. No big deal as we are three total at the most. Some taxi drivers at home don%26#39;t allow passengers to sit in the front seat also.

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Yes, it is legal for them to prevent someone from using the front seat if you are a party of three.

A nice guy may say yes, but for the most part that is their domain, and frankly, three large guys with one asking to get in front may be intimidating to then.

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Plus they spread their maps and stuff on the seat next to them, so it obliges them to get reorganise/ put stuff away so not practical for them