Taxi, VTC or private transfer in Valencia
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In Valencia there are three ways to get around by car with a driver. A taxi you hail in the street or pick up at a rank, and you pay what the meter says. A VTC (a licensed car with driver, usually booked through a ride-hailing app) you book beforehand, and the law doesn't allow it to look for passengers in the street. A private transfer you book in advance for a specific journey, such as from the airport to your hotel, at a fixed price shown before you book. For a short, spur-of-the-moment ride, take a taxi. For airport arrivals, long journeys, groups or children, a booked transfer.
The taxi: in the street, at a rank or by phone
The taxi is the traditional option: you hail one, pick one up at a rank or call a taxi company. There's a taxi rank at Valencia Airport, and on its taxi page Aena lists the taxi companies' phone numbers and links to the official fares published by the Valencian regional government (Generalitat Valenciana).
How you pay: the meter sets the fare according to the official tariff in force. You find out the total when you arrive; it depends on the route and the traffic.
Pros: no need to book, and for a short ride within the city it's usually the quickest thing to get.
Cons: at busy times there may be a queue at the rank. A larger group may need more than one car, and you don't know the exact price in advance.
The VTC: always booked beforehand
VTC stands for vehículo de turismo con conductor, a car hired with a driver. It's booked for a journey, often through a mobile app. The key difference from a taxi is in the law.
Spain's national transport regulation, as worded by Royal Decree 1057/2015 in the Official State Gazette (BOE), says that these vehicles, when carrying passengers, may only be on the road if they can show they are providing a previously booked service. It also says they may not, under any circumstances, drive around on public roads looking for customers. In other words, you can't flag down a VTC.
In the Valencian Community, the regional government passed a decree-law on taxis and VTCs in May 2026. According to its press release of 29 May 2026 (in Spanish), the decree removes the 15-minute gap that had to pass between booking and the start of the service. It also provisionally allows VTCs with a national licence registered in the region to provide urban transport, and keeps driving around looking for passengers as a sanctionable offence. It's a recent rule: for the details, check the text published in the regional gazette (DOGV).
How you pay: according to the terms of the company or app you book with. Check them before you confirm.
Pros: you order from your phone and watch the car arrive.
Cons: it depends on cars being available at that moment, and each company sets its own terms (price, waiting, cancellation).
The private transfer: a journey booked in advance
A private transfer is a service with a driver that you book ahead, usually days ahead, for a specific journey: from the airport to your hotel, from the port to the station, from Valencia to another city. This is how it works with RideValencia, under the terms in our help centre:
- A fixed price before you book. The calculator price is final and includes tolls (is the price final?). Extra charges are only possible for something you ask for on top and agree in advance, such as extra waiting, a stop or a route change (surcharges).
- The driver waits for you. At the airport, in the arrivals hall with a sign bearing your name. We track the flight, and free waiting is 60 minutes from the actual landing. At other addresses, 15 minutes (waiting time).
- The right vehicle for your group. Sedans for up to 4 passengers, minibuses for up to 7 and coaches with 22, 33 and 55 seats, the whole group together (our fleet).
- With children. Child seats on request; we confirm availability when you book (child seats).
- You pay the driver on the day. We confirm the available payment methods when you book; there is no online payment (how to pay).
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the pickup (cancelling).
Cons: you need to book ahead. On the website, at least 1 hour before; for anything more urgent, by WhatsApp or phone (last-minute bookings). It's not the option for a five-minute ride decided on the pavement.
The differences at a glance
| Taxi | VTC | Private transfer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| How you book | In the street, at a rank or by phone | Before the service, usually through an app | In advance, for a specific journey |
| Price | Meter, official tariff | Set by the company or app | Fixed when you book, tolls included |
| Can you hail it in the street? | Yes | No, by law | No: it waits where we agree |
| Airport pickup | At the taxi rank | Depends on the app | In the arrivals hall, with a sign |
| If the flight is delayed | You take a taxi when you land | You order a car when you land | We track the flight |
| Large groups | Several cars | Depends on the fleet available | Minibus or coach with up to 55 seats |
Which one to choose?
- A short ride in the city, unplanned: taxi.
- You'd rather order everything from your phone, on the spot: VTC.
- Arriving at the airport or the port, especially at night: private transfer. You walk out and the driver is already there.
- A long journey, such as Valencia–Benidorm, Valencia–Jávea or Alicante–Valencia: a private transfer at a fixed price. We cover these in Transfer from Valencia Airport to Benidorm, From Valencia to Jávea and From Alicante Airport to Valencia.
- A family with small children or a group with suitcases: a private transfer with a child seat and the right vehicle booked.
If you're weighing up how to get from the airport into the city, all the options, metro and bus included, are in Valencia Airport to the city centre.
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between a taxi and a VTC?
A taxi can pick up passengers in the street and at ranks, and charges by the meter at the official tariff. A VTC can only carry people who have booked the service in advance; it isn't allowed to cruise looking for passengers.
Is a private transfer the same as a taxi?
No. A private transfer is booked in advance for a specific journey: with RideValencia, at a fixed price shown before you book, tolls included, with the driver waiting for you at the pickup point.
When do I pay for a RideValencia transfer?
You pay the driver on the day of the trip. We confirm the available payment methods when you book; there is no online payment.
What if I cancel the transfer?
Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the pickup. If it's later, contact us and we'll sort it out case by case.
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