Looking for a transport solution for your child and wondering whether you can book an Uber for them to travel alone? The answer depends on your child’s age and the type of journey, whether it’s a one-off trip or a regular arrangement like the daily school run. Here is what parents in the Greater Paris region need to know about transporting unaccompanied children, covering the legal rules, the services on offer and the specialised alternatives.
An Uber survey carried out in October 2024 among 4,300 parent customers in France found that parents spend an average of two hours a week ferrying their children around, a figure that rises to four hours for one in three of them. Faced with this reality, many families are looking for transport options suited to their children’s needs. So what is available in Île-de-France ?
Uber and Minors : What Uber’s Terms of Service Say
Standard Uber services: ages 18 and up
Uber’s Terms of Service (article 5.3) state that users must be at least 18, or the age of legal majority, to create an account and use Uber’s standard services (UberX, Uber Comfort, Uber Green and so on).
Uber for Teens : the service for 13- to 17-year-olds
On 30 October 2024, Uber launched “Uber for Teens” in France, ua service designed specifically for teenagers aged 13 to 17. This private-hire (VTC) service lets young people book their own rides under parental supervision.
It is available in 13 French metropolitan areas, including Paris and the entire surrounding region (departments 75, 77, 78, 91, 92, 93, 94 and 95).
📍 Availability: All of Île-de-France
👶 Age: 13 to 17
🎯 How it works: Private-hire rides with parental controls (GPS, PIN code, notifications)
What about children under 13 ?
Neither Uber service is open to children under 13. Standard Uber requires users to be 18 or over, and Uber for Teens is limited to ages 13 to 17. For younger children, parents need to look at specialised alternatives.
Uber for Teens: Which Safety Features ?
Uber developed this service with input from child-safety experts, including Safe Kids Worldwide and ParentZone. Its features include:
Real-time GPS tracking. Parents receive continuous updates throughout the trip, including the driver’s name, the vehicle, the destination and the live location.
Mandatory PIN code. The teenager gives the driver a unique code before getting in. The trip cannot start without it.
Enhanced RideCheck. The system detects unexpected stops or route deviations and alerts parents.
Driver selection. Only experienced drivers with top ratings can accept these trips.
Direct contact. Parents can reach the driver at any time and have access to an emergency assistance button.
School Runs and After-School Activities: Which Solutions in Île-de-France ?
How Uber for Teens works ?
Uber for Teens is open to teenagers aged 13 to 17. It bills per trip and assigns drivers based on availability, so the driver varies from one journey to the next. According to Uber, the service was designed to give teenagers independence for occasional trips.
Services specialising in children’s transport
Companies such as KidCab focus specifically on taking children to school and after-school activities across Île-de-France. These matching platforms take a different approach, built around regular, recurring journeys.
Key features of these services:
Minimum age. They accept children from the age of 3, covering nursery, primary and secondary school.
Driver-companion selection. Drivers are recruited against criteria that include transport experience and professional licences (VTC or LOTI), along with qualities such as patience, attentiveness and a caring, committed attitude. Each candidate goes through an in-depth interview.
Built for recurring journeys. Parents book in advance and set up regular trips at fixed times, with the service coordinating directly with schools and activity centres.
Safety. Real-time GPS tracking, parent notifications, and confirmation that the child has been handed over to a responsible adult.
Pricing. Monthly packages are available for the school run, with the option of shared trips.
Vicki Shotbolt, CEO of ParentZone, who advised Uber on the development of Uber for Teens, has stressed that the experience should hold no surprises for teenagers, their parents or the driver. That same emphasis on transparency runs through specialised services too.
Two Complementary Approaches to Children’s Transport
Parent-supervised private-hire (Uber for Teens)
- Who it’s for: Teenagers aged 13 to 17
- How it works: Per-trip billing, varying private-hire drivers
- Recommended use (per Uber): One-off, occasional trips
- Supervision: Parental controls via the app (GPS, notifications, PIN code)
Services specialising in accompanying children
- Who it’s for: Children from age 3
- How it works: Monthly packages available, option of a regular dedicated driver
- Use: Recurring trips (school, weekly activities)
- Support: Selected driver-companions, coordination with schools and childcare, confirmed handover
The two types of service meet different needs depending on the child’s age, how often they travel and how a family prefers to organise things.
Children’s Transport in Île-de-France: Comparison Table
| Criterion | Standard Uber | Uber for Teens | Specialised service (KidCab) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum age | 18+ (Terms of Service) | 13 to 17 | From age 3 |
| Type of service | General private-hire | Private-hire + parental controls | Dedicated child accompaniment |
| Driver selection | VTC licence | Experienced VTC drivers, top ratings | VTC/LOTI licence + patience and attentiveness + interview |
| GPS tracking for parents | No | Yes | Yes |
| Security PIN code | No | Yes | Varies by service |
| Regular school transport | Not available (18+) | Available, per-trip billing | Available, monthly packages offered |
| Accompaniment | Standard private-hire | Standard private-hire | Dedicated, child-focused |
| Handover to an adult | No | No | Yes, with confirmation |
| Type of responsibility | Intermediary platform | Intermediary platform | Direct contractual |
| Pricing | Per trip | Per trip | Monthly packages available |
| Driver | Varies | Varies | Regular dedicated driver possible |
How to Choose a Transport Solution for Your Child
For teenagers aged 13 to 17: one-off trips
Uber for Teens works for occasional journeys if your teenager is independent and you want to keep an eye on the trip via GPS.
Example: Your 15-year-old daughter is coming home from a party at 10:30 pm. Uber for Teens gets her home with GPS tracking and a PIN code.
For children under 13
Since Uber for Teens starts at 13, specialised services such as KidCab are the route to consider for younger children, who can be accepted from age 3.
A specialised service may be a good fit when:
- Your child is in nursery, primary or early secondary school
- You need a daily school run or regular extracurricular trips
- You want a regular, familiar driver-companion
- You need confirmation that your child has been handed over to a responsible adult
- You prefer predictable arrangements with fixed times and a monthly package
Example: Your 8-year-old son does judo every Wednesday from 5 pm to 6:30 pm. A specialised service can collect him from school, take him to his class and bring him home.
For the daily school run: other options
Other alternatives available in Île-de-France:
- Carpooling with other parents (requires coordination)
- Walking buses or cycling buses, where available in your area
- Municipal school transport, depending on your local authority
- A specialised service on a subscription plan
Conclusion : Choosing the Right Solution for Your Needs
Families in Île-de-France now have several options for transporting their children, depending on the child’s age and the type of journey.
Uber for Teens is open to teenagers aged 13 to 17 and comes with parental-supervision features such as GPS tracking, a PIN code and notifications. It bills per trip and suits one-off journeys.
Specialised services such as KidCab accept children from age 3 and offer subscription plans for regular journeys, with driver-companions selected for qualities including patience, attentiveness and a caring, committed approach.
The two approaches meet complementary needs. Your choice will come down to your child’s age, how often they travel (occasionally or regularly), and how your family prefers to organise things.
Looking for a solution for your children’s regular journeys around the Paris region? Specialised services such as KidCab accompany minors from age 3 with carefully selected driver-companions. Monthly packages for the school run, real-time GPS tracking and direct coordination with schools add up to a service built around family life.
FAQ : Your Questions About Children’s Transport and Uber
Does Uber refuse to carry children travelling alone? Uber’s Terms of Service (article 5.3) state that standard Uber is available from age 18. Uber for Teens, launched in October 2024, lets teenagers aged 13 to 17 travel under parental supervision (GPS, PIN code, notifications).
Can I book an Uber for my 10-year-old? Standard Uber is available from age 18 under its Terms of Service, and Uber for Teens from age 13. For younger children, specialised services such as KidCab accept minors from age 3 with dedicated accompaniment.
Is Uber for Teens available everywhere in Île-de-France? Yes. Uber for Teens has been available across the whole Paris region (departments 75, 77, 78, 91, 92, 93, 94 and 95) since October 2024.
How do I set up an Uber for Teens account? In the Uber app, open your family profile and invite your teenager (aged 13 to 17) to create their account. You keep full parental control: real-time GPS tracking, notifications at every stage, and the driver’s details.
Are the drivers different between Uber for Teens and specialised services? Uber for Teens uses experienced VTC drivers with top ratings. Specialised services such as KidCab recruit partner drivers against criteria including professional licences, experience, patience, attentiveness and a caring, committed attitude, with an in-depth interview to assess how well-suited they are to accompanying children.
Which solution works for the daily school run? Uber for Teens bills per trip with varying drivers. Specialised services offer monthly packages with the option of a regular driver for recurring journeys. The right choice depends on how you prefer to organise things and on your child’s age.
What if my child is under 13 and needs to travel alone? Since Uber services start at 13, specialised services such as KidCab are the option for younger children. They accept minors from age 3 with dedicated accompaniment, confirmed handover to an adult, and parental tracking.
KidCab is a family-run matching service specialising in children’s transport across Île-de-France. Our partner drivers accompany young people aged 3 to 17 to school and after-school activities throughout the Greater Paris region.
