In short
A taxi is hailed, picked up at a taxi rank or called by radio taxi, and paid by the meter (in Naples there are also fixed fares for some routes). An NCC – noleggio con conducente, Italy’s licensed private hire with driver – is booked in advance: the price is agreed beforehand and the driver waits for you at the agreed place and time. For long journeys, groups, airport arrivals and tours, an NCC is usually the more comfortable choice; for short, spur-of-the-moment rides in town, a taxi.
- Taxi
- hailed, meter or fixed fare
- NCC
- by reservation, agreed price
- Law
- no. 21 of 1992
- NCC is best for
- airport, Amalfi Coast, tours, groups
The differences at a glance
| Taxi | NCC | |
|---|---|---|
| How to get one | At a rank, in the street or by radio taxi | By reservation only |
| Price | Meter or municipal fixed fares | Agreed before the service |
| Where it waits for you | At taxi ranks | At the agreed point, with a sign showing your name |
| Vehicle | Car, sometimes an MPV | From cars to minivans; Scarpato NCC: 8-seat van |
| Best for | Short, last-minute rides in town | Airport, port, Amalfi Coast, tours, events |
What the law says
Taxis and NCC are governed by Italian Law no. 21 of 15 January 1992 on non-scheduled public passenger transport. A taxi serves anyone who asks, at fares set by the municipality. An NCC works by reservation: the customer requests the service in advance, the driver sets off from their garage and the price is agreed beforehand.
That is why an NCC cannot wait at taxi ranks looking for customers: whoever comes to pick you up already has your name.
When an NCC makes sense
- You arrive at the airport with luggage or as a group: one van for everyone, no queues.
- You are going to the Amalfi Coast or Sorrento: on long journeys an agreed price avoids surprises.
- You want a day tour: the same driver waits for you between stops.
- You have a fixed time: a wedding, an event, a cruise ship or a flight you can’t miss.
When a taxi makes sense
For a short ride in town decided at the last minute, a taxi is almost always the most practical choice: no booking needed and there are ranks everywhere.
Frequently asked questions
What does NCC mean?
Noleggio con conducente, literally “hire with driver”: a licensed private transport service with a driver, booked in advance at a price agreed beforehand.
Is an NCC more expensive than a taxi?
It depends on the journey. In town, for short rides, a taxi is usually cheaper. From the airport to the Amalfi Coast, for tours and for groups, an agreed price for the whole van is often good value.
Can I hail an NCC in the street?
No: an NCC works by reservation only.
Can an NCC drive on the Amalfi Coast when alternate number plate rules apply?
Yes: the ordinances for the Amalfi Coast road exempt taxis and licensed private hire vehicles with driver.
Sources and fact-checks: Law no. 21 of 15 January 1992 (Normattiva)
Updated October 2026 · Written by Carlo Scarpato, licensed NCC private driver in Campania since 2016.