FAQ / How it works / Paris - Vélib' - vélos en libre-service à Paris

Discovering Paris with

thousands of bicycles...

Choose the hire option that suits you best! Sign up for a long-term subscription or buy a 1-day or a 7-day ticket online. It’s easy, quick and secure!

Buy a 1-day Ticket

Buy a 7-day Ticket

Any question about Vélib'? Call our customer service and obtain assistance in English!

Monday to Friday : 8am-10pm

Saturday : 9am-10pm

Sunday : 9am-7pm

F.A.Q.

If you have any further queries or would like to find out more about the service, subscription, fees, availability of bikes and parking, please refer to our FAQs.
The customer service (+33 1 30 79 79 30 or Vélib' - TSA 90003 - 78378 Plaisir cedex) is open Monday to Friday from 8am to 10pm, Saturday from 9am to 10pm and Saturday from 9am to 7pm.

Long-term subscription

What offers are available to long-term users?

The subscription schemes are flexible and designed to meet everyone’s needs. Therefore, choose between Vélib’ Classic (29€/ year, the first 30 min are free of charge), Vélib’ Passion (39€/year, the first 45 min are free of charge) and benefit from exclusive fees on Vélib’ Passion if you are 14-26 year old (29€/ year) or a scholarship student (19€/year). For a quick subscription: use your NAVIGO pass or the Vélib’ Express Card and pay by card credit card! It’s easy, quick and secure.

How can I sign-up for a long-term subscription?

Sign-up online in three steps!

1. Choose your offer and your subscription card
2. Fill in your personal details, read and accept the General Conditions of Access and Use of the service.
3. Proceed to payment and deposit: you can either pay by credit card, direct debit or cheque. If you choose a payment by credit card, your subscription will be immediately registered.

What is an activation code?

It allows you to activate your Vélib’ Express card or the Navigo pass if you have chosen to access the Vélib’ service with one of these two cards. You receive this code by email after having signed up for an annual subscription on velib.paris.fr. When using the service for the first time, activate your card at the terminal thanks to your ID number, your activation code and you PIN.

Is the payment by credit card totally secure?

Transactions on this website are secured by the Ingénico© payment system. When you enter your bank details, you are linked directly to the Ingénico© payment server. Therefore JCDecaux does not have access to your bankcard number and this number is not stored on its server. Furthermore, all information exchanged with Ingénico© is encrypted using the SSL protocol and therefore cannot be intercepted or modified. When the transaction is completed, and before returning to velib.paris.fr website, Ingénico© will issue you an electronic ticket containing full details of the payment and the outcome of the request for bank approval (transaction accepted or cancelled).

Which types of bankcards are accepted?

Visa, Mastercard, Amex and Blue Visa.

If I sign-up by credit card, how is the deposit secured?

The deposit (150€ not debited) is secured through the registration of your bankcard details by the Ingénico© system. The deposit is only debited in the event of failure to comply with the General Conditions of Access and Use, or if the bike is not returned to a station within 24 hours.

Why is a deposit (150€) mandatory to subscribe?

I would like to pay by direct debit or cheque, is it still possible?

Yes, it is! However this mode of payment requires that you send the requested documents (cheques or direct debit authorization) by post to the customer service. It does not allow you to benefit from a quick access to the service. Furthermore, the subscription by cheque does not allow you to choose the automatic renewal option.

How can I renew my long-term subscription?

There are two possibilities: choose the automatic renewal option or renew you subscription by going to “my account”.
1. When signing up online, turn the automatic renewal option on. Your long-term subscription will be renewed automatically on the expiry date. You can turn the option on and off in “my account” until 3 days before the expiry date of your annual subscription. The service Vélib’ sends you an email as a reminder, 30 days before the renewal of your subscription.
2. Renew your annual subscription by going to « my account » and clicking on « renew ». Do not hesitate to change offer to Vélib’ Passion!

Is it possible to renew my long-term subscription by paying by credit card?

Yes, it is! The payment by credit card is accessible to everyone and we recommend that you choose this type of payment to renew your annual subscription to keep on using the service without period of interruption, and without sending documents by post to the Vélib’ service.
For more tranquillity, choose the automatic renewal option. You can turn it on and off in “my account” until 3 days before the expiry date of your annual subscription. If you activate this option, the service Vélib’ sends you an email as a reminder, 30 days before the renewal of your subscription.

Is it possible to change my Vélib’ Classic subscription to Vélib’ Passion?

From July 2011, you will be able to change offer and choose Vélib’ Passion. In order to change offer, you will have to go to “my account” and pay the price of Vélib’ Passion, calculated on the prorata of your ongoing long-term subscription. Be aware it will not be possible to change offer twice during the year.

Which types of cards are compatible with the payment by credit card?

You have the choice between three types of cards: the Vélib’ classic card, the Navigo pass, or the Vélib’ Express card than you can pick up at one of your partners. The list of our partners will be communicated on velib.paris.fr.

Where can I pick up a Vélib’ Express card?

Vélib’ Express cards are available at the reception desk of the City of Paris on 29 rue de Rivoli 75004 Paris.

Why is the Vélib’ Express Card not compatible with the Youth Offer for scholarship students?

The Vélib’ Express Card requires an online subscription with a payment by credit card, without sending documents to the customer service. On the contrary, in order to benefit from the Youth Offer for scholarship students, you must send a scholarship certificate to the customer service.

How can I be indentified if my name does not appear on my Vélib’ Express card?

The long-term subscription is individual and nominative. Thus, when releasing a bike from one of the Vélib’ station, your are systematically recognised in our systems. However, we recommend that you write your name, first name and ID number at the back of your Vélib’ Express card.

How can I activate my Vélib’ Express card and my NAVIGO© Pass?

When signing up for a long-term subscription on the website, you are invited to choose an annual offer and the type of card you want to access the service with. If you choose the NAVIGO© pass or the Vélib’ Express card, you receive an e-mail of confirmation with ID number and an activation code. This code allows you to activate your long-term subscription on the card you have chosen (Vélib’ Express card or Navigo Pass). To activate your card, go to one of the 1,800 Vélib’ stations with your card, your ID number, your activation code and the PIN code you have chosen when signing up online.

I have lost my long-term subscription card, what should I do?

In the event of loss of theft of your card (Vélib’ Classic, Navigo pass or Vélib’ Express card), call Allo Vélib’ on +33 1 30 79 79 30. Soon, you will also be able to declare the loss or theft of your card in « my account »!

You do not have any credit left in your account?

I your have not credited your account after one or several journey over 30 minutes (or 45 min with Vélib’ Passion), your account may be blocked and you may not be able to use your card to hire a bike. In order to unblock your account, top up at any Vélib’ station, or in “my account” on velib.paris.fr. Reminder: return your bike to one of the V+ stations and gain 15 extra free minutes!

How can I update my bankcard details?

Go to “my account” and click on “update my bankcard details” to register your new bankcard. It will be used to pay usage charges and deposit in the event of failure to comply with the General Conditions of Access and Use, or if the bike is not returned to a station within 24 hours.

How can I check the details of my journeys?

Check all the details of your journeys (over 30 minutes) in “my account”. In accordance with the recommendations of the CNIL (Commission Nationale de l'Informatique et des Libertés), the Vélib’ service is not allowed to register journeys under 30 minutes. In “my account”, you can also view your account balance and update your personal details (address and bankcard details).

Short-term subscription

How can I buy a 1-day or 7-day ticket?

Today, you can buy a short-term ticket by credit card:
- at one of the 1,800 Vélib’ stations
- online on velib.paris.fr
- through our partners (the list of our partners will be communicated soon on velib.paris.fr)
In the event of failure to comply with the General Conditions of Access and Use, the totality or a part of the amount of the deposit (150€) may be debited from the registered credit card. There must be sufficient funds in your bank account to in order to hire a bike.

How can I buy a 1-day or 7-day ticket at a Vélib’ station?

Go to terminal of one of the 1,800 Vélib’ stations and follow on screen-instructions; you will be able to buy a ticket by credit card.

How can I buy a 1-day or 7-day ticket online?

Go to velib.paris.fr and buy a ticket in 3 steps with your bankcard, it’s easy, quick and secure!
1. Choose your offer right from the home page (1-day or 7-day ticket)
2. Choose the validity period of your ticket
3. Read and accept the General Conditions of Access and Use of the service, and proceed to payment and deposit (by credit card only)
You will receive an e-mail of confirmation along with a subscription number and a PIN that you will need each time you want to hire a bike.

Is the payment by credit card totally secure?

Which types of bankcards are accepted?

Visa, Mastercard, Amex and Blue Visa.

Why is a deposit (150€) mandatory to hire a bike? How is the deposit secured?

The deposit is essentially a guarantee to ensure users behave responsibly, avoiding thefts and bike loss, and to encourage users to return the bike within a 24-hour period maximum. If the bike is not returned by then, the deposit will be collected.
The deposit (150€ not debited) is secured the registration of your bankcard details by the Ingénico© system when you enter your bank detail on the website. In the event of failure to comply with the General Conditions of Access and Use, the totality or a part of the amount of the deposit (150€) may be debited from the registered credit card. There must be sufficient funds in your bank account to in order to hire a bike.

Is it possible to activate a short-term ticket on a Navigo pass or on a Vélib’ Express card?

You can buy a 1-day or 7-day ticket and activate it on your Navigo pass. However, the Vélib’ Express card is only compatible with a long-term subscription.

Service & usage

Are the first 30 minutes of each journey always free of charges?

Each time you hire a bike at a Vélib’ station, the first 30 minutes are systematically free of charge. If you hire a bike for more than 30 minutes, you will have to pay for the service in accordance with the usage charges. Usage charges are the same whether you are a long-term subscriber or a short-term user.

Can I lend my long-term subscription card or my short-term ticket to a relative?

You are responsible for yout bike. Therefore, we recommend that you do not lend your long-term card or short-term ticket to anyone. When you take out a subscription or buy a short-term ticket, you undertake to comply with the General Conditions of Access and Use.

What are the customer service opening hours?

The customer service (+33 1 30 79 79 30) is open Monday to Friday from 8am to 10pm, Saturday from 9am to 10pm and Saturday from 9am to 7pm.

How can I make sure that my bike is correctly returned?

The bike post lets you know when the bike has been properly connected back on the stand or not.

1. Wait for the light transition green - orange - green. Two successive beeps confirm that the bike is locked correctly. If the light turns red, it means that your bike is not properly locked. In that case, lift the bike up into the saddle to lock your bike correctly. If it works, the light turns green.
2. Any doubt? Identify yourself at the terminal and print a receipt. If you are able to do so, it means that your bike is locked correctly.
3. In the event of a problem, confirm the restitution of your bike at the terminal. Thus, the restitution of your bike will be registered in our system.

How can I check availability of bikes and parking?

You can see how many spaces and bikes are available in nearby stations in real-time by looking at the display at the terminals or on the website. If you have an iPhone, the Vélib’ application also enables you to check the interactive map of Vélib’ stations, their position, and obtain information about the availability of bikes and parking, as well as finding out which is the nearest station.

There is no parking left, what shall I do to return my bike?

Identify yourself at the terminal and benefit from 15 extra free minutes in order to return your bike to another station. Find out where is the nearest station and obtain information about the availability of bikes and parking.

What is a “V+ station”?

V+ stations enable you to gain 15 extra free minutes (bonus) each time you return your bike to one of the elevated stations! For example, if your journey lasts 40 minutes, thanks to your bonus, you will not have to pay for the 10 minutes overtime. Make sure you return your bike to a V+ station which is different from the one where you have released your bike otherwise you will not benefit from the 15 extra free minutes. Long-term subscribers can hold bonus for later use whereas short-term users are not able to do so.

How does the anti-theft device work?

An anti-theft device is provided for when you need to make short stops. Insert the end of the anti-theft device into the lock and remove the key. To release the lock, simply replace the key. If you need to make a longer stop, we recommend that you return your bike to the nearest station. Actually, it is more secure.