Taxi Permit; Application

Taxi service refers to the transportation of passengers in passenger cars that the operator keeps on standby at officially authorized locations and uses to take passengers to destinations specified by them. The operator may also accept transportation requests during a trip or at the company’s headquarters.

New applicants are granted a license for a maximum of two years. They may receive an extension for a maximum of five years.

Holders of a taxi permit have the following obligations:

• Operational Obligation
  They must maintain operations, including at night if necessary.
• Obligation to Provide Transportation
  You may refuse rides (including short ones) only if it would be unreasonable to expect the driver to provide transportation. This is the case, for example, with heavily intoxicated individuals.
• Fare obligation
  Within the mandatory service area applicable to you, the fare for a ride is based on the locally prescribed transportation rates. The mandatory service area is usually the city or county where the company is headquartered.

Taxi equipment is regulated. The following provisions apply:

• The vehicle must be equipped with a roof sign.
• You must affix a yellow registration number plate to the rear window of your taxi; the registration number is assigned by the licensing authority.
• The color scheme for taxis (light ivory) is mandated in Bavaria under § 26 BOKraft.
• Inside the vehicle, you must display the company address in a clearly visible location.
• The fare meter must display the fare in a manner visible to passengers.

Taxis may be parked at designated taxi stands and may be hailed by passengers, either on the street or at the operator’s business premises.

• The business owner or the individuals appointed to manage the business must be trustworthy and professionally qualified.
• The company must be in good standing. For example, there must be no outstanding taxes or social security contributions, and the company’s vehicle fleet must be in good order.
• The company must be financially sound.
• The company’s business locations listed in the Commercial Register or Cooperative Register must be located within the country.

You must submit a written application for a taxi license to the appropriate authority. Depending on the agency, you may be able to download an application form from the Internet.

As part of the public hearing process, the relevant authority will request comments from, among others:

• Municipalities
• Trade regulatory authorities
• the Chamber of Commerce and Industry
• the relevant trade unions and professional associations

After the deadline for comments has passed, the authority decides on the application and informs the applicant in writing of the outcome.

The competent authority will typically make a decision on your application within three months. This period may be extended by up to three additional months, provided that the competent authority has announced this in a written interim notice within the first three months.

• The following documents are required for a taxi permit:
  
  • Proof of personal reliability (not older than three months at the time of application), e.g.:
    • Extract from the Federal Central Register (certificate of good conduct)
    • Information from the Central Trade Register
    • Extract from the Central Traffic Register
  • Extract from the Commercial Register or Cooperative Register (certified copies)
  • Copy of the articles of association and the list of shareholders
  • For legal entities: Proof of authority to represent the entity
  • Proof of financial capacity (not older than three months at the time of application):
    • Certificates of good standing from the tax office
    • Certificate of good standing from the relevant municipality
    • Certificate of good standing from social security:
      • from health insurance providers with which you currently insure or have previously insured employees, and
      • for yourself, if you are or were voluntarily or privately insured.
    • Certificate of good standing from the Occupational Safety and Health Association for the Transportation and Traffic Industry (not older than three months as of the date of application)
    • Certificate of equity capital and, if applicable, supplementary certificate (not older than twelve months as of the date of application)
      • The amount of equity capital depends on the number of vehicles intended for use: For the first vehicle, you must provide proof of equity capital in the amount of 2,250 euros; for each additional vehicle, 1,250 euros.
  • Proof of professional competence:
    • Certificate of passing the professional competence exam administered by the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) or
    • A certificate of professional competence from the IHK confirming at least three years of managerial experience in a taxi company, or
    • Certificate of a recognized equivalent final examination (e.g., business administration examination in rail and road transport with a focus on passenger transport)
  • If you appoint other individuals to the management, you must submit the following documents for them:
    • Certificate of Good Conduct
    • Extract from the Central Trade Register
    • Extract from the Driver Fitness Registry
    • Proof of professional qualifications
    • Proof of employment (employment contract)

  The competent authority may request additional documents.

Standard fee for the permit: 100.00–1,465 EUR

For standard cases, the fee is

• for the first vehicle: 150.00 EUR
• for each additional vehicle: 40.00 EUR

These amounts are not binding on the licensing authority. 

If the administrative burden is excessive, the licensing authority may deviate from these amounts up to the maximum amount of the standard fee.

You will incur additional costs for registry information and other supporting documents.