You need a license to transport people commercially in a rental car. You must submit an application to the lower traffic authority responsible for you in the respective independent city or district.

If the applicant meets the licensing requirements pursuant to Section 13 (1) of the Passenger Transportation Act (PBefG), a rental car license may be granted pursuant to Section 49 PBefG.

The license may only be granted if the licensing requirements are met, i.e.

• the safety and efficiency of the operation is guaranteed
• there are no facts indicating that the applicant is unreliable as an entrepreneur or that the person appointed to manage the business is unreliable
• the applicant as an entrepreneur or the person appointed to manage the business is professionally qualified
• the applicant and the entrepreneurs commissioned by him to provide transport services have their place of business or branch office within the meaning of commercial law in Germany.

In the case of legal entities under public law, the approval requirements pursuant to § 13 (1) are deemed to have been met.

Submission of application with the required documents

Application processing by the competent lower traffic authority

Issuance or reissuance of a rental car permit

Deadlines only begin to run once a decision-ready application has been submitted. Once the application is complete, a decision must be made within three months. The deadline can be extended by three months if necessary.

The processing time may vary between the relevant lower traffic authorities.

The processing time may depend, among other things, on whether all documents relevant to the decision have been submitted or whether additional documents are required.

Competent lower traffic authority of the respective independent city or county

- Formal application (surname, first name of the applicant; place of residence and place of business; for natural persons, date of birth, place of birth; number, vehicle type, capacity of the vehicles to be used)

- Certificates of employment or examination certificates (proving professional competence) of the applicant or the person appointed to manage the business

- Equity capital certificate/additional certificate, not older than 3 months

- Clearance certificate from the tax office, municipality, social security institution, and professional association, not older than 3 months (from the entrepreneur, legal representative, and person appointed to manage the business/transport manager)

- Certificate of good conduct for submission to the authorities

- Extract from the Central Trade Register (for companies)

- Extract from the Driver Fitness Register (FAER)

General documents:

- Vehicle list, including rental vehicles with rental agreement or leasing list, if applicable

- Proof of liability insurance for rental cars, including risk index (WKZ)

- Business registration

Note: The competent authority may request additional documents.

Framework fee for approval: €50.00 to €500.00

In standard cases, it is

•  €60 for the first vehicle
•  For each additional vehicle, it is €30.

These amounts are not binding for the approval authority.

In the event of excessive administrative costs, the approval authority may deviate from this up to the maximum amount of the standard fee.

Note: Additional costs may arise for

•  Register information
•  The preparation of other evidence

Cash/EC

A formal application for a license to operate a rental car service with motor vehicles can be obtained from the relevant local transport authority.