Professional competence
Usually the IHK exam (Fachkundeprüfung). Alternatively at least three years in a management role at a taxi or Mietwagen company, ended no more than two years ago.
Founder's roadmap · Mietwagen
Start a Mietwagen company in Germany: 5 steps to your own fleet
To start a Mietwagen (private hire with driver) company in Germany you need a licence under the Passenger Transport Act. You must pass the IHK competence exam, be reliable, have a base in Germany and hold at least €2,250 equity for the first car plus €1,250 per extra car. The authority decides within three months.
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Last updated: 27 October 2026
Requirements
What do you need to start a Mietwagen business?
A Mietwagen is a car hired out with a driver as a whole vehicle; unlike a taxi it may only carry out orders received at its base. The licence (Konzession) may only be granted if four conditions in § 13(1) PBefG are met. The details are in the PBZugV, the regulation on access to the passenger transport profession.
Financial capacity
Equity and reserves of at least €2,250 for the first vehicle and €1,250 for each additional one, shown by an equity certificate.
Personal reliability
No serious breaches of tax, compulsory insurance or traffic rules, for example. The authority may ask for certificates and register extracts.
A base in Germany
Your company needs a Betriebssitz (registered base) or branch in Germany. Orders come in there and your cars return there.
Step by step
How do I start a Mietwagen company? The roadmap in 5 stages
Each stage with its typical timing and the documents you need. Lists vary by authority; the Berlin details come from the Berlin service portal.
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Pass the IHK competence exam
The exam for taxi and Mietwagen operators has two written parts of at least one hour each and, if needed, an oral part. You pass with 60 percent of all points and at least 50 percent in each written part (§ 4 PBZugV). At IHK Nord Westfalen you register online up to one week before the written exam (IHK Nord Westfalen).
Documents
- Online registration with your IHK
- Exam fee (IHK Nord Westfalen: €195)
- Result: competence certificate under Annex 5 PBZugV
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Secure a base and parking
For a Mietwagen the base is more than an address. Only orders received there may be carried out, and after each trip the car returns there (§ 49(4) PBefG). Pick it where your trips actually happen.
Documents (Berlin example)
- Lease with the landlord's confirmation of commercial use
- Proof of parking spaces within walking distance
- For companies: commercial register extract, articles, trade registration
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Prove equity and clean records
Equity and reserves must be at least €2,250 for the first vehicle and €1,250 for each additional one. Certificates from the tax office, municipality, social insurance bodies and the trade association (Berufsgenossenschaft) may be no older than three months when you apply (§ 2 PBZugV). In Berlin, cash does not count as proof.
Documents
- Equity certificate from a tax adviser, auditor or bank
- Clearance certificates: tax office, municipality, health insurer, trade association
- In Berlin: bank statement for the last full month
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Apply for the Konzession
The licensing authority must decide within three months of receiving the application. If that is not enough, it can extend the deadline by an interim notice by no more than three months; if it does not refuse in time, the licence counts as granted (§ 15(1) PBefG). The Konzession is valid for five years at most (§ 16(4) PBefG). Berlin's LABO expects about three months with complete documents.
Documents
- Application for a first licence
- Competence certificate (original and copy)
- Certificate of good conduct and trade register extract
- ID card or passport
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Get drivers and cars ready
Every driver needs a passenger transport licence (P-Schein): at least 21 years old, a category B licence for at least two years, a certificate of good conduct, proof of fitness and of competence. It is valid for five years at most (§ 48 FeV). As the vehicle keeper you must not let anyone drive passengers without one.
Documents
- Each driver's P-Schein
- Vehicle papers and insurance
- Order records: keep each incoming order for one year
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Finish: your first trip
Now you connect your Uber and Bolt accounts and accept your first orders. From here on, what matters is that no deadline slips and every trip is properly documented.
In short:
- Competence: IHK exam, pass mark 60 percent.
- Money: at least €2,250 plus €1,250 per extra car in equity.
- Authority: decision within three months, at most three months' extension.
- Konzession and P-Schein: each valid for five years at most.
Costs
Example
How much does a Mietwagen Konzession cost?
Official fees are modest. The big items are cars, insurance and the equity you tie up. There is no single total that applies everywhere, so the table only lists sourced items for an example with two cars.
| Item | Amount | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Competence exam | €195 | IHK Nord Westfalen |
| Konzession, 1st vehicle | €60 | LABO Berlin |
| Konzession, 2nd vehicle | €30 | LABO Berlin |
| Driving-register extract | €3.30 | LABO Berlin |
| Equity (not a cost, but tied up) | €2,250 + €1,250 = €3,500 | § 2 PBZugV |
| Cars, insurance, tax adviser | varies, get quotes | – |
| Total fees (excl. equity) | €288.30 | Example values |
Example combining fees from two regions. IHK and authority fees differ by location; certificates and the certificate of good conduct cost extra. Official German fees are in euros.
Starting on Uber and Bolt
Starting a Mietwagen company for Uber: what applies from the first trip
Many founders start with one to five cars and take orders through Uber or Bolt. That works with your own Konzession, but Mietwagen rules apply to every trip. Orders must come in at your base, each one is recorded on paper or electronically and kept for a year, and without a new order the car goes back to base. That is the Rückkehrpflicht, the return-to-base rule (§ 49(4) PBefG).
At the same time the clock starts on several deadlines: Konzession and P-Schein are valid for five years at most, plus each car's HU (roadworthiness test) and insurance. In the first busy months, these are easy to miss.
Deadlines from the start
Enter your Konzession, P-Schein dates, HU and insurance once. You get a warning before anything runs out.
Orders routed through your base
Forward ride orders, including from your own direct customers, to your drivers from one place. Every order stays on record and return-rule gaps become visible.
Uber and Bolt in one view
Connect Uber Fleet and Bolt Fleet. See trips and revenue per driver and per car in one place instead of two portals.
Timesheets for your first hire
Once you hire drivers, timesheets are built from trip data automatically, ready for payroll.
Deadlines · your first two cars Example
- Mietwagen Konzessionvalid until 03/2031
- P-Schein · driver M. K.valid until 08/2030
- HU · car 2due in 41 days
- Insurance · car 1renewed
Setup
How fast is the software set up?
In about 48 hours. You can try it free for two days, no credit card needed.
- Step 1
Add cars and drivers
With plates, Konzession data, HU date and P-Schein expiry.
- Step 2
Connect Uber Fleet and Bolt Fleet
From then on trip data flows in automatically.
- Step 3
Use the dashboard
Revenue per driver and car, cost per kilometre and upcoming deadlines at a glance.
700+ operators
What does the software cost for a small fleet?
From $5.99 per driver per month. More than 700 Mietwagen and taxi operators use it to run drivers, cars, platform data and their Konzession, instead of spreadsheets and WhatsApp groups.
700+operators use the software
< 1 hrper month on timesheets, down from about 5 hrs a week
from $5.99 per driver/month
- Alerts for Konzession, P-Schein, HU, insurance
- Documented order dispatch
- Uber and Bolt connection
- 2-day free trial, no credit card
FAQ
Questions about starting a Mietwagen company
What are the requirements to start a Mietwagen company in Germany?
You need a licence under the Passenger Transport Act (PBefG). Under § 13(1) PBefG the business must be safe and financially sound, you must be reliable and professionally competent, and you need a base of operations in Germany. The PBZugV regulation sets minimum equity and reserves of 2,250 euros for the first vehicle and 1,250 euros for each additional one.
How do I apply for a Mietwagen Konzession?
You file a written application with the licensing authority of your city or district; in Berlin that is the Landesamt für Bürger- und Ordnungsangelegenheiten (LABO). You attach, among other things, your competence certificate, an equity certificate, clearance certificates, a certificate of good conduct and proof of your base. The authority decides within three months.
How much does a Mietwagen Konzession cost?
It depends on the authority. In Berlin a first licence costs 60 euros for the first vehicle and 30 euros for each additional vehicle in the same application, plus 3.30 euros per responsible person for a driving-register extract. The IHK exam fee and certificate fees come on top.
How much is the IHK exam for taxi and Mietwagen operators?
Each IHK sets its own fee. At IHK Nord Westfalen it is 195 euros. The IHK where you live is normally responsible, so check its current fee and exam dates.
What is the Fachkundeprüfung exam like?
It has two written parts of at least one hour each and, if needed, an oral part. You pass with at least 60 percent of the total points and at least 50 percent in each written part (§ 4 PBZugV). The syllabus is set out in Annex 3 of the PBZugV.
Can I start a Mietwagen company and drive for Uber?
Yes. With your own Mietwagen licence you can take orders through platforms such as Uber or Bolt. The rules of § 49(4) PBefG still apply: orders must come in at your base, each order must be kept on record for one year, and after each trip the car returns to base unless it already has a new order.
How long is a Mietwagen Konzession valid?
Five years at most. § 16(4) PBefG limits licences for occasional transport by motor vehicles other than buses to five years. After that you need to renew it.
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