Outcry in Brandenburg: Illegal rental cars flood the streets!

Outcry in Brandenburg: Illegal rental cars flood the streets!

In Brandenburg, an alarming increase in new registrations of cars for taxi-like rides via digital platforms was noted. The state government is faced with an urgent problem as the Brandenburg district council is calling for measures to combat the growing shadow economy in the rental car sector. In a letter to State Secretary Ina Bartmann dated May 22nd, the situation was described as serious. The accusation against the Ministry of Infrastructure is clear: it is too hesitant to act against illegal structures. Around 2,000 vehicles that were being used illegally have already been blocked by the Berlin State Office for Civil and Regulatory Affairs (LABO).

The blocked rental cars mainly belonged to platforms such as Uber, Bolt and Bliq. Since January 2024, the number of newly licensed vehicles in Brandenburg has increased by around 800 to over 2,600. There is a worrying trend, particularly in districts directly on the city limits of Berlin: In a single district, 11 applications have already been submitted for the registration of around 300 vehicles. Another district even reports weekly increases of up to 85 applications. This development raises fears that illegal companies could also operate under the new registrations.

Demands for effective measures

The application exceeds the capacities of the responsible authorities and leads to an overload. The Passenger Transport Act requires rapid processing, but the reality is different. The Brandenburg District Council is therefore calling for a joint working group consisting of licensing authorities, police, customs and tax offices to specifically address the situation. There is also a proposal to set up a common database between Berlin and Brandenburg, which should make it possible to record people or companies whose license rights have been revoked.

The political actors in the region agree: current developments could lead to a relocation of criminal structures. Transport politician Tino Schopf from the SPD warns of a new playing field for organized crime in Brandenburg and supports the demands of the district council. He also demands that the Brandenburg districts be included in the Berlin “AG Illegal Work and Shadow Economy in the Taxi and Rental Car Industry”. The exchange between Berlin and Brandenburg urgently needs to be improved.

Prospects and solutions

The LABO offers the Brandenburg districts support with applications and approvals in order to tackle the situation decisively. Nevertheless, the Berlin Senate Transport Administration states that there is currently no legal framework for effective data comparison between the two federal states. However, politicians welcome federal initiatives to prevent illegal business models.

The situation in the explosive rental car market therefore remains tense, and the responsible authorities and politicians are called upon to develop faster and more effective measures to counteract the shadow economy. The ongoing developments show that there is a need for action to ensure the safety of passengers and the integrity of the market.