Brandenburg in rental car chaos: Districts demand quick action!

Brandenburg in rental car chaos: Districts demand quick action!

In Brandenburg, concerns and calls for quick action by the state government regarding illegal business practices in the rental car industry are increasing. The districts complain that more and more rental car companies are acting illegally and trying to evade control. The vehicles of these companies, which frequently travel in Berlin, are increasingly being registered in Brandenburg. The Brandenburg District Council reports a worsening situation and a constantly growing number of applications for rental vehicles.

On June 25, 2025, the Brandenburg Ministry of Transport will meet with representatives from Berlin and the districts to develop strategies to combat these problems. Brandenburg's district administrators are calling for a uniform approach and criticizing the Ministry of Infrastructure for its hesitant reaction. A current letter to State Secretary Ina Bartmann describes the existing procedure as “inadequate”.

Increasing registration numbers and the shadow economy

Registrations for the taxi-like business in Brandenburg are increasing rapidly, especially via digital platforms such as Uber and Bolt. One district alone reports eleven applications for the registration of around 300 vehicles, while another district records weekly increasing numbers of applications of up to 85 vehicles. This development raises fears that the new registrations include illegal companies that may not meet legal requirements.

The Berlin Senate has already blocked numerous rental vehicles that were arranged via ride-hailing platforms and did not meet the required legal requirements or presented fake documents. In total, the Berlin State Office for Civil and Regulatory Affairs (LABO) has taken around 2,000 illegal vehicles out of circulation.

Demand for support

The districts are under considerable pressure to cope with the increasing number of permit applications, but are dependent on the state's support to do so. The district council is calling for the formation of a joint working group made up of licensing authorities, police, customs and tax offices in order to improve control over illegal passenger transport. In addition, the idea of ​​a joint database for Berlin and Brandenburg that records companies and individuals whose concession rights have been revoked is being discussed.

The Brandenburg District Council warns of the danger of the spread of the “shadow economy in the rental car industry”. This could not only endanger the legal framework, but also lead to exploitation of employees and tax fraud. The Berlin transport politician Tino Schopf (SPD) supports these demands and emphasizes the urgency of quickly processing permits in accordance with the Passenger Transport Act.

[Süddeutsche] reports that without clear measures from the state government, illegal practices in the rental car sector could continue to increase. The pressure on the licensing authorities is growing, and it remains to be seen what steps politicians will take to combat the abusive structures in the rental car market. The district council calls on the state to act quickly and enforce the legal requirements to ensure fair conditions for everyone involved.

For further information on developments in the rental car industry in Brandenburg, visit [rbb24].