Basic professional knowledge on the way out: German states want to abolish the additional exam for taxi drivers.

The discussion about the so-called “Small Professional Qualification” for taxi and rental-car drivers is facing a decision. In an internal meeting of the Conference of Transport and Road Construction Department Heads of the Länder, 14 of the 16 federal states have expressed support for deleting the regulation from the Driver's License Regulation. The vote serves as preparation for the Conference of Transport Ministers (VMK), which on 29 and 30 October 2025 will discuss the final abolition.

Further proceedings at the federal level and by the ministries

After a possible decision by the VMK, the topic should be forwarded to the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport (BMDV). There, the next steps should be prepared. The Taxi and Rental Car Association Germany (TMV) expects that a joint meeting of associations and the ministry will take place promptly to discuss the way forward for repealing the regulation and possible measures to ensure quality.

In the coming year, probably mid-2026, a comprehensive evaluation of the amendment to the Passenger Transport Act (PBefG) is also planned. Representatives from associations, the federal government, the states and the Bundestag are to be involved. The aim is to examine possible adjustments to the law after five years.

Background to the “Small Fachkunde”

The “Small Fachkunde” was introduced with the PBefG amendment in 2021 to create an additional qualification for drivers in on-demand passenger transport with cars. To date, however, the regulation has not been implemented in practice. According to TMV, there is as yet no examination and no binding specifications on content or responsibilities.

The drafting has stalled both in terms of content and organization, among other things due to unresolved questions about implementation, examination contents, and the responsible authorities. Planned examination models, according to the association, had been strongly oriented toward the driver's license examination and had little relation to the actual work in the trade. Moreover, over the years a substantial backlog of potential examinations has built up, which is hardly solvable anymore.

The Association Advocates Scrapping the “Small Fachkunde” and Demands Practical Solutions

The Taxi- and Hire-Car Association Germany explicitly advocates scrapping the “Small Fachkunde.” In the association's view, the current advisory process has remained without result and should be terminated. Future changes in passenger transport law should be more closely aligned with the practical requirements of the trade.

The association also emphasizes the importance of quality assurance and continuing education within the industry. Many companies and head offices have, in recent years, developed their own training offerings to improve, for example, language skills and customer orientation. TMV sees this as a central approach to professionalizing the profession in the taxi and hire-car trade.