Illegal rental cars in focus: Brandenburg plans countermeasures

More and more car rental companies are relocating their official headquarters from Berlin to Brandenburg. According to the authorities, this move is apparently an attempt to evade stricter controls in the capital. The vehicles in question are still predominantly in use in Berlin, even though they are registered in Brandenburg.

Districts Sound the Alarm

The Brandenburg District Association warns of an expansion of illegal business practices in the rental car industry. In a letter to the Ministry of Transport in Potsdam, the association points to an increase in registration applications. In one district, 11 new applications for a total of around 300 vehicles are said to have been submitted. Another district reports a weekly increase in the number of applications with up to 85 vehicles.

The districts fear an expansion of the so-called shadow economy in the rental car sector and are therefore requesting support from the state. The local licensing authorities find themselves overwhelmed due to the sharp increase in applications.

Criticism of Lack of Control Options

The County Council criticizes that the counties cannot manage the balancing act between increasing workload and the need for thorough checks and controls on their own. A statewide coordinated strategy is necessary to effectively combat illegal passenger transport.

Berlin Takes Action Against Violations

Berlin has been intensifying its actions against rental car companies that do not meet legal requirements for some time. In 2024, numerous vehicles were taken out of service. Frequently, there were no valid permits, business addresses did not match the information in the documents, or forged documents were presented.