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"Small Expertise" buried — a symbol without a body.
Officially, the notice to the members of the Federal Association for Taxi and Rental Cars (BVTM) states that the amendment to the Driver's License Regulation should do away with the 'Kleine Fachkunde' without replacement.
Idea of the 'Kleine Fachkunde'
With the PBefG amendment of 2021, the previously required local knowledge examination was abolished. Since then, the 'Kleine Fachkunde' has served as the substitute concept: a qualification proof for drivers in the taxi and rental-car trades. The aim was to create a nationwide minimum qualification to, on the one hand, secure quality standards and, on the other hand, counteract distortions of competition against platform providers.
Already in previous years, however, it had become clear that implementation was stalling: the BVTM had actively participated in the development of a question catalog and contributed proposals, most recently with a consolidation draft of 174 questions in the areas of traffic behavior, robbery and assault safety, and inclusive transport. Many questions from earlier drafts had been revised, removed or added, in consultation with the states and industry representatives.
For the TMV (Taxi- and Rental Car Association of Germany), the Kleine Fachkunde was originally also a central concern, but the association changed its stance over time. In an open letter to the Ministry of Transport in 2025, it called for the initiative to be ended quickly — the project was in a state of stagnation — further meetings would only tie up resources without any prospect of an outcome.
The U-turn and Its Motives
That the federal and state governments now want to abolish the Kleine Fachkunde completely comes as a surprise to some. The BVTM's urgent notice formally cites the amendment to the Driver's License Regulation as the legal route. The compromise proposal to leave the examination only in metropolitan areas was rejected. The association expresses regret and announces that it will evaluate the decision in its committees.
Indeed, the initiative had recently been ground down between unclear responsibilities, delayed votes, and resistance from the industry. The TMV openly spoke to policymakers and the public of a "bureaucratic monster" that could no longer be reconciled, and described the Kleine Fachkunde as "dead".
Particularly in rural regions, the trade had already established its own training and examination systems, so additional mandatory examinations were perceived there as an unnecessary bureaucratic burden. The shortage of driving personnel further heightened skepticism: New hurdles for entry-level professionals could further hinder access to the trade.
The BVTM clung to the project for a long time — most recently through the release of the TaxiTrainer app to prepare for the professional knowledge examination.
Abolition of the Small Fachkunde raises several questions
- Quality assurance Without nationwide uniform minimum testing, it remains unclear how future quality standards for drivers will be ensured. Whether local or in-house trainings will suffice depends heavily on the providers' own initiative.
- Legal certainty and balance A patchwork of different requirements across the federal states was a concern for many associations. The removal without replacement now brings clarity — but how the competitive conditions will develop must be monitored.
- Political signaling effect The decision shows how politically enforceable mobility regulation is in Germany — especially in sectors with decentralized structures and many actors.
The role of the associations or what remains?
The BVTM had long actively accompanied the introduction; now it must assess and explain the withdrawal. The TMV, on the other hand, can position itself as the association that timely withdrew from the field.
What yesterday was still considered a reform project is today dead — at least formally. The 'Small Fachkunde' will not be introduced. In the taxi industry, a phase of practical self-responsibility is now likely to set in. It requires entrepreneurs' own initiative, creative solutions for qualification, and a watchful eye on the competition for drivers.
Content automatically translated.
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