How the German taxi and Mietwagen operator exam works: parts, points, fees
Reminder: the exam is held in German only (IHK Berlin, IHK Köln and the exam regulations of IHK Braunschweig, read on 14.11.2026). Terms in German are given first, with the English meaning next to them.
Two levels of rules
The law fixes percentages (§ 4 PBZugV). The chambers turn them into points. The point totals below come from the exam regulations of IHK Braunschweig (27.11.2017) and from the pages of IHK Berlin and IHK Köln. Other chambers may use other totals, so check yours.
| Part | Content | Time | Points | Share | Minimum (50 %) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Written questions (schriftliche Fragen): multiple choice and short direct answers | 60 min | 60 | 40 % | 30 |
| 2 | Exercises and case studies (Übungen und Fallstudien), including calculation tasks | 60 min | 52.5 | 35 % | 26.25 |
| 3 | Oral exam (mündliche Prüfung) | up to 30 min | 37.5 | 25 % | 18.75 |
| Total | 150 | 100 % | 90 (60 %) to pass |
The pass rules
| Rule | What it says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Pass | At least 60 % of all possible points and at least 50 % in every part | § 4 Abs. 4 PBZugV |
| Oral exam waived | If the two written parts alone reach 60 % of the total, which is 90 points (80 % of the 112.5 written points) | § 4 Abs. 5 S. 2 PBZugV |
| No oral exam, and no pass | If a written part is below 50 % | § 4 Abs. 5 S. 1 PBZugV |
| Admission to the oral exam | At least 50 % in both written parts (30 and 26.25 points) | § 12 Abs. 2 PO IHK Braunschweig |
| The 50 % floor | applies to the oral part too | § 12 Abs. 4 PO IHK Braunschweig |
Oral points you need = the larger of (90 minus your written points) and 18.75.
Three examples
- Part 1: 48, Part 2: 46. Total 94. Both parts are above their floors (30 and 26.25) and the total is at least 90: you pass, and the oral exam is waived.
- Part 1: 36, Part 2: 33. Total 69. Both parts are above their floors, but 69 is below 90. The gap is 90 − 69 = 21, which is more than 18.75, so you need 21 oral points. With 21 you reach exactly 90 and pass.
- Part 1: 28.5, Part 2: 51. Total 79.5. Part 1 is below 30, so the exam is failed. There is no oral exam, and the strong Part 2 cannot make up for it.
What is examined
The topics are listed in Anlage 3 of the PBZugV. The weights in the written parts come from the exam regulations of IHK Braunschweig (§ 7 Abs. 3).
| Area (Sachgebiet) | Weight | Typical content |
|---|---|---|
| Recht (law) | 25 % | Passenger transport law and tariffs, road traffic law, working time, social insurance, contract law basics, tax basics |
| Kaufmännische und finanzielle Führung (business and finance) | 35 % | Payments, fares, profitability, bookkeeping with a cash book, insurance |
| Technischer Betrieb und Betriebsdurchführung (vehicles and operation) | 15 % | Registration, equipment, servicing and inspection, radio |
| Verkehrssicherheit, Unfallverhütung, Umweltschutz (road safety, accident prevention, environment) | 15 % | Safe use of vehicles, behaviour after accidents, environment |
| Grenzüberschreitende Beförderungen (cross-border carriage) | 10 % | Only where such trips matter in the district of the examination board (Anlage 3, Teil B) |
Question types: in Part 1, multiple-choice and direct-answer questions are worth 1 to 5 points each, depending on difficulty. Part 2 uses linked questions and calculation tasks. Half points are allowed except for multiple choice (§ 6 Abs. 15, 16 and § 8 Abs. 1 PO IHK Braunschweig). The IHKs do not publish the share of calculation tasks.
From registration to certificate
- Find your IHK. It is the one for your place of residence (§ 5 Abs. 4 PBZugV).
- Register. Deadlines: 30 calendar days before the exam at IHK Köln, 21 days at IHK Hannover (read on 14.11.2026). IHK Köln recommended registering at least six months before your preferred date. By law the examination board must set a date at least once a quarter if there is demand (§ 5 Abs. 4 PBZugV).
- Pay the fee. When it is due depends on the chamber (page of your IHK).
- Exam day. Bring an official photo ID; the exam regulations of IHK Braunschweig say identity is checked first. Only non-networked calculators that cannot communicate are allowed (§ 6 Abs. 4 and 11 PO IHK Braunschweig). Handelskammer Hamburg advises planning about three hours for the day.
- Result. See the pass rules above. The oral exam, if needed, lasts up to 30 minutes (§ 9 Abs. 1 PO IHK Braunschweig).
- Certificate. If you pass, the IHK issues a certificate (§ 4 Abs. 6 PBZugV). You hand it to the licensing authority with your permit application (page 4).
What the exam costs
| IHK | Exam fee |
|---|---|
| Braunschweig | 170 EUR |
| Niederbayern | 180 EUR |
| Nord Westfalen | 195 EUR |
| Handelskammer Hamburg | 220 EUR |
| Köln | 227 EUR |
| Hannover | 239 EUR |
| Berlin | 280 EUR |
Stand: 14.11.2026, read on the websites of these seven chambers. Each chamber sets its own fee, so check yours before you register.
Withdrawal can cost extra. IHK Berlin charges 65 EUR if you withdraw before the registration deadline and 50 % of the fee afterwards; IHK Köln charges 30 % up to four weeks before the exam and 50 % later (read on 14.11.2026).
Not included in the exam fee: books and courses (prices vary widely and we name none), and the permit itself. The licensing authority asks for further proof of reliability and financial capacity (page 4).
The route without the exam
Professional competence can be proved in two ways: a suitable job in a passenger transport company, or the exam (§ 13 Abs. 1 S. 2 PBefG). For taxi and Mietwagen, § 7 PBZugV requires:
- At least three years in a leading position in a taxi or Mietwagen company in Germany.
- The job must have given you the knowledge listed in Anlage 3.
- The job ended no more than two years before your application.
The IHK where you live checks this. If your papers are not enough, it can hold an additional interview with you (§ 7 Abs. 3 PBZugV). „Leitend“ (leading) is not defined in the rule; the IHK decides from your documents. IHK Braunschweig named a fee of 110 EUR for checking the documents and deciding, and 45 EUR for a certificate for recognised qualifications (read on 14.11.2026; other chambers may charge differently). Some older final examinations count as a Fachkundeprüfung if the training began before 4 December 2011 (§ 6 PBZugV).
Frequently asked questions
Can a strong part make up for a weak one?
No. Every part needs at least 50 % (§ 4 Abs. 4 PBZugV).
Do I have to attend a course?
No. IHK Braunschweig writes that the type and extent of preparation are left to you (read on 14.11.2026).
Can I repeat the exam if I fail?
The exam regulations of IHK Braunschweig say the exam may be repeated (§ 12 Abs. 6). Waiting times and fees for a repeat: ask your IHK.
Do all IHKs use the same points?
The percentages are the same everywhere (§ 4 PBZugV). The point totals above come from IHK Braunschweig, IHK Berlin and IHK Köln. Ask your chamber whether it uses the same.
Does this guide predict whether I will pass?
No. Nobody can promise a pass. The German mock exam (page 6) shows where you stand against the IHK rules, but it is not the real exam and cannot copy the oral part.
Sources
- PBZugV §§ 4 to 7 and Anlage 3; PBefG § 13 (gesetze-im-internet.de, read on 13 and 14.11.2026)
- Exam regulations of IHK Braunschweig of 27.11.2017; websites of IHK Berlin, Köln, Braunschweig, Niederbayern, Nord Westfalen, Handelskammer Hamburg and IHK Hannover (read on 14.11.2026)
Stand: 14 November 2026.
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Notice: Independent learning resource, not affiliated with any IHK. Our own practice questions with source and date, November 2026. No legal or tax advice, no guarantee of passing. Full notice (in German)