The German taxi and Mietwagen operator exam, explained in English
The exam is held in German only. The questions, your answers and the oral part are all in German. IHK Berlin writes „Die Prüfungssprache ist deutsch“ („the exam language is German“; page dated 23.09.2026, read on 14.11.2026). IHK Köln writes that the exam is taken in German (read on 14.11.2026), and the exam regulations of IHK Braunschweig fix German as the exam language (§ 6 Abs. 2, regulations of 27.11.2017). Whether your own chamber offers any help to candidates whose first language is not German, only that chamber can tell you. Ask before you register.
This guide is in English to explain how the system works and to teach you the German terms you will meet. It does not replace studying in German. It is an independent guide and not part of any IHK, and nobody can promise that you will pass, this guide least of all.
The exam in one table
| Question | Answer | Source |
|---|---|---|
| What is it? | Proof of professional competence (fachliche Eignung) for the person who runs a taxi or Mietwagen company | § 13 Abs. 1 Nr. 3 PBefG |
| What do people call it? | Unternehmerschein („operator certificate“). The official name is Fachkundeprüfung für den Taxen- und Mietwagenverkehr | Anlage 3 PBZugV |
| Who runs it? | The IHK for the district where you live; if you live abroad, the nearest IHK | § 5 Abs. 4 PBZugV |
| Points | 150 in total; 90 (60 %) to pass | § 4 Abs. 4 PBZugV; IHK Berlin, IHK Köln |
| Time | Two written parts of 60 minutes each; an oral part of up to 30 minutes, only if you need it | § 4 Abs. 2 PBZugV; § 9 Abs. 1 PO IHK Braunschweig |
| Fee | 170 to 280 EUR at the seven chambers we checked on 14.11.2026 (table on page 2) | IHK websites, 14.11.2026 |
| Language | German | see above |
| Does a pass expire? | IHK Berlin writes that a passed exam stays valid permanently | IHK Berlin, 14.11.2026 |
Two different papers: P-Schein and Unternehmerschein
The German trade uses two certificates. The P-Schein (also called Taxischein) is for drivers. The Unternehmerschein is for the owner or the manager. This guide prepares you for the second one.
| Feature | P-Schein (Taxischein) | Unternehmerschein |
|---|---|---|
| Official name | Fahrerlaubnis zur Fahrgastbeförderung („passenger-carrying licence“) | Fachkundeprüfung („exam on professional expertise“) |
| Who needs it | Drivers who carry passengers in a vehicle that needs a permit under the PBefG | The operator, or the person who manages the business |
| Who issues it | The driving-licence authority (Fahrerlaubnisbehörde) | The IHK |
| Conditions | Age 21; a class B licence from the EU or EEA (or an equivalent one from a state in Anlage 11 FeV) held for at least two years or at some time in the last five; a police certificate (Führungszeugnis) and an extract from the driving-licence points register (Fahreignungsregister); medical fitness; eyesight; for taxi and Mietwagen a proof of expertise, from a body your federal state names | Pass the exam, or prove qualifying experience (page 2) |
| Validity | Up to five years, then extendable by up to five years each time; for the extension after age 60 you must show extra proof of fitness | IHK Berlin: permanent |
| Carried in the car | Together with the driving licence, shown on request | Not carried; submitted with the permit application |
| Source | § 48 FeV | § 13 PBefG; §§ 4, 5 PBZugV |
The proof of expertise in the last P-Schein condition is not the operator exam. Which body issues it, and in what form, differs by federal state. Ask the Fahrerlaubnisbehörde before you apply (§ 48 Abs. 4 Nr. 7 FeV).
Who needs what
| You are | Operator exam | P-Schein |
|---|---|---|
| An employed driver | No | Yes |
| An owner who drives | Yes | Yes |
| An owner who only employs drivers | Yes | Your drivers need it |
| A managing director who does not drive | Yes | No |
| A holder of licence class D or D1 | As above, if you run the business | Not needed (§ 48 Abs. 2 Nr. 4 FeV) |
A platform that only brokers rides and does not carry anyone needs no permit (§ 2 Abs. 1b PBefG). How that works for Uber and Bolt drivers who own cars is on page 3.
What to do first
- Decide your role from the table above.
- If you will drive, read the P-Schein conditions and ask the Fahrerlaubnisbehörde about the proof of expertise.
- If you will run the business, find your IHK and read page 2 for points, dates and fees.
- Check whether you can skip the exam through leading experience (page 2).
- Read what the permit asks for (page 4). The IHK certificate is one of four conditions.
- Learn the German terms (page 5) and plan your preparation (page 6).
The six pages of this guide
- This page: the exam, the two papers, German only.
- How the exam works: parts, points, fees, the route without exam.
- Taxi, Mietwagen, Uber and Bolt: the legal differences.
- The permit: requirements and papers.
- German–English glossary of exam terms.
- How to prepare, with links to the German quiz and mock exam.
How we write
Numbers come first, each term is explained once per page, and where a table or checklist will do, we do not write a paragraph. Every guide shows its sources and the date.
Frequently asked questions
Can I take the exam in English?
No. IHK Berlin, IHK Köln and the exam regulations of IHK Braunschweig name German as the exam language (read on 14.11.2026). Ask your IHK whether it offers any help for candidates with another first language.
Do I need the Unternehmerschein to drive for Uber or Bolt?
Only if you become a Mietwagen operator yourself or manage such a company (§ 13 Abs. 1 Nr. 3 PBefG). An employed driver needs the P-Schein, not the operator exam (§ 48 FeV). Uber and Bolt are trademarks of their owners; this guide is not connected with either company.
Is the P-Schein the same as the operator exam?
No. The P-Schein is a driver’s licence extension issued by the driving-licence authority. The operator exam is held by the IHK and proves that you can run a business.
Does the operator exam expire?
IHK Berlin writes that a passed exam stays valid permanently and can be used for a later permit application (read on 14.11.2026). Ask your own IHK whether it sees it the same way.
Is this guide from the IHK?
No. It is an independent guide. The IHK holds the exam and sets its rules; the page of your IHK is the one that counts.
Sources
- PBefG § 2, § 13; PBZugV §§ 4, 5, Anlage 3; FeV § 48 (gesetze-im-internet.de, read on 13 and 14.11.2026)
- IHK Berlin, IHK Köln, IHK Braunschweig with its exam regulations of 27.11.2017 (read on 14.11.2026)
Stand: 14 November 2026.
Keep reading
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)