Navigating Taxi Services in Germany — Best Apps and Booking Tips

How Germany's Taxi Market Works — PBefG Regulation

Taxi services in Germany operate under the Personenbeförderungsgesetz (PBefG), the federal law governing commercial passenger transport. Licensed taxis (Taxen) have exclusive rights to use designated Taxistände (ranks), pick up passengers hailing on the street, and charge metered Taxitarife set by local authorities (§51 PBefG). Drivers must hold a Taxischein (P licence) — separate from a standard driving licence — issued by the Straßenverkehrsamt after a knowledge test covering local geography, first aid, and vehicle regulations. All taxis must display a registered Taxameter.

• §47 PBefG: defines Taxen — metered, licensable, entitled to use ranks and take street hails
• §51 PBefG: Taxitarife (fares) set by local authority — not by the operator
• Taxischein: additional licence (Personenbeförderungsschein) required for taxi drivers
• Taxameter: mandatory calibrated meter, sealed by the Eichamt, required in all licensed taxis
• Taxikonzession: vehicle-specific operating licence issued by local Genehmigungsbehörde

FreeNow — Germany's Leading Taxi App

FreeNow (formerly myTaxi, rebranded 2019) is the dominant taxi booking app in Germany, covering over 90 cities including Berlin, Hamburg, Munich, Frankfurt, Cologne, and Stuttgart. FreeNow aggregates licensed taxis and Mietwagen (hire cars), allowing passengers to choose vehicle type and pay via app. All drivers on the platform are PBefG-licensed. Business accounts (FreeNow for Business) provide automatic Taxirechnung (receipts) in the format required for §15 UStG Vorsteuer (input tax) claims. Booking can be made up to 24 hours in advance.

• Available in 90+ German cities — widest taxi network of any app in Germany
• Aggregates both Taxen (metered, local authority tariff) and Mietwagen (fixed-price hire cars)
• FreeNow for Business: automatic compliant VAT receipts for expense reporting
• Payment: card, PayPal, or in-app credit — cash also accepted in all Taxen regardless of app
• Driver licence verification: all drivers PBefG-compliant — platform does not operate own fleet

Taxi.eu — Pan-European Licensed Taxi Network

Taxi.eu is a booking app operated by a consortium of European taxi associations, active in Germany and 83 countries. Unlike FreeNow, Taxi.eu is exclusively a pure taxi platform — no Mietwagen or ride-hail alternatives. The driver network is controlled by local taxi cooperatives and owner-driver associations, meaning fares are always the local authority-set Taxitarif. This makes Taxi.eu the preferred choice for business travellers who need metered receipts and who want to guarantee they are using a fully licensed Taxe rather than a hire car.

• Available across Germany and in 83 countries — useful for international business travellers
• Pure taxi only — no Mietwagen, no algorithm pricing, always local authority Taxitarif
• Driver network: local taxi cooperatives (e.g. Taxi-Funk in each city)
• Receipt format: compliant with §15 UStG Vorsteuer requirements
• Pre-booking: advance bookings accepted; airport pickups available in major cities

Phone Booking — Local Taxi Companies by City

Direct phone booking via local taxi dispatch remains common in Germany, particularly outside major cities. Calls connect to a Funkvermittlung (radio dispatch centre) that locates the nearest available driver. Major city numbers: Taxi Berlin: 030 202020; Taxi München: 089 21610; Taxi Frankfurt: 069 230001; Taxi Hamburg: 040 211211. Advance airport bookings via phone allow specific vehicle type requests (Großraumtaxi, wheelchair-accessible van) that may not be readily available via app at short notice.

• Taxi Berlin: 030 202020 — largest single taxi cooperative in Germany, 5,000+ vehicles
• Taxi München: 089 21610 — serves Munich city and airport corridor
• Taxi Frankfurt: 069 230001 — covers Frankfurt airport, Messe, city centre
• Taxi Hamburg: 040 211211 — Hamburg metropolitan area including airport
• Phone booking preferred for: wheelchair-accessible vehicles, large groups, specific departure times

Uber in Germany — Legal Status Under PBefG §49

Uber operates in Germany legally as a Mietwagenunternehmen (hire car operator) under PBefG §49 — not as a taxi service. This has important practical consequences: Uber drivers cannot pick up passengers hailing on the street, cannot use Taxistände (taxi ranks), must return to their registered depot (Betriebssitz) after each ride — the return-to-depot rule (§49(4) PBefG) — and must charge fixed prices set before the journey begins rather than using a Taxameter. UberX, UberBlack, and Uber Comfort are all Mietwagen services in Germany. UberTaxi, where available, dispatches licensed taxis.

• §49 PBefG: Mietwagenunternehmen — cannot use ranks, cannot accept street hails
• §49(4) PBefG: return-to-depot (Rückkehrpflicht) — driver must return to Betriebssitz after each ride
• Uber uses fixed algorithmic pricing — not the local authority Taxitarif
• UberTaxi: dispatches licensed taxis where available — fare is local Taxitarif
• Uber rides are NOT eligible for §15 UStG Vorsteuer if booked as Mietwagen (no German VAT ID on receipt)

Taxi Pricing Structure — Flagfall, Per-Kilometre, and Night Surcharges

German taxi fares are regulated by local authorities under PBefG §51 and vary by city. The Taxameter starts at a Grundpreis (flagfall) of approximately €3.50–€4.50, with per-kilometre rates of €2.00–€3.00 depending on city. Night surcharges (Nachtzuschlag) of 10–20% typically apply between 22:00 and 06:00. Waiting time (Standgeld) is charged at an hourly rate when stuck in traffic. Luggage surcharges of €0.50–€1.00 per large bag may apply. All tariffs are publicly posted — the driver must display the current Taxitarif on request.

Fixed Airport Fares — Key Routes

Several German cities offer fixed taxi fares for airport routes, providing price certainty for business travellers. In Munich, the fixed fare from Munich Airport (MUC) to the city centre (Marienplatz area) is approximately €65–€70. In Frankfurt, a fixed fare from Frankfurt Airport (FRA) to the Frankfurt Messe is approximately €35, and to the Innenstadt approximately €30. Fixed fares are agreed with the driver before departure and override the Taxameter. Always confirm the Pauschale (fixed fare) at the point of entry into the vehicle.

• Munich Airport (MUC) to city centre: ~€65–€70 fixed fare (Taxipauschale)
• Frankfurt Airport (FRA) to Frankfurt Messe: ~€35 fixed fare
• Frankfurt Airport (FRA) to Frankfurt city centre: ~€30 fixed fare
• Hamburg Airport to city centre: no official fixed fare — meter used, approx. €30–€35
• Always agree Pauschale (fixed fare) verbally before journey begins — confirm with driver

Business Travel Receipts — §15 UStG Vorsteuer Requirements

German VAT law allows businesses to deduct Vorsteuer (input tax) on taxi costs for business travel under §15 UStG — but only if the receipt (Taxirechnung) meets strict requirements. A compliant Taxirechnung must show: the date and route of travel, the total fare, the VAT amount and rate, the taxi operator's name and VAT identification number (USt-IdNr.), and the vehicle registration number. Small receipts under €250 (Kleinbetragsrechnungen, §33 UStV) require only the date, total amount, and tax rate. FreeNow for Business and Taxi.eu receipts are designed to meet §15 UStG requirements automatically.

• §15 UStG: Vorsteuer (input tax) deductible on business taxi trips
• Full receipt (≥€250): must show route, date, VAT amount, operator name, USt-IdNr., vehicle reg.
• Kleinbetragsrechnung (<€250, §33 UStV): date, total, and tax rate sufficient
• FreeNow for Business and Taxi.eu receipts: automatically structured for Vorsteuer claims
• Uber Mietwagen receipts: check for German USt-IdNr. — Vorsteuer may not be claimable if issued by non-German entity

Accessibility Taxis — Großraumtaxi and Wheelchair Access

All licensed taxi operators in Germany are required under §47(4) PBefG to ensure that persons with disabilities can access taxi services. In major cities, wheelchair-accessible Großraumtaxi (large-format vehicles with ramp or lift) must be available and bookable. Booking is best made by phone or app with advance notice — at least 1–2 hours for accessibility vehicles. Munich and Berlin operate dedicated accessibility taxi services through Taxi München Behindertenfahrdienst and similar. Surcharges for wheelchair transport must not exceed regular Taxitarif under PBefG §51.

• §47(4) PBefG: all taxi services must be accessible to persons with disabilities
• Großraumtaxi: wheelchair-accessible vehicle with ramp or lift — bookable by phone in all cities
• No additional surcharge permitted for wheelchair transport under PBefG §51
• Berlin: accessible taxis bookable via Taxi Berlin 030 202020 — request Rollstuhlfahrzeug
• Munich: Taxi München 089 21610 — dedicated accessible fleet available with advance booking

Krankentransport — Medical Transport Under §60 SGB V

Non-emergency medical transport (Krankentransport) to and from medical appointments is covered by GKV (statutory health insurance) under §60 SGB V in specific cases — primarily for dialysis patients, severely disabled persons (Schwerbehindertenausweis GdB ≥80 with relevant qualifying marks), and cancer patients undergoing regular treatment. Patients must obtain a Transportschein from their doctor before travel. Krankentransport is booked through qualified Krankentransportunternehmen (KTW providers), not standard taxis. GKV reimburses costs directly to the KTW operator.

• §60 SGB V: GKV covers Krankentransport for dialysis, severe disability (GdB ≥80 + marks), chemotherapy
• Transportschein required: prescribing physician issues the form before the journey
• KTW (Krankentransportwagen): dedicated medical vehicle — not a standard licensed taxi
• GKV reimbursement: paid directly to KTW provider — patient pays €10 co-payment per trip (capped at 2% of income per year)
• Kassenärztliche Vereinigung (KV): oversees qualifying criteria and prescription authority