A vehicle card must be applied for if you wish to provide taxi services.
A vehicle card certifies the right to use the vehicle specified in the vehicle card for the provision of taxi service. The document is issued to carriers holding a taxi licence or private persons holding a service provider card.
A vehicle card is granted for an unspecified term, unless the applicant requests it for a fixed term.
Vehicle cards are not granted for a term exceeding the term of validity of the respective taxi licences. Upon revocation or expiry of the respective taxi licence, the validity of the vehicle card will terminate.
Upon using the vehicle under a contract of use, the term of validity of the vehicle card will terminate upon termination of the contract of use.
A vehicle card is granted to a carrier by the rural municipality government or the city government or an agency authorised by the rural municipality government or the city government on whose administrative territory the carrier wishes to provide the transport service (the service area).
Legal bases
- Public Transport Act.
- Requirements for the illuminated signs, taximeters, and price lists (and their placement) of vehicles used for providing taxi services (regulation No. 118)
- Requirements for indicating the name of the carrier, route name, and number on a vehicle (regulation No. 119)
- The conditions and procedure for the adaptation of taximeters, the permitted error limits upon using a taximeter, and the value of the transition speed upon switching from the time-based fee to the fare per kilometre and vice versa (regulation No. 123)
- The legislation on taxi services put in place by local authorities (if adopted)
Requirements for the applicant
Applicants for a vehicle card must meet the following requirements:
- the applicant holds a taxi licence or a service provider card in the register of economic activities
- the carrier is entered in the commercial register or the non-profit associations and foundations register
- the carrier does not have any non-staggered tax arrears and has not been declared bankrupt
- the applicant owns a motor vehicle that has been entered in the motor register and passed a roadworthiness test (technical inspection of the taxi)
- if the service is provided without the intermediation of an information society service:
- the applicant owns a motor vehicle that visibly displays on the outer right side
- the name of the carrier or the carrier’s trademark that has been granted protection for the purposes of section 5 of the Trade Marks Act or the trademark which the carrier has been granted to use under a contract
- the applicant owns a motor vehicle that is equipped with an illuminated sign, taximeter, price list, and printer
- the applicant has paid the state fee prescribed for reviewing the application for the vehicle card
Cross-border operation
Where taxi services are to be provided in the service area of a local authority other than the one that granted the taxi licence, service provider card or vehicle card, it is allowed, provided that the requirements established in the service area of the other local authority are followed (subsection 3 of § 65 of the Public Transport Act.
Submission of the application
The following documents must be submitted to receive a vehicle card:
- An application (containing the contact details of the applicant, including the telephone number, e-mail address, and postal address).
- If the applicant is a legal person, the name and registry code.
- If the applicant is a self-employed person, the name and registry code of the applicant.
- If the applicant wants that the term of validity of the licence granted to the applicant be limited in comparison with the term of validity set out in the Act, the requested term of validity of the licence must be submitted.
- The contract of use of the vehicle if the applicant is not the owner of the vehicle or a user of the vehicle specified in the registration certificate.
- The number of the taxi licence of the carrier where the vehicle card is applied for by a service card holder who is not a carrier
- The taximeter adaptation certificate, which may be submitted just before the granting of the vehicle card.
Contact your respective local government agency to receive information about the submission of documents that are required to apply for a vehicle card.
Payment of the state fee
Prior to submitting an application for a vehicle card, the prescribed state fee of 20 euros must be paid.
Processing the application
- The processing time of an application is up to 7 calendar days.
- Operators are notified of the issue of their activity licences by regular mail or e-mail.
- Vehicle cards are electronic and not issued on paper.
- If an application contains deficiencies, the applicant will be granted a reasonable time limit for eliminating these deficiencies. The time limit set for reviewing the application will be suspended until the deficiencies have been eliminated.
- A vehicle card is granted for an unspecified term, unless the applicant requests it for a shorter term. Vehicle cards are not granted for a term exceeding the term of validity of the respective taxi licence. Upon revocation or expiry of the respective taxi licence, the validity of the vehicle card will terminate.
- Upon using the vehicle under a contract of use, the term of validity of the vehicle card will terminate upon termination of the contract of use.
- Upon expiry of the term of validity of a vehicle card, a new vehicle card may be applied for provided that all requirements for applicants are met.
- If applicants fail to eliminate the deficiencies contained in their applications during the time limit granted, the application may be dismissed.
Temporary suspension and termination of economic activities
The carrier must submit a written application to the issuer of the respective activity licence to suspend the term of validity of the vehicle card for a specific time or to revoke it.
Revocation of the activity licence
The issuer of a vehicle card may make a precept to the holder thereof to eliminate deficiencies or may suspend the validity of the vehicle card for a fixed term or revoke the vehicle card if:
- the carrier submits a request to that effect;
- the holder of the vehicle card does not meet the requirements established to the holder;
- the data of the holder of the vehicle card do not match those indicated on the licence;
- a driver of a public transport vehicle employed by the taxi licence holder has, in relation to professional activities, been convicted of
- a criminal offence specified in §§ 422–424 of the Penal Code;
- a misdemeanour specified in subsection 2 of § 221, subsection 2 of § 222, §§ 223–226, subsections 2 to 4 of § 227, subsection 2 of § 230, §§ 234–237 or subsection 2 of § 242 of the Traffic Act; and
- the records of the penalties referred to have not been deleted from the criminal records database in accordance with the Criminal Records Database Act;
- upon applying for a vehicle card, the applicant has knowingly given false information that influenced the decision process concerning the application.
Supervision
Supervision over whether the holder of a taxi licence meets the requirements established to the holder during the term of validity of the activity licence is exercised by the city or rural municipality governments that issued the respective licence. The Police and Border Guard Board exercises supervision over whether carriers have their vehicle cards with them on the road.
Contact details
The respective city or rural municipality governments.
Additional information
Katrin Tambur, Ministry of Regional Affairs and Agriculture, tel: 5851 6035 (on business days from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m), e-mail: [email protected]
Registry information and technical questions
Register of Economic Activities, tel: +372 668 7080, e-mail: [email protected]