Shadow economy in the rental car: Brandenburg demands immediate measures!

Shadow economy in the rental car: Brandenburg demands immediate measures!

Berlin, Deutschland - The increase in new registrations for rental cars in Brandenburg raises serious questions about regulating the rental car market, especially with regard to illegal activities. According to RBB24, the number of newly licensed vehicles in the region has increased to over 2,600, which corresponds to an increase of 800 vehicles. This trend led to a letter from the district council to the state government, which asks for short -term measures against the expansion of the shadow economy.

The Ministry of Infrastructure is suspended to act too hesitantly to combat illegal structures in the rental car area. The situation was described as serious and tightened in a statement letter dated May 22. In order to counteract the problem, the district council calls for the formation of a common working group that should also include approval authorities, police, customs and tax offices.

claims to the state government and opportunities for crime

Numerous new rental cars have been registered in the counties on the city limits of Berlin, which means a significant increase in rental car permits since the beginning of 2024. The Berlin traffic authorities have also reacted and have already blocked around 2,000 vehicles that violated the Passenger Transport Act. These vehicles used were active for platforms such as Uber, Bolt and BliQ, as reported by the press portal

Particularly worrying is the observation that many of these newly registered rental car companies are inactive, which leads to reports on orphaned offices and parking spaces. Traffic politicians warn that the stricter Berlin controls could shift criminal structures to Brandenburg. Tino Schopf, SPD politician, emphasizes the need for data comparison between Berlin and Brandenburg to identify conspicuous companies or people at an early stage.

starting points to combat the shadow economy

The Berlin Senate Transport Management has promised support to combat illegal structures in the rental car industry. Claims for a register for illegal companies and a better data situation between the two federal states are loud. The district council has already asked the Ministry of Infrastructure for support to develop suitable measures.

Overall, it can be seen that despite the strict controls in Berlin, the relocation of illegal activities to Brandenburg is a serious challenge. The Berlin MP Tino Schopf calls for a federal law basis for this data comparison to effectively proceed against illegal business models in the rental car area, as well as RBB24. The pressure on the authorities is growing in order to maintain the integrity of the rental car market and to improve the legal framework accordingly.