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Shadow economy in Brandenburg: rental car market out of control!
On June 25, 2025, Brandenburg and Berlin will discuss growing rental car registrations and illegal practices in the sector.
Shadow economy in Brandenburg: rental car market out of control!
The situation surrounding the rental car industry in Brandenburg is getting worse. Many rental car companies that are under surveillance for illegal practices are relocating their business from Berlin to Brandenburg. This development alarms not only the authorities, but also the municipalities, which are confronted with increased registrations and a shadow economy that is difficult to control. Loud maz online In Berlin, 1,700 out of 4,300 registered rental cars have already been taken out of circulation due to incorrect or expired permits. The vehicles, which mostly have Brandenburg license plates, find their way onto platforms such as Uber, Bolt or Freenow.
The increase in rental car registrations in Brandenburg is considerable. In Teltow-Fläming, for example, 540 registrations were recorded in the last six months, almost twice as many as in the whole of 2024. Potsdam-Mittelmark also reported 276 new registrations by the end of March, which is also higher than in the previous year. This development is met with warnings from politicians who fear an exodus from the shadow economy. Transport Minister Detlef Tabbert emphasizes the need for close cooperation between the authorities in Berlin and Brandenburg in order to control dubious actors. Nicole Walter-Mundt from the CDU is calling for quick action to curb this problem.
The shadow economy in focus
The problems are compounded by the fact that many illegal companies avoid social security contributions, thereby distorting competition. This not only costs Brandenburg money, but also questions the credibility of the entire industry. The Brandenburg authorities are overloaded and have to check the authenticity of documents, which becomes a challenge given the high number of applications. In this context, the Brandenburg District Council is calling for a joint database to be set up for Berlin and Brandenburg in order to record blocked companies. But data protection concerns stand in the way.
How out rbb24 As can be seen, illegal transactions are increasing, which is also increasing the demands on the state of Brandenburg to take action. The situation has worsened due to the increased number of applications and the attempt by many companies to evade control. It is repeatedly noted that vehicles from these companies are often present on Berlin's streets, which makes controls even more difficult.
The upcoming consultations
On June 25, 2025, the authorities in Berlin and Brandenburg will meet to discuss closer cooperation in controlling the rental car industry. These discussions are necessary to develop a unified strategy to support the relevant authorities. Christiane Ullrich from the Main Customs Office in Potsdam also emphasizes that there are numerous opportunities for a shadow economy in the rental car industry. The discussion about effective measures against illegal practices is therefore becoming more urgent.
The Brandenburg authorities are faced with a mammoth task that involves both a high workload and the need to regulate the rental car market. The pressure on the transport ministries is growing not only to ensure the safety of customers, but also to restore fairness in competition between reputable and dubious providers Daily Mirror reported.