Step-by-step plan: Starting a taxi company

Entrepreneurs who intend to stay in the Netherlands must fulfil a number of conditions. You will sometimes also require a residence permit. Our interactive tool Moving to the Netherlands as an entrepreneur can help you find out quickly if this is true for you, and tell you what other obligations you have to fulfil.

If you plan to start doing business in the Netherlands, you will also need to have or apply for a business bank account (IBAN). The Dutch Banking Association has created a Quick Scan to help you find out if you are eligible. Read how it works.

New businesses must register with the Business Register at the Netherlands Chamber of Commerce (KVK). KVK will pass on your details to the Netherlands Tax Administration (Belastingdienst). You do not need to register your business separately with the Tax Administration If the Tax Administration considers you an entrepreneur, it will issue you with a VAT identification number and a VAT number.

You must apply for a certificate of good conduct (Verklaring omtrent gedrag,VOG) from the Ministry of Justice and Security (Justis). The VOG is required when applying for your business permit to operate a taxi service. Your drivers will also need a VOG. This applies both to drivers you employ and to freelance drivers you work with.

You must have a taxi operator licence. You apply to Kiwa Register (in Dutch) for this.

General partnership (VOF): Complete the collective transport declaration

If the legal structure of your taxi company is a general partnership (VOF), you must complete a collective transport declaration. With this declaration, all partners agree that they will receive the same profit, share costs equally, and are jointly liable. These is the collectivity criterium (gezamenlijkheidscriterium). You need the joint transport declaration to apply for a taxi operator licence.

Apply for a licensing certificate

With a licensing certificate (in Dutch) you show your passengers that you have a taxi operator licence. You are not obliged to display this certificate in your taxi. But with a visible licensing certificate, your passengers can see that they are dealing with a reliable carrier. You apply to Kiwa Register for a certificate for each taxi.

You need a taxi entrepreneur card (ondernemerskaart BCT) from Kiwa Register to obtain access to the data in your taxi's on-board computer (step 9). You can view the journey administration and the working and resting times and link this data to your business by using this card.

You need a taxi test certificate for your vehicle. The RDW carries out vehicle inspections. Your taxi must have been provided with a blue number plate, a taxi on-board computer, and an approved taximeter (in Dutch). This tximeter must be inspected annually by the Netherlands Metrology Institute (NMi). You can find more information about registration systems in step 9.

Every taxi driver needs to obtain a taxi driver’s diploma from the Central Office for Motor Vehicle Driver Testing (Centraal Bureau Rijvaardigheidsbewijzen, CBR). There are different types of examinations, depending on the specific taxi driver's card.

Once your taxi drivers have obtained their taxi driver’s licence, they can apply for a driver’s card at Kiwa Register. Without this card, they are not allowed to work as taxi drivers. Passengers must be able to see the driver card inside the taxi. You also use the card to access the on-board computer.

You must register taxi transport with the Board Computer Taxi (BCT). BCT registers the trips, working times and driving and rest hours of your drivers.

You must take out third party motor vehicle liability insurance (WAM). This covers damage you cause to others with your taxi.

Discuss with your insurance company which additional (non-compulsory) insurance policies you need. Such as the passenger insurance (SVI). This covers compensation for passengers in the event of an accident.

Do you have a special taxi? For example, a wheelchair taxi? Find out what conditions your insurance company uses and what costs they reimburse if something goes wrong.

There are risks involved in running your own business and you are responsible for the financial consequences. For example, if you fall ill. You can insure yourself against risks. For example, with business liability insurance or disability insurance (AOV).

You must ensure that your employees can work in a safe and healthy environment. So a risk assessment and evaluation (RI&E) is mandatory for every business owner who employs staff. It helps you identify the risks to your staff.You must have conducted a RI&E before your company opens for business.

• You must inform passengers of the fares you charge for journeys in your taxi. You can use a taxi information card for this.
• You must also draw up a complaints procedure and bring this to the attention of your customers.
• You must also register with a disputes committee.

In between 2025 and 2030, many cities will introduce zero-emission zones. This is an area that polluting vans or trucks are not allowed to enter. Do the licence plate check (in Dutch) to see if you are still allowed to enter the zero-emission zone.

A zero-emission zone is not the same as an environmental zone (millieuzone). An environmental zone, also called a low-emission zone, is an area where certain diesel vehicles are not allowed to enter. Several Dutch cities have an environmental zone. Check to find out if your van or truck is allowed to enter an environmental zone.