Checklist for starting a taxi company

This checklist serves merely as a guideline. Consult your local council regarding the order of the steps. You may also need to fulfil other obligations.

For more information about sectoral occupational health and safety, general safety, and the collective labour agreement (CAO), please contact the Taxi Companies Social Affairs Fund (Sociaal Fonds Taxi).

1. Check whether you fulfil the conditions for staying in the Netherlands

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 Coming 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.

2. Register with the Dutch Business Register and Tax Administration

New businesses must register with the Dutch Business Register at the Netherlands Chamber of Commerce (KVK). The KVK will pass on your details to the Netherlands Tax Administration, who will issue you with a VAT identification number, to use for correspondence and invoices to your customers, and a VAT number, to use for your dealings with the Tax Administration. You will receive these numbers from the Tax Administration by post. Private limited companies and public limited companies have to register via a civil-law notary, who will take care of the registration at the Dutch Tax Administration on your behalf.

3. Apply for a certificate of good conduct

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 for instance when applying for your business permit to operate a taxi service. Your drivers will need a VOG as well.

4. Apply for a taxi operator licence

You apply to Kiwa Register for a taxi operator licence.

5. Complete the collective transport declaration

If your business is a general partnership (VOF), you must complete a collective transport declaration stating that the partners operate the taxi company at their joint risk and expense.

6. Apply for a licensing certificate for each taxi

You can apply for a licensing certificate for each taxi to Kiwa Register. However, this is no longer mandatory.

7. Apply for a taxi entrepreneur card

You require a taxi entrepreneur card to obtain access to the data in your taxi's on-board computer. You can view the journey administration and the working and resting times and link this data to your business by using this card.

8. Apply for a taxi test certificate and meet the vehicle requirements

You need a taxi test certificate for your vehicle. In addition, your taxi must have been provided with a blue number plate, a taxi on-board computer and a taximeter, which must be inspected annually by the Netherlands Metrology Institute.

9. Make sure your drivers obtain a taxi driver’s diploma

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.

10. Make sure your drivers apply for a taxi driver’s card

All taxi drivers must have a driver’s card, which can be obtained from Kiwa Register. The driver’s card must be kept in a place in the taxi that is visible for the traveller. The taxi driver's card is also being used to gain access to the taxi on-board computer.

11. Create a taxi drivers registration system

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

12. Draw up a risk assessment and evaluation (RI&E)

A risk assessment and evaluation (RI&E) is compulsory for every business owner who employs staff. You must have conducted a RI&E before your company opens for business.

13. Draw up a taxi information card and complaints procedure

You must inform passengers of the fares you charge for journeys in your taxi, for example, by means of a taxi information card. You must also draw up a complaints procedure and bring this to the attention of your customers.