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Applying for authorization for occasional bus and coach services

Would you like to operate a bus company for occasional services? Then you must apply for a permit from your local authority.

Basic information
If you want to offer occasional services with your bus company, you need a permit for this.
Occasional services include
- Excursions
- Vacation trips
- Trips with rental buses
A journey on occasional services must:
- return to the place of departure
- specify the route in advance
- apply equally to all passengers
- be carried out with motor vehicles that are suitable and intended for the transportation of more than nine persons, including the driver, according to their design and equipment.
- offer only one ticket for the entire journey
You will receive the permit for up to 10 years. You must then apply for an extension.
For cross-border journeys, you need another permit with the EU Community license.
If you only arrange occasional journeys but do not operate them yourself, you do not need a permit.
Requirements
- You can guarantee the financial capacity of the business.
- You or the person appointed to manage the business can prove that you are reliable.
- You or the person appointed to manage the business are professionally qualified.
- You have your registered office or branch office in Germany.
Procedure
If you have any questions about the procedure, please contact the responsible office.
More information
Legal remedies:
- Appeal. Further information on how to lodge an objection can be found in the notification of your application.
- Legal action before the administrative court if your appeal is unsuccessful.
Necessary Documents
- Application for a bus and coach permit for occasional services with details of:
  Surname and first name
  Place of residence and place of business
  for natural persons: Date of birth, place of birth
  Number of vehicles, vehicle type, capacity of the vehicles used
- Certificates of employment or examination certificates regarding your professional suitability
- Equity certificate
  Additional certificate, if applicable
  not older than 3 months
- Certificate in tax matters from the tax office, the municipality, the social insurance institution and the employers' liability insurance association (not older than 3 months):
  by the company
  the legal representative
  the person appointed to manage the business or traffic management
- Certificate of good conduct
- Extract from the central trade register
- Extract from the driving aptitude register (FAER)
- Vehicle list
- Proof of liability insurance for buses and coaches including risk index (WKZ)
- Business registration
Fees / Costs

The amount of the fees depends on the number of vehicles and the duration of the permit.
Deadlines & processing time

What deadlines must be paid attention to?
10 years Period of validity
How long does it take to process
A decision on your application will be made within 3 months. Processing can be extended by 3 months if necessary.
Legal Bases

This page has been automatically translated by DeepL. We cannot guarantee that the translation is correct.
 The official information in German is complete and correct. 24.04.2026

Applying for authorization for occasional bus and coach services

Basic information

Requirements

Procedure

More information

Necessary Documents

Fees / Costs

Deadlines & processing time

What deadlines must be paid attention to?

How long does it take to process

Legal Bases