Digital platforms that determine pricing and allocate drivers for pre-booked rides – such as airport-to-hotel transfer services – are coming under heightened regulatory scrutiny across the European Union.
“These services must, according to the Court, be regarded as an integral part of an overall service whose main component is the transport service, and therefore do not qualify as an ‘information society service’.” — Czech Ministry of Industry and Trade, official statement, 16 September 2025 [PDF link]
The latest clarification issued by the Czech Ministry of Industry and Trade in September 2025 states unequivocally that platforms engaging in price-setting and driver assignment are to be treated as transport service providers, not as “information society” intermediaries. In practical terms, when a platform takes part in organising the ride and controls the vehicle and driver supply, it is legally classified as a transport operator and must meet national licensing obligations. Because transport remains outside the scope of harmonised EU law, each member state is free to impose its own regulatory and licensing requirements on such services.
The Czech Republic’s stance
The Czech ministry’s explanation (issued in a written official clarification and made public via a blog post) underscores that platforms operating an Uber-style model must obtain the same licenses and follow the same rules as traditional taxi or chauffeur companies. The ministry even published a list of companies operating without a required Czech trade license in this sector. An inspection of the Czech trade register found that popular airport transfer platforms WelcomePickups and AirportsTaxiTransfers “do not hold any trade license in the Czech Republic. By operating an activity which constitutes a trade without the relevant license, these entities are committing an offense of unauthorized business”. The ministry warned that such unauthorized operations could lead to administrative fines and even criminal charges for large-scale violations. (The official clarification, which includes the list of unlicensed operators, is available on the Ministry’s website.) This move signals that Czech authorities will enforce transport licensing compliance against unlicensed digital ride services, especially those targeting travelers with pre-booked airport transfers.
EU court precedent
The Czech position aligns with the EU Court of Justice’s landmark judgment in Asociación Profesional Elite Taxi v. Uber (Case C‑34/15). In that 2017 case, Europe’s top court concluded that Uber’s app-based service was “inextricably linked” to transport and not merely a digital information service, meaning it can be regulated like a transport company by member states. The judgment emphasized that, since no common EU rules for such services exist, national and local governments are free to impose their own conditions on ride-hailing and transfer platforms. As the European Transport Safety Council summarized, the court’s ruling means Uber and Uber like models “must be considered as a transport service, and regulated by EU Member States as such,” likely subject to the same rules as taxi firms – rules set at local or national level rather than by the EU. This effectively gave a green light for cities and countries across Europe to apply traditional transport laws (like taxi licensing, driver permits, insurance, and safety regulations) to Uber like modern digital mobility platforms.
Regulatory patchwork across Europe
Following the court decision, EU countries have taken varied approaches to govern pre-booked ride platforms, with a common thread being the insistence on proper licensing. Many nations moved to ban “UberPOP”-style services (Uber’s former low-cost offering using non-professional drivers) and to bring digital platforms into compliance with existing taxi or private hire regulations. Here’s how several countries compare:
- France: France was among the earliest to crack down – effective January 1, 2015, the country banned Uber’s unlicensed UberPOP service under the Thévenoud Law, which requires anyone carrying passengers for profit to hold a professional transport license and proper insurance. Since then, platforms like Uber operate in France only with licensed drivers (chauffeurs holding a VTC – “voiture de transport avec chauffeur” – license, a credential similar to a taxi permit). Authorities have aggressively enforced these rules: UberPOP was deemed illegal and shut down, and Uber’s executives in France faced fines for running an illicit taxi operation. Today, France’s model allows ride-hailing apps but holds them to taxi-like standards of driver training, licensing and insurance.
- Germany: German regulators also took a hard line against unlicensed ride apps. In 2015, a Frankfurt court imposed a nationwide ban on UberPOP, finding that Uber’s use of drivers without official passenger transport permits violated the German Passenger Transport Act. Each violation risked fines up to €250,000, which effectively ended UberPOP in Germany. In response, Uber switched to working only with professionally licensed drivers and partnering with rental car companies and taxi firms. By late 2018 Uber resumed service in some cities (like Düsseldorf) under a compliant model – using drivers who hold the same licenses as taxi drivers and operating through licensed hire-car companies. German law maintains distinctions between taxis (which can pick up street hails) and pre-booked “hire cars” that must return to their base after each ride. Ride-hailing platforms must fit into this framework, meaning they can operate only as licensed private hire services, not as unregulated intermediaries.
- Spain: Spain has likewise upheld strict rules. In late 2014, a judge in Barcelona ordered Uber to cease operations, ruling that its drivers lacked the required authorizations and were engaging in unfair competition against licensed taxis. Uber suspended its service until it could comply. By 2016, Uber re-launched in Spain using only officially licensed hire drivers (known as VTC licenses in Spain). However, tensions with the taxi industry remained high. The Spanish government eventually reinforced a 1:30 rule – allowing only one VTC vehicle for every 30 taxis – to cap the number of ride-hailing vehicles. Regional authorities (for example, in Catalonia and Madrid) also imposed measures like minimum advance booking times for app-based rides. In August 2018, Spanish taxi drivers staged a nationwide strike, which ended only after the government agreed to let local governments limit VTC licenses. The upshot is that in Spain, ride platforms face quotas and licensing hurdles: services like Uber and Cabify can operate, but only within a tightly regulated system that protects traditional taxis and requires full licensing compliance.
- Netherlands: The Netherlands also treats pre-booked ride apps as part of the taxi sector. Dutch courts banned UberPOP in 2014, even levying €100,000 fines for non-compliance, as Uber’s use of unlicensed drivers violated national transport laws. Uber initially tried to appease regulators by requiring all its UberPOP drivers to obtain an official Dutch chauffeur’s license (a taxi permit). Ultimately, the unlicensed service was shut down by 2015 after police raids. Since then, Uber and similar platforms in the Netherlands operate only with licensed taxi drivers – who must have a Taxi Driver’s Diploma and a special driver’s card (chauffeurskaart) issued by authorities. In practice, this means Dutch ride-hailing apps are fully integrated into the regulated taxi framework: drivers need background checks, vehicles must have the distinctive blue license plates of licensed taxis, and all standard taxi rules (insurance, fare oversight, etc.) apply. The Netherlands’ approach illustrates a broader European trend: if a service wants to offer pre-booked rides, it must play by the same rules as established transport operators.
Beyond these examples
Other EU countries show similar patterns. Belgium and Denmark banned unlicensed ride-hailing until new laws allowed limited operation under taxi-style rules. Hungary outright prohibited Uber in 2016, driving the company to exit the country. Portugal, after initially deeming Uber illegal, passed an “Uber law” in 2018 that legalized ride-sharing with strict permit requirements (drivers must take training courses and hold a special TVDE license). Italy and Greece also enforce licensing and have conducted crackdowns on apps that tried to bypass local taxi laws. While the specific requirements differ – some countries created new categories for private hire vehicles, others simply extended taxi laws to app services – the message is largely the same everywhere: digital ride-booking platforms are subject to transport regulations, not exempt from them.
Legal and mobility outlook
The wave of UberPOP bans and the introduction of local licensing schemes for ride-hailing apps underscore the new reality for digital mobility companies in Europe. They can no longer argue that they are just tech platforms connecting riders and drivers; courts and regulators see them as providing transportation and insist they meet the same legal standards as traditional transport operators. This includes obtaining business licenses, using trained and vetted drivers, complying with insurance and safety rules, and often paying taxes like conventional taxi firms. For travelers and consumers, the impact may be largely behind-the-scenes – services like pre-booked airport transfers are still available in many cities, but the drivers showing up must be licensed, and the platform you book through might need a local permit to legally dispatch that ride.
Industry observers note that Europe’s approach contrasts with some other regions where ride-hailing was given more leeway initially. In the EU, however, the combination of the 2017 court ruling and strong taxi industry lobbying has solidified a consensus: if an online platform looks and acts like a transport company, it will be regulated as one. The recent Czech clarification is a case in point, explicitly equating certain pre-booked ride apps with taxi dispatch centers under the law. As the Czech Ministry concluded, even intermediaries must ensure every ride is provided by a properly licensed operator and driver, and they must themselves hold the appropriate trade licenses if they organize transport services.
For digital ride-booking startups, this means navigating a patchwork of national laws and obtaining multiple licenses if they wish to operate across different EU markets. Compliance costs – from acquiring licenses to training drivers – are becoming part and parcel of the business model. Companies that ignored these obligations have faced legal consequences, ranging from hefty fines to being shut down by courts. The upside is that clear regulations can also legitimize ride-hailing in the long run: for example, after regulatory reforms, Uber and others have been permitted to return to markets like Finland and Sweden under strict oversight, and new entrants know the rules of the road in advance.
Ultimately, Europe is sending a message that “digital” does not mean “unregulated”. Whether it’s an airport transfer booked online or a city taxi hailed via an app, the service is subject to the transport laws of that locale— more details are available at blog.gettransfer.com. Travelers may still enjoy the convenience of apps and pre-booked rides, but behind the scenes, platforms must ensure licensing compliance in each country. As the Czech Ministry’s recent notice shows, authorities are actively monitoring and ready to enforce these rules. Platforms that continue to operate without the proper licenses – as was the case with some airport shuttle apps in Prague – now risk legal action. In the EU’s regulatory climate post-Uber verdict, the era of “ask forgiveness, not permission” in ride-hailing is over – any company offering pre-booked transportation must play by the book or face being driven off the road.
Sources:
- Czech Ministry of Industry and Trade – Opinion on Pre-booked Transport Services (Sept. 16, 2025).
- European Court of Justice – Judgment in Case C‑34/15 (Elite Taxi v. Uber).
- European Transport Safety Council – “Uber must be regulated as a transport service” (News, Jan. 3, 2018).
- French Thévenoud Law banning UberPOP (2015); Reuters/BBC reports on UberPOP ban.
- German court rulings on Uber (2014–2015); Uber’s licensed operations resumption (2018).
- Spanish court and regulatory actions (2014–2018); TechCrunch on VTC license cap (2018).
- Dutch UberPOP ban and licensing requirements (2014–2015).
- Portugal’s ride-hailing law (2018).
- Other national cases as reported in news outlets and summarized by Wikipedia.
