Cologne court rules rental‑car minimum‑price rule likely unlawful

An administrative court in Cologne has issued an urgent ruling that the city’s minimum‑price regulation for rental‑car trips booked via platforms such as Uber and Bolt is probably unlawful. The rule, introduced in early June, required such rides to be no more than 20 % cheaper than taxi fares to ensure “fair competition.”

The court found several procedural flaws: the mayor acted without council involvement, the regulation’s scope extended beyond the city’s jurisdiction, and rental‑car services differ fundamentally from taxis. The decision is not yet final and may be appealed to the higher Oberverwaltungsgericht in Münster.

While the ruling does not automatically cancel the minimum‑price policy, companies like Drivewave and Bolt, which successfully challenged the measure, are temporarily exempt from complying, whereas other providers must still follow the rule. Bolt’s Germany head described the judgment as an “important signal” for consumer choice and affordable mobility. The article also notes that a similar regulation in Essen was suspended earlier by a court for the same legal reasons.