Taxi licence in Antwerp: how to obtain an IBP vergunning and comply with Chiron?

In this case, you need to understand three things:

1. the vergunning IBP, i.e. the taxi operating licence in Flanders;
2. the bestuurderspas, i.e. the mandatory driver card;
3. Chiron, the central Flemish database where operators must transmit their trip data.

In Flanders, the official term is not simply "taxi licence", but vergunning voor individueel bezoldigd personenvervoer. This covers paid passenger transport for up to 9 occupants including the driver, when the customer chooses the destination.

This guide explains the procedures specific to Antwerp, the documents to prepare, the role of Centaurus 2020, Chiron obligations and what to check before you start.

1. What is a vergunning IBP?

The vergunning IBP is the authorisation that allows an operator to organise a paid passenger transport service in Flanders.

It is mandatory if you want to operate a taxi, VVB, Uber, Bolt or other paid transport activity within the Flemish framework.

Applications are submitted via Centaurus 2020, the Flemish portal for licence applications, driver cards, taxi vehicles and any location-related authorisations.

The licence is valid for 5 years. It must then be renewed. The Flemish government states that a decision is taken within 45 days once the file is complete.

2. Where to apply for a taxi licence in Antwerp?

In Antwerp, taxi licence applications go through Centaurus 2020.

The City of Antwerp confirms that vergunning taxi-uitbater applications and adding an extra vehicle both go through Centaurus 2020. The licence is valid for 5 years throughout Flanders, but not in Wallonia or the Brussels-Capital Region.

This means one important thing: a licence obtained in Antwerp lets you work within the Flemish framework, but it does not replace the obligations specific to Brussels or Wallonia.

3. Straattaxi or standplaatstaxi in Antwerp: what is the difference?

The City of Antwerp distinguishes two key concepts.

Straattaxi

A straattaxi is a taxi offered to customers on the public highway. In Antwerp, during service hours, the vehicle may park in taxi bays marked with sign E9a and the sub-sign "Taxi's".

Standplaatstaxi

A standplaatstaxi is linked to a specific authorisation to use certain taxi bays.

In Antwerp, an important point: the City states that it is not possible to apply for a machtiging voor standplaatstaxi's. Taxis may nevertheless park during service hours at the city's taxi bays.

This is worth explaining to drivers, because not all Flemish cities work the same way. Ghent and Bruges, for example, have different local rules around standplaatstaxi's.

4. What documents to prepare for a vergunning IBP application?

To apply for an IBP licence, the operator must prepare several documents.

Required documents may relate to the operator, the company, vehicles and the software or equipment used to produce service documents.

According to the Flemish government, the file may include:

• a copy of the identity card;
• a criminal record extract model 596.1-27;
• a certificate of tax debts;
• an NSSO certificate or a certificate of non-registration if you have no staff;
• a copy of the insurance policy;
• an insurance card;
• a registration certificate with T-X plate;
• proof of taxi technical inspection;
• a vehicle conformity certificate;
• proof of vehicle availability;
• a dienststaat and vervoerbewijs template, i.e. the documents or data your software or equipment must be able to produce.

Key point: the file must be complete. If a document is missing, the actual processing time may be longer.

5. The bestuurderspas: mandatory for the driver

The IBP licence covers the operator. The bestuurderspas covers the driver.

In Antwerp, the City states that people domiciled in Antwerp who want to drive a taxi must apply for their bestuurderspas via the Vlaamse overheid. Applications also go through Centaurus 2020. See the official page Bestuurderspas aanvragen.

The bestuurderspas is valid for 5 years in Flanders. In Antwerp, the driver must also submit a recent criminal record extract each year in line with article 596.1-28. The City also states a one-off fee of €50 for the bestuurderspas.

To obtain this card, you must also arrange a medical examination for paid passenger transport. In Antwerp, the City mentions the FPS Public Health and external occupational health services as options for this examination.

6. Can you drive with Uber or Bolt in Antwerp without a licence?

No.

If you work in Flanders under Uber or Bolt, you must comply with Flemish regulations.

The Flemish government clearly states that to drive with Uber or Bolt in Flanders you need a vergunning voor taxidiensten, a bestuurderspas, and the vehicle used must be connected to the Chiron database.

This is a common mistake among some drivers: thinking that platform registration is enough.

In practice, you must distinguish:

• registration on Uber, Bolt or another platform;
• the IBP operating licence;
• the driver card;
• the authorised vehicle;
• trip transmission to Chiron.

The platform does not replace your administrative obligations. See also our guides Chiron for Uber and Chiron for Bolt.

7. Chiron: the obligation after the licence

Once you operate a taxi business in Flanders, the question is not only how to obtain the licence.

You must also transmit your trip data to Chiron, the central Flemish taxi trip database.

The Flemish government explains that the operator of a taxi service must send information about its trips to Chiron. Before sending this data, the operator must register on the test environment, send test messages, then register on the Chiron production environment.

The official procedure includes:

1. registration on the test environment;
2. sending 10 test messages: 5 departures and 5 arrivals;
3. registration on the Chiron production environment;
4. sharing access with the IT specialist or prestataire informatique who implements the connection.

This is exactly where many operators get stuck: they obtain a licence but are not technically ready for Chiron. See the guide Chiron registration step by step for details with official links.

8. Adding a vehicle to your licence in Antwerp

If you already have a vergunning IBP and want to add a vehicle, the application also goes through Centaurus 2020.

The Flemish government specifies that adding a vehicle to a licence is done via Centaurus. Each vehicle must also display two visible licence cards: one facing the front passenger seat and one at the bottom right of the rear window.

In Antwerp, a vehicle change, lost card, registered office change or name or legal form change may require a new taxi card or licence card.

9. Emission standards in Antwerp: check before buying a vehicle

In Antwerp, taxi vehicles must meet emission standards based on the ecoscore. This score depends on the vehicle type, year of manufacture and the date of DIV registration with a TX plate.

The City of Antwerp publishes standards applicable from 1 January 2025, then stricter standards from 1 January 2030. For several vehicle categories, 2030 requirements move towards zero emissions for new registrations.

Before buying or leasing a vehicle for your taxi business in Antwerp, check:

• the ecoscore;
• the exact vehicle type;
• the registration date;
• compliance with current and future standards;
• whether you can use this vehicle in your IBP file.

This matters because choosing the wrong vehicle can block or complicate your file.

10. Checklist before applying for your taxi licence in Antwerp

Before submitting your application, check:

Operator

• Is your business data up to date?
• Do you have your criminal record extract?
• Do you have the required tax and social security certificates?
• Is your company or sole trader activity correctly registered?

Vehicle

• Does the vehicle have a compatible plate?
• Does the vehicle meet emission standards?
• Do you have the correct insurance?
• Do you have the taxi technical inspection?
• Do you have the conformity certificate?
• Can you prove the vehicle is at your disposal?

Driver

• Does the driver have a bestuurderspas?
• Has the medical examination been completed?
• Is the annual criminal record extract planned?

Software and Chiron

• Can your system produce the required documents?
• Is your vehicle ready to connect to Chiron?
• Do you know how to send departures and arrivals?
• Have you tested the Chiron environment before going to production?

Conclusion

To operate a taxi in Antwerp, it is not enough to have a vehicle and find customers.

You must be compliant on three levels:

1. operations with the vergunning IBP;
2. the driver with the bestuurderspas;
3. trips with transmission to Chiron.

Antwerp has specific local rules, especially on taxi bays and emission standards.

If you are preparing your file, start with Centaurus 2020, check your documents, choose a compliant vehicle and make sure your management tool is ready for Chiron.

That is what makes the difference between a rushed launch and a clean, sustainable and compliant taxi business.

FAQ

Official sources

• Flemish government — Taxi service licence
• Flemish government — Chiron trip database
• City of Antwerp — Taxivergunning
• City of Antwerp — Bestuurderspas
• City of Antwerp — Emission standards for taxi vehicles
• Centaurus 2020