Does my proposed plan require me to become a full-fledged taxi driver?
Looking to host an AirBnB experience in my area and I'm being asked for authorization to drive people around. Is this required in Switzerland? I did some research and the best I could find is the 121/Taxi Drivers license - but that seems like a lot of overkill for my purposes. I plan to pick people up in one location, take them to a few locations, then take them back to the starting location. I've done this with friends and family for many many years without question.
Who is asking?
Sorry, AirBnB is asking for:
Are you doing it for money, or for free?
Tom
Yes, AirBnB Experiences are for money.
Then you need a permit/license.
Tom
OK. I suppose my question is targeting which specific permit/license. I cannot find anything that adequately describes what I'm doing. Do I really need to go through all of the training to become a Taxi driver for my purposes?
Go to the police and ask.
ar Monscendrín 3
casella postale 358
6953 Lugaggia
Tom
That document might not exist. Maybe you should obtain an exemption from having to have a work card, which is a document that you could send airbnb and maybe they accept it as a tacit permit
https://www4.ti.ch/di/sc/sportello/p...tiva-dispensa/
Otherwise try having something written ad-hoc by your comune that you don't need permits to sell a tour. You are selling a tour not a transportation service so I don't see why it should be a problem.
Yes, you do. As Tom asked, if it is for < reward > you need a BPT121... though if you are a competent driver you need only to do a theory (with 27/30 Score) & 3-4 lessons by a specialist in taxi licenses. Takes 3-4 months and approx 800 chf. PM if you need more help.
Plus OP will need to install a Fahrtenschreiber (a device that tracks the driving hours) and will be subject to additional regulations, the same that apply to taxi and limousine drivers, won't he?
Yes, you will need also a car that is registered < Berufsmässig > with a Tachograph Unit (costs approx 2,000chf) or ASTRA card and unit (4-5,000 chf). The main difference with the car is that once registered as < Berufsmässig > the BM MFK has to be done every year (even on a new car) as opposed to every few years.
Wasn't there an exemption if you make less than 1000chf a year or something like that? I seem to recall uber drivers with the same issue...
What you are proposing is essentially to become an uber driver... but for airbnb (in fact, when I moved here, I got an uber and he showed me around, and brought me to all the offices I needed to sort out paperwork)
One thing that I'd like to clarify, as Meerkat33 pointed out; I am not selling a transportation service, I am selling a tour. This is not like UBER, and I am not a Taxi. I will be going to very specific, predetermined locations as part of a TOUR.
I am selling a tour, where driving to a location is a part of the tour. I am not a Taxi service.
Uber isn't a taxi service either - it's a pre-booked private hire coordinator.
Tomatoes, tomatoes.
Driving people around for commercial gain requires a license.
Fair enough. Don't think I'll be pursuing this idea any further..
Why not adapt your idea?
I've used AirBnB experiences (and others) before, and some use public transport to show you around, others use local taxis (or indeed, a licensed platform like Uber).
Mainly because the idea I was passionate about required driving up into a valley at odd times. I couldn't rely on public transport, and I definitely do not want to lose a seat to a driver, or throw in that potential variable of an unknown driver for every single tour.
Not to mention that my costs would potentially double by hiring a driver for a full day.
It's just out of my reach right now. On top of all of the requirements, the exams are not given in English, and my Italian is not up to par yet.
Have you considered researching what it takes to be allowed to lend (or rent out) your car to someone else? For example through sharely or some other platform? I don't know the legalities or what you've have to prove about your car, but it occurred to me that if your guest borrowed (or hired) your car for those hours or days, then you could tag along for the ride. Not sure if that makes sense, logistically or legally, but it might be a get-around.
Same thing.
Tom