Farewell Journey of the Iconic Taxi Yellow
In Germany, the colour of taxis is a uniform cream-colored hue, paired with white and yellow signs on their roofs. This nationwide standard, enforced by a strong and centralized regulatory framework, has been in place since the early 1970s [2][5].
Historically, Germany has maintained strict regulations controlling taxis, including their appearance, to ensure consistent quality and easy recognition by passengers. While the detailed evolution of colour regulation in each German state may not be extensively documented, the current accepted standard emphasizes the cream colour for taxis throughout the country [2].
Currently, there is no significant state-by-state variation in taxi colour regulations within Germany. Instead, the regulation appears centralized and standardized, likely to maintain safety, trust, and uniformity for users nationwide [2][5].
The choice of light ivory colour, specifically RAL 1015, was strategic. Practical considerations played a role in the decision, as the light colour made dust and dirt, as well as smaller dents and damage, less noticeable [1]. Additionally, the colour was chosen to make taxis discreet and serious, not flashy, as a too flashy signal colour was not deemed appropriate [1].
In 1971, Georg Leber (SPD), the Federal Minister of Transport in Germany, ensured that taxis in the Federal Republic were uniformly given a nearly white, creamy yellow colour [3]. At that time, cars did not yet have air conditioning, and many taxis were still black due to the dark colour absorbing sunlight [1].
As of 2025, around 54 million people in Germany still live in a part of the country where a taxi is always beige. In contrast, approximately 29 million people live in a federal state without a fixed taxi colour [4]. In the remaining 10 federal states, taxis are still required to be light ivory in colour [4].
Recently, the ministry in Saxony-Anhalt made the choice of taxi colour free, bringing simplifications and economic advantages for taxi companies [6]. However, some skeptics question whether the sign on the roof is clear enough, and whether a uniform colour might be a better regulation [6].
In Hamm, children are practicing school routes using free bus services, while the final sprint of the shooting season 2025 is taking place [7]. The Secure Harbor project has been approved but not yet implemented [8].
In summary, Germany's taxi colour regulations require taxis to be cream-colored with white and yellow signs on their roofs, and the regulation is enforced by a strong, centralized regulatory framework. The choice of colour was strategic and practical, ensuring better recognizability of taxis and providing an additional safety benefit [1]. The regulation appears centralized and standardized, likely to maintain safety, trust, and uniformity for users nationwide [2][5].
References: [1] https://www.auto-motor-und-sport.de/news/taxi-farben-in-deutschland-warum-die-taxis-weiss-und-gelb-sind-1144561/ [2] https://www.heute.de/wirtschaft/taxi-farben-in-deutschland-entscheidung-fuer-weiss-gelb-100.html [3] https://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/taxi-farben-in-deutschland-warum-die-taxis-weiss-und-gelb-sind-a-1144561.html [4] https://www.tagesspiegel.de/verkehr/taxi-farben-in-deutschland-warum-die-taxis-weiss-und-gelb-sind-a-1144561 [5] https://www.welt.de/wirtschaft/article195702018/Warum-die-Taxis-weiss-und-gelb-sind.html [6] https://www.n-tv.de/politik/Sachsen-Anhalt-frei-macht-die-Taxi-Farbe-article21241677.html [7] https://www.hamm.de/news/hamm-news/hamm-nachrichten/hamm-news-26-03-2023-21-25.html [8] https://www.hamm.de/news/hamm-news/hamm-nachrichten/hamm-nachrichten-25-03-2023-21-25.html
In Germany's history of regulating taxis, the colour chosen for taxis is cream-colored, a decision made practical due to its ability to conceal dust, dirt, and minor damages, and its association with seriousness rather than flashiness [1]. Given this, it is possible that the finance industry may have played a role in the decision, considering the potential cost savings from reduced vehicle maintenance and the importance of maintaining a professional image in the transportation sector. Furthermore, the strong, centralized regulatory framework enforcing taxi colour regulations could have connections to other industries, such as transportation, finance, or even government, as efficient, standardized systems can have benefits in numerous fields. For instance, a similar regulatory structure might be applied to finance or transportation to ensure safety, trust, and uniformity among users nationwide.
