Centaurus or the municipality: who grants the licence?
Centaurus2020 is the digital portal used in Flanders to submit and manage a taxi licence application.
But Centaurus does not itself grant the licence.
The application is sent to the competent municipal administration. It is the municipality that reviews the file, may ask for additional information and decides on the licence.
Operator → Centaurus2020 → Municipality → licence decision
It is therefore also the municipality that examines documents attached to the file, such as the model route sheet (dienststaat) and model transport document (vervoerbewijs).
Prepare model route sheet and transport document for the file
Essential checklist
| # | Item | What to prepare |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Model route sheet (dienststaat) | An example generated by your software |
| 2 | Model transport document (vervoerbewijs) | An example generated after a trip |
| 3 | Regulatory mentions | Documents and system compliant with arts. 33–36 of the 9 June 2023 decree |
| 4 | Other file items | Insurance, registration, technical inspection, COC, operator documents, etc. |
| 5 | Chiron | Connection to the trip database — to arrange separately for operations |
The official Flemish Region page explicitly asks for a model dienststaat and model vervoerbewijs to show that the equipment or software can manage the required information.
1. Prepare a model dienststaat
The dienststaat is the driver's duty sheet — not just a list of trips. The system must be able to keep start of duty, driver and vehicle, mileage, location (if not a taximeter), trips, distances, breaks and end of duty (art. 34).
The driver must be able to generate a copy of the duty sheet; data must be presentable in a readable form during a check.
For Centaurus, a demonstration dienststaat via your software is simplest. Using the same trip for the transport document is good practice for consistency — not an identified regulatory obligation.
2. Prepare a model vervoerbewijs
At the end of each trip, a transport document must be given to the passenger or client, without them having to ask.
Article 35 requires at least 12 categories: « vervoerbewijs », operator, vehicle, plate, driver, sequential number, times, places, distance, fare, total amount, complaints.
Your example must show the software can produce this information. There is no single mandatory graphic layout: content, traceability and readable presentation matter.
3. Models are only part of the file
Having both PDFs is not enough for the licence. The Region also asks for operator and vehicle documents: identity, criminal record extract, tax and social certificates, insurance, registration with adapted plate, taxi technical inspection, certificate of conformity, proof the vehicle is available to the operator.
Once the file is complete, the municipality generally has a maximum of 45 days to communicate its decision.
4. And Chiron?
Centaurus and Chiron do not serve the same purpose. Centaurus is used among other things to apply for and manage the licence, vehicles and driver cards. Chiron is the central trip database to which the operator transmits data during operations.
Official procedure: register on test, send 10 test messages (5 departures + 5 arrivals), then production. That connection replaces neither the dienststaat nor the vervoerbewijs.
Chiron registration · Rittendatabank Chiron (Vlaanderen.be)
In short
To get started via Centaurus, the key point is simple: show that the system you will use can produce and retain the required information.
Prepare at least a realistic example of dienststaat and vervoerbewijs, check them against articles 33–36 of the 9 June 2023 decree, then complete the remaining administrative documents.
Connecting to Chiron is then a separate technical track, needed for operations and trip-data transmission.
Official sources
- Centaurus2020 portal (official)
- Vlaanderen.be — Vergunning voor taxidiensten
- Vlaamse Codex — BVR 9 June 2023 (arts. 33–36)
- Vlaanderen.be — Taxi: soorten en voorwaarden
- Vlaanderen.be — Rittendatabank Chiron
Frequently asked questions
- Is Centaurus the name of the taxi licence?
- No. Centaurus2020 is the Flemish portal to apply for and manage a taxi services licence. The licence itself is granted by the municipality.
- Who decides on the licence: Centaurus or the municipality?
- The application goes through Centaurus2020, but the competent municipality reviews the file and takes the decision.
- Which models should you attach to the file?
- A model route sheet (dienststaat) and a model transport document (vervoerbewijs), generated by the software you will use.
- Are the two models enough to get the licence?
- No. They are part of a broader file (operator, vehicle, insurance, etc.). Once the file is complete, the municipality generally has 45 days to decide.
- Are Chiron and Centaurus the same?
- No. Centaurus mainly covers the licence, vehicles and driver cards. Chiron is the central trip database, to connect separately for operations.
Need models for Centaurus?
Start TaxiGer onboarding: the team checks your details and generates your model route sheet and transport document.