Meanwhile, in Germany, Uber now operates as only an intermediary company follows several legal disputes. German Uber journeys are carried out by car rental companies, where the drivers are mostly permanently employed.

As of early 2026, the status of Uber drivers in Germany remains a complex legal issue, but they are not broadly classified as employees of Uber itself. Unlike the UK, where drivers are "workers," or the Netherlands where recent court rulings have varied, the German market operates on a "fleet partner" model. Uber does not contract directly with individual drivers in Germany; instead, they partner with established Limousine or Taxi companies (fleet operators). These companies are the actual employers who must provide their drivers with a salary, health insurance, and paid vacation in accordance with German labor law. The drivers are employees of the fleet partner, not Uber. However, in January 2026, the Amsterdam Court of Appeal (influencing EU-wide sentiment) emphasized that the classification depends on "entrepreneurial behavior," such as having multiple platforms or owning the vehicle. While there are ongoing legal challenges at the EU level to redefine "platform work," for now, if you are an Uber driver in Germany, your paycheck and benefits come from a local transport company that utilizes the Uber app to find passengers.