If you are planning to work in a taxi service or are just considering it, it’s important to understand from the start that there are two options.
The first option is to work with a taxi fleet’s car. In this case, everything will be explained to you and most of the paperwork will be handled for you.
The second option is to work with your own car. Here, there are more details and requirements, and it’s important to know them in advance.
First of all, everything depends on whether you have Russian citizenship or not.
If you do NOT have Russian citizenship:
Even if you use your own car, you still need a taxi fleet. You connect through the fleet, and the fleet works with the aggregator.
An aggregator is an app through which a driver receives orders. Simply put, it is a посредник between the passenger and the driver. The passenger orders a ride in the app, the aggregator finds a nearby driver, processes the payment, and passes the order to the driver. The most common aggregator in Russia is Yandex Taxi.
Taxi fleets differ in their working conditions. Some take a higher commission from orders but help with documents, medical checkups, and vehicle inspections. Others take a lower commission, but almost everything has to be done independently.
That’s why it’s better to choose a taxi fleet based on recommendations from people you trust. It’s important that cooperation is calm and there are no constant problems.
A trip sheet is mandatory
Before each shift, you must have a trip sheet. This includes a medical check (breathalyzer test, blood pressure) and a vehicle inspection. Driving without a trip sheet is prohibited and leads to serious fines. Even if you are giving a ride to a “friend,” a traffic police officer may consider them a paying passenger.
Fines:
Working without a license results in a fine of 50,000 rubles, paid by the vehicle owner.
Important: Do not register vehicles in your name for relatives if you do not have citizenship. All fines will be issued to you, and this can result in a ban on entry into Russia.
If you HAVE Russian citizenship:
In this case, you can work directly. You need to:
- register as an individual entrepreneur (IP);
- prepare the car according to regional requirements (for example, in Moscow — yellow color; in the region — white with a yellow stripe);
- collect the documents and submit them to an MFC.
Required documents include: a passport, a driver’s license (with at least 3 years of driving experience), a medical certificate for drivers, and a certificate of no criminal record.
For the vehicle: vehicle registration certificate (STS), OSAGO insurance with a “taxi” mark, and a diagnostic card.
After verification, you will be issued a permit with a QR code valid for 5 years. With it, you can work officially and even use dedicated lanes.
Working in a taxi can be a decent source of income, but only if everything is done officially and with proper documentation.
