New driver status: what the taxi reform entails
10 March 19:46
Ukraine plans to reform the taxi market in order to bring it out of the shadows and legalize the work of drivers. The relevant bill was developed by the Ministry of Community and Territorial Development of Ukraine, Minister Oleksiy Kuleba said, according to "Komersant Ukrainian".
According to him, there are about 9,500 officially registered taxis in the country, while in reality there are over 200,000 drivers on the market. This means that over 90% of the market is in the shadows.
New status for drivers
One of the key elements of the reform will be a new legal status — “self-employed motor carrier.”
It will allow drivers to legally provide transportation services without having to register as sole proprietors and go through complex bureaucratic procedures.
The government expects this to simplify the legalization of work for tens of thousands of drivers.
Electronic certificate instead of a license
The reform provides for a change in the system of admission to work.
Instead of licenses, a personal electronic certificate for a vehicle will be introduced, which will be issued through the Ukrtransbezpeka system.
A QR code will also be placed in the car, which passengers can use to check:
- the validity of the certificate;
- information about the carrier;
- the availability of travel insurance.
Mandatory insurance for drivers and passengers
The bill provides for compulsory insurance for certified drivers and their passengers.
This should increase transport safety and create uniform standards of responsibility in the market.
The role of transportation services
Digital platforms — in particular Bolt, Uber, and Uklon — will act as tax agents in the new model.
They will be required to:
- check drivers’ documents;
- control their access to the platform;
- be responsible for the work of illegal carriers.
Broader changes in the transport sector
The taxi reform is part of broader changes in the transport sector.
Earlier, the Ministry of Community and Territorial Development of Ukraine also announced:
- transport technical inspection reform;
- legislative regulation of the e-Queue system;
- the introduction of electronic consignment notes (e-TTN).
At the same time, transportation services continue to launch new service formats. For example, Bolt recently launched a Driver-only category in Kyiv, which allows customers to order a professional driver to drive their own car.
