Russia's Taxi Market Overrun by Illegal Drivers Using Fake Accounts and Gray Intermediaries
Russian taxi services have become riddled with gray intermediaries that enable drivers lacking valid licenses, required experience, or even Russian driving permits to enter the market through fake accounts.
Between an aggregator and a driver there can be multiple layers including dispatch companies, car fleets, individual entrepreneurs, and so-called podklyuchashki that promise quick access to platforms in exchange for a selfie and an advance payment. Ready-made driver accounts are openly sold online for 3-7 thousand rubles.
A telling case occurred in Odintsovo, where a driver refused to transport a disabled veteran of the special military operation. Support offered only a 100-ruble promo code; the driver was later deported, and an investigation uncovered a convoluted ownership structure involving one company owning the vehicle, an unregistered individual entrepreneur connecting it to the aggregator, and a driver with no formal employment relationship.
According to the FGIS Taxi registry, more than 900,000 vehicles are officially listed, while over 1.5 million drivers may be working in the gray zone. Russians make approximately 10 million taxi trips every day.
The consequences extend beyond passenger frustration. In 2025 alone, more than 3,100 accidents involving taxis occurred, killing 143 people and injuring over 3,800 others. Courts apply liability inconsistently, sometimes holding the aggregator responsible, sometimes the fleet, and sometimes only the driver.
Experts recommend granting aggregators formal carrier status, requiring them to verify vehicles and drivers, and introducing joint liability to close existing regulatory gaps.
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