OREANDA-NEWS In Russia, millions of taxi drivers have gone into the shadows because of new laws. The Russian passenger transportation market is suffering enormous losses due to the law and taxi and car localization requirements. In particular, according to the head of the Maxim taxi service, today more than 5 million drivers have gone to work on the gray market, where about 11 thousand chat rooms and communities operate.

According to the expert, the total audience of the shadow taxi market reaches 23 million people — these are not only carriers, but also their customers.

The lion's share of self-employed drivers left the legal market due to the taxi law, which was adopted in 2023. In particular, he ordered to undergo regular medical and technical inspections, to have a waybill with him, and to put the appropriate color and "checkers" on the car — for private traders who simply earn extra money in their free time, such requirements are superfluous.

According to experts, the situation can be rectified by the emergence of a separate legal status for the self-employed in their cars, which will free drivers from the same duties that apply to professional drivers.