Russia has identified a list of cars for taxis. What you need to know

Six months before the law on taxi localization came into force, the Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade named car brands that meet the new requirements. Starting from March 1, 2026, in most regions, they will be included in the register of cars that drivers can drive. What laws regulate the taxi market and what other requirements are imposed on them — in the Izvestia article.

The law on taxi localization

• The latest significant innovation regulating the field of road transportation in Russia is the law on localization of passenger taxis. It was adopted in May 2025 and will become effective on March 1, 2026. From this day on, cars that fulfill one of two requirements will be included in the taxi registry: either their localization level meets the government's requirement for public procurement, or they were produced under a special investment contract (SPIC) concluded between March 1, 2022 and March 1, 2025.

• Cars already included in the taxi registry will remain in it and will be able to continue to be used for passenger transportation. Localization requirements do not apply to business segment vehicles worth more than 4 million rubles. Some regions will receive a delay in the introduction of the requirements of the law. In the Kaliningrad Region and the regions of the Siberian Federal District, it will enter into force on March 1, 2028. In two more years, it will become mandatory in the subjects of the Far Eastern Federal District. From January 1, 2033, only cars that meet localization requirements will be able to enter the taxi registry.

• The degree of localization of the car is calculated in points, which are credited for each individual element of the car, which has a domestic origin. For example, painting the body in Russia will bring 500 points to the car, welding the cabin — another 400 points, for the presence of individual parts you can get from 5 points. This system is described in detail in the government decree "On the confirmation of the production of Russian industrial products." In total, a car should receive 3,200 points in 2026, 3,500 points next year, and 3,700 points in 2028.

• Specific brands that comply with the requirements of the law and can be approved as taxis have already been identified. The list of the Ministry of Industry and Trade includes Lada cars (Granta, Iskra, Vesta, Aura, Largus, Niva Legend, Niva Travel), UAZ (Patriot, Hunter), Sollers (SP7), Evolve (I-PRO, I-JOY, I-SKY, I-JET, I-SPACE), Voyah (Free, Dream, Passion) and Moskvich (3, 3e, 6, 8). Also, many models can be approved due to the production of SPIC. For example, these are Citroën C5 Aircross, Xcite X-Cross 7 and BAIC X35.

Requirements for vehicles and carriers

• The main law in the field of transportation is the law "On the organization of passenger and baggage transportation by passenger taxi", adopted in 2022. In particular, he introduced three main registers: carriers, cars and ordering services. Registration in these lists is mandatory in order to legally engage in transportation. All data is accumulated in the federal state information system "Taxi", accessible to any client for verification.

• In order to be included in the registry of cars, taxis must meet a number of conditions in addition to the new localization requirements. They must have "checkers" on the body, an orange lantern on the roof and a certain coloring, if it is accepted in a particular region. Taxis cannot post information about the route, the starting and ending points of the route, as well as the fare. Information about the carrier and tariffs for services should be visible inside the car, and it should also be equipped with a taximeter or an electronic equivalent.

• There are separate requirements for taxi drivers. Drivers working as sole proprietors or self-employed must obtain a permit. They need a medical certificate, a category B driver's license with at least three years of experience, a certificate of no outstanding criminal record, a taxi car registered in the registry, and the self-employed must also have a contract with the booking service. For those who work directly for a taxi company, the requirements are milder.

• At the same time, you cannot work in a taxi with unpaid fines for traffic violations or with your license revoked for more than a year. Some regions may impose restrictions on nonresident drivers and foreigners — the latter cannot drive a taxi in more than 24 regions of the Russian Federation. There is also a requirement for knowledge of the area in Moscow and the Moscow region. It must be confirmed by answering at least 8 out of 10 questions during a 20-minute test.

How requirements affect prices

• The taxi localization process, which will begin in March 2026, will lead to an increase in the cost of travel. Although foreign cars already on the register will be allowed to be used, this will only affect taxi companies and private owners. Leasing companies, on the other hand, are constantly forced to re-register cars when their contract with users ends. These are the cars that taxi drivers mostly use.

• Replacing old foreign cars with new domestic ones will not only lead to additional costs, but will also not be able to happen simultaneously, leading to a temporary shortage of taxis. This will especially affect large cities, where foreign cars have been more popular in recent years.

• The increase in transportation prices is also affected by the work bans imposed by individual regions on migrants. Foreigners make up more than half of the total number of taxi drivers in Russia, so their absence creates a noticeable shortage of labor and leads to an increase in the cost of services.