From personal experience: My journey working in a taxi.
In my childhood, the word "taxi" typically conjured images of a yellow car with a distinctive cone on the roof or a burly man in a "Lanos" by the train station exit. O tempora, o mores!
Today, the transportation sector has been completely redefined under the influence of technological advancement. Short phone numbers for calling a taxi, colorful conversations with drivers, and Russian chanson on the radio have nearly vanished. The entire process of hailing a modern taxi boils down to two taps on a smartphone screen, with the market divided among a few companies.
Alongside this, working in a taxi has become one of the most accessible side jobs for those holding a driver's license. The most popular services promise up to 50,000 UAH in monthly income with virtually no obligations. A driver can register their profile and delete it at any time.
EP decided to find out firsthand how much one can realistically earn and lose while working in a taxi.
Choosing a Service
In 2023, the number of drivers collaborating with taxi aggregators was around 300,000 people. According to data from Monobank's dashboard, the top two spots in this market are held by services Uklon and Bolt. The former leader, Uber, has now dropped to third place and continues to lose ground.
In a comment to EP, representatives from Bolt noted that over 100,000 active drivers are registered in their app, while Uklon did not respond to the inquiry; however, the latest information suggests that over 80,000 drivers are working with their service.
The commission rates for Uklon and Bolt are fixed for different cities, with the highest being in Kyiv - 23% and 25% of the trip cost, respectively.
All three services offer roughly the same features and income potential. I randomly selected one of the services.
Working Conditions
The most popular services do not provide transportation services; they essentially act as a bridge connecting passengers and self-employed drivers.
This business model is termed ridesharing. Its main distinction from traditional taxis is that the company aids drivers in finding passengers and vice versa. Ridesharing companies (also known as taxi aggregators) began "capturing" markets starting in the 2010s.
Since taxi aggregators do not employ drivers, they place all responsibility for tax payments on them. Furthermore, according to the public offer agreement, Uklon and Bolt can "report" drivers to the tax authorities by providing them with all information about their earnings.
Legally, if Uklon drivers are not registered as individual entrepreneurs (IE), they are required to submit an annual income declaration, indicating their earnings for the year and calculating the tax amount: 18% on individual income and a 5% military tax. Most drivers do not do this.
However, it is not only about taxes. The driver bears full responsibility for the trip and the passenger. Services may voluntarily assist in certain situations, but in the event of vehicle damage (if using their own car), or harm caused by a passenger, the driver will primarily have to handle it themselves.
On the other hand, driver work is hardly regulated: they can work for as little as one hour or as much as 24 hours a day. However, as of 2023, Bolt may impose restrictions on driver working hours. Nonetheless, there are no prohibitions against switching services during the workday.
Forget the Word "Taxi Driver"
Starting to work as a taxi driver, or rather, a "driver," is easier than registering as an individual entrepreneur. From the moment of registration with the most popular services to receiving the first order, less than a day may pass.
To register, a basic set of documents is required: a driver's license, individual tax number, vehicle registration certificate, insurance policy, and payment details. I was also asked to take photos of the car and its interior, as well as upload a personal photo.
5The algorithms assigned my 2015 Ford Fusion a "comfort" class, allowing it to receive more expensive orders. The app also offers to specify additional services: silence in the cabin, transporting pets, knowledge of English, greeting passengers with a sign.
About 65-80% of drivers work in taxi aggregators using their own cars , as reported by EP by Bolt's taxi department head Sergey Pavlik.
In recent years, the vetting process for drivers has simplified. Ridesharing company representatives were not interested in my psychological state, whether I had any protocols under Article 130 of the Code of Ukraine on Administrative Offenses (driving under the influence), or any criminal records. No interview was conducted, and they did not inquire about my driving experience, even though I have only one year: my license is still temporary.
This approach contrasts with the time when taxi aggregators first entered the Ukrainian market. For instance, to become an Uber driver in 2016 , one had to be at least 21 years old, have three years of driving experience, a certificate of no criminal record, and a passenger transport license.
By the way, today neither Uklon nor Bolt require a transport service license from drivers upon registration, which allows them to drive in public transport lanes. However, in the contract with the driver, the company places the responsibility on them to possess such a license.
Moreover, the services highlight drivers with such a license as a distinct service type, positioning them as a faster ride option, even though legally it should be held by every taxi driver.
The State Service for Transport Safety, which issues taxi licenses, noted that as of early 2025, only 9,629 citizens held such documents.
However, what complaints can there be? When registering in the app, it does not indicate that I am applying to work in a taxi.
Preparation
On the morning of my first working day, I was overwhelmed with emotions. I felt like the hero of Martin Scorsese's film "Taxi Driver" and chose the persona of a mysterious and stylish driver. Simultaneously, I thought of my grandfather's disappointment when he learns what his once-beloved Ford is involved in.
During my first visit to the gas station as a taxi driver, I met a colleague. It turned out to be one of the few places where drivers could meet, exchange experiences, and offer advice.
6Maxim (name changed) has been working with Uklon and Bolt for over five months, so it would have been a significant oversight not to ask him for advice on my first trip. He explained the app's functionality much better than any operator could. Uklon and Bolt have a loyalty program for drivers, allowing them to receive discounts on food, car parts, car washes, and, most importantly, fuel.
The instructions for applying discounts differ depending on the service, but the conditions are almost identical. A driver can save up to 5 UAH per liter of fuel, with limitations on the number of refuels per day and the total number of liters used per month.
7 8Let's get to know the service better. Inside the driver app, there is an internal balance from which the service deducts its commission. Funds from this balance cannot be withdrawn to a card, and if it’s negative, the driver cannot accept new orders. The balance can be topped up