What it’s about
The Ministry for Communities and Territories Development has proposed a reform of the market for passenger transportation by cars on demand, introducing the concept of a "self‑employed motor carrier". The idea is simple: a driver works using their own vehicle, without registering as an individual entrepreneur (FOP) and without hired employees, receiving orders exclusively through online platforms — and the platforms act as tax agents, automatically withholding taxes from income.
Key provisions of the draft
According to official data, about 9,500 taxis are licensed in Ukraine, while digital platforms have more than 200,000 active drivers. To streamline the market, it is proposed to:
- issue a personal electronic driver certificate valid for two years through the Ukrtransbezpeka system; the cost of the certificate — one subsistence minimum (in 2026 — 3,328 UAH);
- automatically equate existing licenses to the right to operate for two years; a three‑month grace period without fines is provided for obtaining the certificate;
- requirements for drivers: age from 20 years, driving experience of at least two years, no more than five systematic traffic violations in the year prior to receiving the certificate;
- platforms monitor working time — no more than eight hours of continuous driving per day;
- vehicles undergo regular technical inspections; each vehicle will be assigned a unique electronic identifier by which a passenger can verify the driver’s details, photo and the validity of the certificate.
"The goal of the reform is to bring the industry out of the shadows and ensure transparent taxation of drivers’ incomes, while simplifying the registration procedure for those who work through platforms."
— Ministry for Communities and Territories Development
Why this matters for the state and for drivers
Ukrainians spend tens of billions of hryvnias on taxi services each year, but a significant share of that money bypasses the budget through the shadow economy. Introducing certificates and the role of the platform as a tax agent could substantially increase budget revenues, formalize drivers’ incomes and protect passengers through electronic vehicle identification and control mechanisms.
"If the initiative is implemented with clear control and technical integration of platforms, it will provide additional budget revenues and improve the safety of passenger transport."
— taxi and transport market analysts
Possible risks and what to watch for
The reform does not guarantee success automatically: technical readiness of platforms, a transparent certificate issuance procedure and effective control of working hours are required. For drivers — this means additional costs (certificate, technical inspection) and new administrative requirements; for platforms — obligations to act as tax agents and maintain corresponding reporting. There have already been several previous attempts to reform the market — they did not yield the expected results due to conflicts of interest and gaps in enforcement.
Conclusion
The bill could become a first step toward legalizing a large segment of digital transport — but the effect will depend on implementation: technical integration of platforms, the discipline of supervisory authorities and drivers’ willingness to accept new rules. Whether the state can turn declarations into stable tax revenues is a question for the coming months.
