Yandex Taxi acknowledges that driver outflow is not expected to accelerate with the September 1, 2024, launch of a nationwide policy requiring compulsory liability insurance for carriers. This position comes from the company’s communications team as reported by TASS. The announcement emphasizes that, even after the policy goes into effect, drivers will have a grace period of 60 days to secure an OSGOP policy, and it notes that insurers have not yet begun issuing these documents for taxis.
The company states that, according to its data, insurance providers will begin offering OSGOP products starting September 1, and it plans to publish driver and partner insurance offers within its apps as soon as they become available.
Yandex Taxi also highlights its goal of giving drivers online access to all compulsory insurance types. Management is focused on ensuring that policies reflect actual working time and that coverage aligns with when the staff are on the job.
In addition to the OSGOP plans, taxi drivers have recently gained access to short-term MTPL policies. Company representatives clarified that these temporary documents are valid only on the days drivers are actively working.
Drivers can purchase a policy directly through the mobile app that is used for managing taxi orders, according to Yandex Taxi.
The press service also indicated that the company is prepared to develop similar solutions for OSGOP, contingent on regulatory allowances. The intention is to streamline policy access and ensure smoother integration with ride-hailing operations as rules evolve.
Earlier, in June 2023, Russia’s State Duma passed laws in the second and third readings to introduce compulsory carrier liability insurance in the country. To obtain the relevant policy, drivers must hold a work permit, which is issued only after a daily technical inspection and several other requirements are met, including a note on the waybill.
There were prior industry estimates about how many drivers did not meet these new conditions for operating taxis, underscoring the regulatory shift facing ride-hailing platforms and their partners.