Baku, July 14, 2025 — An underground business is thriving on social media in Azerbaijan, where fake taxi profiles are being sold to drivers of outdated vehicles, allowing them to bypass government restrictions and operate illegally.
Despite regulations aimed at modernizing the taxi fleet, dozens of online ads offer registration services for vehicles that don’t meet technical or safety standards. Passengers are increasingly reporting discrepancies between the vehicles shown in ride-hailing apps and the cars that actually show up — raising serious concerns about both safety and trust.
Transportation expert Adil Nabiyev warns that the practice is hindering efforts to remove obsolete cars from service. “Unless oversight is strengthened, phasing out aging taxis could take years,” he said. “Middlemen are registering old vehicles in the system under proxy names for a fee. These cars stay on the road, owners avoid buying newer models, and there’s virtually no regulation of this gray market.”
According to Azerbaijan’s Land Transport Agency (AYNA), only vehicles with valid permits are allowed to operate through licensed ride-hailing platforms. When an unregistered car attempts to join the system, it is flagged within the “e-taxi” violation database, triggering enforcement actions.
Nabiyev argues that a centralized and transparent real-time tracking system is needed. “Currently, only taxi companies have visibility into which driver is using which vehicle. State regulators are often in the dark. Shared access to this data is the only way to crack down on illegal operations,” he said.
AYNA also acknowledged that there have been instances where a vehicle with a valid license is registered in the app, but a completely different car arrives for the pickup. To combat this, ride-hailing platforms have begun integrating automated vehicle recognition features. Any violation reported through citizen complaints or uncovered in inspections results in the immediate suspension of the vehicle from service.
Officials stress that enforcing compliance and protecting passengers requires joint action — both through technological upgrades and legal accountability.
