"In the last three years, the number of foreign drivers has increased many times. From an initial 13,000 drivers two or three years ago, their number has grown to 45,000. This is more than a 200 percent increase, and 90% of them are foreigners," says Branislav Mašár, a representative of the Slovak Taxi Association (Asociácia taxi SR), commenting on the market situation.
Against the background of these numbers and numerous complaints about a language barrier, the Ministry of Interior has prepared amendments to the law that significantly strengthen the requirements for taxi drivers. If the changes are approved, they will take effect from April 1, 2027. Let's look at what exactly officials are proposing and who it will affect.
Main Innovation: Exam Every Five Years
The key change awaiting drivers is mandatory testing. To get a taxi driver's license, you will need not only a driver's license but also to pass a theoretical exam on traffic rules.
This rule will apply not only to new drivers. All current drivers will have to take such an exam every five years to renew their license. As the Ministry of Interior notes, if a driver fails the exam, their activity will be suspended.
Language Barrier: Customers Will Be Able to Choose a Driver by Language
Another important rule is a direct response to complaints from Slovaks who often cannot communicate with foreign drivers. The new law will require taxi operators, meaning aggregators like Bolt or Uber, to provide customers with the option to choose the language of communication with the driver when ordering a ride.
This option is expected to appear directly in the mobile apps. How exactly this will be implemented technically and whether the platforms themselves are ready for it is not yet known. However, such functionality is already working, for example, in neighboring Poland.
Why This is Needed: "Thin the Ranks" and Improve Quality
Representatives of the Taxi Association do not hide that they support the innovations, as they will help organize the market. According to them, the theoretical exam can become a filter for those who do not speak Slovak well enough to understand the exam questions.
In addition, the association hopes that stricter rules will reduce the overall interest in this work. "There is currently an oversupply of taxi drivers. Instead, there is a shortage of drivers in public city transport (MHD), on intercity bus lines, and also a shortage of truck drivers," adds Branislav Mašár. Thus, the authorities are trying to redirect workers to areas where there is a labor shortage.
The changes still need to go through the full legislative procedure, but if they are approved in their current form, the new rules for all taxi drivers in Slovakia will come into force on April 1, 2027.
