June 21, 1925 was the day when the first taxis appeared on the streets of Moscow - French "Renos" and Italian "Fiats". In 1932 they were substituted by the Russian Gaz-A. Today according to the rules of the city of Moscow taxis are considered to be different kinds of vehicles notwithstanding the type of ownership or automobile brand.
Here we list only those services which will provide a "taxi" or "car with driver" within 2 hours when ordered by phone or places to find taxis.
Types of Taxis: There are official taxis, private taxis, and private cars. All are called taxis. Furthermore, there is little real difference between renting a car by the hour or day with a driver and taking a taxi, except that taxis are for specific destinations and car rentals are for time. Even taxis can be hired by the hour.
Official taxis are usually yellow color and can be identified by a small green light on the windshield. They have checkered emblems on the doors, and may have yellow domed lights on the roofs.
Many private cars also stop to pick up passengers, often by drivers going to work or on business. Taking private cars for taxis, however, can be risky and is only for the adventuresome who know some Russian. Evaluate all drivers carefully. Travel in two’s and never get into cars already occupied by two people.
Hailing and Negotiating: To hail a taxi that looks OK, hold out your arm, palm down slightly tilted down. Tell or show the driver the address (written in Russian) where you are going and ask the price. It will often be higher than normal if you are not Russian. You can often bring the price down if you say that it is too much and begin to walk away. There will usually be another taxi. Unless, of course, it is 2 a.m. and pouring rain. The market works here.
Ordering an Official Taxi: Even though most taxis are being "privatized", ordering an official taxi usually works quite efficiently in the city center during the day. Officially, two hour notice is required, but often they come within a few minutes. All taxi services listed below work 24 hours per day.