Whether a taxi driver is a freelancer depends on the specific business model they operate under, as the industry is a mix of independent contractors and employees. Many drivers are "independent owner-operators" who own their vehicle and medallions, making them true freelancers who keep all their fares after paying for fuel and maintenance. Others operate as "lease drivers," where they pay a daily or weekly "gate fee" to a taxi company to use a car and dispatch system; these are still technically independent contractors (freelancers) because they set their own hours and are responsible for their own taxes. However, in some cities and specific "black car" fleets, drivers are "W-2 employees" with set shifts, hourly wages, and benefits. In the era of ride-sharing apps, the line has blurred, but the vast majority of traditional taxi drivers around the world operate as small-business owners or solo freelancers within a larger regulatory framework.