Public Hire Taxi Insurance

Taxi driving usually involves covering a far higher mileage than a standard car driver, often at unsociable hours and in built-up areas. This increases the risk of an accident and therefore it is hugely important that you are properly covered.

Standard car insurance will not cover you if you want to use your vehicle as a taxi, so it is vital that you have the correct insurance to ensure you’re properly protected. This is determined by a number of factors:

• Your taxi business type - whether you accept passengers from the side of the road or only take those who have pre-arranged.
• Where your business operates - if you operate in the countryside or inner-city, you need to ensure that your policy is extended to the regions you drive in.
• Vehicle type - many taxis have more than the standard five seats and will therefore need a policy that suits these needs.
• Number of vehicles - if you need cover for five or more taxis, a fleet policy will probably be the most effective way of insuring all your vehicles. Read more about our taxi fleet insurance.
• Vehicle modifications - a lot of taxis have been modified to have wheelchair access. It is important that you declare any modifications to ensure you are fully covered and this equipment can be repaired or replaced in case of an accident.

Private hire taxi insurance includes motor insurance and passenger liability insurance as standard in every policy. This ensures that you and your passengers are protected should anything happen whilst you are working.

There are also a range of options you can add to your policy to create bespoke cover that suits your needs, including:

• Breakdown cover, including separate onward travel to get your passengers to their destination
• Courtesy-plated taxi in the case of an accident
• Advice/assistance with the recovery of your vehicle from an accident scene
• Repair to your vehicle in the case of an accident
• 24-hour claims assistance
• Home start recovery if your vehicle won't start
• Personal use cover if you use your vehicle outside of work
• Cover for loss or damage to keys, including locksmith charges, replacement locks and keys, car hire and onward transport

No. All single taxi policies we offer exclude cover for driving other vehicles.

Passenger liability provides cover for any member of the public who is injured whilst they are in your vehicle or whilst they are entering or exiting your vehicle. This cover is provided on every taxi policy issued in the UK.

Public liability provides non-motor liability cover for passengers whilst outside your vehicle, either being escorted or in the custody and control of your driver. It has been designed to comply with licensing authorities' requirements.

Taxi drivers who regularly take children to school are liable legally for the child until care has been handed over to the school. This means that whilst the child is in your vehicle, or even during the short period of time during which they leave the vehicle and until you see them safely through the school gates, you are liable for their safety.

If the child were to be hit by a car whilst crossing a road after getting out of your vehicle, you may be liable for that particular accident.

Most licensing authorities do not stipulate that you require public liability insurance unless you have a contract in place with your local council, but we would recommend you have some form of public liability cover. Some policies include this as standard and some do not - if you have any queries, please call one of our advisers on 01903 875 420.

Private hire taxi insurance policies do not usually cover:

• Drivers under 25; some policies will make an exception for drivers with a clean driving history but this will increase your premiums
• Theft of the vehicle if the keys are left in it
• Unauthorised or unsafe vehicle use
• Driving outside of the region laid out in your policy

Insurers need to know about any accidents, incidents, or losses that you have been involved in on any motor policy within the last five years. This can include any policy where you were the policyholder and a named driver was involved in an accident or incident that occurred whilst you were driving. You will also need to advise us of any claims involving fire, theft, malicious damage, or glass.

This comes as standard with some policies and with others can be purchased as an optional add-on. This type of cover is needed for claiming loss of earnings following an accident that is not your fault and if you wish to claim for loss of earnings and a replacement licensed vehicle.

For an additional charge, we also offer an enhanced legal cover in which, should you have an accident that is your fault, the insurers will still provide a replacement licensed vehicle.