Motor insurance
Private Hire Insurance
motor cover for pre-booked private hire work: the car, your passengers and the road
Motor cover for carrying paying passengers on pre-booked journeys. A private car policy does not cover it, and private hire does not cover picking up from ranks or street hails.
- Saloons, MPVs and executive cars
- Operator and app bookings
- Third party to comprehensive
- FCA authorised and regulated
Quick answerPrivate hire insurance is motor cover for carrying passengers for payment on pre-booked journeys, with a private hire vehicle licence and bookings through a licensed operator. A standard car policy does not cover this work. Cover can be third party, third party fire and theft, or comprehensive, with extras such as public liability and a replacement car. Tell MyMoneyComparison.com about your licence and specialist UK brokers can come back with quotes.
This page is about pre-booked private hire. Hackney carriages that can be hailed or use ranks are covered on our taxi insurance page, and delivering goods rather than people is hire and reward insurance.
At a glance
Private Hire Cover, in Brief
Six things that decide how private hire insurance behaves, before any of the detail.
- Pre-booked only
- Journeys booked through a licensed operator
- Licence first
- A private hire vehicle and driver licence
- Car policies do not cover it
- Carrying passengers for payment needs its own cover
- Passengers
- Public liability can be added for passengers
- Off the road means no income
- A replacement car can keep you working
- App work
- Bookings through apps are private hire too
The basics
What Is Private Hire Insurance?
Motor insurance that covers carrying passengers for payment on pre-booked journeys. It is taken out by licensed private hire drivers, and it is separate from a standard car policy.
The vehicle
Damage, fire and theft, depending on the level of cover.
Other road users
Injury and damage to third parties, the legal minimum.
Passengers
Covered as third parties, with public liability for injuries outside the car.
Pre-booked work
Through a licensed operator, including app bookings.
Replacement car
A like-for-like vehicle after a claim, where added.
Social use
Personal driving can be included on the same policy.
How it works
How Does Private Hire Insurance Work?
You describe your licence and details, choose the level of cover and extras, and insurers quote. You keep the insurer updated if your car, licence or work changes.
You describe your licence
Private hire, hackney or both, and who drives, then the car, claims and convictions.
You describe your work
The licensing authority, the operator or apps you drive for, and your hours.
You choose the cover
Third party, third party fire and theft or comprehensive, with any extras.
You keep it up to date
A new car, a new operator, points on your licence or a change of area can change the cover.
What it covers
What Does Private Hire Insurance Cover?
Your liability to other road users and passengers, and your own car depending on the level of cover, with extras such as public liability and a replacement car.
| Section | Where it sits | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Third party | The legal minimum | Injury and damage to others, including passengers |
| Fire and theft | On third party fire and theft | Your car if stolen or damaged by fire |
| Accidental damage | On comprehensive | Repairs to your own car |
| Public liability | Optional on some policies | Passenger injuries outside the car |
| Replacement vehicle | Optional | A car to keep working after a claim |
| Windscreen | Sometimes with comprehensive | Repair or replacement of glass |
| Breakdown and legal expenses | Optional | Shown on the schedule where included |
| Social use | Included or optional | Personal driving when not working |
Extras worth looking at. Our guide to the add-ons for hire drivers covers replacement cars, public liability and more.
Exclusions
What Private Hire Insurance Does Not Include
Plying for hire, work outside your licence, undeclared drivers, and wear, tear and breakdown.
Ranks and street hails
Private hire covers pre-booked journeys only.
Work outside your licence
Including journeys in areas or vehicles your licence does not allow.
Undeclared drivers
Anyone driving who is not named on the policy.
Undeclared convictions
Points or convictions not disclosed can affect a claim.
Wear, tear and breakdown
Mechanical failure is not an insured event.
Delivering goods
Food or parcel work needs hire and reward cover.
Types
Which Private Hire Vehicles Can Be Covered?
A wide range of licensed private hire vehicles. The vehicle, its seats and its value shape the terms.
Saloons and hatchbacks
The everyday private hire car.
MPVs and people carriers
Up to the seating your licence allows.
Minibuses
Larger groups, with their own licensing.
Wheelchair-accessible vehicles
Adapted vehicles to value accurately.
Executive and chauffeur cars
Higher-value vehicles.
App-based private hire
Cars used for ride-hailing apps.
Several cars? Operators insuring more than one vehicle can look at taxi fleet insurance.
Who it is for
Who Needs Private Hire Insurance
Anyone driving a licensed private hire vehicle for pre-booked, paying passengers.
Licensed private hire drivers
Working full-time or part-time.
App drivers
Taking bookings through ride-hailing apps.
Operator drivers
Working for a local private hire firm.
Chauffeurs
Executive and event work.
Owner-drivers
Insuring their own car.
New drivers
Starting out in private hire.
New to private hire? Our guide on how to insure a taxi walks through the first steps.
Private or public hire
Private Hire vs Public Hire Insurance
Private hire covers pre-booked journeys only. Public hire, for hackney carriages, also covers picking up from ranks and street hails.
| Private hire | Public hire | |
|---|---|---|
| How passengers book | Pre-booked through an operator | Hailed, ranked or pre-booked |
| Licence | Private hire licence | Hackney carriage licence |
| Ranks and street hails | Not allowed | Allowed |
| Insurance | Private hire policy | Public hire policy |
More detail. Our guide to public hire vs private hire insurance sets the two side by side.
Cost
What Private Hire Insurance Is Priced On
Your age, experience and record, the car, where you work, the level of cover and the excess. We do not print average premiums.
Why the driver leads
Your age, how long you have held your licences, and your claims and convictions drive much of the price.
Why the car and area matter too
The vehicle, its value and where you work feed the rate.
What the quote is rated on
The main factors
- The driverAge, experience, claims, convictionsBase
- The carMake, model, value, seatsRate
- Where you workLicensing area and hoursRate
- Cover levelThird party to comprehensiveRate
- ExcessWhat you pay on a claimAdjust
No claims history
Some insurers take account of a private car no claims record.
Security
Where the car is kept overnight can matter.
Other drivers
Adding drivers changes the price.
Licence and bookings
The Licence and Booking Rules That Decide a Private Hire Claim
Private hire claims can turn on whether the journey was within your licence and booked properly. Four points come up again and again.
Keep your licences valid
Your driving licence, private hire driver licence and vehicle licence must be current for the cover to apply as described.
Take pre-booked work only
A passenger picked up from a rank or a street hail is outside private hire cover.
Book through a licensed operator
Journeys should go through an operator or app licensed where you work.
Tell the insurer about changes
New points, a new car, a new operator or a change of licensing area. Tell the insurer promptly.
Quote checklist
What You Will Be Asked for a Private Hire Quote
Six things shape the quote: the car, your licences, your record, where you work, how you get bookings, and the cover you want.
The car
Registration, value and any modifications.
Your licences
Driving and private hire licence details.
Your record
Claims and convictions.
Where you work
Your licensing authority and area.
Bookings
The operators or apps you drive for.
The cover
Level of cover, extras and excess.
Comparing
Checking Private Hire Quotes Side by Side
Four areas decide whether a policy suits your work: the cover, keeping you working, passengers and liability, and cost terms. The price is only one of them.
The cover
- Third party, fire and theft or comprehensive
- Social use included
- Windscreen cover
Keeping you working
- Replacement vehicle
- How long it lasts
- Breakdown cover
Passengers and liability
- Public liability
- The limit on the schedule
- Legal expenses
Cost terms
- The compulsory and voluntary excess
- Paying monthly or yearly
- Named drivers
Check the replacement car terms. Days off the road are days without income. Unfamiliar terms are explained in our plain English jargon guide.
Cutting costs
How to Reduce the Cost of Private Hire Insurance
The levers are a clean record, the right car, secure parking, and the excess. We publish no savings figures.
Keep a clean record
Claims and points drive the price.
Choose the car carefully
Value and model affect the rate.
Park securely
A driveway or garage overnight can help.
Limit the drivers
Only name drivers who need to drive.
Pay yearly if you can
Monthly payments can cost more overall.
Choose the excess deliberately
A higher excess is a lever, worth using only at a level you could absorb.
Glossary
Private Hire Insurance Terms Explained
The words that come up most on a private hire schedule.
- Private hire
- Carrying passengers on pre-booked journeys for payment.
- Public hire
- Hackney carriage work, including ranks and street hails.
- Plying for hire
- Picking up passengers without a booking.
- Operator
- A licensed business that takes and dispatches bookings.
- PHV licence
- A private hire vehicle or driver licence from your licensing authority.
- Third party
- Cover for injury and damage to others.
- Comprehensive
- Third party cover plus damage to your own car.
- Replacement vehicle
- A car to keep working after a claim.
- Public liability
- Cover for injury to passengers outside the car.
- Excess
- The part of each claim you pay yourself.
Why MyMoneyComparison.com
Why Compare Private Hire Insurance with MyMoneyComparison.com?
MyMoneyComparison.com is an FCA-authorised UK comparison service that introduces private hire drivers to specialist UK brokers. We do not sell insurance and we do not give advice. Using us is free.
One form, your cover
Describe your licence and your work once.
Advice given
We are an introducer, not a broker. We do not sell policies and we do not recommend one insurer or product over another. Read our editorial policy.
Authorised and regulated
MyMoneyComparison.com Ltd appears on the FCA register under FRN 916241.
Incorporated
A UK company since 2013. FCA authorisation is separate and later; the register carries its date.
FAQs
Private Hire Insurance FAQs
Answers on licences, app work, cover levels, extras and excesses.
What is private hire insurance?
Motor insurance that covers carrying passengers for payment on pre-booked journeys. It is for licensed private hire drivers, and a standard car policy does not cover this work.
Can I use my normal car insurance for private hire?
No. Carrying passengers for payment is not covered by a standard car policy, even occasionally. Driving for private hire without the right cover means you are not insured for that journey.
What is the difference between private hire and taxi insurance?
Private hire covers pre-booked journeys through a licensed operator. Public hire, for hackney carriages, also covers picking up from ranks and street hails. The two are insured differently.
Do I need a licence before I can get cover?
Insurers ask for your private hire driver and vehicle licence details, or confirmation that they are being applied for. Licensing authorities can ask to see proof of insurance too.
Does private hire insurance cover app work?
Journeys booked through ride-hailing apps are private hire work, and a private hire policy can cover them. Tell the insurer which apps and operators you drive for.
Can I pick up a passenger who flags me down?
No. Picking up without a booking is plying for hire, which private hire drivers are not allowed to do and private hire policies do not cover.
What levels of cover are there?
Third party only, which is the legal minimum; third party, fire and theft; and comprehensive, which also covers damage to your own car. Extras can be added to each.
Does private hire insurance include public liability?
Some policies include it and others offer it as an extra. It covers passengers injured outside the car, such as when helping with luggage. Some operators ask for it.
Will I get a replacement car after a claim?
Only if the policy includes a replacement vehicle or you add it. A standard courtesy car may not be licensed for private hire, so check the car can be used for work.
Can I use my private car no claims history?
Some insurers take account of a private car no claims record when pricing private hire cover. Others need private hire experience. It is worth asking each insurer.
Does private hire insurance cover social driving?
Some policies include social, domestic and pleasure use alongside private hire work. Check that it is on the schedule if you use the car personally.
Can another driver use my private hire car?
Only if they are named on the policy and hold the licences the work needs. Any other driver would be uninsured for that journey, and a claim could be refused.
Does private hire insurance cover delivering food or parcels?
No. Delivering goods for payment is hire and reward work, which needs its own cover. Some insurers can combine private hire and delivery on one policy.
What if I get points on my licence?
Tell the insurer promptly. Points and convictions can change the price and terms, and not disclosing them can affect a claim. Your licensing authority may also need to know.
How is the excess set?
Policies can have a compulsory excess set by the insurer and a voluntary excess you choose. A higher voluntary excess can lower the premium but raises what you pay on a claim.
How do I compare private hire insurance quotes?
Look beyond the price to the level of cover, social use, the replacement vehicle terms, public liability, the excess and any restrictions on who can drive the car.
Ready when you are
Get Quotes for Your Private Hire Car
Tell us about your licence at the top of this page, or start below. Specialist UK brokers can then come back with quotes. Free to use, with no obligation to buy.
- Pre-booked and app work
- Free to use, no obligation
- FCA authorised and regulated
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About this page
This page explains UK private hire insurance: what it covers, what it leaves out, and how your licence and bookings decide a claim. It is general information rather than advice. Policies differ between insurers, so read your own documents and put the questions raised here to the insurer.
How we approached this page
- Published UK private hire and taxi policy summaries
- Licensing authority guidance for private hire drivers
- Financial Ombudsman material on motor insurance complaints
Legal & Regulatory Information:
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