Private Hire Insurance

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 The short answer is no. If you provide private hire taxi services, you’re required to private hire insurance. Your regular vehicle insurance will not provide adequate coverage in the event of an accident and/or damages.

In addition, the region you choose to work will also require you to have private hire insurance before you can get a license to work in that area.

 Here, again, the answer is no. You must buy the right type of insurance for your taxi business. If you provide a pre-booked service for paid passengers, then you’ll have to buy private hire insurance.

When you’re ready to shop for insurance, one of the best things you can do is comparison shop via an online site. A comparison site offers you access to a large number of specialist insurance providers, including taxi insurance providers. It’s fast and easy to review policies, premiums and more.

Once you have a list of possible insurers, it’s a good idea to call the companies and discuss their insurance coverage. Be sure to read through all of the terms and conditions, so you’ll know what the policy covers. And don’t hesitate to ask questions. If the agent doesn’t seem helpful, then move on to the next insurance provider on your list. You need to feel comfortable with the company and agents in addition to buying the right coverage for your business.

 This is a common question, and the answer is they’re the same type of coverage. The terminology can be confusing, to say the least. When it comes to coverage, these types of insurance are the same and both offer the same types of policies and levels of protection.

The main difference between private hire taxis and minicabs is that the term “minicab” is often used to refer to private hire vehicles in London and southern England.

That’s it! Otherwise, the insurance coverage is the very same, as both types of taxis are private hire vehicles.

 Yes, this type of insurance does tend to cost more, especially when compared with insurance for your personal car. The reason it costs more is due to the number of hours taxi drivers work, along with the higher mileage compared to driving a personal car. Longer hours and more miles for cab drivers increase the risks of having an accident and/or causing damage.

Due to these higher risks, insurance providers charge higher premiums for taxi insurance of all types, including private hire insurance.

However, keep in mind that insurance coverage is required for your business and it may help to look at the expense as an investment that protects you and your business.

 In addition to private hire insurance coverage, you may find that some insurance providers also include add-ons you can purchase that are combined with your policy. These may include:

• Breakdown and recovery assistance: if your car should break down on the road, the insurance provider sends help to get your vehicle back up and running.
• Uninsured loss recovery: which protects you against accidents and damage caused by uninsured drivers.
• No claims bonus: if you’re a safe driver, with no tickets and a low number of claims, this bonus can earn you a lower premium.
• Vehicle replacement: if you’re in a no-fault accident, this add-on will replace your vehicle.
• Personal use cover: if you use your vehicle for personal use once your off work.
• Public liabilities coverage: helps pay your legal expenses in the event of legal action from your passengers or other drivers on the road.
• Cyber and data protection: this is a relatively new type of coverage that protects your business data files such as contact or payment details.
• Home start cover: if you keep park your taxi at home, and you wake up to a dead battery, this will help get your car started in the morning.

 You’ll generally find that private hire insurance offers three types of coverage:

• Third-party only (TPO): this is the most basic type of coverage and only provides protection to those (third parties) who are injured or whose property is damaged in an accident for which you’re held at fault while driving your taxi. TPO policies do not protect you or damage to your vehicle.
• Third-party fire & theft (TPF&T): these policies include the same coverage as TPOs, with the addition of protection for your vehicle from fire and theft (or attempted theft).
• Comprehensive: policies offer complete protection. A comprehensive policy covers all of the above and includes coverage for damage to your vehicle. Some policies will also cover you in case you’re injured.

Private hire vehicles are family-sized vehicles and minibuses which carry up to eight passengers. They: cannot be hailed in the street and would have a yellow door sticker and a yellow plate attached to the rear of the vehicle displaying the licence number.

What is Public Hire Insurance? Public Hire, sometimes referred to as ‘hackney carriage’ or ‘black cab’ are the iconic British taxis that are available to use from a taxi rank or to hail down on the street. … Public Hire Insurance is required to insure these vehicles for the correct form of hire and reward service.

Taxis are hackney carriages and are licensed to pick people up from the roadside, i.e. hailing a cab. Private hire vehicles are only permitted to pick up pre-arranged bookings and are not permitted to pick people up from the side of the road.

Purpose of the Role as a private hire driver. 

A private hire driver is responsible for driving a passenger-carrying vehicle (PCV) on private hires, transfers, tours and any other work undertaken in a safe, comfortable and professional manner
A private hire driver is responsible for the presentation of both the vehicle and him/herself, remembering at all times that they are the first to point of contact with CT Plus.
A private hire driver is responsible for planning all routes to ensure the best journey times, ensuring the route is suitable for the size of the vehicle being driven and that EU drivers’ hour’s regulations are complied with at all times.
A private hire driver is responsible for ensuring that passenger experience is always second to none due to excellent customer service.

Private hire taxi insurance is more expensive than conventional cover because taxi drivers complete more miles than other motorists, and often do so in congested conditions. This is why taxi drivers can find they pay a premium for their cover compared to standard motorists.

Yes – you can pay monthly or all in one go, ask the advisor for options available across a range of taxi and private hire insurance products, subject to status. Ask us for repayment options and details when you get a quote.

There are a few surefire ways to save money on private hire insurance. Below are three of the best:

• Pay Annually – Most insurance providers will prefer if you pay for your policy for the whole year rather than monthly and will usually offer you a discount when you choose to pay like this
• Make Your Vehicle Secure – To minimise the risk of theft, you should have an alarm and central locking on your cab. This shows insurance providers that the risk of theft is decreased and therefore they can offer you a cheaper price on your policy. 
• Get Multiple Quotes – Getting multiple quotes means you get a clear idea of what you should be paying for a policy and gives you the ability to select the best policy at the best price

Private hire vehicles (or minicabs) are public transport vehicles. However, a private hire vehicle cannot ply for hire or stand in a rank. It must be pre-booked with a private hire operator e.g. through the operator usually by telephone.

In order to drive on the Uber app, you’ll need a private hire licence from a council that Uber is licensed by. If you don’t have one, that’s OK – we’ll help you get started with a personalised Ignition appointment where we offer advice and support after you sign up.

Depending on your experience, years without claims, convictions, car details or other important information, prices do vary.

Private hire insurance could cost between £1500 and £3500 per year for comprehensive private hire insurance cover. Can usually be paid yearly, quarterly or monthly. Prices for shorter-term insurance can also be slightly higher due to companies admin costs.

Guide to PHV insurance in the UK?

Driving a private hire (PHV) taxi for a living is a fast-growing industry. Since Uber launched in 2009, the number of people operating PHV has exploded. According to Uberestimates.com, Uber has more than three million registered drivers and they’re working in 676 cities and states worldwide.

Those considering joining the driver ranks in Britain are asking what it costs to get on the open road. Some costs are obvious – a suitable car, fuel, license, vehicle repairs. However, one cost is not so obvious – at least not until now. This is PHV insurance – a legal requirement.

Buying insurance

Until 2018, buying PHV insurance meant hours on the phone or in a broker’s office. You had to complete forms, show documents, wait for underwriters. You didn’t know the cost until the quote came back. A driver anxious to get out and get earning could wait extra days or weeks with this creaky, paper-driven process. Fortunately, things have changed.

Types of PHV insurance

No matter how you buy it, you must have PHV insurance. Standard car insurance won’t do. In the UK there are three levels of PHV cover – fully comprehensive (which covers everything), third party (which covers others in an incident, plus your passengers – not you or your car) and third party, fire & theft (the third party with your vehicle also being covered if it is stolen or goes up in flames). There is also the Excess. This is compulsory and it is typically £250. You pay this sum as part of any claim you make. You can also opt to pay a Voluntary Excess in the event of a claim – this is usually around £500 – £1,000. Agreeing to a Voluntary Excess will lower your policy cost. Any no-claims-bonus from your standard motorists’ policy cannot be moved to your PHV policy, you must build a new bonus with your PHV cover. Lastly, you may be able to get a replacement vehicle cover, which pays for an interim car while your damaged one is fixed. This can be expensive, but if your car’s your breadwinner, it may be worth considering.

The cost

Several things affect the price. Driver history is the big one. The worse your history, the more you pay. Policy type, vehicle type, driver age, years of taxi experience and mileage are also considered. A typical PHV driver, over 25 years years of age, with a standard saloon car and a clean history will pay around £1,500 – £3,500 a year for fully comprehensive cover. This figure can rise substantially for new and young drivers or those with spotty history. Often, this cost can be paid on a monthly or quarterly basis instead of all upfront.

If you’re just starting out or your insurance is coming up for renewal, why not give Mymoneycomparison a try? Get a quote online or call 0333 006 9429 while you wait and find out in minutes what can take days or weeks elsewhere.

Public liability insurance is advised, especially if you are a motor trader, taxi driver or courier. It protects you in the event of accidents and incidents involving the general public – and the claims for damages and legal costs that can follow.

Yes, if you have a credit or debit card we can issue you with immediate cover, subject to normal terms and conditions. Please note that if you choose to pay by Direct Debit we will require a deposit from you, payable by credit or debit card and you will need an account that supports the Direct Debit facility. Some insurers may request documents upfront prior to going on the cover.

Yes, we have underwriters who may allow a discount subject to criteria.