Taxi fleet insurance for private hire and hackney carriage operators
Saloons, executive cars and people carriers carrying fare-paying passengers, insured on one policy with the right type of hire for each vehicle. Fill in one short form to be put in touch with specialist brokers who arrange taxi and private hire fleet cover for UK operators.
- Public hire and private hire
- Employed or self-employed drivers
- Plated replacement vehicle options
Taxi fleet insurance in brief
Taxi fleet insurance is one motor policy that covers several taxis or private hire vehicles run by an operator for carrying fare-paying passengers. It replaces a separate policy for each car and sets out, vehicle by vehicle, whether it is insured for public hire, private hire or both.
Each vehicle and driver usually needs a licence from the local council, and the council will normally want to see insurance in place before it issues a plate. Larger passenger vehicles are a different risk, so an operator running eight-seaters alongside saloons may find minibus fleet insurance fits those vehicles better.
Public or private hire
Public hire or private hire: which does your taxi fleet do?
The type of hire is the single biggest point on a taxi fleet policy. It follows how passengers find the car, not what the car looks like.
| Point | Public hire (hackney carriage) | Private hire |
|---|---|---|
| How fares are found | Ranks, street hails and bookings | Pre-booked through a licensed operator only |
| Who licenses the vehicle | The council for the area it works in | The council that licenses the operator |
| Insured use needed | Public hire, often with private hire as well | Private hire |
| Usual vehicles | Purpose-built cabs and saloons | Saloons, executive cars and people carriers |
| Points insurers ask about | Night work, town centre ranks, cash fares | Contract and school work, airport runs, mileage |
A car insured for private hire only is usually uninsured if it picks up a street hail. Many operators with mixed work insure every car for both.
Insured use
What can licensed taxis be used for on the policy?
Beyond public or private hire, a taxi policy lists any other work the cars do. Anything not on the schedule is a question for the broker before it starts.
- Public hire: Plying for hire from ranks and accepting street hails, as a hackney carriage does.
- Private hire: Carrying passengers on journeys booked in advance through the operator.
- Contract and school work: Regular runs for councils, schools, hospitals or businesses. Some insurers ask for these to be declared.
- Off-duty and personal use: Drivers using the car between shifts or at home, if the operator allows it.
- Courier work: Carrying parcels or documents for payment. A passenger hire policy does not always include it.
Vehicles with more than eight passenger seats are not licensed as taxis and are usually insured as minibuses or coaches.
Drivers
Employed drivers, rented cars and owner-drivers
Who sits behind the wheel, and on what terms, shapes a private hire fleet insurance quote as much as the cars do.
Drivers on the payroll
The operator owns the cars and employs the drivers, who work set shifts.
- Each driver holds a council driver licence
- Cars may pass between drivers on shift changes
- Employee injury is a separate liability cover
Drivers renting cars from you
Self-employed drivers rent plated cars from the operator by the week. Insurers ask how drivers are vetted, and many arrange this through any driver fleet insurance with age and licence conditions.
- The rental agreement is worth showing to the broker
- Some insurers cover only drivers you approve
- Cars may be kept at drivers' homes
Owner-drivers on your circuit
Drivers who own and insure their own cars but take bookings through your office.
- Their own policy needs the right type of hire
- Your fleet policy may not cover their cars
- Operator liability is a separate question
Off the road
Keeping plated cars earning after an accident
A taxi off the road loses fares every shift it is parked. These extras are where taxi policies differ most.
Licensed replacement vehicle
A courtesy car is no use to a taxi driver unless it is licensed to carry fares.
- Ask whether the replacement comes plated
- Check how long it is provided for
- Some cover only non-fault accidents
Loss of earnings
Some policies pay a set daily amount while a car is being repaired after a claim.
- Often limited to a number of days
- Usually an add-on, not standard
- Terms vary between insurers
Passengers in and around the car
Motor cover deals with injury caused by driving. Slips while getting in or out, or lost property, may need other cover.
- Worth asking what the motor policy includes
- Some operators add liability cover for the office
- Public liability cover
Pricing
What shapes the cost of insuring a taxi fleet?
Taxi cover is priced around passengers, hours on the road and the drivers. These are the details a broker is likely to ask for.
- Type of hirePublic hire, private hire, or both on each car.
- Licensing areaBusy city centres and night-time economies are priced differently from rural areas.
- Driver recordsAges, years holding a licence, years driving taxis, convictions and claims.
- How drivers are engagedEmployed staff, weekly renters or owner-drivers.
- The vehiclesPurpose-built cabs, saloons, executive cars or people carriers, and their value.
- Hours and mileageNight shifts, double shifting and airport runs add miles and risk.
- Cameras and trackersIn-car cameras and telematics help when a claim is disputed.
- Past taxi claimsClaims on the fleet, including passenger injury claims.
How it works
One quote form, specialist fleet brokers
Insure Fleet is an information site, not an insurer or a broker. We link you to MyMoneyComparison.com, a comparison service that gives businesses a gateway to brokers who arrange fleet insurance every day.
Start your quote
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Describe the taxi fleet
The form asks about the vehicles, the work they do and who drives, so you can be matched with a specialist fleet broker.
Compare and decide
A broker contacts you with options, subject to insurers' acceptance criteria. There is no obligation to buy.
Before you buy
Questions worth asking about a taxi fleet policy
Taxi and private hire quotes can look alike and still leave gaps. These points are worth raising before the plates are renewed.
- Is each car on the right type of hire?Private hire only does not cover street hails.
- Will the council accept the certificate?Councils usually check insurance before issuing or renewing a plate.
- Who may drive each car?Named drivers, approved renters or any licensed driver work differently.
- Is a plated replacement provided?An unlicensed courtesy car cannot carry fares.
- Is double shifting allowed?Some insurers ask if cars run around the clock with different drivers.
- Are school and contract runs declared?Regular contract work may need to be on the schedule.
- What happens if a driver's council licence lapses?Cover may depend on each driver holding a current licence.
- Is there an excess for younger drivers?Newer taxi drivers often carry a higher excess.
FAQs
Taxi fleet insurance questions
What is taxi fleet insurance?
Taxi fleet insurance is one motor policy covering several taxis or private hire vehicles run by an operator for fare-paying passengers. It lists each car, the type of hire it is insured for and who may drive it, with one renewal date for the whole fleet.
What is the difference between public hire and private hire insurance?
Public hire covers a hackney carriage picking up passengers from ranks and street hails. Private hire covers journeys booked in advance through an operator. A car insured for private hire only is usually not covered for a street hail, so the type of hire needs to match the council licence.
Do I need taxi insurance before the council issues a plate?
Usually yes. Councils normally ask to see insurance covering the right type of hire before they license a vehicle, and again when the plate is renewed. A broker can usually provide the documents the council asks for.
Can self-employed drivers rent cars from my fleet?
Many taxi fleet policies allow it, subject to the insurer's acceptance criteria. Insurers usually ask about the rental agreement, how drivers are checked and where the cars are kept between shifts.
Can drivers with points or convictions drive our taxis?
Sometimes. It depends on the offence, how recent it is and whether the council has licensed the driver. Some operators place these drivers through fleet insurance for convicted drivers, and full disclosure to the insurer is important.
Are electric and hybrid taxis covered?
Yes, electric and hybrid taxis can go on a taxi fleet policy. Battery damage, charging cables and longer repair times are worth asking about, and electric fleet insurance explains the points insurers raise.
Does a taxi fleet policy cover our office cars and vans?
Not always. Cars and vans that never carry fares are a different risk. Some insurers will add them to the taxi schedule, while others suggest a mixed fleet policy covering several vehicle types.
Does Insure Fleet sell insurance?
No. Insure Fleet is an information site and an affiliate of MyMoneyComparison.com, a comparison service that gives businesses a gateway to specialist brokers. When you start a quote you continue to MyMoneyComparison.com, and we may be paid a small commission if you are matched with and speak to a broker.
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