Public Hire Insurance
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Why Compare Public Hire Insurance Quotes With SimplyQuote?
SimplyQuote’s online comparison tool takes the hassle out of finding the perfect public hire insurance policy that suits your needs and budget.
Stop wasting your valuable time calling insurance providers and scrolling through endless insurance websites. With SimplyQuote, you’ll receive multiple quotes tailored to your specific public taxi hire requirements within minutes.
What Do You Need To Get A Quote?
To get a public hire insurance quote, we just need a few simple details about yourself, your car, and your public hire taxi business:
- Your name, age and contact details.
- The make, model, year, mileage and any additional security features of your taxi.
- The area you operate in, your taxi licence, your public hire fleet business, and how many taxis you’re looking to insure (if applicable).
Who Needs Public Hire Insurance?
If you drive a taxi that can be flagged down or if you pick up passengers from a designated taxi rank, public hire taxi insurance cover is a necessity.
From saloon vehicles and minibuses to London black cabs and hackney carriages, this type of specialised insurance covers all traditional taxi services that don’t require a booking prior to pick-up (such as an e-hailing service like Uber).
What Does Public Hire Taxi Insurance Cover?
What you are covered for under your public hire insurance policy will differ depending on the level of cover you opt for, your insurance provider, the area you work in and any add-ons you include.
However, this is what can be covered by public hire insurance:
- Third-party liability: Covers any injuries or property damage you cause to others, including passengers, while operating your taxi.
- Fire and theft: Covers the cost of repairs or replacement if your taxi is stolen or damaged by fire or vandalism.
- Passenger liability: Covers medical expenses and compensation awarded to passengers if they’re injured during a taxi ride.
- Legal expenses: Covers legal bills if you’re involved in a dispute related to an accident.
- Breakdown cover: Provides roadside assistance if your taxi breaks down.
What is not covered?
Many public hire insurance policies have exclusions that you need to consider.
Usually, you won’t be covered if:
- You work outside of the region covered by your policy.
- Your vehicle is driven by an unauthorised driver.
- Your vehicle is driven by someone under the age of 25.
- An accident occurs from your unsafe driving.
- An accident occurs due to being under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
- Vehicle negligence, like leaving your keys inside your taxi and it being stolen.
It’s important to carefully read through the terms and conditions of your insurance policy before you take it out. This ensures you have the necessary cover you need – when you need it most.
Looking for the cheapest Public Hire Insurance? Get your quote today!
Get QuotesWhat Levels Of Public Hire Insurance Cover Can You Get?
There are three levels of public hire insurance cover that you can take out: third-party only; third-party, fire and theft; and fully comprehensive.
Third-party only
This is the minimum cover required to legally drive a public hire taxi in the UK. It is also the most basic, covering only the cost of damage you cause to other vehicles, property and third parties should you have an accident.
If you’re on a budget, then this is usually the best level of cover to opt for. However, bear in mind that you won’t be covered for any damage to your vehicle or injuries you incur.
Third-party, fire and theft
Third-party, fire and theft cover includes all the benefits of third-party only cover, as well as cover if your taxi is stolen or damaged by a fire or vandalism.
However, as with third-party only insurance, you won’t be covered for injuries you sustain and damage to your vehicle as the result of an accident.
Fully comprehensive
If you’re looking for extensive cover and peace of mind, then fully comprehensive cover is what you should opt for.
This cover includes that of third-party, fire and theft, as well as the added benefit of cover for you and your vehicle should you get in an accident.
What Add-Ons Can You Get For Your Public Hire Insurance Policy?
To ensure your insurance policy is tailored to your unique taxi service needs, consider adding these additional coverages to your policy:
- 24/7 UK roadside assistance: A flat tyre at 3 am? No worries. Roadside assistance ensures help is just a call away, keeping you and your passengers on schedule.
- Employer liability: If you run a public hire taxi business, take out additional cover for any extra costs incurred if an employee is injured on the job.
- Public liability insurance: Covers the costs if anyone is injured or property is damaged due to an accident or incident you caused.
- EU coverage: Extend your coverage to include operating within Europe.
- Windscreen cover: Cracked windshields or smashed windows are a common hazard for public hire taxis. Windscreen cover ensures repairs or replacements are taken care of.
- Replacement vehicle: Receive a replacement, licensed public hire vehicle while yours is in for repairs, ensuring your business doesn’t suffer any downtime.
How Much Does Public Hire Taxi Insurance Cost?
While the cost of public hire insurance varies depending on several factors, you can expect to pay around £1,600 to £3,500 annually.
What determines the price of public hire insurance?
Here are a couple of things that influence the price you pay for this specialised taxi insurance:
- Details of your driving history: Your driving experience and claims history; how long you’ve held your taxi license; and a clean driving record.
- Personal information: Your age; the area you live in; and where you park your cab while off-duty.
- Details about your car and work: The type of taxi cab you drive; the age of your vehicle; and the area you cover as a taxi driver.
Note: Insurance firms who specialise in public hire insurance may provide better rates than general car insurance providers.
Looking for the cheapest Public Hire Insurance? Get your quote today!
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How Can You Reduce Your Public Hire Insurance Premiums?
To ensure you don’t pay any more for your policy than necessary, consider these factors to help reduce your public hire insurance premium:
Compare multiple quotes
Shopping around and comparing quotes from various insurance providers is the best way to reduce your monthly premiums. Use SimplyQuote’s online comparison tool to find a policy that perfectly balances both your needs and your budget.
Regularly service your vehicle
Service your black cab regularly to reduce the chance of any major repairs and hefty insurance claims down the line. Remember, the more you claim from your insurance, the higher your policy premiums may be.
Install a black box tracker
With specialist black box insurance or telematics insurance, a tracking device will be installed in your cab that allows your insurance provider to monitor your driving. The better your driving habits, the more likely you’ll save on your premiums – it’s as simple as that!
Secure parking
Congestion levels, crime rates and road accident statistics of where you park your car off-duty increase your risk of insurance claims. Parking your vehicle off-road, in a private garage or driveway can significantly reduce your premium.
What Should You Consider Before Taking Out Public Hire Insurance?
Taking out public hire insurance is fairly simple; however, there are a few things you need to consider before you start comparing quotes:
Driving age
To legally drive a taxi in the UK, you are required to have a taxi driver’s licence. Despite the legal driving age in the UK of 17, you usually need to be at least 21 years old and have held a driver’s license for a minimum of three years to apply for this license.
Additionally, most insurance firms won’t cover taxi drivers under the age of 25. And if you find a specialist insurer that does, your policy will likely be much more expensive.
Wheelchair accessibility
Black cab drivers can lose their licence or face a fine of up to £1,000 if they refuse passengers in wheelchairs or with assistance dogs, provided their vehicle is able.
Additionally, it is a legal requirement in some larger cities and areas, like London, that taxis are wheelchair accessible. This means that you may need to install ramps or modify your cab accordingly. However, keep in mind that vehicle modifications can increase your premiums.
How To Compare Public Hire Taxi Insurance Quotes With SimplyQuote?
- Complete a short form: Tell us about yourself, your cab, and the area you operate in.
- Select your add-ons: Add on any additional coverage to tailor your policy to your needs.
- Receive multiple quotes: Compare quotes from top UK insurers.
- Start saving: Choose a quote that best aligns with your budget and requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Public hire insurance, or black cab insurance, is a specialised cover for traditional taxi drivers who pick up their passengers from being flagged down or at a rank.
Taxis licensed as hackney carriages, which can pick up passengers in taxi ranks or be hailed down by pedestrians in need of a ride, are classed as public hire vehicles and require public hire insurance.
Private hire taxis, on the other hand, provide a service to customers who have booked in advance, for example through a ride-hailing app like Uber. As a result, these vehicles require private hire insurance.
From the perspective of an insurance underwriter, there are different risks involved for private hire and public hire vehicles, which influences the premium costs.
You’ll usually find black cabs in busy, built-up cities, where the risk of road traffic accidents is very high. As a result, these cabs are at a higher risk of making a claim (compared to private hire vehicles) which pushes up the premium price.