Are you looking for insurance as a minicab driver or as the owner of a private hire firm? We help drivers find cheaper deals on their insurance by comparing quotes from leading taxi insurance providers.
Please use the quote button to get a quote or read on for further information.
What is minicab insurance?
Minicab insurance is a specialist insurance product for minicab drivers. Minicabs or private hire vehicles are a form of taxi that offers a booking in advance service. This means that they cannot pick up a passenger who has not pre-booked, i.e. a passenger hailing a cab from the side of the road. Minicabs have risen in popularity in recent years due to their competitive pricing and the ease of pre-booking as opposed to hailing a taxi or queuing in a taxi rank.
What is the benefit of minicab insurance?
The main thing to note is that having it is a legal requirement; you will be breaking the law without it. The second point is that driving is your livelihood, and protecting your vehicle is essential.
Minicab insurance differs from standard car insurance and a public hire policy, so it pays to purchase your insurance from a specialist. Using Quote Goat to compare quotes from minicab insurance specialists gives you access to expert advice and tailored quotes that fit your requirements.
What type of insurance is available for a minicab?
As with a standard car, there are three levels of taxi insurance; Comprehensive, Third Party Fire and Theft and Third Party Only.
Comprehensive: this gives you the highest level of cover, protecting damage to your vehicle and any third parties and the driver on both sides.
Third Party, Fire And Theft: typically provides cover for damage or compensation owed to the 3rd Party in an accident. You are also covered if your vehicle is stolen or is involved in fire damage.
Third Party: the most basic level, which will cover any damage or compensation due to a third party; however, it will not cover damage to your vehicle or injury to the driver.
Quote Goat’s Tip: People often think that Third Party Only insurance will be the cheapest as it offers the least amount of cover; however, this is certainly not always the case. Therefore, you should discuss all levels of cover with an insurance specialist when you arrange your quotes.
What information is required to compare minicab insurance policies?
The standard information required includes:
- Contact details
- How long you have held your driving licence and badge for
- Licensing authority
- Level of cover
- Drivers
- Any no claims bonus
- Any claims or convictions, and
- Vehicle details.
What is public liability cover?
It is important that you know what public liability cover is when comparing quotes.
As a minicab driver, you will naturally be working with the public and need public liability cover.
This cover protects you if an unexpected event causes injury to your customer in your cab or if a customer’s property is damaged. Public liability cover should financially protect you against legal or compensation claims that may arise.
In light of this, keep this in mind when comparing quotes, as it should be an essential part of your decision-making process as claims can run into millions of pounds.
What else should you consider?
Use outside of work: your policy will be affected if you plan to use your minicab as your primary vehicle outside of work. Make sure to include this in your quote.
Unlimited miles: minicab insurance policies often have a set maximum number of miles you can drive. Opting for unlimited mileage cover means your insurance provider will not charge you extra for going over your agreed mileage.
Tips to reduce the cost of your minicab insurance
- Have you installed CCTV on your vehicle? This can help to lower the cost of your policy.
- Protect your no claims bonus: building up an NCB is an effective way of keeping your policy costs low by demonstrating to an insurance provider that you are less likely to make a claim.
- As well as CCTV, have you had an immobiliser or Thatcham security device fitted?
- Black Box taxi insurance – telematics gives your insurance provider insight into your driving ability and usage. Insurance providers can reward safer drivers with lower premiums.
What information is required to get an insurance quote?
Getting a quote is quick, free & easy. The information you will need to hand includes:
1
Minicab Details
Make and model of your minicab or registration plate, type of use and approximate vehicle value.
2
Cover Details
Level of cover, no-claims bonus details for your minicab and a private no-claims bonus if applicable. How long you’ve held your taxi badge, who will be driving and details of any claims or motoring convicting in the last 5 years.
3
Your Details
Your name, address, date of birth & contact details.
Minicab Insurance FAQs
It is often best to find the answers to any questions whilst on the phone with an insurance provider, who you can speak to by submitting our quote form. However, here are some common questions and answers.
Can you help drivers under 25?
Yes. Although some insurance providers are only willing to provide quotes for drivers over 25, others are able to insure younger minicab drivers.
Can minicab insurance be paid for on a monthly basis?
Yes. It is cheaper to pay annually as you avoid interest charges, however, this is often not possible for many people and therefore monthly options are available.
I’m just starting out as a minicab driver, is it harder to find insurance?
It is harder for drivers without experience to arrange cover as some insurance providers will only provide quotes for drivers with experience. However, when you use our free service you will only be contacted by insurance providers that are able to provide you with a quote.
How much does minicab insurance cost?
The cost of a policy depends on multiple factors including your age, location, experience, vehicle and more. The easiest way to get an accurate quote is to complete the quote form and discuss your requirements with an insurance provider.