Taxi insurance made simpler and cheaper for all drivers
Taxi insurance from a panel of trusted UK insurers
A better way to insure your taxi or minicab
Taxi insurance is a specialised form of cover designed for vehicles used to transport passengers for hire. It provides financial protection against risks associated with carrying paying passengers, ensuring both the driver and passengers are safeguarded in the event of accidents or unforeseen incidents.
At insurd, we’re an FCA-regulated specialist insurance broker with over 50 years of experience arranging taxi insurance across the UK. We work with a panel of leading UK insurers to find the right policy for your licence type and circumstances.
24/7 claims service
We’re here for you round the clock when you need us most.
Fairer prices for all taxi drivers
As a specialist insurance broker, we search our panel of leading UK insurers to find the right taxi insurance for you.
World-class support from specialists
You’ll get your own UK-based human to look after you for the duration of your policy.
Whether you need private hire insurance or public hire insurance, do a bit of food delivery on the side or want some of the lowest monthly rates on the market, let us quote you today.
What’s more, we don’t insist on installing telematics devices, black boxes, or dashcams. We prefer to get to know you, ensure we can deliver what you need, and find you the lowest price.
We use a combination of technology and taxi insurance knowledge to give you incredible cover at affordable prices.
What does taxi insurance cover?
Accidental damage to your taxi
Covers the cost of repairs if your taxi is damaged in an accident. Comprehensive cover protects your own vehicle as well as third-party claims*.
Other bad things that could happen
Covers damage caused by fire, storms, flooding, or deliberate vandalism. Optional replacement vehicle cover keeps you earning while repairs are carried out*.
Broken glass and windscreens
All glass in your taxi is covered — windscreen, side windows, and rear glass. Glass claims won’t affect your No Claims Discount*.
If you injure someone
Covers legal liability for injuries to third parties and damage to their property. A legal requirement for any vehicle carrying paying passengers*.
Theft
If your taxi is stolen, you’ll receive a replacement vehicle or the market value. Installing approved security devices reduces your risk and can lower your premium*.
* Subject to your chosen level of policy cover and the prevailing policy excess.
Power up your cover with a host of optional extras
Additional cover options that you can
tailor to your own needs, while ensuring
complete peace of mind, and keeping you
on the road, whatever happens.
- Up to £10 million public liability cover: Especially important for local authority or school contracts, public liability cover protects you if a passenger or member of the public makes a claim against you beyond the scope of your standard motor cover.
- Guaranteed plated replacement vehicle: If your taxi is off the road following an accident or theft, a guaranteed replacement keeps you earning. Essential for any driver who can’t afford to lose income while their vehicle is being repaired.
- RAC breakdown, rescue and recovery: A breakdown on a job can be costly and damaging to your reputation. Our RAC breakdown cover provides roadside assistance, recovery, and home start so you’re never left stranded.
- £100,000 legal expenses cover: Covers legal costs if you need to pursue or defend a claim arising from an accident. Provides access to legal expertise without the risk of substantial personal legal bills.
- Up to £1,500 excess protection: If you need to make a claim, your policy excess can be a significant unexpected cost. Excess protection covers that amount so you’re not out of pocket when you need your insurance most.
- SmartFob key cover: Replacing a modern taxi key can cost hundreds of pounds. SmartFob covers the cost of replacement keys and lock replacements if your keys are lost, stolen, or damaged.
What is taxi insurance?
Any individual or business operating a vehicle to transport passengers in exchange for payment is legally required to have taxi insurance. This includes drivers of both public hire vehicles, such as traditional black cabs that can be hailed on the street, and private hire vehicles, like minicabs or those affiliated with ride-hailing apps like Uber, which must be pre-booked by passengers.
Types of cover
Taxi insurance policies typically offer various levels of cover:
- Third Party: This is the minimum legal requirement, covering liability for injuries to others and damage to third-party property.
- Third Party, Fire and Theft: In addition to third-party cover, this includes protection against fire damage and theft of the insured vehicle.
- Comprehensive: Offers the highest level of cover, encompassing all the benefits of Third Party, Fire and Theft along with cover for accidental or malicious damage to the driver’s own vehicle.
Taxi operators must obtain the appropriate insurance for their specific services to ensure compliance with legal requirements and to protect against potential liabilities.
Looking to insure your minibus? We also offer minibus insurance policies specifically. Own or run more than two taxi vehicles? Take a look at our taxi fleet insurance policies.
Private hire vs public hire insurance
The type of taxi insurance you need depends entirely on how you pick up passengers — and getting it wrong is one of the few mistakes that can leave you uninsured at the worst possible moment. The dividing line is simple: can you be hailed in the street, or must every job be booked in advance?
Private hire insurance
Private hire insurance covers vehicles that work on a pre-booked basis only. That includes drivers for ride-hailing apps like Uber, Bolt and FREENOW, drivers working through a local minicab office, and anyone taking bookings directly from regular customers. The defining feature is that a private hire vehicle can’t legally accept a street hail or wait on a rank — if it isn’t booked, you can’t take the job, and your insurance is priced on that basis.
To drive private hire you’ll need a Private Hire Vehicle (PHV) licence from your local licensing authority. In London that licence is issued by Transport for London through its Public Carriage Office, which is why drivers in the capital often search for “PCO insurance” — it’s the same thing as private hire cover.
Learn more on our dedicated private hire insurance page.
Public hire insurance
Public hire insurance covers vehicles that can be hailed directly — black cabs and hackney carriages that pick passengers up on the street or at a rank, as well as taking pre-booked work. Because a public hire driver can pick up any passenger at any time rather than only those who’ve already booked, insurers assess the risk differently to private hire, which is reflected in how your policy is rated.
To drive public hire you’ll need a Hackney Carriage licence from your local authority. If you only ever take pre-booked work, you likely need private hire cover instead.
Learn more on our dedicated public hire insurance page.
At a glance
| Private hire | Public hire | |
|---|---|---|
| How you take work | Pre-booked only (app, phone, office) | Street hail, taxi rank, or pre-booked |
| Typical vehicles | Minicabs, Uber / Bolt / FREENOW cars | Black cabs, hackney carriages |
| Licence required | Private Hire Vehicle (PHV) licence | Hackney Carriage licence |
| Common London term | “PCO insurance” | Hackney carriage insurance |
Both types include “hire and reward” cover as standard — the element that legally lets you carry paying passengers. Not sure which applies to you? Read our full guide to public hire vs private hire insurance, or just get a quote and we’ll point you the right way.
What you’ll need to get the best taxi and private hire insurance prices
Our mission is to give you the best taxi insurance deal in the shortest possible time. But we’ll need some information from you to make sure we’re giving you an accurate price.
Your personal information (which is 100% secure)
Apart from the obvious reasons, we’ll need your name, address and date of birth to make sure you are who you say you are. Insurance application fraud is at its highest ever level and our background checks ensure everybody pays a fair price.
Your vehicle registration number and details
We’ll search DVLA and SMMT data to ensure we’ve got accurate information about your vehicle.
Your driving licence number and details of your driving history
Providing your driving licence number (“DLN”) allows for validation of your entitlement to drive certain types of vehicles and your driving history. Some of our insurer partners will offer a discount for confirming your DLN.
Details of any No Claims Bonus you’ve earned
If you’ve been insured as a taxi driver previously and are accident-free, the chances are you’ve got a No Claims Bonus (“NCB”). Your NCB will usually reduce your premium by 30-70%, so it’s important you know exactly how many years’ entitlement you have.
Full details of any additional drivers you want to drive your vehicle
You’ll need to provide the same information about any other drivers, and you should have their permission to do so before you get a quote.
How much does taxi insurance cost?
Taxi insurance typically costs more than standard motor insurance due to additional risks involved with taxi driving. Several factors can influence the cost of a taxi insurance policy:
Usage and mileage
Higher usage and mileage increase the risk of accidents, which can lead to higher premiums. Therefore, providing accurate mileage estimates and typical usage patterns helps insurers adjust cover to better suit your needs.
Value of the vehicle
A more expensive taxi or private hire vehicle incurs higher premiums due to higher repair or replacement costs. Insurers factor in the vehicle’s market value and any modifications when determining premiums.
Location
Operating in high-crime or accident-prone areas typically results in higher premiums. Insurers assess local traffic conditions, crime rates, and accident history to evaluate risk and set rates accordingly.
Type of taxi
The type of taxi, such as a black cab or a wheelchair-accessible vehicle, affects premiums. Factors like passenger capacity, vehicle size, and usage patterns are taken into account to calculate rates.
Driving record
A clean driving record generally results in lower premiums, while a history of accidents or driving violations can increase costs. Insurers use your driving history to predict the likelihood of future claims.
Storage and security
Where you store your taxi and the security measures in place can influence premiums. So parking in a secure place or installing anti-theft devices can lower costs, with discounts for immobilisers, alarms, CCTV or trackers.
How to reduce your taxi insurance premium
Beyond the factors above, there are several practical steps that can help bring your taxi insurance costs down.
- Protect your No Claims Bonus — Your NCB is your most valuable discount, reducing premiums by 30–70% over time. NCB protection cover is worth considering once you’ve built up several years of claim-free driving.
- Choose your vehicle carefully — Engine size, age, and value all affect your premium. A newer, lower-powered vehicle with modern safety features will generally attract a lower premium than an older, high-powered model.
- Install approved security devices — Thatcham-approved alarms, immobilisers, and GPS trackers signal lower theft risk to insurers and can materially reduce your quote. Dashcams are also increasingly valued by insurers as evidence in the event of a disputed claim.
- Store your vehicle securely — Keeping your taxi in a locked garage or off the road overnight rather than on a public street reduces theft and vandalism risk and can lower your premium.
- Pay annually — Monthly payments are arranged through a finance agreement and include interest. Paying your full premium upfront avoids that additional cost.
- Increase your voluntary excess — A higher voluntary excess reduces your premium but means paying more out of pocket if you claim. Only increase it to a level you could genuinely afford if needed.
Taxi insurance frequently asked questions
What's the difference between private hire and public hire insurance?
Private hire insurance covers vehicles that must be pre-booked, such as minicabs or ride-hailing cars. Public hire insurance covers vehicles that can be hailed immediately on the street or at a taxi rank. Read our full guide to private hire vs public hire insurance, or find out more about our private hire insurance and public hire insurance policies.
What is PCO insurance?
"PCO insurance" is the term London drivers use for private hire insurance. It refers to Transport for London's Taxi and Private Hire division — still widely called the Public Carriage Office, or PCO — which licenses private hire drivers in the capital, including minicab, Uber and Bolt drivers. To drive private hire in London you'll need a valid TfL private hire licence (often called a PCO licence) and a private hire policy with hire and reward cover. We can arrange PCO-compliant private hire insurance for you — get a quote today.
Can I use my taxi vehicle for social use?
Yes, you can. All of our policies include social, domestic and pleasure use as standard.
Am I covered for food delivery?
If you’re delivering food, as long as you tell us, we can arrange for this to be included in your cover.
Can I pay for my taxi insurance monthly?
Yes, and we offer some of the lowest monthly rates on the market and can set up your monthly instalment plan in minutes.
Can I insure my taxi for a month?
Yes you can, and as long as you’re licensed for private hire and subject to our usual acceptability criteria, you can insure your taxi or minicab for 30 days.
Why do I need public liability cover?
Your taxi insurance policy automatically covers you for damage to other people’s property or if you injure someone while driving your taxi. However, especially for local authority or school contracts, you’re still responsible for your fare until they actually reach their destination and public liability insurance will cover you if you’re sued for damages.
Do you cover new taxi drivers?
Yes, of course. Provided you’re over 23 years of age we can offer competitive prices for new taxi drivers.
Do I need a PHV licence to get taxi insurance?
Yes. To obtain private hire insurance you must hold a valid Private Hire Vehicle (PHV) licence issued by your local licensing authority. Without it, insurers will not provide hire and reward cover, which is the legal requirement for carrying paying passengers. Your licence must remain valid for the duration of your policy — if it lapses, your cover may be invalidated. If you're new to the industry or approaching renewal, read our full guide to PHV licence renewal for a step-by-step walkthrough of the process.
Does my taxi insurance cover me to drive other vehicles?
No. You’ll only be covered to drive the vehicle that is described on your Certificate of Motor Insurance. If you do need to drive other vehicles, speak to us as you might need a different kind of policy.
Why can I trust insurd?
We've been arranging insurance for over 50 years — now trading as insurd — and we're authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (Firm Register Number: 308508), and over a thousand real customers have shared their experiences with us on Trustpilot.
You can verify our status directly on the FCA register.
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