Private hire insurance for Uber, Bolt and minicab drivers
Private hire insurance from a panel of trusted UK insurers
A better way to insure your private hire vehicle
Private hire insurance covers you to carry pre-booked passengers — whether you drive for Uber, Bolt or Free Now, work through a local minicab office, or take bookings from your own regulars.
Standard car insurance doesn’t cover hire and reward work. Driving without the right cover could invalidate your policy entirely and leave you personally liable if something goes wrong.
Private hire insurance is a type of taxi insurance designed specifically for drivers who only take pre-booked work. If your work always comes through an app, a phone call or a dispatcher, and you never pick up in the street, this is the cover you need.
At insurd, we’re an FCA-regulated specialist broker with over 50 years of experience arranging cover for private hire and minicab drivers across the UK. We work with a panel of leading UK insurers to match your PHV licence and the way you take work. And because we’d rather understand how you work than track it, we don’t make telematics or dashcams a condition of cover.
24/7 claims service
If you’re off the road, you’re not earning. Our claims team is here around the clock to get you moving again.
Fairer prices for private hire drivers
Whether you drive for Uber, Bolt or a local office, we search our panel to find the right price for how you actually work.
World-class support
You’ll get your own UK-based person looking after your policy for its full term, not a different call-centre voice every time.
Driving for Uber, Bolt or a minicab office
Whichever platform you drive for, the insurance requirement is the same: a private hire policy with hire and reward cover, so you’re legally covered to carry paying passengers. We arrange cover for app-based drivers and traditional minicab drivers alike, and we can include occasional food delivery on the same policy if you do a bit on the side between fares — just tell us when you quote.
What does private hire insurance cover?
Accidental damage to your vehicle
Covers repairs if your vehicle is damaged in an accident. Comprehensive cover protects your own vehicle as well as third-party claims.*
Fire, storm, flood and vandalism
Optional replacement vehicle cover keeps you earning while repairs are carried out.*
Glass and windscreens
All glass is covered, and a glass claim won’t affect your No Claims Discount.*
Injury to someone else
Covers legal liability for injury to third parties and their property — a legal requirement for hire and reward work.*
Theft
A stolen vehicle is replaced or paid out at market value. Approved security devices can lower your premium.*
* Subject to your chosen level of policy cover and the prevailing policy excess.
PCO insurance in London
If you drive private hire in London, you’ll have heard cover called “PCO insurance.” It’s the same thing as private hire insurance — the name just comes from Transport for London’s Public Carriage Office, which licenses private hire drivers in the capital. You’ll need a valid PHV licence in place, and your cover has to stay live for as long as that licence does.
If you drive a black cab or hackney carriage and can pick up street hails rather than only pre-booked work, you’ll need public hire insurance instead.
Power up your cover with a host of optional extras
Extra protection you can add to fit how you actually drive —
covering the costs a standard private hire policy leaves out, so nothing catches you off guard.
- Up to £10 million public liability cover: Important if you drive for local authority or school contracts.
- Guaranteed plated replacement vehicle: Keeps you earning if you’re off the road after an accident or theft.
- RAC breakdown, rescue and recovery: Roadside assistance and home start, so a breakdown doesn’t cost you a shift.
- £100,000 legal expenses cover: Access to legal support without the risk of large personal legal bills.
- Up to £1,500 excess protection: Covers your policy excess, so a claim doesn’t leave you out of pocket.
- SmartFob key cover: Covers the cost of getting a new key and any lock replacement, so a lost, stolen, or broken key doesn’t cost you a shift’s earnings on top of the key itself.
What is private hire insurance?
Any driver transporting pre-booked passengers in exchange for payment is legally required to have private hire insurance with hire and reward cover. This applies whether you drive for a platform like Uber, Bolt, Free Now, or other ride-hailing apps, work through a local minicab office, or operate independently. This is different to public hire insurance, which covers black cabs and hackney carriages that can be hailed on the street without a booking.
Types of cover
Private hire 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.
All private hire insurance policies include hire and reward cover as a legal requirement for carrying paying passengers. Without it, any claim made while transporting a passenger would be rejected.
Driving for Uber or another platform? Read our guide on whether Uber drivers are self-employed and what this means for your insurance.
Looking to insure your minibus? We also offer minibus insurance policies. Own or run more than two vehicles? Take a look at our taxi fleet insurance policies.
If you only need cover for a short period, we also offer temporary taxi insurance — specialist short-term cover for licensed taxi and private hire drivers.
What you’ll need to get the best private hire insurance prices
Our mission is to give you the best private hire 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 (100% secure)
Your name, address and date of birth confirm who you are. Insurance application fraud is at an all-time high, and our checks make sure everybody pays a fair price.
Your vehicle registration number and details
We search DVLA and SMMT data to confirm your vehicle. If you’re switching between Uber, Bolt or another platform, make sure your vehicle still meets that platform’s own requirements alongside ours.
Your driving licence and driving history
Your DLN validates your entitlement to drive and your history. Some insurer partners offer a discount for confirming it, and it’s the same check most ride-hailing platforms require before you can go online.
Details of any No Claims Bonus you’ve earned
If you’ve held a private hire policy before and stayed accident-free, your NCB can cut your premium by 30–70%. Know exactly how many years you’ve got.
Full details of any additional drivers
Provide the same information for anyone else who’ll drive the vehicle, with their permission, before you get a quote.
How much does private hire insurance cost?
Private hire insurance typically costs more than standard motor insurance due to the additional risks involved with carrying paying passengers. Several factors influence the cost of your policy. If you want to see what drivers in your area are typically paying, take a look at our average taxi and private hire insurance premiums by licensing authority.
Usage and mileage
Private hire drivers typically cover high annual mileage. Accurate declarations ensure your policy reflects your actual risk and keeps your premium fair.
Value of the vehicle
Higher-value vehicles attract higher premiums due to greater repair and replacement costs. Any modifications must be declared accurately; undeclared modifications can invalidate a claim.
Location
Operating in high-crime or high-traffic areas typically results in higher premiums. Licensing authorities in cities like London carry significantly higher average premiums than rural areas.
Type of private hire vehicle
7-seaters, wheelchair-accessible vehicles, and specialist vehicles carry different premiums to standard cars. Passenger capacity, vehicle size, and specification are all considered at underwriting.
Driving record
A clean driving record with a No Claims Bonus can reduce your premium by 30–70%. Previous claims, convictions, or motoring offences will increase costs.
Storage and security
Where your vehicle is kept overnight and the security measures in place affect your premium. Approved alarms, trackers, and secure overnight parking all reduce your risk profile.
Flexible and monthly payment options
Private hire work doesn’t always come with a predictable income, so we offer some of the lowest monthly rates on the market and can set up an instalment plan in minutes. If you only drive part of the year or want short-term cover while you get going, we can usually arrange that too.
How to reduce your private hire insurance premium
Beyond the factors above, there are several practical steps that can help bring your private hire insurance costs down.
- Build and protect your No Claims Bonus — Your NCB is your most valuable discount, reducing premiums by 30–70% over time. NCB protection is worth considering once you’ve built up several claim-free years.
- Install a dashcam — Dashcams provide evidence in disputed claims and deter staged accidents — both increasingly common for private hire drivers. Many insurers now offer premium discounts for their use.
- 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.
- Store your vehicle securely — Keeping your vehicle in a locked garage or off the road overnight reduces theft and vandalism risk and can lower your premium.
- Increase your voluntary excess — A higher voluntary excess reduces your premium but means paying more if you claim. Only increase it to a level you could genuinely afford.
- Pay annually — Monthly payments include finance interest. Paying your full premium upfront avoids that additional cost.
Private hire 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.
Am I covered for food delivery?
If you’re delivering food, as long as you let us know, we can arrange for it to be included in your cover.
Can I insure my private hire vehicle for a month?
Yes you can. 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.
Do you cover new private hire drivers?
Yes — you can get competitive cover with us from age 23, even if you're brand new to private hire. And if you've built up a No Claims Bonus on a previous private hire policy or another vehicle, bring it with you — it can cut your premium by 30–70%.
Why do I need public liability cover?
Your private hire 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.
What is PCO insurance?
"PCO insurance" is what London drivers call private hire cover. It refers to Transport for London's Public Carriage Office, which licenses private hire drivers in the capital — so a request for PCO insurance is a request for private hire insurance.
Does insurd cover Uber and ride-hailing drivers?
Yes — if you drive for Uber, Bolt, Free Now or any other ride-hailing platform, you need private hire insurance with hire and reward cover. At insurd we can arrange this for you regardless of which platform you drive for. Get a quote today or read our guide to private hire vs public hire insurance.
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