Private Hire Taxi Insurance
Private Hire Taxi Insurance Quotes
Stay legally covered for every pre-booked fare.
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What Is Private Hire Insurance?
Private hire insurance is a specialist hire and reward motor policy that covers drivers who carry pre-booked passengers in a licensed private hire vehicle.
A standard car insurance policy does not cover you for carrying passengers for money. Under the Road Traffic Act 1988, driving without the correct hire and reward cover is an offence that can lead to penalty points, fines, and vehicle seizure.
Private hire vehicles work on a pre-booking basis only, taking jobs through an operator, app, or office rather than picking up from the street or a rank. If you need to hail passengers from a rank, you need public hire insurance.
Private hire is the largest segment of the UK taxi insurance market, covering minicabs, app-based drivers, chauffeurs, and PCO-licensed vehicles across England, Scotland, and Wales.
How To Compare Private Hire Insurance Quotes
Comparing quotes from multiple specialist taxi insurers is the fastest way to find the right cover at the lowest price.
Enter your vehicle and driver details
Provide your vehicle’s make, model, and registration year, along with your licence type, driving history, and any convictions or previous claims.
Add your operating details
Confirm whether you work through an operator, app, or independently, your estimated annual mileage for private hire use, and where the vehicle is parked overnight.
Choose your cover level
Select third-party only, third-party fire and theft, or fully comprehensive. You can also add optional extras such as breakdown cover and windscreen protection.
Compare and buy online
Quotes appear side by side so you can compare premiums, excess levels, and policy details. For a full breakdown of pricing, read our guide on how much taxi insurance costs in the UK.
What Does Private Hire Insurance Cover?
A private hire policy covers the specific risks of carrying pre-booked passengers for money, including third-party liability, passenger injuries, and vehicle damage.
Third-party liability
Every policy covers damage and injuries you cause to other road users, pedestrians, and their property. This is the legal minimum under the Road Traffic Act 1988.
Passenger liability
Injuries to fare-paying passengers during a journey are covered. This is what separates private hire insurance from a standard car policy.
Own vehicle damage
Comprehensive policies cover repairs to your vehicle after an accident, vandalism, or attempted theft. Third-party-only and TPFT policies do not cover your own vehicle for collision damage.
Fire and theft
TPFT and comprehensive policies cover loss or damage from fire, arson, or theft. This matters if you park on the street overnight rather than in a secure compound.
Personal use
Most policies include personal use so you can drive the vehicle outside of work. Check the policy wording, as the excess may be higher for non-work claims.
For a full breakdown, read our guide on what insurance taxi drivers need.
What Levels Of Cover Are Available?
Private hire policies come at three levels of cover, and the right one depends on what your vehicle is worth and how much of the risk you are willing to carry yourself.
| Cover area | TPO | TPFT | Comprehensive |
| Third-party damage and injury | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Passenger liability | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Fire and theft | No | Yes | Yes |
| Own vehicle (collision damage) | No | No | Yes |
| Windscreen cover | No | No | Usually |
| Personal use | Usually | Usually | Usually |
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What Types Of Private Hire Insurance Can You Get?
The right type of private hire policy depends on how you operate, who books your fares, and what vehicle you drive.
Minicab insurance
Covers drivers who work for a local operator or take bookings independently through a radio circuit or phone line. This is the most common type of private hire policy in the UK.
App-based driver insurance
Platforms such as Uber, Bolt, and Ola require you to hold your own private hire policy. Uber insurance is tailored to the way app-based drivers work, with some policies offering pay-per-mile or on-demand pricing.
Chauffeur and executive insurance
Covers airport transfers, corporate travel, and executive journeys where all trips are arranged in advance. Chauffeur insurance often includes higher liability limits and covers prestige vehicles.
PCO insurance (London)
Drivers licensed by Transport for London must hold a PCO insurance policy that meets TfL’s specific requirements, including hire and reward cover and a minimum level of passenger liability.
Taxi fleet insurance
If you operate two or more private hire vehicles, a taxi fleet policy covers all vehicles under one renewal date with a single premium. Fleet discounts typically start at 10–15% for two to four vehicles.
What Is Not Covered By Private Hire Insurance?
Private hire policies have standard exclusions that apply across most insurers. Knowing them in advance avoids rejected claims.
Street hailing and rank work
Private hire insurance does not cover you to pick up passengers from the street or a taxi rank. That requires public hire or hackney carriage insurance instead.
Unlicensed drivers
Any driver not named on the policy or not holding the correct private hire licence will not be covered. Claims made while an unlicensed driver is behind the wheel are void.
Driving under the influence
Policies will not pay out if the driver causes an accident while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. This also applies to prescription medication that impairs driving ability.
Mechanical failure from wear and tear
Insurance covers sudden events such as accidents, fire, and theft. Gradual mechanical breakdown or wear and tear is not covered, and breakdown cover is a separate add-on.
Goods in transit
Carrying goods for payment (courier or delivery work) requires separate hire and reward insurance. A private hire policy covers passengers, not parcels.
Read our guide on the difference between private hire and taxi vehicles for a full breakdown of how the two licence types work.
How Much Does Private Hire Insurance Cost?
Most private hire drivers pay between £1,200 and £2,500 per year for fully comprehensive cover, though costs vary widely depending on location, vehicle, and driving history.
| Cover level | Typical annual cost | Best for |
| Third-party only | £800–£2,000 | Older vehicles with low replacement value |
| Third-party, fire and theft | £1,000–£2,200 | Drivers with secure overnight parking |
| Fully comprehensive | £1,200–£2,500 | Most working drivers (most popular choice) |
These ranges assume a driver aged 30 or over with a clean licence driving a standard saloon or MPV. Younger drivers, those with convictions, or drivers in high-risk postcodes will pay more.
A 35-year-old minicab driver in Birmingham with a clean licence and a Toyota Prius might pay around £1,600 per year for fully comprehensive cover. Paying monthly at 10% interest adds £160, bringing the total to £1,760.
London premiums
London drivers typically pay 20–40% more than the national average due to higher accident rates, congestion, and theft risk. A PCO driver in central London can expect to pay £2,000–£3,500 depending on vehicle and claims history.
Monthly payments
Paying monthly spreads the cost but adds interest charges of 8–11% on top of the annual premium. On a £1,600 policy, that adds £128–£176 in interest over the year.
What Affects Your Private Hire Insurance Premium?
Eight main factors determine your premium. Understanding them helps you get a more accurate quote and spot ways to reduce the cost.
Your age and experience
Drivers under 25 and those with fewer than two years of private hire experience pay higher premiums. Insurers treat newer drivers as a higher claims risk.
Driving and claims history
Previous claims, convictions, and penalty points all push premiums up. A clean licence with no claims in the past five years gives you the best rates.
Vehicle type and value
Higher-value vehicles cost more to insure. Choosing one of the best cars for private hire can help keep premiums manageable while meeting licensing requirements.
Annual mileage
More miles means more risk. Full-time drivers covering 30,000 or more miles per year pay more than part-time drivers doing 10,000 to 15,000.
Location
Urban postcodes with higher accident and theft rates attract higher premiums. London, Birmingham, and Manchester are among the most expensive areas for private hire cover.
Overnight parking
A locked garage or secure compound reduces your premium compared with street parking. Insurers factor in theft risk based on where the vehicle is kept overnight.
Cover level and add-ons
Comprehensive cover costs more than third-party only, and each add-on increases the premium. Raising your voluntary excess offsets the cost if you can afford to pay more in the event of a claim.
Operating platform
Some platforms carry higher risk profiles than others. Insurers may price differently depending on whether you work through Uber, Bolt, a local operator, or independently.
The Financial Conduct Authority recommends comparing quotes from multiple providers to find the best deal for your circumstances.
How To Save Money On Private Hire Insurance
Seven practical ways to reduce your premium without cutting the cover you need.
Compare quotes at every renewal
The gap between the cheapest and most expensive quote for the same driver can be hundreds of pounds. Never auto-renew without checking the market first.
Pay annually
Monthly payments include interest charges that typically add 8–11% to the total cost. Paying in one lump sum is always cheaper if you can afford it.
Increase your voluntary excess
Raising your excess lowers your premium. Set it at a level you can comfortably afford if you need to make a claim.
Install a telematics device
A telematics device gives insurers real data on your driving. Safe drivers can see premium reductions of 15–30% after the first year.
Improve vehicle security
Fit a steering lock, tracking device, or Thatcham-approved alarm. Park in a locked compound or garage overnight rather than on the street.
Build your no-claims bonus
Each claim-free year reduces your premium. Protect your no-claims bonus with an add-on so a single claim does not wipe out years of savings.
Choose your vehicle carefully
Lower-value vehicles in lower insurance groups cost less to cover. Fuel-efficient saloons and MPVs such as the Toyota Prius and Skoda Octavia are popular choices because they balance running costs and insurance premiums.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Private hire covers vehicles that take pre-booked passengers only. Public hire insurance covers hackney carriages and black cabs licensed to pick up from the street or a rank.
Yes, Uber requires every driver to hold their own private hire insurance policy. Uber’s motor insurance cover only applies while you are on an active trip, not between jobs or while the app is off.
Some insurers accept a no-claims bonus earned on a personal car policy, but not all do. Ask each insurer when comparing quotes, as transferring your bonus can reduce your premium.
Most policies include personal use so you can drive the vehicle outside of work hours. Check the policy wording, as the excess may be higher for non-work claims.
It is not a legal requirement, but many operators and licensing authorities recommend it. Public liability insurance covers injury or property damage claims from passengers or members of the public outside of a road traffic incident.
Yes, a taxi fleet policy covers two or more vehicles under a single renewal date. Fleet discounts typically start at 10–15% for smaller fleets.
Not usually – carrying goods for payment requires separate hire and reward or courier insurance. A private hire policy covers passengers, not parcels.
Generally yes – private hire premiums are lower because pre-booked journeys carry less risk than street hailing. Public hire drivers face higher premiums due to unpredictable pick-ups and longer hours on the road.
Hire and reward is a broad category of motor insurance that covers any vehicle used to carry passengers or goods for payment. Private hire insurance is a specific type of hire and reward cover designed for licensed PHV drivers.
According to Department for Transport statistics, there were over 256,000 licensed private hire vehicles in England as of 2024, making up around three-quarters of all licensed taxi and PHV vehicles.
Airport transfers count as pre-booked private hire work, so a standard private hire policy covers them. Chauffeur insurance may be more suitable if you specialise in executive airport transfers with prestige vehicles.
Private Hire Insurance Guides
