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Looking For Cheap Taxi Insurance?


There are many considerations and factors to be taken into account when choosing taxi insurance. Different insurance options are widely available to help ensure all of your insurance needs are met.

The age and value of your taxi may help you decide which type of taxi insurance to opt for. It may be a better option for older vehicles, with a value less than the cost of annual Comprehensive insurance, to be covered by a Third Party policy. This will be considerably cheaper as you will be covered for costs caused by you to other vehicles only. The cost of any repair damage to your vehicle will not be covered if you caused the accident, neither will you receive any money if your vehicle is a ’write off’. The other parties insurance will pay for repairs if the damage was caused by their insured driver.

Third Party Fire and Theft insurance is the next cheapest option. This provides you with the same cover as Third Party Only insurance with the added bonus of being covered in case of fire or theft. Again, this type of taxi insurance is more suitable for older taxis.

Comprehensive insurance is recommended for vehicles which have a greater value than the annual insurance premiums. Comprehensive insurance covers the cost of repairs as well as the market value of your taxi. New vehicles may choose to have additional GAP protection which provides the price difference in costs between the insurer’s payout and the amount needed to purchase a new vehicle of the same engine size. GAP protection is an additional payment; it is advisable to ask for details of this from the insurance company.

Other additional flexible taxi insurance includes Public Liability, Employer’s Liability, Local Authority liability, breakdown and roadside assistance, windscreens as well as legal expenses and insurance against personal damages.

The variations in qualifying criteria differ between different insurance companies, so it is best to discuss all options with the insurers or insurance brokers to get the best deal possible.

There are also a number of other factors which may help to reduce the cost of your insurance. Drivers over the age of 21 or 25, depending on the insurance company, are offered discounts on their premiums as they are considered to be less of a risk.

No Claims Discounts can have a huge impact on the amount of insurance you have to pay. Drivers who have a history of no claims will be offered discounts which can in some cases reduce the cost of their insurance by over 50%. New taxi drivers with a no claims discount earned on private cars can also be rewarded with generous discounts.

Many insurers are offering the choice of short term policies such as weekly, monthly or quarterly for specific post codes within the UK. While other insurers have monthly repayment options on comprehensive insurance policies to help spread the cost.

All taxi insurance has an excess of around £250, to help lower the cost of insurance further it may be possible to increase the amount of the excess. This may lower the premiums; however it may not be a cost effective saving if you need to make a claim on an older vehicle.

Posted
June 8th, 2011

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Private Hire Taxi Insurance


In order to obtain cheaper taxi insurance you need to advise insurers of the possible taxi insurance discounts they may be able to offer you. Many Private Hire and public hire insurance companies and brokers like www.connect-insurance.co.uk look at which council you are plated to, your age and the length of time you have held your taxi badge.

Posted
June 6th, 2011

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More People Using Taxis to Get to Work. Taxi Insurance is a Must.


Due to an increase in tourism and people living away from their workplace and choosing not to drive, more people using taxis to get to work (let’s face it, who can afford a car these days?), a boom in the taxi business is being seen – and with the competition level increasing day by day, companies are buying more and more taxis to make a profit. But as the risk level is higher in the business, opting for a taxi insurance policy is a must to overcome the cost of damages caused to the vehicle. However, because of higher premiums required to get the insurance cover, many companies prefer to purchase a cheap taxi insurance policy. Many companies offer cheap taxi insurance policies, where there are fewer features available in the policy.

There are three types of taxi insurance policies available: fully comprehensive, third party and lastly, third party fire & theft. In addition to this, private hire insurance policies and public hire insurance policies are also available. Fully comprehensive insurance cover is the most expensive of all, which covers fire and theft of the third party as well damages caused to the taxi and the vehicle belonging to the third party. Third party fire & theft insurance policy is a cheap taxi insurance policy, in which one obtains insurance that covers a third party because of theft, fire or any kind of explosion.

The last type of taxi insurance, third party insurance, is the cheapest of all because with this type of insurance only the damages caused to the third party by the cab or the taxi can be claimed for. If one doesn’t have any insurance policy, one needs to have at least a simple insurance plan as, according to law, no vehicle can be on the road without having insurance cover. But the type of insurance policy chosen by a person also depends on the use of the cab. For example if a person uses the taxi full time (i.e. for commercial use as well as for personal use), they need to obtain full comprehensive cover. Moreover, the policies are different if the cab is used for private hire. As according to private hire insurance policy the cab has to be pre-booked as well as some amount of security is also to be charged.

In addition to this there are many types of discounts available on taxi insurance policies. One is the no claim bonus, where a person gets some bonuses on the premium of the policy if, in a full year, they don’t claim any damages caused to the vehicle. In order to attract more customers, taxi insurance companies keep providing offers to their clients. Moreover if the taxi company keeps a high level of security for their taxis, then they get some amount of discount on the premium of the taxi insurance policy. Better deals with lower premiums are offered to the taxis that have licences from the government than the ones that are non – licensed.

Posted
April 23rd, 2011

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Tips to Keep You Safe in London and UK Taxis


We all read, see and hear awful stories the public’s experiences with taxi journeys and when you look into the facts in detail most occur in unlicensed minicabs.You hear comments like, it was cheaper or it was the only taxi available, but at the end of the day it is their safety and well being that they are risking.This is the reason you should only use licensed taxis even if it might cost you a little more or you have a longer wait is a safe journey home!

So what is the difference between and unlicensed and a licensed or an authorised taxi apart from your safe journey home.Well all local authorities or councils are responsible for licensing taxis; they have a department that issues licenses for both the taxi and its driver. Every licensing officer works from the same guidelines so throughout the UK with the exception of a few slight differences all applicable taxi regulations are pretty much the same.

Firstly looking at the vehicle itself the taxi must be fit for purpose and in good repair. It must have a full road safety or mot certificate and most council will require a separate taxi test.Quite often this extra test is required every six months. Because of the high mileage a taxi drives in a year often more than a thousand miles per week, this is an extra safeguard on the taxis road worthy ness. Enabling the local licensing authority to make sure taxis operating in its area keep to the required standard above all safe for the driver and its passengers.

They also require copies of the insurance policy for each taxi and that it provides sufficient cover.Not only for the taxi vehicle but also has adequate public liability cover so in the event of an accident you are covered.Most standard car insurance policies do not cover for hire and reward with taxi insurance this is included. So if you take the chance with and un licensed cab or taxi its unlikely the vehicle even if it is insured will not be covered as a taxi and you will not be insured! The vehicle is therefore operating outside the law.

Once the local council licensing authority is satisfied the taxi has meet all its requirements it receives a numbered plate this shows the details of that authority the vehicle make model and number plate, some also show the colour.It also shows the permitted maximum number of passengers the taxi is allowed to carry at any one time and the license expiry.Please never ask a taxi driver to take more than his maximum number of passengers as they will risk losing his job and the vehicle will not be covered by insurance for that trip.

In addition to the taxi the driver is also licensed by the local licensing authority.This requires the applicant driver to have a full medical check up on a regular basis.Also required is an enhanced criminal records or police check to ensure the taxi driver is a fit and proper person to hold a license.These details and medical are usually checked every three years.

Anyone with a police criminal record for anything the licensing authority considers improper conduct will not be granted or will have his license removed should anything convictions be found between checks.This again protects the public travelling in taxis.

Before a taxi driver is granted his or her license they also has to take a separate driving test designed for taxi drivers, that is in addition to having a full uk driving license.After all this the Taxi Driver is then tested on this local area knowledge.This is known in the taxi trade as the knowledge.Once the driver has satisfied all the requirements of the local authority they will be granted a license given a taxi drivers photo identity badge with their details on.This should be clearly displayed for passengers to see.

So next time you intend to take a taxi journey please take a few extra seconds to check both the taxi vehicle has a current plate and the Driver has his photo ID badge.Both should be issued by the authority of the area in which you are hiring and up to date.

If you are in any doubt wait for the next taxi it is always better to be safe than sorry.

Posted
March 29th, 2011

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Taxi Insurance Brokers Offer Discounts Online


Motor insurance companies are able to offer a variety of different categories of insurance cover for any type of vehicle. Many specialise in specific vehicles such as car, van, MPV, taxi and minicabs.

They have teams of consultants who are able to offer expert advice in the fields of insurance they specialise in. Therefore finding a specialist insurer is in your best interest and provides peace of mind that the insurance being offered is appropriate to your business needs.

taxi insurance is offered by many insurance companies all of whom are in direct competition with each other. As such they offer different amounts of discounts and other incentives in an attempt to gain your custom.

Finding competitive taxi insurance is no longer time consuming. With virtually all long established insurance companies have their own websites or work in partnership with online brokers. The insurance market is expanding all the time. New insurance companies and brokers are making use of Internet shopping and are offering some very enticing incentives for new customers.

Many insurance companies appreciate that you may not be able to spend hours trying to find the most competitive quotes; as such they offer phone back services. You chose the day and time range which fits in with your work commitments and they phone you back to discuss your individual needs.

It should be appreciated that although many offer to return calls during the evenings they do not work all day and all night! Of course online quotes can be obtained 24/7.

On and off line insurance companies will need to know certain things about the driver, business needs and past driving and insurance history in order for them to calculate and provide a competitive insurance quote.

Having a no claims discount for over four or five years is the simplest way to reduce the taxi insurance. Insurers reward safe drivers who can prove they have not made any claims by offering very generous discounts. It is also possible to protect any no claims discounts. This enables a number of claims to be made while retaining the no claims discount the following year.

Protecting a no claims discount will add to the premiums in most cases, however the potential savings in future premiums off sets this. Taxi drivers can often transfer no claims discounts earned on private cars to their taxi insurance. This maybe this is one of the questions you should ask!

Some taxi insurance companies will provide cover for a spouse to drive the vehicle for social and domestic use under the same taxi insurance. Exemptions and restrictions apply to all insurance policies. Points such as the amount of excess, restricted mileage can make a big difference the premiums. It is important to read them all before making a decision.

Remember the insurance brokers and companies are available and more than willing to discuss any queries you may have either online or by phone. Many online companies have a Frequently Asked Questions section to check before making a phone call.

Posted
January 30th, 2011

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Top Tips To Help Reduce Taxi Insurance Premiums


Each insurance policy premium will be based on individual needs and circumstances; however there are a variety of different ways to help reduce taxi insurance premiums.

No Claims Discounts, also referred to as no claims bonuses, are one of the most effective ways to lower your insurance premium. If you have a proven record of not making claims insurance companies will offer generous discounts.

The amount of discount varies between insurance companies, so it is well worth getting more than one insurance quote to get the largest no claims discount you can.

Quite often any no claims discounts earned on a private motor car is transferable but not on a like for like basis. Speak with the insurance company to see what discounts they will transfer.

Having experience in taxi driving can also help reduce premiums. Proof of how much experience you have is usually linked to how many years you have held your local authority taxi badge. Inexperienced drivers can of course be insured but the premiums will be higher.

Big discounts can be given if the number of drivers is restricted on the policy. The biggest discount is given if the policy is purely for the owner-driver. Having named drivers is also an effective method of reducing premiums.

Policies which cover any driver are more expensive due to the higher risks to the insurance company. Taxi drivers who have no driving convictions or penalty points on their license may be able to negotiate a lower premium.

There are some very simple steps which can be considered to help reduce premiums further:

1. Having the amount of voluntary excess increased will provide a lower premium, but beware that if you make a claim it will be more expensive for you.

2. Some insurance companies will offer lower premiums if your taxi is kept in a garage rather than parked on a road when not in use.

3. Consider having Third Party Only insurance. This type of insurance cover meets the minimum legal requirements and is the cheapest level of insurance cover.

Probably the most effective way to lower the cost of taxi insurance is to search the market! This can be carried out by visiting insurance company offices or probably more effectively online.

Leave plenty of time to look for lower taxi insurance. Insurance companies will contact you just before your existing policy is due for renewal. Too many people take the easy option and renew with the same company, this may be a costly mistake to make.

Buying your taxi insurance online can often save you money. Most insurance companies offer a small saving for using their online services on top of any other discounts they may award.

If you are not up to searching online use an online taxi insurance broker to do the searching on your behalf to save time. Tell them you are looking for the most competitive quotes and inform them that you are shopping around.

You may be pleasantly surprised with some of the competitive offers and quotes they can come up with!

Posted
January 28th, 2011

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Taxi Insurance is a Must


Owners of a taxi company need to understand that getting insurance is a step that should not be avoided. Operating without an insurance policy could lead to you having to fully cover any costs arising out of an accident. Due to the internet, however, it is easier and simpler to get quotes for insurance policies and obtain the relevant information.

One of the most important things when purchasing a policy is to make sure you can afford it in the long run. Thanks to the internet, it is becoming simpler to get cheap taxi insurance as the competition has grown among companies to get the most clients and because of this, it is also possible to get policies adjusted to your needs.

While choosing a company, make sure that the one you select has a record in the area of fare privatising. It is important that the company you select be one that has a good track record and reputation in the market. While new companies may offer you inexpensive rates, these companies remain untested and unproven. Talk to the clients at the companies as they can give you the best advice on the service they are receiving.

A variety of factors will influence taxi insurance, for example, the number of drivers that will be employed. There are many other factors such as this, and it is extremely important to answer all the questions in the policy forms honestly, otherwise claims can be denied at a later stage. Supplying the right information also affects the policy premium, which is yet another reason to be accurate when filling out the forms.

Another thing impacting the cost of your insurance policy is the length of time your drivers have been driving taxis, as new and inexperienced drivers will make your premiums go up and vice versa – if you or other drivers have been operating for a long time, then the premiums will be lower as you will be seen as responsible and safe drivers. Other things such as prior convictions and arrests will also affect the price of your policy, and as tempting as it may be to lie on the form, doing so will result in your claim being denied should the truth be discovered. As a result of this, you could end up paying much more than the difference in premiums would have been.

While comparing quotes, you need to be consistent with the information you give to different companies or brokers. If you give each broker or company a different set of information, then the resulting quotes will also be different, making it impossible to compare them. Also keep in mind that taxi insurance premiums will differ from ordinary private car premiums or private hire insurance, which are calculated on a different set of criteria, as taxis are on the road more and thus more likely to get in an accident. Private hire insurance, on the other hand, is determined by the driving record of the person hiring the car, the distance they will drive and the time for which they will keep the car with them.

Posted
January 8th, 2011

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How Taxi Insurance Works in the UK


How taxi insurance works in the UK

The  taxi insurance company is very significant in the United Kingdom.  The taxi insurance uk is one of the largest  taxi insurance companies, private or public hire.  The Taxi Insurance experts, known as brokers  will offer you efficient service and excellent coverage.  More so, the competitive insurance policies  are designed to ensure that you not only have the best taxi coverage, but also  obtain a reasonable premium.

Whether  you own a taxi company or drive for one, taxi specialist will find the right  policy for you.  Major Taxi Insurance UK  such as Westminster Taxi Insurance Company is proud of their experience in the  Taxi and Private Hire Trade.  The Taxi  Insurance Company owner holds a Taxi Drivers License and he is a member of the  Chartered Institute of Transport.   Another well known name in the Taxi Insurance UK arena is the Swinton  Taxi Insurance Company.  Swinton Tax  Insurance Company Taxi Division specialist offers competitive rates for the  coverage that you need.  The insurance  company also offers the option for payments by installment. 

Both  of these Taxi Insurance Companies are considered by most consumers because they  help your business save money.  Any Taxi  Insurance UK company that is available in the mainland United Kingdom actually offers high  quality service and it can be obtained online.   Westminster Taxi Insurance Company Motor Association provides no claims  discounts as well as a rewarding Loyalty discounts.  The Taxi Insurance policyholder for either  insurance company should be at least twenty- one years of age to qualify.  Most Taxi Insurance companies in the United Kingdom  operate under certain values that must be honored by the insurer.  Standard coverage for Taxi Insurance UK is  competitive, yet rewarding.  If you were  to search online, these standards would help you decide upon the most adequate  taxi insurance policy for your business.

If  your taxi was involved in an accident, a quality insurance company would  respond quickly to the emergency.  There  will also be a quick notification of assessors in the unfortunate event of that  accident.  The Taxi Insurance Company should  arrange for speedy authorization of vehicle repairs to get you back on the road  quicker.  For instance, the Westminster  cheap Taxi Insurance package offers four to six passenger policies for the same  premiums along with no cost legal protection.   And, the insurance coverage provides Public Liability Insurance up to  10million while you are away from your vehicle.   The swinton taxi insurance Company insures vehicles against accidents,  theft, fire and even scratching against other vehicles to include any stationary  objects that may have been in the way.

The  Taxi Insurance UK policy will be tailored by taxi insurance brokers to provide  adequate coverage and protection.   Generally, the coverage is for the vehicle, the taxi driver and private  and public hire.  It is important for the  insurance provider to implement the highest quality customer service while also  offering working solutions for your insurance needs of your passenger  transportation business.  The overall  objective is to give superior premiums and excellent service that will be  provided by the Taxi Insurance Company brokers.

Posted
December 22nd, 2010

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Why Are Taxi Or Car Hire Insurance Policies So Important?


When you are faced with the need to venture into the “outside” world, because your previous working place closed or perhaps your services were no longer needed, you might be faced with the possibility of choosing to become one of the many cab drivers available in the UK. Whether you decide to hire your services out to someone, or you decide to explore this particular activity on your own with the idea of getting your own fleet in the nearby future, probably the most important thing that you need to know, understand, and obtain is proper insurance.

Of course, the type of car insurance that a taxi or rental car should and must have is somewhat different from the type of insurance that any private car must have. The basics, though, are virtually the same in both situations. Protection for the car, the driver and the people surrounding them are the main three things that any car insurance must consider in its policy.

Dealing with an almost endless variety of traffic accidents is the first thing that any responsible taxi driver or owner has to do, so that he or she will be protected if an accident occurs. One of the most important things to consider as soon as you decide to venture in the car hire or taxi world is the fact that accidents cannot be foreseen; at least not in the amount and manner that you would like them to be.

The right car hire or taxi insurance will not only provide a quick answer in those cases and times when you sadly become an active participant in a traffic accident, but it can relieve you from complicated paperwork and endless hours dealing with traffic authorities; the insurance personnel are the ones that will be dealing with all those things, so you can return as quickly as possible to your normal activity.

Nonetheless, such advantages and additional service from your insurance company means that you will have to seek and to take in as much information as possible, so that you can purchase the best possible car hire or taxi insurance available. Yet, it is important that you make the decision first of what type of car hire or taxi service you will be providing.

A modern day custom is for some taxi cars to provide a hauling service; they get a call from a prospective customer asking them to go to the store and purchase something, let’s say a pound of tomatoes. The taxi driver will then deliver the order in a short amount of time and the customer will refund the taxi driver the money that he or she paid for the tomatoes plus the taxi’s fee for service.

In these cases, a special clause should be considered, since many of the things that they transport might be affected, damaged, ruined or lost in transportation. Since the items are not yet delivered, the loss would entirely be on the driver or the taxi or car hire owner, so it is a safer bet to have such an additional clause included in the insurance policy.

Posted
December 6th, 2010

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How to Get a Cheap Taxi Insurance


Using an insurance broker to carry out researches to find the most competitive taxi insurance has been an effective way of getting cheap taxi insurance for many years.

For those who don’t have time to sit sifting through the different online insurance companies – or are unable able to make personal visits to insurance offices – an insurance broker is a great choice.

Many insurance brokers have moved forward with the times, and can easily be found online. Their services remain the same as in the past. They carry out the researches on your behalf and provide a number of different insurance quotes.

It is worth remembering that insurance brokers do not all work in partnership with the same insurance companies. Therefore it is still worth asking more than one broker to find you Cheap Taxi Insurance.

Luckily, with the increase of online insurance companies finding your own cheap taxi insurance has become very easy.

Cheap does not necessarily mean the best. Many insurance companies will provide a cheap quote but when you look at what the policy will actually cover it may not be suitable to meet legal requirements for driving a taxi. It is advisable to use insurance brokers and insurance companies who specialise in taxi insurance.

The credit crunch is hitting insurance companies as hard as many other industries. They are looking to gain new customers and trying to ensure existing customers are well looked after so that they renew their policies year after year. Many are offering cheap taxi insurance for new customers.

Rather than wait until your insurance is near to expiry it is worth getting a number of quotes and weigh up the pros and cons of each before deciding which company to sign up with.

If you have a number of taxis, a fleet insurance policy can provide Cheap Taxi Insurance. The number of taxis required to meet the criteria of what constitutes a fleet differs between insurance companies.

Some companies will offer fleet insurance for two or more vehicles, but generally the criteria is four or five. Again it is well worth shopping around online to find an insurance company that specialises in fleet taxi insurance.

Experienced taxi drivers can take advantage of cheap taxi insurance offers. The insurance companies will need proof of your taxi driving experience. This is usually determined by the length of time the driver has held their local authority taxi driving license.

Restricting the number of drivers on the policy can also be used to make huge savings, particularly if driving is restricted to the only the owner.

Those who have not made any claims for over two years can also be offered cheap insurance as huge no claims discount bonuses can be had. A no claims bonus can provide significant savings, with many insurers offering discounts of between 20 to 60% discount.

A Cheap taxi insurance policy can equate to lower cover with many restrictions and limitations. Therefore take advantage of the services and experience of insurance brokers or companies to find the most competitive policy to suit your taxi business needs.

Posted
November 5th, 2010

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