Are taxi drivers insured?

Taxi insurance is a legal requirement if you drive a taxi for a living. It's designed to protect you, your car and your customers when you're driving a car used for commercial hire. You'll need a full taxi licence to apply for a policy.

What insurance do taxi drivers need?

Taxi insurance is a specialist vehicle insurance policy designed to cover cars for commercial hire. This type of insurance covers public or private hire usage, and will usually include public liability insurance to cover you against any claims from the public that could arise as a result of your vehicle or driving.

Are Uber taxis insured?

Uber drivers require private hire insurance which provides cover for professional drivers who carry pre-booked passengers or deliveries of food and parcels in return for payment. This is also known as Hire & Reward insurance.

What is a taxi driver responsible for ensuring?

The taxi driver's responsibilities include collecting clients, transporting them to their destinations, and processing payments. You should also ensure that each journey remains safe and pleasant. To be successful as a taxi driver, you should be punctual, reliable, and excellent at time management.

Are taxi drivers regulated?

The Taxi and Private Hire office is the body responsible for licensing taxicabs within Greater London. Taxi and Private Hire is part of Transport for London and is responsible for licensing the familiar London taxicab or "black cab" and also licenses private hire or minicab services.

Insurance broker Simon talks to taxi driver The Gentleman Cabbie about why he loves black cabs

Do taxi drivers have to register with HMRC?

HMRC Tax Check

From 4 April 2022, HMRC introduced new tax checks for all taxi and private hire drivers, as well as PHV operators. As a licensed driver, you should be registered to pay any tax that may be due on income you earn from your licensed trade.

What are the rules for taxi drivers in the UK?

Your driver must take you by the quickest route and keep the meter running at all times. They must provide a receipt albeit often only upon request. They must also take reasonable steps to return any property left in their cab (unless it's illegal in which case they are obligated to hand it over to the police).

How can taxi drivers protect themselves?

How many hours do taxi drivers work?

Hours. This job allows you to choose your hours, but you will find more work in the evenings and at weekends. Friday and Saturday evenings would be your busiest times. You would work between 40 and 60 hours a week if full-time.

How many hours can a taxi driver work in the UK?

You can't be on duty for more than 11 hours a day, and your hours must be recorded on a time-sheet or tachograph. After 5 1/2 hours of driving, you must take a break of at least 30 minutes for rest and refreshment. Alternatively, within any period of 8 hours 30 minutes, you must take at least 45 minutes in breaks.

Do taxi drivers pay their own insurance?

Yes, taxis do require a special type of insurance, commonly referred to as 'hire and reward' (or H&R for short). This insurance is specifically tailored for vehicles that transport passengers for a fee.

What does taxi insurance cover?

Public Liability Insurance, or Taxi Liability Insurance, protects you and your business against any claims of injury or damage to property by someone in your care. Having this cover can prove invaluable, when you consider the risks you're exposed to as a taxi driver.

How much does Uber taxi insurance cost?

The cost of insurance for Uber drivers varies depending on the level of cover you choose, your driving history and the type of vehicle you own. On average, private hire drivers with a good driving record can expect to pay around £180 for a 30-day policy, or £1,600 for an annual policy.

How much is taxi insurance UK?

So how much does taxi insurance cost? On average, private hire taxi drivers with a clean driving record, good claims history and no convictions can expect to pay around £180–£200 for a 30-day taxi insurance policy, or around £1,600–£1,800 for an annual policy*.

Are taxi drivers vetted?

Stay Safe on the Road

Your local authority is in charge of ensuring all taxi drivers are licensed, to ensure they are safe, medically and conviction-wise, to transport the general public. The council will also check the vehicle is fit for purpose and comfortable to travel in.

What expenses can taxi drivers claim?

Can my wife drive my taxi?

Could my spouse drive the taxi for non-work related purposes? Yes, you can get your spouse insured on your taxi, but first make sure your licensing authority allows this or that your partner is a licensed private or public hire driver. If they are not, they may be unable to drive your taxi.

Do taxi drivers get paid hourly UK?

How much can Taxi Drivers earn UK? Taxi drivers in the UK can earn upwards of £30,000 per year. Many of the UK's cab drivers are self-employed, and so paid by the hour/day—meaning they're free to work (and earn) as much as they like. The average taxi driver in the UK is paid between £9-£15 hourly.

What problems do taxi drivers face?

Do taxi drivers own their taxis?

Some taxi drivers own their own vehicles, especially if self-employed. While being self-employed can be more attractive to a taxi driver, mostly due to being able to take a bigger percentage of the fares received, it's worth bearing in mind the additional costs of licensing, fuel, and general upkeep of the vehicle.

Can taxi drivers use hands free?

Even when phones are secured in a cradle, drivers can still be charged with an offence if the police find them not to be in proper control of their vehicle while they are using hands-free functions.

Is it worth being a taxi driver UK?

Making money

According to the National Careers Service, an experienced taxi driver working around 40 hours a week might expect to make around £30,000 per year. As a one-person business, it's largely down to you. If you're prepared to put in the hours and work at anti-social times, your profits could soar.

Is it illegal to shout taxi in the UK?

The simple act of stubbing out a cigarette or lighting up another can lay a driver open to driving without due care and attention. Having wet shoes could make you unfit to drive. Alternative transport such as a taxi could be equally fraught. It is still technically illegal, says Focus, to shout "taxi" to hail a cab.

Is it illegal for taxi drivers to smoke?

It is against the law the law to smoke in virtually all enclosed public places, workplaces and public and work vehicles. This means that smoking is not allowed by anyone in a private hire vehicle (or taxi) at any time. This includes the driver, even if the vehicle is not being used for hire and reward at that time.