Private Hire Insurance

Private hire insurance covers pre-booked work only — minicabs and app-based platforms such as Uber and Bolt, where the journey must be booked in advance through an operator. Public hire (hackney carriage) insurance covers vehicles that can also be hailed in the street or picked up at a rank. The cover you need follows the licence your local authority has issued, not the vehicle you drive.

Yes. To work for Uber, Bolt or any UK private hire platform you must hold a private hire vehicle licence and a hire and reward policy that covers app-based work. Platforms may provide limited cover while you are on a trip, but you still need your own policy for the rest of the time, including driving to and from work.

That depends on how your policy is written. Most private hire policies we arrange cover the vehicle for social, domestic and pleasure use as well as hire and reward, so you are insured with the app off — but this is not automatic on every policy. Always check the wording, and ask us if you are unsure.

There is no standard price. Premiums depend on your vehicle, your age and claims history, where you are licensed, how much you drive, and the level of cover you choose — London postcodes typically cost more than most other areas. We search multiple specialist markets and explain what is driving your price. Cover is subject to underwriting and insurer acceptance.

In many cases, yes. Some insurers will consider drivers who have recently been licensed, though they may ask for a minimum period of driving licence held, and terms are usually tighter. We know which markets are open to newly licensed drivers, which saves you being declined repeatedly. Acceptance is always subject to underwriting.

Comprehensive cover protects your own vehicle as well as third parties. Third party, fire and theft covers damage or injury you cause to others, plus fire and theft of your own vehicle. Third party only is the legal minimum and does not cover your own vehicle. Public liability for passengers is included as standard on most taxi policies — we will confirm what applies to yours.