Taxi insurance
Taxi insurance: how it works and what it covers
Taxi insurance is the motor policy that lets a licensed driver carry fare-paying passengers. This page sets out the types of cover, what insurers look at and how to start an online quote.
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Public hire, private hire and app workTaxi insurance in one minute
Taxi insurance is a commercial motor policy for cars, MPVs and minibuses that carry passengers for payment. It is written as either public hire cover, for vehicles that can be hailed or use ranks, or private hire cover, for pre-booked journeys including app work.
Councils and Transport for London license the driver, the vehicle and, for private hire, the operator. The insurance certificate has to match the licence and the work. A personal car policy, even with business use, does not cover taking fares.
The UK taxi trade in numbers
Sources: Department for Transport (13 August 2026) · Association of British Insurers (2026). Full list at the bottom of this page.
Why taxi work needs its own policy
Every motor policy sets out the uses the vehicle is covered for. Carrying people for money is a separate class of use, often written as hire and reward. A standard car policy excludes it, so a claim made while a passenger is on board and paying may be refused.
Taxi insurance closes that gap. It covers injury to passengers and other road users, damage to other property and, depending on the level you choose, damage to your own vehicle. Some licensing offices also ask to see the certificate before they issue or renew a vehicle plate, which is why the policy and the licence need to say the same thing.
The market has changed fast. Department for Transport figures show licensed private hire vehicles in England rose 13% between 2024 and 2026, while licensed taxis fell 7%[1]. More drivers are now on pre-booked and app work than on ranks, and insurers have built policies around that shift.
The main types of taxi cover
Public hire
For hackney carriages that can pick up from ranks and street hails. See public hire taxi insurance and the separate page on black cab insurance for purpose-built cabs.
Private hire
For pre-booked work through a licensed operator. This includes minicab firms, executive work and the ride-hailing apps. Read more on private hire cover, PCO car insurance in London and insurance for Uber drivers.
Specialist vehicles and work
Some taxis carry extra risk or equipment. There are separate guides for eight-seat minibus taxis, wheelchair accessible vehicles, electric and hybrid taxis, airport transfer work and school and council contracts.
Levels of cover and useful extras
Taxi policies follow the same three levels as car insurance: third party only, third party fire and theft, and comprehensive. Comprehensive cover also pays for damage to your own taxi, which matters when the car is how you earn.
Extras worth comparing include:
- a replacement vehicle that is itself licensed for hire, because a standard courtesy car cannot take fares
- loss of earnings cover while the taxi is off the road after a claim
- breakdown cover that recovers passengers as well as the car
- legal expenses to recover uninsured losses
- windscreen cover, given that the ABI reports the average windscreen repair rose 7% in Q2 2026[2]
Away from the drive itself, taxi public liability insurance covers injury or damage when you are helping a passenger with luggage or a wheelchair.
How to get taxi insurance quotes online
Start the online form through CoverMyTaxi and you continue to MyMoneyComparison.com, which can match you with specialist taxi brokers. Have your driving licence, badge number, vehicle registration and any plate number to hand, plus your taxi no claims bonus and details of any claims or convictions.
Be exact about the work. A driver who does rank work on weekdays and Uber at weekends needs both uses on one policy. If you share the car, say so: named or any driver cover changes the quote. New to the trade? The guide for newly licensed taxi drivers explains what insurers ask.
What insurers look at
What affects the price of taxi insurance
Every insurer weighs these differently, which is why quotes for the same driver and car can vary.
- Licence typePublic hire is usually rated differently from private hire because of rank and street work.
- Where you workBusy city areas, late-night trade and airport runs each carry different risks.
- Your recordTaxi claims, motoring convictions and years licensed all count.
- The vehicleValue, repair costs, seats, adaptations and whether it is electric.
- Who drivesNamed drivers, shared cars and minimum ages for each driver.
- Where it is keptA garage or driveway overnight can be rated differently from the street.
FAQs
Taxi insurance questions
What is taxi insurance?
Taxi insurance is a commercial motor policy that covers a licensed vehicle while it carries passengers for payment. It is written as public hire or private hire cover to match the driver's licence.
Is taxi insurance a legal requirement?
Yes. Any vehicle used on UK roads needs motor insurance for the way it is being used, and carrying paying passengers is a separate use from personal or business driving. Licensing offices also check the certificate.
Can I use my car insurance with business use for taxi work?
No. Business use covers driving for work, such as visiting clients. It does not cover carrying passengers for hire or reward.
Does taxi insurance cover me for Uber?
Private hire insurance does, as long as the certificate covers private hire or carriage of passengers for hire and reward. Uber states it does not accept public hire only policies[3].
How can I get taxi insurance quotes online?
Use the online form on CoverMyTaxi. You continue to MyMoneyComparison.com, which can match you with specialist taxi brokers who come back with options, subject to insurers' acceptance criteria.
Does CoverMyTaxi sell insurance?
No. CoverMyTaxi is a trading style of Mymoneycomparison.com Ltd and an information website, not an insurer or a broker.
Sources
Figures on this page come from the sources below. Each was checked on 11 November 2026; figures may change when a source is updated.
- Department for Transport, Taxi and private hire vehicle statistics, England: 2026, published 13 August 2026.
- Association of British Insurers, Record motor insurance payouts in Q2 2026, 2026.
- Uber, Uploading your documents, accessed 11 November 2026.
Ready for your online taxi insurance quote?
One online form, specialist taxi brokers, no obligation.
CoverMyTaxi is a trading style of Mymoneycomparison.com Ltd. It is an information website and is not an insurer or an insurance broker. Quotes are provided through MyMoneyComparison.com and the brokers it works with, subject to insurers' acceptance criteria.