Private Hire Insurance Cover Is Diffeent From Taxis

Private hire vehicles are not the same as taxis and therefore will need a specific type of insurance. Licensed taxis are the only vehicles which are legally permitted to openly ply for trade on the UK public highways. Private hire vehicles have to be pre-booked in order to keep within the law when using their services. With the ever growing number of people being made redundant in the UK many are looking at various ways to boost their income by becoming private hire drivers. However to be legal there are rules and regulations set down which have to be adhered to. There is far more involved to private hire businesses than simply buying or using a vehicle and sitting outside of a train waiting to take people to their destinations. If you do adopt this illegal approach you may find yourself with a driving ban, penalty points on your license or a jail sentence. Although this all may sound a bit harsh, legal requirements have been put in place to safeguard the public. In order to become a licensed private hire vehicle driver it will be necessary to pass local authority tests and meet the specific criteria regarding health. A criminal records check will also be carried out. Again, this measure has been put in place to protect the public’s best interests. Once a local authority private hire vehicle license has been successfully obtained the driver will have to wear his or her photo identity at all times while operating. They will also have to keep records or a log which details the name and pick up address of their customers, along with a contact phone number. Failure to wear identification or keep records may result in prosecution. The vehicle will also have to have appropriate vehicle insurance. To meet local authority criteria the insurance will have to include Public Liability cover. This is not generally part of an insurance policy it is an optional extra. However, if you use an insurance company which specialises in private hire insurance they will be able to advise and guide you as to the best options and cover available. As with most vehicle insurance the annual cost can initially appear pretty high. There are a number of different ways which insurance costs for private hire vehicles can be lowered. * Owner drivers are usually the cheapest option, particularly if the driver has a proven history of no claims. The insurance companies will take this into consideration when calculating a quote. Drivers who have accumulated a no claims discount or bonus over a number of years will be offered the largest savings. * Insuring the vehicle as Third Party only is another way to lower premiums, however this basic insurance does not provide cover for your vehicle if you are deemed to be the person who caused the accident. Third Party gives you exactly as it says, cover for a third party and nothing more. * If you operate in a high risk area, such as large cities or towns insurance companies may not offer Third Party only cover. They will offer Third Part, Fire and Theft. Which provides third party cover and includes cover should your private hire vehicle be stolen or involved in a fire incident. Contact companies who specialise in Private Hire insurance to ensure your vehicle is legally and adequately covered.

——————
Articles are copyrighted

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

Related posts:

1. More People Using Taxis to Get to Work – Taxi Insurance is a Must – by Eric Token
2. Private Hire vs Private Car – You Decide! – by Andrew Carter Andrew CarterLevel: PlatinumI am 48, and have recently set up my own business, after 15 years in an Automotive supplier as a Sales manager. I have also … …
3. Cost Effective Ways To Obtain Taxi Insurance – by
4. 5 Top Tips To Lowering Taxi Insurance – by
5. How To Tell A Licensed Taxi In London And The Uk – by

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Tags:  car taxi taxis