Top Taxi Insurance Tips

To help keep the cost of your insurance premiums low there are some tips which may be worth considering.

* Think about the amount of excess you can afford to pay. Buy increasing the amount of excess you can reduce the annual premiums, this also indicates to insurance companies that you will only be making small claims which exceed your excess. If you live in high risk areas this may not be an ideal option.

* Having owner drivers only or named drivers only will also help to lower the costs. Taxi firms which have ‘any driver’ policies will pay far more for their insurance. The only exception to this is if you have a lot of young or inexperienced drivers on your team.

* Give careful consideration to the optional extras offered by the taxi insurance companies. Consider whether you really need them as tempting as they may seem they will add to the costs.

* If you have accumulated a no claims bonus it is well considering protecting it. This typically means that you can make a number of claims without losing your no claims bonuses. Although this may cost slightly more in the long run it can save you huge amounts of money.

* Keep your taxi in a garage or secure compound when not in use as this will significantly reduce the premiums costs.

* If you have an older vehicle with a low replacement value it will be cheaper to have taxi insurance which is third party only or third party, fire and theft rather than fully comprehensive. Speak with insurance companies as those who operate in high risk areas may not be legible for this lower type of insurance cover.

 

 

 

 

Taxi Driver Regulations Effect From 1st April

Recently there have been a lot of new rules and regulations set up for taxi drivers and taxi companies. While most of them have only been put in place by local councils and not nationally enforced, it can make a huge impact should your company be affected. One such change is the new rules for taxi drivers in Derbyshire.

The Derbyshire District Council has agreed to put in place new requirements for anyone seeking to get a taxi drivers license. These requirements include tests on the Highway Code, local geography and even a written English test. The council says this move is all about increasing standards of local taxi firms. Yet is it just another setback for the taxi companies?

A majority of local firms do agree with the new regulations on drivers, and the council has agreed to mark all vehicles that receive the new license with a council insignia on their doors. This increases local trust in the company, knowing they have passed the regulations. However the council has gone one step further, introducing rules that newly licensed vehicles must be less than three years old.

This is a sensitive issue that some taxi drivers are strongly opposed to, as shown in the recent Newport taxi driver demonstration. Business owners are worried that by being forced to only use new vehicles it means far greater expenditure. Not only will the new vehicles cost more, but their taxi insurance premiums will be higher as a result. These regulations come in to force from the 1st of April.

Concerns For Diabetic Taxi Drivers

Diabetic Taxi Drivers in Nottinghamshire anxiously await their council decisions to see if they are legally allowed to drive a taxi while having type one diabetes.

Last Thursday a meeting was held at the Newark and Sherwood council to vote on whether taxi driving licenses should be taken away from taxi drivers who suffer from type one diabetes. The fear is that one of the drivers may have a hypoglycaemic attack while driving a fair, putting public safety in danger.

This form of diabetes requires control of insulin levels, normally via injection or insulin pump. It also requires careful dietary management. As such it can often be difficult for taxi drivers to ensure their insulin levels are at healthy levels during long shifts as such any diabetic taxi driver should always be careful.

It is important to ensure that any diabetic taxi drivers under your supervision are given adequate time for breaks to check their insulin levels and resolve any issues. It is important to remember that while type one diabetics are allowed to drive cars, and often taxis, they are not allowed to drive larger vehicles.

The Nottinghamshire council currently regulates its diabetic taxi drivers on a case by case basis, however they plan to readdress the issue again in July. According to council members there was not enough information gathered to make a decision straight away.

Diabetes UK say that there is no reason why people with diabetes should not be allowed to drive taxis, and that many people with diabetes are fully fit to drive vehicles. They say that by withdrawing the licenses from taxi drives indiscriminately it would deny some taxi drivers the chance to earn a living.

Currently the DVLA must be informed if you have type on diabetes, however it does not exclude you from driving a personal vehicle. Most insurance companies require you to inform the DVLA of any medical conditions prior to applying for insurance, and should your medical conditions change without informing the DVLA you may inadvertently void an insurance policy, this includes taxi insurance.

Severe Disruption Across the Country

It was inevitable- despite warnings from the weather forecasters, many parts of the UK have been brought to a grinding halt by the severe weather conditions.

Roads were closed due to lorries jack-knifing and motorists unable to get any traction to keep moving.

London was hit hard, buses and trains stopped running, airports were closed or flights severely delayed. Many commuters complained as even the taxis were erring on the side of caution and were not available.

Gritters were out in force and worked through the night to try and keep the roads open. But without the volumes of traffic-an estimated six million people took the day off yesterday- the salt simply didn’t work on many roads effectively.

Today The Highways Agency has advised that driving with extreme caution is required as the snow and black ice is making driving very hazardous.

If you do decide to venture out on the roads, make sure you have warm clothes just in case you become stuck or involved in a shunt. Remember if you don’t have a comprehensive insurance policy and you cause an accident your vehicle will not be covered. Maybe that’s why those who didn’t have a comprehensive taxi insurance decided to stay at home yesterday?

The usual recommendations of only driving if absolutely necessary has seen far fewer vehicles on the roads, however multiple vehicle accidents are being reported across the country.

London Transport have nearly all their buses running today and black cabs are in abundance-the only problem is there is few people using them. Many commuters have decided to take advantage of the weather conditions and have another day off!

Make the Most of Christmas Festivities

Christmas Taxi

One of the busiest times of the year has already began in earnest. Make the most of Christmas festivities and have your taxi in tip top condition inside and out!

There is some truth to be said that generating more custom can be attributed by ‘word of mouth’. Having a neat and tidy taxi will have the potential for returning customers who may also pass your number onto their friends and increase your work load. More work undoubtedly means more income, so get the proverbial snow ball rolling and greet the New Year in profit!

What makes your taxi service better than your competitors? Having a clean interior will make an impact on people’s initial perception of your services- dirty cab implies a sloppy attitude!

It’s important to remember that you may not be able to be very selective with your customers, but they can be very selective with which taxi they use! Your own attitude will also have an impact on people recommending you to others!

Being helpful and friendly goes along way with most people. Business cards can be obtained very inexpensively. Give out your card to all new customers to save them having to look you up in the phone book next time they need a taxi. Having a business card also shows professionalism, it informs people that you are serious about your work. Make sure you display your taxi license at all times, failure to do so and you may find yourself in court facing fines!

Above all make sure you have the correct taxi insurance. Having Public Liability included within the policy is well worth the additional cost at this busy time of the year.

Tips in becoming a Licensed Taxi Driver

Before becoming a licensed taxi drivers the are a number of things which need to be in place. There is a checklist available from many licensing and council offices or online.

The check list typically includes that you must have the following:

• A current and full UK driving licence is required. If you have a driving licence issued by another country, particularly if it’s outside of the European Union you may need to apply for a UK licence.
• Three passport sized photographs. The photographs should be taken in the same manner as a passport, e.g. full face etc.
• A completed and successful Criminal Bureau disclaimer.
• Current medical certificate indicating that you have a clean bill of health.
• You may then be asked to complete a multiple choice style questionnaire at accompany the application.
• Once all of the above has been completed the information is passed to an official of the licensing authority.
• If the application is accepted you will then need to show a valid taxi insurance certificate in order to put a license on your vehicle.

The taxi will also have to meet regulations. It must have valid tax, an MOT if applicable and taxi insurance. If you wish to be awarded with a local authority contract Public Liability will have to be included on the insurance policy. The inside of the taxi will need to meet Health & Safety requirements to ensure that there is no potential or actual detrimental affects to the public‘s health.

You will also need to be aware that unless your taxi is a licensed hackney carriage/black cab it is an offence to stop and pick up customers from the kerb. All fare paying customers must be pre-booked.

Is Your Taxi Detrimental to Public Safety?

The police in many cities throughout the country are stopping taxis and requesting them to go to the testing station for an on the spot check. If they find anything which is deemed to be of detriment to public safety on the cab then it’s being taken off the road until its fixed.

The police are also using the opportunity to check that valid taxi insurance is held and that your local authority taxi driver’s licence is being worn.

These spot checks are welcomed by legitimate taxi drivers who are becoming sick and tired of people thinking they can earn some quick cash by offering a ‘taxi’ service without meeting the legal requirements.

Taxi driving is a serious occupation offering a valuable service to the public. Taking care of customers and your taxi is equally important. Having Public Liability taxi insurance will at least provide you with cover if a member of the public harms themselves whilst in your taxi.

Public Liability insurance will also provide cover should your taxi harm a member of the public. Check out your insurance policy to see whether you have the correct type of cover.

Times are hard enough at present with the countries economical decline. Keeping your taxi in tip top condition inside and out and having all the right documentation, including the correct type of taxi insurance, in place before you get pulled over by the police makes for common sense. The spot checks don’t take long and if everything is in order you will be back ‘earning’ the same day or evening.

Don’t let Breakdowns Stop You Earning

With probably the busiest time of the year just around the corner now is the time to make sure your taxi is running at its best, a break down means that you will be losing out on fares, income and livelihood. Some taxi insurers offer breakdown cover either as part of their comprehensive policy or as an optional extra which is well worth considering, some include roadside assistance and home start style options as well, which can be extremely useful if your taxi is not that new. Some insurance companies also offer a courtesy vehicle which means while your taxi is off the road being repaired you can keep working and earning.

Another thing to include on your insurance is public liability insurance (PLI), you never know when you may have an accident and the last thing you need is to be taken to court for personal damage claims which could ruin you and your business. Most taxi insurance has public liability cover, however, the maximum amount can vary quite considerably, particularly if you are running your taxi from major cities within the UK. Check out your policy and if necessary you can ask to have the PLI increased, of course you’ll pay more but its well worth considering.

If your taxi insurance is due for renewal don’t forget to see whether you can transfer your no claims discount, as this can save an awful lot of money. Taxi drivers with a proven record of no claims can get up to whopping 60% discount with some insurance companies or brokers, making a considerable saving for you.

Taxi Insurance Brokers Welcoming New and Expanding Businesses

A recent TV interview with entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson intimated that it’s not all doom and gloom with the economic crisis for people starting new businesses in the UK. Quite the reverse in some cases with people being able to start out with new incentives, some very competitive deals and loads of advice to help them put the British economy back on its feet.

With impending jobs cuts and redundancies being made starting a new business may be more preferable to some than desperately trying to find a suitable job. Taxi driving is becoming a new way of life for many, with new taxis companies offering competitive rates in a variety of different vehicles to meet the growing demand for travelling in a unique taxi style.

Many taxi insurance brokers are welcoming new drivers and expanding businesses offering insurance cover for all types of both private and public hire vehicles including minibuses and black cabs.

For those hoping to take advantage of local authority schemes to take and collect children from schools the extra Public Liability taxi insurance is well worth considering, in fact many local authorities will not award contracts for taxis that do not have this extra cover.

If you are considering starting up in the taxi business you should give some considerable thought to having a taxi insurance which also includes personal assault as well as public liability cover. The rise in reported assaults on taxi drivers is sadly ever increasing, however, many taxis are introducing a CCTV style cameras inside their cabs which not only appear to be reducing the number of assaults but also very effective evidence for prosecution and taxi insurance claims.

Make Sure Your Taxi has Insurance

We are all very aware that Christmas is approaching fast, the Government will once again be launching new anti- Drink Driving campaigns in an attempt to reduce the amount of drink, driving accidents and fatalities during the festive season.

This is seen by many as the ideal opportunity to make some extra cash by posing as taxis drivers. The major concerns are that these so called taxis drivers do not have a taxi licence nor do they have taxi insurance on their cars. Without an official taxi license these people are acting illegally and should they become involved in an accident the innocent passengers will have no insurance cover at all.

The point I’m trying to make here is two fold, definitely use a taxi rather than drive when going out to drink, however make sure the taxi you chose is running a legitimate service with a local authority license and has proper taxi insurance.

Ideally choosing a taxi company which has a good reputation from Yellow pages or on-line should be relatively simple. Once the taxi arrives you could also check that he or she has photo identity and taxi license registration, but don’t be fooled too easily, these unscrupulous people fake ID!

For anyone who is thinking of taking advantage of the influx of people using taxis over the festive season, then I say that’s great, just as long as you do it legally and get both a license and taxi insurance before you pick up your first client.