Specialist private hire insurance - not taxi insurance

[No 1]

I’m planning to offer passenger tours and other “hire or reward” services with my Ariel Nomad. This is a whole new industry for me so I’m interested if anyone has any suggestions for insurance companies that tailor cover to specific requirements?

Howden and NFU have both said that they can provide cover, but as it’s so niche, I thought I’d see if there are other companies out there that would be better suited to providing the cover.

Any suggestions greatly appreciated.

[Monkeylegend]

You need to check with your local licencing authority to see if you need to hold an operators licence depending on the type of H&R work you want to do.

This might require you to have a medical examination similar to HGV drivers, an enhanced DBS check and also the car will need to be licenced as well, which will involve a 6 or 12 monthly test for roadworthiness.

Some authorities will accept an MOT certificate but others used to have their own testing facilities separate from an MOT.

The local authority will also require Public Liability Insurance as well which used to be £10m cover, this should come with proper PH insurance cover.

It might not be as simple as you think although you could be lucky and find they don't require a car like the Nomad to meet the same standards as a normal PH licensed vehicle.

Edited by Monkeylegend on Monday 6th April 11:14

[Truckosaurus]

How does it work for things like Wedding cars, or are they all registered as taxis?

[Doesitdrive]

Truckosaurus said:

How does it work for things like Wedding cars, or are they all registered as taxis?

There are restrictions on the vehicles they will license, in London a Golf cannot got a TFL license apparently.

I doubt they would license classic cars, they just get the correct insurance.

I doubt the vehicle in the OP is suitable for a Hackney license.
If its off road its a matter of speaking to insurance companies.

[spikeyhead]

Truckosaurus said:

How does it work for things like Wedding cars, or are they all registered as taxis?

Wedding insurance is available on most classic policies as an option. It's available for my Atom, but only for weddings, with a big note saying cover can't be used for proms, etc

[No 1]

Monkeylegend said:

You need to check with your local licencing authority to see if you need to hold an operators licence depending on the type of H&R work you want to do.


It might not be as simple as you think although you could be lucky and find they don't require a car like the Nomad to meet the same standards as a normal PH licensed vehicle.

Edited by Monkeylegend on Monday 6th April 11:14

Thanks Monkeylegend. It will be licensed through Cotswold District Council. The issue is I need insurance to get the license. I've spoken to the usual suspects (Howden, Flux, Patons, etc and was hoping that someone might be able to offer a suggestion I've not heard of before.

[alscar]

No 1 said:

Thanks Monkeylegend. It will be licensed through Cotswold District Council. The issue is I need insurance to get the license. I've spoken to the usual suspects (Howden, Flux, Patons, etc and was hoping that someone might be able to offer a suggestion I've not heard of before.

All those 3 unlike NFU are obviously brokers so have access to a panel of Insurers , some of whom will overlap.
If between them they cannot find something suitable then you might have an issue.
Howdens ( in particular the Thatcham office and when they were A Plan ) always seemed to be the decent office for anything car related.
Flux, no comment.

[Nicetobenice]

Try Acorn Insurance.

I'd have thought this is going to be prohibitively expensive

[DFNorfolk]

I’ve used Quote Me Today, broker, for my driving instructor insurance as they’re competitive and they also offer commercial insurance so could be an option

[Monkeylegend]

alscar said:

No 1 said:

Thanks Monkeylegend. It will be licensed through Cotswold District Council. The issue is I need insurance to get the license. I've spoken to the usual suspects (Howden, Flux, Patons, etc and was hoping that someone might be able to offer a suggestion I've not heard of before.

All those 3 unlike NFU are obviously brokers so have access to a panel of Insurers , some of whom will overlap.
If between them they cannot find something suitable then you might have an issue.
Howdens ( in particular the Thatcham office and when they were A Plan ) always seemed to be the decent office for anything car related.
Flux, no comment.

I used A Plan / Howdens for my PH insurance, they were always very competitive and easy and helpful to deal with.

[OPUT]

Lexham insurance maybe?

[No 1]

OPUT said:

Lexham insurance maybe?

Not heard of them, thanks. Will have a look.

[LooneyTunes]

No 1 said:

Thanks Monkeylegend. It will be licensed through Cotswold District Council. The issue is I need insurance to get the license. I've spoken to the usual suspects (Howden, Flux, Patons, etc and was hoping that someone might be able to offer a suggestion I've not heard of before.

IIRC, for private hire you don’t need to be licensed by your local authority, just a local authority.

I see loads around me that are licensed in Wolverhampton. I live nowhere near Wolverhampton, which makes me think that some authorities may be easier or cheaper to deal with than others?

[Monkeylegend]

LooneyTunes said:

No 1 said:

Thanks Monkeylegend. It will be licensed through Cotswold District Council. The issue is I need insurance to get the license. I've spoken to the usual suspects (Howden, Flux, Patons, etc and was hoping that someone might be able to offer a suggestion I've not heard of before.

IIRC, for private hire you don t need to be licensed by your local authority, just a local authority.

I see loads around me that are licensed in Wolverhampton. I live nowhere near Wolverhampton, which makes me think that some authorities may be easier or cheaper to deal with than others?

[No 1]

LooneyTunes said:

I see loads around me that are licensed in Wolverhampton. I live nowhere near Wolverhampton, which makes me think that some authorities may be easier or cheaper to deal with than others?

There’s an office in Warrington where the Wolverhampton ones are processed. I’m not saying that they make money by selling easy to get licenses, but…

I’d rather get one from from Cotswolds DC, unless I absolutely need to buy one from a different licensing authority.