FAQs

Patons Insurance is an independent, family-owned and FCA-regulated insurance broker specialising in Taxi Insurance and Commercial Motor Insurance.

Owned by the Patons Group, with over 65 years’ trading history, we use our experience to find the right insurance for people who drive for a living.

Our teams are committed to providing a professional and straightforward experience for our customers. With offices located in key regions across the UK, our team’s local knowledge and exceptional service are unrivalled, so you can be confident you’re in safe hands with us.

We can offer:

• Public Hire and Private Hire Taxi Insurance (both single vehicle and fleet)
• Fleet Insurance
• Motor Trade Insurance
• HGV Insurance
• Minibus Insurance
• Chauffeur Insurance

You can start your quote online by filling out our online quote form, and one of our experts will call you to discuss your insurance requirements. If you would prefer to speak to someone over the phone, you can call us on 0333 015 6886.

You can also ring your local office or drop in for a quick quote. Our local contact information can be found here:

Glasgow

40 Charles Street
Glasgow
G21 2PB

Tel: 0141 553 2020

Your documents will be uploaded to your online account straight away and are available via the Patons Insurance App or through your account online. A certificate or cover note is issued straight away so that you are immediately insured to drive the vehicle.

You can download the Patons Insurance app on Google Play (for Android Phones) or from the Apple App Store (for iPhones).

The Patons Insurance app allows you to upload documents to us, view your policy documents, report a claim, sign documents, recommend your friends and get a quote.

You can download the Patons Insurance app on Google Play (for Android) or from the Apple App Store (for iPhone).

To reset your password, visit the password reset page on our site. If you’ve forgotten both your username and password, give us a call on 0333 015 6886.

When you get insurance through us, you will be covered by one of our trusted leading insurers. We use a wide panel of specialist Taxi Insurance companies to provide the best cover and deal for you.

Quotes are valid for 30 days.

It’s vital that your policy is accurate and up to date. Just let us know what needs to be changed, and we’ll get the changes sorted on your policy or provide a new quote for you depending on what you need.

You will need to speak to our relevant team to cancel your policy. If you want to cancel, please call us on 0333 015 6886.

At Patons Insurance, we take our commitment to customer service very seriously. If you feel our standards have not met your expectations, you can make a complaint to us, and we will investigate.

Sending us details of your complaint is easy. For more information on how to submit a complaint, please visit our complaints page.

Telematics allows you to see how your vehicles are being driven. Your driver score is updated daily, allowing you to view your driving scores for the previous day, week, and month.

To view your driver score, you will need to log in to your Patons App or online account using your username and password. Click ‘Check My Driving’ and you will be presented with your driver scores along with a detailed breakdown of acceleration, braking, and speed.

If you have any questions about your Telematics scores, please call us on 0333 015 6886.

The cost of Taxi Insurance varies for everyone. It’s determined by a variety of factors, including the driver’s age and experience, the age of the taxi, whether it’s a Private Hire or Public Hire vehicle, and the licensing authority.

Start your Taxi Insurance quote now to find out how much it will cost for you to get covered.

We always aim to provide our customers with the right cover at our best price.

When you contact us for a quote, we take the time to discuss your needs with you. We take this information and search our panel of leading taxi insurers to find you the cover which best fits your needs.

The cheapest premium doesn’t always mean it’s the best policy. Saving a few pounds on Taxi Insurance could cost you more in the event of a claim.

Start your Taxi Insurance quote now.

Taxi Insurance is specialised type of insurance that covers you when carrying passengers for hire and reward. As a taxi driver, your vehicle is your livelihood, and you can’t do your job without one!

When you take out a Taxi Insurance policy, whether you are Private Hire or Public Hire, you need to ensure that it covers everything you need. You may need a policy for just one driver or multiple drivers, and you may also require an additional Breakdown policy. You may also need to consider whether a Fleet policy is more suitable if you operate two or more vehicles.

For more information about Taxi Insurance, you can start your Taxi Insurance quote today!

Public Hire Insurance and Private Hire Insurance policies are typically more expensive than standard car insurance policies. This is because taxis and PHVs spend more time on the road in areas of higher risk, and they are used for carrying paying passengers.

In the event of an accident, an insurer will have to consider the taxi, the driver, any passengers and property, as well as any third-party vehicles involved. Domestic car insurance policies do not cover a vehicle to be used as a taxi.

Different types of Taxi Insurance including: Private Hire Insurance, Public Hire Insurance, Minibus Insurance, Taxi Fleet Insurance and Chauffeur Insurance.

In addition to having the appropriate insurance in place, your vehicle must be licensed by your local licensing authority to operate legally as a taxi.

Start your Taxi Insurance quote with us now.

Public Hire Insurance is for taxis that can be flagged down in the street and do not have to be pre-booked, whereas Private Hire Insurance is for taxis that must be pre-booked through an operator or app.

Start your Taxi Insurance quote now.

As with domestic vehicles, taxi insurers typically provide three levels of cover – Third-Party (TPO), Third-Party, Fire and Theft (TPFT) and Comprehensive.

The legal minimum requirement is third-party cover, which all drivers have to take out in order to operate a taxi.

Start your Taxi Insurance quote now.

Both Private Hire and Uber drivers are licensed in the same way as they operate via advanced bookings only, and therefore the insurance is the same for both.

Start your Taxi Insurance quote now.

The Public Carriage Office is responsible for licensing Public Hire and Private Hire vehicles in London. PCO Insurance is a term given to insurance for taxis operating within London, whereas Taxi Insurance is relevant to any taxi driver in any part of the UK.

Start your Taxi Insurance quote now.

Almost any vehicle can be used as a taxi but should have enough room for four passengers as well as luggage.

Drivers often choose saloon or estate cars as they provide more comfort and space than compact family cars, especially for longer journeys. Some firms have minibuses for larger groups of passengers and airport runs, as well as luxury cars for executive travel.

A Taxi Fleet Insurance policy might be best for those with more than one vehicle, but we might be able to find a better deal another way. Our specialist Fleet Team will be able to help on 0333 015 6866.

Buying the right policy for your business is crucial as you need to ensure you are covered in the event of an accident and to stay on the right side of the law.

Some insurers (but not all) allow drivers to exchange their private car no-claims bonus for an introductory discount, helping them reduce their Taxi Insurance premiums.

It depends on the insurer and the policy you choose. Before you take out a policy, it’s worth checking whether there are any restrictions so you don’t get caught out.

You cannot use your car as a taxi with a domestic insurance policy, but Taxi Insurance includes personal use cover as standard, providing insurance when the vehicle is not being used as a taxi.

Vehicles that are not used as taxis must have separate insurance policies.

Single vehicle policies only cover the individual vehicle that is insured, whereas Taxi Fleet policies allow for multiple vehicles and drivers to be named.

Named drivers on your Taxi Insurance policy are fully insured to drive your vehicle as long as they’re a taxi driver themselves and are licenced by the same local authority.

You can insure a number of named drivers on a single policy but the exact number depends on your insurer.

Taxi drivers in the UK do not have to wear seatbelts, but their passengers do. It is the responsibility of the passenger to ensure that they are wearing their seatbelt and failure to do so does not affect the driver’s insurance.

We can help get drivers on the road almost immediately. Complete our online quote form, call us on 0333 015 6886 or visit your local Patons Insurance office and we can help straight away.

Taxi drivers may require Public Liability Insurance, Breakdown, Excess Protection, Legal Expenses Insurance and Gap cover for added peace of mind. Our advisers will help you decide what you need.

While the minimum requirement is third-party cover, a taxi is a driver’s livelihood and taking out extra options can help to keep their vehicle on the road or avoid large, unexpected bills.

Public Liability cover protects taxi drivers if a passenger or member of the public is injured or their belongings are damaged, as a result of an accident that does not directly involve the insured vehicle. Some companies automatically include Public Liability as part of their cover, but it is often an optional extra.

Public Liability Insurance protects taxi drivers in the event of accidents and incidents involving the general public – and the claims for damages and legal costs that follow.

Protecting your No Claims Bonus enables you to keep your No Claims Bonus if you’re involved in an accident meaning you can use it again when you renew your policy. This varies depending on the insurer and number of claims you have.

Dash-cams can play a vital role in showing who was at fault in a collision and can be a great way of protecting yourself. They can also deter vandalism and vehicle thefts – two factors that can affect insurance premiums. Some insurance providers offer reduced premiums for taxis fitted with dash-cams as they can provide vital evidence in non-fault collisions.

Insurance companies may reward safe drivers with lower premiums. Typically, a year’s motoring without any claims or endorsements would be considered proof of good driving.

But telematics devices accurately monitor drivers’ performance and habits in real time and could lead to lower premiums for safer driving.

This depends on the type of policy and the insurer. A vehicle may be provided but it will not be a licensed taxi.

Having a telematics box or an dash-cam fitted to your vehicle has the potential to reduce your Taxi Insurance premium at renewal.

There are no specific qualifications to drive a taxi, but you do need an appropriate Public Hire or Private Hire licence. Those wanting to drive a taxi in London need to pass ‘The Knowledge’ to obtain a Public Hire licence (to drive a black cab).

Whatever your age, many Taxi Insurance providers will require a driver to hold a licence for at least 12 months before offering Public Hire Insurance or Private Hire Insurance. Even for those over 25, an inexperienced driver is a much higher insurance risk. Those that are able to obtain Taxi Insurance quotes will probably find they are too expensive to go ahead with.

We can offer cover for first-time taxi drivers with no prior experience.

Being refused cover can make obtaining a policy more difficult or more expensive. As an insurance broker, we can consider your individual circumstances and can find suitable cover.

Some insurers allow drivers to insure their taxis for weeks or months at a time. This is especially useful for those just starting out in the industry to see if it will become a career, or for those who might be away or take their taxis off the road for extended periods.

For those who see their future driving taxis, it is more cost effective in the long run to take out annual policies.

As with domestic insurance, this is the part of each claim that you agree to pay in the event of a claim.

This depends on both the compulsory and voluntary excess specified by your insurer, which is affected by your age, experience, driving record, the vehicle and the area in which you operate.

Because you need Taxi Insurance in order to operate, we recommend that you don’t leave renewing your insurance until the last minute, in case there are any delays which might force you to stop working.

Whether you are taking out a new policy or renewing existing cover, we recommend you arrange it up to two weeks before you want the policy to start.

Taxi Insurance products and providers change regularly so the best way is to go through an insurance broker who will be up to date with the available policies and requirements.

We work with a large panel of established insurers to get the best cover for taxi drivers at the right price. There is no one-size-fits-all and we work with drivers and insurers to make sure everyone knows what cover is required.

If the taxi company owns the vehicle – then generally yes, it is the taxi company who will insure the vehicle and this is usually on a Fleet Insurance policy. But drivers who own their own cars will need to take out their own insurance.

Young and newly qualified drivers face higher insurance premiums whether they have their own car or want to be added to their parents’ vehicle. Assuming you pass your driving test at 17, it is not until you reach the age of 25 with a clear driving record that most people notice a dramatic decrease in their premiums. So when it comes to driving a taxi, it is no surprise that younger, less-experienced drivers are considered higher risk and many Taxi Insurance providers are unwilling to offer cover.

While there are a couple of firms who might be willing to insure a driver under 25, the cost of the premiums is likely to be unaffordable.”