Additional Driver help??

raskazz

no-oneknowsme wrote: »

SallyA - maybe a read through question 6 of the "FAQ" here http://www.quote-4.me.uk/taxi-insurance.html would be useful.

"I want to include my spouse on my insurance but she does not have a taxi licence. Can she be insured on my policy to drive?

We can provide cover for your spouse/partner, provided your local council confirms that it is acceptable to do so, and there are no special restrictions applied by them."


Firstly Coversure's answer is quite poorly worded. It should read "plating council" rather than "local council". Secondly, do you have it in writing from the council who plates your husband's vehicle that they will allow you to drive the vehicle for social use only? I would urge you not to drive the vehicle without such a letter and also a letter from your insurers confirming that your cover is valid.

scheming_gypsy

raskazz wrote: »

In England and Wales you cannot drive a vehicle licensed for private hire AT ALL unless you have a taxi badge. Scottish authorities will usually allow additional drivers to use the vehicle for social, domestic and pleasure only.

See section 46(1)(b) of the the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976.

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1976/57

It does not matter that the plates, branding, meter, radio, sign etc. are removed - once a vehicle is licenced for private hire then it is licenced for private hire until the council deems otherwise.

I work as an insurance underwriter, and deal with taxi insurance. We often get requests to add drivers for SDP use only and every single time I receive such I request I phone the plating council to check if they will allow it. Every single English or Welsh authority I have spoken to advised that they do not allow unbadged drivers to drive the vehicle at all, regardless of the use. If the client or broker continues to dispute this I ask them to provide confirmation in writing from the plating council that the person may use the vehicle. I have never received such a letter.

Often insurers let this situation happen because their underwriters quite simply don't understand taxi insurance. Due to the large premiums involved in taxi insurance, you find that insurers are attracted to dip into the market without really having the expertise or broker connections to make it work. Then they pull out a couple of years later when the losses mount up.

although slightly off topic from the original question.... but how come there's an issue with being insured on a taxi if you're not a taxi driver? it's still just a car at the end of the day. Or is it to do with possibly being used as an unlicensed taxi?

Sally_A

no-oneknowsme wrote: »

Sorry but your info in this post is incorrect!

Have you any idea how many people actually have other additional drivers on their taxi policy?

I am covered on my Husbands policy to drive the car for social and domestic ONLY! At no point in time am I driving the car as a taxi (the roof sign and plates are not even on the flipping vehicle when (if) I drive it!

Please do not post about things you dont know.

Unless of course you can back up your info with evidence......

Ummm... I think I do know what I'm talking about actually, as had to go into this in quite some depth regarding Motor Traders that may service/road test a private hire taxi. Whilst the insurers may indemnify you, it does not stop you being done for driving without a valid licence, which in turn could invalidate the insurance. I recommend you save a copy of Coversure's web page, it won't get you out of the do do 100%, but youmay have some come back on their PI insurance.

no-oneknowsme

raskazz wrote: »

In England and Wales you cannot drive a vehicle licensed for private hire AT ALL unless you have a taxi badge. Scottish authorities will usually allow additional drivers to use the vehicle for social, domestic and pleasure only.
QUOTE]

..yes , as I said...I am allowed to drive sdp .

no-oneknowsme

Sally_A wrote: »

Ummm... I think I do know what I'm talking about actually, as had to go into this in quite some depth regarding Motor Traders that may service/road test a private hire taxi. Whilst the insurers may indemnify you, it does not stop you being done for driving without a valid licence, which in turn could invalidate the insurance. I recommend you save a copy of Coversure's web page, it won't get you out of the do do 100%, but youmay have some come back on their PI insurance.

So , it varies from area to area then?

Seems you should check who our local authority is before you make assumptions!

Trust me.....I can drive the taxi without any hassle as our local authority have no problems with it.

Tigsteroonie

Back to the OP ... I had Marley as second driver on my insurance with a provisional licence, and (hoorah!) phoned a couple of weeks back to advise them that he now held a full licence. There was no admin charge, but our premium went up by around 12%.

Sally_A

no-oneknowsme wrote: »

So , it varies from area to area then?

Seems you should check who our local authority is before you make assumptions!

Trust me.....I can drive the taxi without any hassle as our local authority have no problems with it.

Don't want to get into a row; I don't know your area as you have not put your location in your profile, maybe private hire licencing laws are different in Scotland, but as Raskazz stated the law of the land irrespective of local plating authorites in England and Wales will require you to have a private hire licence to drive a private hire taxi, regardless if the toplight, meter, plates have been removed; once plated as a taxi it will remain thus.

Just trying to save you grief before it all goes pear shaped one day.

no-oneknowsme

Sally_A wrote: »

Don't want to get into a row; I don't know your area as you have not put your location in your profile, maybe private hire licencing laws are different in Scotland, but as Raskazz stated the law of the land irrespective of local plating authorites in England and Wales will require you to have a private hire licence to drive a private hire taxi, regardless if the toplight, meter, plates have been removed; once plated as a taxi it will remain thus.

Just trying to save you grief before it all goes pear shaped one day.

i am in Northern Ireland so the laws you refer to are of no importance to me!

Sally_A

I thought NI had similar rules and laws to the UK.

Here's a thread from someone who got caught out:-
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3166216

Whilst I disagree with the legislation, as the law was obviously set in London where they think a taxi is a taxi 24/7/365, they did not consider that a lot of drivers will knock off their shift, and the missus will then pick the kids up, go shopping etc etc. It was something Glenda Jackson the Labour Transport Minister circa 1998 was supposedly looking into and sorting out.

mikey72

Hope we don't get dutch or french posters on without telling up where they are first, that would be even more confusing answering the op then ones from NI without telling us.