Any taxi drivers out there?

w211

www.tfpschemes.co.uk

http://www.elstreeinsuranceservices.co.uk/

http://www.seib.co.uk/

CKhalvashi

dallydoolittle wrote: »

Hi

My husband has been doing taxis for a couple of years now, by using the firms taxi, but he is going to be using his own car soon and putting that on as a taxi.

Can anyone recommend a good insurance company for taxis?

Many thanks in advance

I own the largest cab firm in the town I live in.

We’ve got Swindon insurance on the fleet; £10m PL at about £2k a car (he’ll get it cheaper, as he won’t be on an ‘any driver’ policy.

You’re also better off leasing than buying, as there are rules of what can be claimed as business expenses. We use Trans City Skoda (Walthamstow) to do ours. A fleet of 40 Octavias, renewed every 3 years, works out at about £72/week each. If he wants a 6 seater, give the Caddy Maxi a go; about £92/week, or Transporter is about £117/week.

CK

arcon5

CKhalvashi wrote: »

I own the largest cab firm in the town I live in.

We’ve got Swindon insurance on the fleet; £10m PL at about £2k a car (he’ll get it cheaper, as he won’t be on an ‘any driver’ policy.

You’re also better off leasing than buying, as there are rules of what can be claimed as business expenses. We use Trans City Skoda (Walthamstow) to do ours. A fleet of 40 Octavias, renewed every 3 years, works out at about £72/week each. If he wants a 6 seater, give the Caddy Maxi a go; about £92/week, or Transporter is about £117/week.

CK

So a leased Skoda would cost about £11k for 3 years.. you can buy a near-new Skoda outright for less than that. Leasing isn't always the better option.

arcon5

paddedjohn wrote: »

Most firms do a group insurance for about £50/ week. Don't forget if he plates his own car then it can only be used as a taxi and can't be used by other members of the family for sdp.

That's very expensive.

I used to drive a private hire vehicle at the age of 22 and paid about £1500 for a yrs insurance. So over £2.5k on a fleet policy seems exceptionally high.
My father is a taxi driver (public hire) and only pays about £700/yr.

arcon5

dallydoolittle wrote: »

Hi

My husband has been doing taxis for a couple of years now, by using the firms taxi, but he is going to be using his own car soon and putting that on as a taxi.

Can anyone recommend a good insurance company for taxis?

Many thanks in advance

What car does he drive?

Visit the local councils licensing teams office, they may well have a magazine laying around which you can flick through to get the names of specialist companies.

confused76

when my OH started on the taxis the taxi company gave him a list of recommended insurers so you could ask the taxi firm?

CKhalvashi

arcon5 wrote: »

That's very expensive.

I used to drive a private hire vehicle at the age of 22 and paid about £1500 for a yrs insurance. So over £2.5k on a fleet policy seems exceptionally high.
My father is a taxi driver (public hire) and only pays about £700/yr.

We’ve owned the same company twice (2002 to 2009, then March to now), and in 2007-8, it was common to see drivers under 25 go from £2k to nearer £7k.

It depends on what you’re driving (we’ve got group arrangements with the dealership for servicing, free upgrades etc, so use Skoda/VW), but about 40% of our fleet is 6/8 seater (in Taxi speak), which would be the reason for the high averages.

At the same time, some of ours do 70-80k a year, and we’re on a 10m mile collective policy. Swinton are the cheapest for fleet in our particular case.

CK

CKhalvashi

arcon5 wrote: »

So a leased Skoda would cost about £11k for 3 years.. you can buy a near-new Skoda outright for less than that. Leasing isn't always the better option.

Elegance spec with 1.6 TDi?! Nearer £20k new in the spec we have and £14-15k used. It’s not easy to get rid of 3/4 vehicles a month, which is the point where leasing comes in useful; especially when the cars have between 210 and 250k on them!

CKhalvashi

arcon5 wrote: »

What car does he drive?

Visit the local councils licensing teams office, they may well have a magazine laying around which you can flick through to get the names of specialist companies.

Speak to your local library, as there is a publication available in libraries (in Hertfordshire at least) on the HC and PH trade. I’ve got a copy that’s available for drivers to flick through, and several have found it interesting.

If not, it’s possible to order a copy, although I didn’t pay for mine, there may be a fee. Herts Libraries can be contacted on 0300 123 4040 to arrange this, as I know they definitely have them in.

CK

no-oneknowsme

passatrider wrote: »

The only persons who can drive a vehicle that is licensed as a taxi are holders of valid taxi badge holders for that area. It makes no difference whether the taxi signs are removed or not.

As mentioned before , this isnt set in stone! It actually varies between councils.

Personally we are from Northern Ireland and I can quite legally drive my Husbands taxi if I am using itfor my own SDP purposes.