Which insurance?

northern_munky

My brother has been offered some work taking three autistic children to a special school, he would take them there in the morning and pick them up when they finish. The parents are receiving quite a sum of money to spend on transport. One of the parents has said he would need taxi plates on his car but I can't see that as he won't be doing any other work of this sort and chauffeurs don't have to. So the question is what sort of insurance will he need to be able to do this legally, thanks.

scbk

For it to be legal, he'd have to apply to your local council for a private hire licence, and get private hire insurance

From the Highland Council-

http://www.highland.gov.uk/businessinformation/licensing/civicgovernmentlicensing/ - licence application forms are halfway down that list

If you have a vehicle which carries nine or fewer passengers (including the driver) which is, for a fee, available for hire by the public for personal conveyance you will require either a Taxi or a Private Hire Car Licence.

The main differences between Taxi and Private Hire Car are :

TAXI
A Taxi is required to display a Taxi sign on top of the vehicle approved by the Council
May wait on a Taxi Stance for trade
May pick up passengers on the street without prior arrangement
MUST have a meter affixed to the vehicle
MUST be driven by a licensed taxi driver

PRIVATE HIRE CAR
A Private Hire Car MUST NOT have a sign or other advertisement that suggests it is available for hire as a taxi
CANNOT wait on a Taxi Stance
May pick up passengers ONLY by prior arrangement
MAY have a meter affixed to the vehicle
Must be driven by EITHER a licensed taxi driver OR a licensed private hire car driver


OPERATOR’S LICENCE AND DRIVER’S LICENCE

The vehicle and the driver each require to be separately licensed. The licence for the vehicle is referred to in these notes as an "Operator’s" Licence and each vehicle operated as a Taxi or a Private Hire Car requires a separate licence. The holder of an "Operator’s" Licence must also obtain a Taxi or Private Hire Car Driver’s licence in order to drive the vehicle to which his operator’s licence relates.
4 OPERATOR’S LICENCE

(a) Any vehicle proposed to be used a Taxi or Private hire car must:-

(i) except with the approval of the Council, be less than five years old, unless it is a purpose built taxi, or equivalent, in which case it must be less than ten years old;

(ii) be equipped to carry a minimum of four adult seated passengers (up to a maximum of eight adult seated passengers) in safety and comfort;

(iii) have a minimum engine capacity of 1300 cc;

(iv) have a minimum width of 122 centimetres (48 inches) across the rear passenger seat or compartment of the vehicle;

(v) have a minimum of four doors capable of being opened from the inside;

(vi) have a minimum luggage space of 0.32 cubic metres (11.5 cu ft);

(vii) be fitted with a seat belt for each passenger;

pass an initial inspection to an acceptable standard of safety and comfort and thereafter an annual inspection (except where the vehicle is older than five years the inspection period shall be every six months);

(ix) carry, or have access to, transfer boards for assisting with access and egress from the vehicle by disabled person.