A Mini Cab Is Not The Same As A Taxi!

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Private hire vehicles are known as mini cabs in the United Kingdom. A mini cab is not the same as a taxi!

 

Mini cabs were first seen in the UK in the 1960s in direct competition to taxis when a loophole in the law was spotted. A mini cab is a car which is available for hire with a driver on a pre-booked basis only and is licensed by a local authority.

 

It is against the law for mini cabs to ply for trade or be flagged down by a member of the public on the street. A mini cab must be pre-booked either by phone, fax, via the internet or in person at a registered mini cab office.

 

Mini cabs picking up fares without them being pre-booked can lead to prosecution. The penalties include points on the driver’s license and fines. Repeated offences can lead to driving bans imposed by the courts.

 

In order to obtain a local authority license a valid and relevant Private Hire Insurancecertificate is required. Without the correct type of insurance the local authority will not issue a license.

 

Using a vehicle for transporting people for which reward or payment is charged is classed as a private hire vehicle; therefore the vehicle should have private hire insurance.

 

Having Public Liability included on the insurance policy is required for private hire vehicles wishing to obtain local authority contracts, e.g. contracts for collection and dropping off children to and from school.

 

All local authority licensed private hire drivers are subject to having a Criminal Records Bureau, CRB, check. This is necessary for anyone who has close contact with children and vulnerable people, not just mini cab and taxi drivers.

 

Finding Private Hire Insuranceat a competitive rate is easy using online insurance brokers or insurance companies who specialise in this type of motor insurance.

 

The cheapest level of insurance cover available for mini cabs is Third Party Only. This level of insurance should be given careful consideration before agreement, as it only provides cover for the third party, not the minicab if the accident was caused by the mini cab driver.

 

Those who live in areas which are ’car crime hot spots’ should be aware that this level of insurance does not provide cover for theft of the vehicle. Neither will you be able to make a claim if the mini cab is damaged by fire.

 

Both fire and theft are covered on the next level of insurance, namely Third Party Fire and Theft. This insurance cover is more appropriate for those operating in large cities and towns.

 

Comprehensive insurance provides all aspects included in a Third Party Fire and Theft policy along with cover for the mini cab, even if the accident was caused by the minicab driver. This level of private hire insurance is the more expensive; however the benefits are far greater.

 

Having additional Private Hire Insurancewhich includes cover for emergency breakdown, windscreens, on board equipment such as audio systems and meters can easily be added to the insurance policy at additional costs.

 

Article Tags: Mini Cabs, Local Authority, Private Hire

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