Short-term taxi insurance

Short-term taxi & private hire insurance — launching shortly.

We are finalising agreements with FCA-authorised hire-and-reward specialists to offer short-term taxi and private hire vehicle (PHV) cover from 1 day up to 28 days. Built for Uber, Bolt and Addison Lee drivers, local council-licensed hackney carriages, and PHV operators who need temporary cover for a replacement vehicle.

Launching shortly — join the wait-list

Introducer only — cover is arranged by the partner

Duration options

1–3 days

Vehicle off the road for repair, replacement saloon needed.

1 week

Holiday cover or short-notice contract.

2 weeks

Wedding-season demand spike or peak airport runs.

28 days

Maximum standard term; transition to annual.

Designed for

Uber, Bolt, Free Now and Addison Lee PHV drivers in a replacement vehicle.
Council-licensed hackney carriage drivers covering a peer's shift.
PHV operators bridging a fleet vehicle between annual policies.
Drivers awaiting their full annual taxi policy to start.

Not suitable if

Driving without a current local-authority PHV or hackney licence.
Working as a courier — see our short-term courier cover instead.
Carrying goods for hire and reward — different use class entirely.

What affects the price

We do not quote, price or arrange cover. The partner prices each policy against the driver, the vehicle, the duration and the stated use, so the only accurate figure is the one their quote returns. The durations below show the variables that move it.

Duration

1 day PHV

Indicative — saloon, 30+ year-old driver, 3+ years NCB.

Duration

1 week PHV

Indicative — Prius or similar PHV in a major city.

Duration

28 days PHV

Indicative — full month's H&R passenger cover.

Eligibility

·Hold a current local-authority PHV or hackney carriage licence (badge).
·Aged 25 to 70 (typical panel rules).
·Full UK licence held for 3+ years.
·Vehicle plated and tested under the relevant council's PHV regulations.

What you'll need

·Local authority private hire or hackney licence.
·Vehicle plate and MOT certificate.
·Driving licence and 5-year address history.
·Operator details (Uber, Bolt, council rank, etc.).

Why short-term taxi cover is harder to find than car or van

Hire and reward cover for passenger-carrying vehicles is the most heavily underwritten end of the motor insurance market. Mileage is high, urban accident frequency is high, and the regulatory environment (Transport for London, local authorities) is unforgiving. A handful of specialist insurers underwrite it, and historically they've preferred to sell annual policies rather than short-term ones. That's changing. The growth of PHV platforms like Uber and Bolt has created genuine demand for short-term cover — a driver whose car is in the bodyshop for a week shouldn't have to lose a week's income waiting. We're partnering with the specialists who write this risk to bring short-term PHV cover to Expert Car Check.

What you'll be able to do once it launches

On launch you'll be able to buy a fully comprehensive PHV or hackney policy from 1 day to 28 days, including the use class your council and platform require, public liability for fare-paying passengers, and a courtesy vehicle clause where relevant. Cover is intended to be live within an hour, with policy schedules emailed in a format Uber, Bolt and council compliance officers accept. If you'd like to be told the moment short-term taxi cover goes live, leave your email through our contact page and we'll add you to the launch list.

Common questions

When will short-term taxi cover be available?+

We're in final negotiations with specialist H&R underwriters and expect to launch in the coming weeks. Join the launch list via our contact page to be notified.

Can I use ordinary short-term car insurance for Uber or Bolt work?+

No. Ordinary private car cover does not include hire and reward use for fare-paying passengers. Driving on Uber or Bolt without a proper H&R taxi policy means you're uninsured for that work and committing an offence.

Will the cover work with TfL's London PHV licensing?+

That is the intended scope for both TfL-licensed PHV drivers and council-licensed hackney carriage drivers across England, Wales and Scotland. Final eligibility is confirmed by the provider at launch.

Check the vehicle before you insure it

A vehicle history check reports matching finance, write-off, mileage and stolen-vehicle records returned by the sources available at the time. The absence of a marker is not a guarantee, and a history check is not a physical inspection.

Run a free check

Claim checklist & evidence template — short-term taxi cover

Every item below must be in the bundle before you email claims@expertcarcheck.com. Missing evidence does not pause the 14-day notification window.

Original Platinum report
PDF or signed web link generated within the 7-day purchase window.
Dated sale invoice and V5C
Front and rear of the V5C, plus the seller's receipt showing the purchase date.
Independent source confirmation
Written, dated proof from the original data source (DVLA, DVSA, MIAFTR, or the contracted stolen-vehicle / outstanding-finance data provider named on the report) showing the data was wrong on the day the report was generated.
DVSA-approved technician inspection
Pre-purchase inspection by a DVSA-approved technician, dated within 48 hours of purchase, noting no visible evidence of the undisclosed issue.
Notarised statement of loss
Signed in front of a solicitor or notary public, itemising every figure claimed.
Bank evidence of loss
Statements, settlement letters, or invoices proving every pound of the direct loss.
Written timeline
Dated narrative from report generation through to the moment you discovered the issue.
Photo ID and proof of address
Passport or driving licence, plus a utility bill or bank statement under 3 months old.
Public hire / private hire licence
Current PH or HC badge, plus the council-issued vehicle licence plate matching the insured VRM.
Taxi policy certificate
Short-term policy explicitly rated for public or private hire use, naming the insured driver and operator (if applicable).
Booking / meter records
Dispatch system logs, meter receipts, or app booking history covering the period of the claim.

Download the printable template, complete every section, and attach it to your claim email.

Download evidence template

Introducer only. Expert Car Check is not an insurer, insurance broker or intermediary and is not authorised or regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). We act solely as an unregulated introducer and where indicated pass you to FCA-authorised third-party providers who arrange, advise on and sell the policy. We receive no fee or commission that depends on you buying a policy. Always read the policy wording, eligibility criteria and excess in full before buying. Pricing shown is indicative and depends on driver, vehicle and use.