Taxi Driver Online

I have heard from my insurance company that the cost of insurance could rise dramatically for "converted" WAVs.

Proper vehicle testing and subsequent certification will be required when insurance is saught for WAVs used for hire and reward.

Any vehicle without proper certification will incur extra cost.

Therefore any vehicle that doesn't have the word TAXI on the log book will incur these extra costs, indeed some companies have even threatened to remove cover for these vehicles to be used for carrying the public.

European full body M1 certification will be the minimum standard and to insure a taxi the vehicle must actually be a taxi.

I'd heard this too.

I left Sandown wanting the new vw hackney eurocab from Jubilee and so today I checked with my insurance and they said that I would never have a problem with a vehicle supplied by Jubilee.

VW cabs - who would ever have thought ?

I can't wait.

Could this be end of LTI at last

The problem is they are not VW cabs, but VW vehicles converted or adapted to carry wheelchairs by Jubilee who also add other "non factory"extras to make them appealing to the taxi sector. They do this work to a high standard, their vehicles are without question safe for use but thats not the motivation behind insurance companies putting their prices up, its because they can identify the mass potential market for these vehicles and know that the majority of new vehicles will be bought by new drivers, an ideal oppertunity to exploit the situation fully.

When all HC are FORCED to be WAVs many drivers will choose these vehicles above the traditional purpose built models, so by claiming potential risk they can justify increased premiums upon the potential majority of policyholders.

I bet their next scam is that you can't transfer your private hire no claims to public hire, meaning all new drivers paying a further increase in their premiums, as they do currently with private car insurance.

If this does happen I can see new HC drivers having to pay in excess of 50% more for their public hire insurance than they were for their PH insurance and current WAV HC drivers having to pay 25% more.

This may not happen, some insurance companies could well seek to specialise in the market providing lower prices, but I would be wary of the ammount of cover they offer as in my experience lower premiums mean less cover.

Given the well over the top and crassly stupid comments on here its not suprising insurance companies are hovering,

however, it has to be said that some of the berks saying it are riding around in 20 year old aunties.

what do the insurance think of that?

I think the VWs were very nice indeed, and you will have no problem with insurance. I mean just look at some of the rubbish that gets insured now.

But I would be intrerested to see what the VWs look like after 5 years solid cab work.

I am not wholly aticipating what insurance companies might do here, I'm reacting to what I have been told. I agree that I could be citing worst case scenario, but I did say that some insurance companies may retain their current premiums.

It is indicative of these forums that people like you berate opinion, you stifle debate with weak opposing argument consisting mainly of your own opinion mostly irrelevant to the factual evidence offered.

I reported what I had heard and been told, the very next poster reported that he had heard the same, lets accept therefore that it's happening and debate the implications.

It depends how the vehicles are maintained, I've seen TX1's in absolutely terrible condition after 5 years but I've also seen immaculate Fairways with considerably more years service.