Taxi insurance is specialist motor cover designed for vehicles carrying paying passengers. Unlike standard car insurance, it protects drivers, passengers and third parties when your vehicle operates as a licensed cab or hire car. This cover responds to the unique risks of commercial passenger transport: higher kilometres, frequent passenger turnover and extended operating hours. Most states mandate specific liability limits and additional protections that go well beyond what a private policy offers.
This guide explains what taxi insurance actually covers, who needs it and how much you can expect to pay. You will learn the difference between a taxi and a rideshare vehicle, discover which policies are mandatory in your state and understand the nuances of NSW taxi laws. We will walk through the types of cover available, what gets excluded, how to compare providers and the steps to lodge a claim. Whether you operate a single cab or manage a fleet, you will finish this article knowing exactly what protection you need and how to secure it without overpaying.
Why taxi insurance matters in Australia
Operating without proper taxi cover exposes you to financial ruin and immediate licence suspension. A single passenger injury claim can exceed $500,000, and third-party property damage regularly runs into six figures when you collide with multiple vehicles or hit infrastructure. Standard car insurance policies exclude commercial passenger work, so your private comprehensive cover will refuse the claim the moment insurers discover you were carrying paying passengers. Understanding what is taxi insurance means recognising that it is the only legal and practical way to protect your income, assets and driving privileges when you operate a cab or hire car.
Financial exposure without proper cover
You face unlimited personal liability if you cause an accident without adequate taxi insurance. Courts can order you to pay compensation directly from your own pocket, seizing savings, property and future wages to satisfy judgments. Medical expenses for seriously injured passengers alone can reach seven figures when long-term care is required, and insurers will pursue recovery action for years if you operated illegally. Your vehicle becomes worthless overnight if it is written off and you have no comprehensive policy, leaving you unable to earn while still owing finance repayments and facing steep replacement costs.
Even minor collisions can cost tens of thousands when multiple passengers lodge injury claims and third parties pursue property damage.
Regulatory compliance keeps you on the road
Every Australian state mandates minimum insurance standards for licensed taxis, and transport authorities conduct regular audits of your cover. Failing to hold current certificates of currency triggers automatic penalties, including on-the-spot fines exceeding $11,000, immediate plate suspension and possible vehicle impoundment. Your taxi licence renewal depends on proving you carry compliant insurance, so gaps in cover halt your business completely. Regulators share data with police, meaning roadside checks can instantly verify your insurance status and shut down non-compliant operators before they even reach the rank.
How to work out what taxi cover you need
Working out what is taxi insurance you actually need starts with understanding your specific operating model rather than buying a one-size-fits-all policy. Your cover requirements depend on vehicle value, service area, shift patterns, passenger volume and whether you own the cab outright or lease the plate. A regional owner-driver running daytime bookings needs fundamentally different protection compared to a metropolitan fleet operator working 24-hour ranks, yet both might waste money on identical policies if they fail to match cover to real-world exposure. The key is to build your policy from the ground up, starting with mandatory minimums and adding only the layers that protect your specific business risks.
Assess your vehicle and operating model
You need to evaluate vehicle replacement cost, annual kilometres and operating hours before touching any quote form. A brand-new hybrid sedan worth $55,000 demands comprehensive motor cover with agreed value, while a ten-year-old car valued at $8,000 might justify third-party property only if you can absorb the loss. Track your typical weekly kilometres and multiply by 52 to understand exposure: cabs exceeding 80,000 km annually attract higher premiums and require policies that do not cap distance. Metropolitan ranks expose you to frequent minor collisions and higher theft risk, so windscreen coverage and anti-theft discounts become priorities, whereas regional operators face longer empty runs and should scrutinise towing limits.
Operating hours directly influence passenger injury exposure. Night shifts carry statistically higher claim rates due to intoxicated passengers, fatigue-related crashes and reduced visibility, triggering premium loadings of 15 to 30 percent with most insurers. Airport contract work demands minimum public liability limits of $20 million or more, often specified in writing by the airport operator, while suburban school runs might accept the regulatory minimum. Document your actual service mix in writing: 60 percent rank work, 25 percent pre-booked, 15 percent airport transfers, for example. This breakdown lets brokers match you to underwriters who specialise in your profile rather than forcing you into generic fleet pricing.
Calculate your liability exposure
You must determine maximum passenger capacity and typical fare values to size your liability cover correctly. A standard sedan carrying four passengers needs different limits compared to a maxi-taxi transporting eight wheelchair users, because injury claims multiply with occupancy. Calculate worst-case exposure by assuming every seat is filled during a serious collision: four passengers at $200,000 each already exceeds $800,000 before adding third-party property damage and legal costs. Most states mandate $10 million or $20 million public liability, but airports, mining sites and government contracts regularly require $50 million before granting access, so review every contract clause now rather than scrambling when renewals approach.
Liability gaps cost more than premium savings when a single claim exhausts your policy limit and creditors pursue your personal assets.
Match cover to your business structure
Your ownership structure changes what you protect and how you structure policies. Owner-drivers need personal accident cover and income protection because a broken leg stops earnings immediately, whereas fleet operators prioritise comprehensive motor and worry less about individual driver injuries covered by workers compensation. Sole traders should bundle public liability, motor and personal accident into a single policy to avoid gaps between separate insurers arguing over which cover responds. Companies running multiple vehicles benefit from fleet discounts of 10 to 20 percent but must decide whether to share excess across all drivers or assign individual excesses, which affects both premium and out-of-pocket costs when claims arise.
Leased plates and financed vehicles introduce mandatory comprehensive requirements from financiers, so check loan contracts before considering cheaper third-party options. Lenders typically demand agreed value cover with them listed as interested party, and dropping below comprehensive can trigger default clauses that accelerate the entire debt. Partnership structures need clear driver lists and excess assignments in writing, because unlisted drivers void cover completely and partnerships dissolve quickly when one partner’s at-fault claim spikes premiums for everyone.
Who counts as a taxi and who does not
Understanding what is taxi insurance requires knowing exactly which vehicles qualify as taxis under Australian transport law. Your vehicle must hold a licensed taxi plate issued by your state or territory regulator and display an approved fare meter to legally operate as a taxi. Taxis possess the unique legal right to accept street hails and rank bookings without pre-arrangement, setting them apart from all other passenger transport categories. You cannot simply put a roof light on your sedan and call it a taxi; you need formal accreditation, annual inspections and the correct insurance classification before carrying a single fare-paying passenger.
Licensed taxis under Australian law
You operate a taxi when your vehicle carries an accredited taxi plate, approved meter and visible roof signage that allows passengers to flag you down from the kerb. State transport departments define taxis as vehicles authorised for rank and hail work, meaning you can legally pick up passengers at designated taxi ranks or when someone waves you down on the street. Your taxi must pass annual or bi-annual mechanical inspections that verify meter accuracy, safety equipment and roadworthiness standards far exceeding private vehicle requirements. Metropolitan areas like Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane impose additional security camera and EFTPOS mandates that further distinguish taxis from other commercial vehicles, and you must produce certificates of currency proving compliant insurance whenever regulators request them.
Rank and hail rights separate taxis from every other passenger vehicle category and trigger the strictest insurance requirements.
What rideshare and hire cars are not taxis
Your rideshare vehicle remains a booked hire car, not a taxi, because you cannot legally accept street hails or wait at taxi ranks. Uber, Didi and Ola drivers operate under separate booked-hire licences that prohibit rank work, and your insurance must reflect this fundamental difference in operating rights. Hire cars, limousines and wedding vehicles also fall outside taxi classification because they work exclusively on pre-arranged bookings at negotiated rates rather than metered fares. You face prosecution and policy voidance if you carry out taxi work on rideshare cover, as the two insurance products protect entirely different legal categories with distinct liability exposures and regulatory frameworks.
Types of taxi insurance policies
You can build taxi insurance from several distinct policy types that each protect different aspects of your operation. Understanding what is taxi insurance means recognising that no single policy covers everything, so you layer mandatory coverages with optional protections to create complete protection. Most operators combine compulsory third-party (CTP) cover, comprehensive motor insurance and public liability as the foundation, then add personal accident and income protection based on their specific circumstances. Each policy type serves a distinct purpose, and gaps between them leave you exposed to claims that fall through the cracks when insurers dispute which cover should respond.
Compulsory third-party (CTP) cover
Your state or territory requires you to hold CTP insurance before you can register any taxi. This cover pays medical expenses, rehabilitation costs and compensation for anyone your taxi injures, including passengers, pedestrians, cyclists and occupants of other vehicles. CTP operates separately from your vehicle damage cover and costs significantly more for taxis than private cars because regulators classify cabs as higher-risk commercial vehicles. You cannot avoid this expense or choose lower limits, as minimum coverage amounts are set by law and transport departments verify your CTP currency at every registration renewal.
CTP does not repair your taxi or pay for property damage you cause to other vehicles, buildings or infrastructure. States structure CTP differently: NSW and ACT use competitive private insurers, Queensland runs a government scheme, and Victoria bundles it into broader transport levies. Annual premiums for metropolitan taxis typically range from $2,800 to $5,500 depending on your location, vehicle class and claims history within the CTP pool.
Third-party property damage only
You might choose third-party property damage (TPPD) cover when your taxi holds low market value and you can afford to replace it yourself. This policy pays for damage your taxi causes to other vehicles, buildings and property but does not repair your own cab or cover theft and fire losses. TPPD works best for older sedans worth less than $10,000 operating in regional areas with lower collision rates, where comprehensive premiums seem excessive compared to replacement cost.
Limits on TPPD policies typically sit at $20 million or more for property damage only, giving you substantial protection against worst-case scenarios like multi-vehicle pileups or damage to expensive infrastructure. Premiums usually cost $1,200 to $2,500 annually, making TPPD the cheapest commercial motor option beyond the mandatory CTP baseline.
Comprehensive taxi motor insurance
Comprehensive cover protects your taxi and third-party property in the same policy, responding to collision damage, theft, fire, vandalism, weather events and malicious passenger damage. You receive agreed value or market value settlement when your cab is written off, plus coverage for taxi-specific equipment like meters, cameras, EFTPOS terminals and roof signage within stated sub-limits. This policy type suits any financed vehicle, newer cabs and operators who cannot afford sudden replacement costs, as it transfers the entire vehicle risk to the insurer.
Comprehensive cover costs more upfront but saves you from catastrophic out-of-pocket expenses when accidents or theft occur.
Excess amounts range from $1,500 to $3,500 depending on driver age, location and vehicle type. Metropolitan comprehensive taxi insurance typically costs $6,000 to $12,000 per year for standard sedans, while luxury vehicles and maxi-taxis push premiums higher due to expensive parts and longer repair times.
Public liability insurance
Your business needs public liability cover to protect against passenger injury claims and non-driving incidents that CTP does not address. This policy responds when passengers slip entering or exiting your cab, luggage gets damaged during loading, or disputes escalate into alleged assault or wrongful detention claims. States mandate minimum limits of $10 million to $20 million, but airports and commercial contracts often require $50 million or higher before granting access to ranks and pick-up zones.
Personal accident and income protection
Personal accident cover pays you weekly income benefits and lump-sum compensation when injuries prevent you from driving, typically offering $1,000 to $1,500 per week for temporary disability. Owner-drivers face immediate financial pressure when sidelined by injury because taxis generate no income while parked, making this cover essential for anyone without substantial savings or alternative income sources.
What taxi insurance covers and excludes
You need to understand exactly what your taxi policy protects and where coverage stops before you find yourself holding a rejected claim form. Comprehensive taxi insurance operates like a detailed contract with specific boundaries, and assuming you have blanket protection for every scenario leads to expensive surprises when insurers decline payouts. Policies spell out covered events, excluded circumstances and optional extensions in the Product Disclosure Statement, yet most operators skim this document and discover gaps only after accidents occur. Knowing what is taxi insurance actually covering versus what it explicitly excludes lets you plug dangerous holes before they cost you thousands in uninsured losses.
Standard inclusions in comprehensive policies
Your comprehensive taxi policy covers collision damage regardless of fault, meaning insurers repair or replace your vehicle whether you caused the accident or another driver hit you. Fire, theft, vandalism and malicious damage by passengers fall under standard protection, as do natural disasters including hailstorms, floods, cyclones and earthquakes that can write off entire fleets overnight. Most policies include third-party property damage up to $30 million or $50 million, protecting you when your taxi demolishes shopfronts, traffic lights or multiple parked vehicles during a single incident.
Windscreen and window glass typically receive separate treatment with lower or zero excess for the first claim each year, recognising that stone chips and cracks happen frequently in commercial driving. Your policy extends to taxi-specific equipment such as meters, security cameras, EFTPOS terminals and roof signage, though insurers cap these accessories at $3,000 to $5,000 total unless you purchase higher limits. Emergency towing after insured events, temporary hire car costs while your taxi undergoes repairs, and legal defence costs for passenger liability claims round out the core inclusions that make comprehensive cover worth the premium for most operators.
Common exclusions that void claims
Insurers refuse claims instantly when you or any driver operates the taxi while unlicensed, suspended or holding the wrong licence class for commercial passenger work. Alcohol or drug impairment above legal limits voids coverage completely, and you face personal liability for all damages even if the other party caused the collision. Your policy excludes mechanical or electrical failures that occur through wear and tear, lack of maintenance or gradual deterioration, so blown engines, failed transmissions and corroded brake lines never qualify as insured events unless they directly result from a covered accident.
Exclusions transfer risk back to you the moment your actions fall outside policy boundaries, regardless of how much premium you paid.
Operating your taxi while unroadworthy, overloaded or carrying more passengers than seatbelts triggers automatic claim denial, as does using the vehicle for unauthorised purposes like food delivery, rideshare or personal removals without proper endorsements. Deliberate acts, illegal activity and racing void coverage entirely, while some policies exclude hail damage in specific postcodes or require you to garage vehicles overnight in theft-prone suburbs. You cannot claim for lost income, business interruption, fines or penalties unless you specifically purchased those extensions, and gradual paint fade, interior wear and depreciation remain your responsibility as normal business expenses.
Optional add-ons worth considering
You can purchase windscreen excess waivers that eliminate all out-of-pocket costs for glass repairs and replacements, typically costing $120 to $160 annually and paying for themselves after a single country highway trip. Sign-writing and vehicle wrap replacement coverage extends accessory limits to $10,000 or higher, essential for operators whose branded taxis or advertising contracts require professional re-application after panel repairs.
Driver personal effects cover protects laptops, phones, tools and personal items stolen from your taxi up to $2,000, while fare evasion and theft of takings coverage reimburses cash stolen by passengers during or after trips. Hail excess waivers prove valuable in Sydney, Brisbane and Adelaide where seasonal storms cause widespread damage, and hire car upgrades remove daily limits and time caps when your taxi faces extended repair periods that would otherwise halt your income completely.
Legal requirements and state rules
You must carry specific insurance coverages to legally operate a taxi anywhere in Australia, and every state enforces its own combination of mandatory minimums and verification procedures. Transport regulators treat taxis as high-risk commercial passenger vehicles, imposing stricter standards than private cars and conducting regular audits of your insurance certificates. Failing to maintain compliant cover triggers immediate penalties including licence suspension, plate confiscation and fines exceeding $11,000 in some jurisdictions. Understanding what is taxi insurance from a legal perspective means recognising that compliance is not optional, and gaps of even a single day can shut down your business while exposing you to unlimited personal liability.
Mandatory coverage across all states
Every Australian state and territory requires you to hold compulsory third-party (CTP) insurance and public liability cover before you can register or operate a licensed taxi. CTP covers personal injuries to passengers and third parties, while public liability protects against broader business risks including passenger slip-and-fall incidents and property damage claims. Minimum public liability limits range from $10 million in Western Australia and the Northern Territory to $20 million in NSW, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia and Tasmania, though many operators carry $50 million to satisfy airport and commercial contract requirements.
Your taxi must pass annual or bi-annual mechanical inspections that include verification of current insurance certificates, and transport departments share compliance data with police for roadside enforcement. States classify taxis under separate CTP rating categories with premiums two to four times higher than private vehicles because of increased passenger exposure and annual kilometres. You cannot substitute rideshare or private car insurance for taxi cover, as these policies explicitly exclude commercial passenger transport and trigger automatic claim denials.
Legal taxi operation depends entirely on maintaining current insurance certificates that match your vehicle classification and operating authority.
Registration and renewal obligations
You must provide certificates of currency for all required policies when you first apply for a taxi licence and again at every annual renewal. Transport authorities verify that your insurer holds the correct authorisations to write taxi business and that policy limits meet or exceed state minimums. Some jurisdictions require you to lodge insurance details electronically through online portals that flag expiring policies 30 days before renewal, while others accept paper certificates at in-person inspections.
Missing renewal deadlines or allowing insurance to lapse converts your taxi into an unregistered vehicle instantly, making every trip illegal and exposing you to prosecution for operating without proper authority. Insurers must notify transport departments when policies cancel, and automated systems generate suspension notices within days. You face the burden of proving continuous coverage if disputes arise, so keep digital and paper copies of every certificate, renewal notice and payment receipt for at least seven years.
Taxi insurance laws in NSW explained
NSW operates under the Point to Point Transport Commission framework that sets stricter insurance requirements than most other states. You must understand what is taxi insurance in the NSW context because the state divides taxis into Tier 1 (metropolitan) and Tier 2 (regional) categories, each attracting different CTP levies and compliance obligations. Your taxi licence depends on proving you carry Class 3 CTP cover plus separate public liability insurance of at least $20 million, and the Commission conducts quarterly audits that verify your certificates remain current throughout the entire registration period.
Point to Point Transport Commission requirements
The Commission requires you to hold authorisation as a taxi service provider before you can operate any vehicle displaying a taxi plate, and this authorisation hinges entirely on maintaining compliant insurance. You must register your business details, vehicle information and insurance policies through the Point to Point Industry Portal, where the system flags policies approaching expiry 30 days in advance. Transport for NSW shares this database with police and roadside inspectors, meaning any gap in coverage triggers automatic enforcement action without warning or grace periods.
Your operator accreditation demands proof of both motor vehicle insurance and public liability cover, with certificates naming the Commission as an interested party. Tier 1 metropolitan taxis face annual CTP premiums ranging from $4,200 to $5,500, significantly higher than Tier 2 regional vehicles that typically cost $2,800 to $3,600 for the same coverage period.
Mandatory cover types and minimum limits
NSW law mandates you carry Class 3 Taxi CTP (green slip) covering personal injuries plus comprehensive or third-party property insurance that includes public liability protection of at least $20 million. Your CTP must come from an authorised NSW green slip insurer, and you cannot substitute interstate or rideshare CTP products even if they offer higher limits. The public liability component protects against passenger slip-and-fall claims, luggage damage and non-collision incidents that CTP explicitly excludes from coverage.
NSW imposes the highest combined insurance costs in Australia, with metropolitan taxi operators paying $10,000 to $18,000 annually when CTP and comprehensive motor premiums combine.
Penalties for operating without proper cover
You face on-the-spot fines exceeding $11,000 if police or authorised officers discover you carrying passengers without current insurance certificates in the vehicle. The Commission can suspend your taxi plates immediately, impound your vehicle and cancel your operator authority permanently after a second offence. Criminal prosecution becomes possible when you cause serious injury while operating illegally, with maximum penalties reaching $55,000 and potential imprisonment under the Passenger Transport Act 2014 for deliberate breaches that endanger public safety.
How much taxi insurance costs
You can expect to pay between $6,000 and $12,000 annually for comprehensive taxi insurance on a standard metropolitan sedan, though costs swing dramatically based on location, vehicle type, operating hours and your claims history. Regional operators typically pay $3,500 to $7,000 for the same coverage because of lower traffic density and reduced theft risk, while luxury vehicles and maxi-taxis push premiums into five-figure territory due to expensive parts and higher passenger capacity. Understanding what is taxi insurance actually costing you requires breaking down the components: compulsory third-party (CTP) cover forms the baseline at $2,800 to $5,500, then comprehensive motor insurance adds another $3,000 to $8,000, with public liability contributing $800 to $2,500 depending on your required limits.
Average premium ranges by vehicle and location
Your premiums vary significantly across different vehicle types and Australian cities. Metropolitan Sydney operators face the highest combined costs at $10,000 to $18,000 annually when you stack CTP, comprehensive motor and public liability together, while Brisbane and Melbourne sit slightly lower at $9,000 to $15,000 for equivalent coverage. Regional centres like Dubbo, Cairns and Albany deliver substantial savings with total annual costs dropping to $5,000 to $9,000 for older sedans and $7,000 to $11,000 for newer hybrid models.
| Vehicle Type | Metropolitan Premium | Regional Premium |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 Toyota Camry Hybrid | $11,200 to $16,500 | $6,800 to $10,200 |
| 2018 Kia Carnival Maxi | $13,500 to $19,000 | $8,500 to $13,000 |
| 2016 Holden Commodore | $8,900 to $13,500 | $5,200 to $8,500 |
| Luxury Mercedes V-Class | $16,000 to $24,000 | $11,000 to $16,500 |
Factors that increase your premium
Your annual kilometres directly impact pricing because insurers treat high-mileage vehicles as greater risks for collisions and mechanical failures. Exceeding 80,000 kilometres per year typically adds 15 to 25 percent to your base premium, while cabs running 24-hour shifts or working predominantly after 10pm face night-shift loadings of another 10 to 20 percent. Driver age matters enormously: operators under 25 pay excess loadings of $1,000 to $1,500 per claim plus base premium increases of 20 to 40 percent compared to experienced drivers over 30.
Claims history proves the single biggest premium driver after your first at-fault accident. Insurers typically increase renewal premiums by 20 to 35 percent following one claim, and multiple incidents within three years can double your costs or force you into specialty high-risk markets. Your postcode affects theft and collision statistics, with inner-city areas attracting higher loadings than suburban or regional locations even when you operate the same vehicle and cover identical annual kilometres across both zones.
A clean driving record and low-kilometre operation saves you thousands more than any policy feature comparison or excess manipulation.
How to compare taxi insurance providers
You need to evaluate more than just the annual premium when you compare taxi insurance providers, because the cheapest quote often hides expensive gaps in coverage or poor claims support that costs you thousands when accidents occur. Comparing what is taxi insurance across different insurers means building a like-for-like assessment where you match policy limits, excess amounts, included features and service standards before you declare one provider better value than another. Most operators make the mistake of comparing only the bottom-line figure without checking whether comprehensive actually covers the same risks across all three quotes, or whether public liability sits at $20 million versus $50 million.
Look beyond the premium figure
Your comparison must account for excess structures and sub-limits that dramatically change out-of-pocket costs when you claim. A policy charging $8,500 annually with a $1,500 standard excess delivers better value than a $7,800 quote carrying $3,000 excess plus $1,000 young driver loading if you employ anyone under 25. Check accessory limits for meters, cameras and EFTPOS equipment, as some policies cap these at $3,000 while others extend to $10,000 without additional premium. Windscreen coverage varies wildly: free glass replacement versus $500 excess makes a $300 annual difference worthless after a single stone chip on a highway run.
Premium comparisons become meaningless when one policy leaves you holding $5,000 in excess and sub-limit shortfalls that the slightly dearer alternative would have covered completely.
Evaluate claims support and service standards
You should investigate claims processing speed and customer service availability because breakdowns and accidents happen outside business hours when you earn most income. Providers offering 24-hour claims lodgement and 365-day telephone support prevent the nightmare of waiting until Monday morning to report Saturday night collisions. Ask whether insurers supply replacement vehicles during repairs, how quickly they authorise panel shop work, and whether they guarantee repairs for life. Fleet operators need dedicated account managers who understand commercial pressures, while owner-drivers benefit from direct insurer contact rather than third-party call centres that lack authority to make decisions.
Check policy exclusions and endorsements
Your comparison must reveal what each policy explicitly excludes or restricts in the fine print. Some insurers refuse hail claims in specific postcodes, apply higher excesses in theft-prone suburbs, or exclude coverage during certain hours unless you pay loading. Verify whether policies automatically cover relief drivers or require you to name each person in advance, and confirm whether your mix of rank work, pre-bookings and airport transfers fits within standard terms or needs special endorsements that add cost.
How to claim on your taxi insurance
You need to act quickly and gather the right evidence when accidents happen if you want your claim processed smoothly and paid without delays. Understanding what is taxi insurance means knowing that your policy only responds when you notify the insurer within 24 to 48 hours and provide complete documentation that proves your loss falls within covered events. Most rejected claims fail because operators submit incomplete forms, miss notification deadlines or cannot prove the circumstances of the incident, so following a systematic approach protects your payout and minimises downtime while your taxi undergoes repairs.
Immediate steps after an incident
You must secure the accident scene and check for injuries before you touch your phone to call insurers. Move your taxi to a safe location if it remains drivable, switch on hazard lights and ensure all passengers exit safely onto the footpath. Exchange full details with other drivers including names, licence numbers, registration plates, insurer names and phone numbers, then photograph all vehicle damage, road markings and surrounding hazards from multiple angles. Police attendance becomes mandatory in NSW, Queensland and Victoria for claims exceeding $5,000 in property damage, so request officers attend and obtain the event number before anyone leaves the scene.
Contact your dispatch or fleet manager immediately so they can arrange alternative transport for passengers and log the incident in your operating records. Most insurers require you to report accidents within 24 hours regardless of fault, and missing this deadline can void your entire claim even when the other driver caused the collision.
Lodging your claim properly
You should submit your claim through your insurer’s online portal, dedicated email or 24-hour phone line with all required documentation attached. Complete every question on the claim form without leaving blanks, provide your dash-cam footage, witness statements, police event number and photos of the damage. Request a written claim reference number and confirmation of lodgement immediately, as this locks in your notification date and prevents disputes over timing.
Following through to settlement
Your insurer will appoint an assessor who inspects the taxi and determines whether damage falls within policy terms. Authorise repairs at network workshops when possible because insurers pre-approve quotes faster and provide lifetime warranties on all work completed through preferred suppliers. Track your hire car allowance daily and keep receipts for towing, storage and any out-of-pocket expenses the policy covers, then follow up weekly until the claim settles and your taxi returns to service.
Claims processed through authorised repairers typically settle 40 to 60 percent faster than those using independent workshops without pre-existing insurer relationships.
Bringing your taxi cover together
You now understand what is taxi insurance and how it protects your business through mandatory CTP cover, comprehensive motor insurance and public liability protection that work together to shield you from unlimited personal liability. Your state requires specific coverage limits and regular proof of currency, so gaps of even one day can trigger licence suspension and immediate fines exceeding $11,000. Smart operators match their policies to actual operating patterns rather than buying generic packages, calculating exposure based on vehicle value, annual kilometres, shift times and passenger volume.
Comparing providers means looking beyond the annual premium to evaluate excess structures, claims support and service standards that determine whether cheap cover delivers value or leaves you stranded when accidents occur. You should gather at least three like-for-like quotes, verify what exclusions apply and confirm your policy automatically covers relief drivers without additional endorsements. Ready to compare taxi insurance that combines competitive pricing with expert claims support? Get a tailored quote from National Cover and discover how proper protection keeps both your taxi and income on the road.
