LETTER TO THE EDITOR


We, as a company, are another ‘prime’ example of the above ‘tick’ box mentality.


We have operated in the private hire vehicle rental industry in excess of ten years. During this period we have developed administrative control systems that have enabled us to build what has been described by a number of brokers as an exceptional no claims history.


We decided to register a second company and have for over six months been trying to obtain realistic quotations for ‘new’ Hire & Reward Insurance but have, in our view, become victims of the aforementioned ‘tick box’ mentality when evaluating risk.


We have our first company, we will call this ‘company A’, with a premium of slightly over £1,700 per vehicle, per year. This very premium indicates the level of risk that underwriters view for this company.


Our new, second company, ‘company B’ will be operated by exactly the same personnel, using exactly the same controls but we have been quoted double the premium that company ‘A’ pay, with some quotations being as high as treble.


There is absolutely no logic or justification for such high premiums which only substantiates our initial


views that present day underwriters do not assess or ‘insure’ the actual risk.


There is real evidence that long term, the present insurance requirements certainly restrict the growth of companies and could deter drivers, operators and hire companies from entering the industry. This would obviously impact insurers and underwriters as well.


We would offer the suggestion that present day requirements for Hire & Reward Insurance are too draconian and in real terms will only cause long term damage not only to the taxi Industry but insurance companies as well.


Unless ‘taxi’ insurers and underwriters take a more realistic approach to encouraging new drivers into the industry and a long term overview of the industry insurance requirements, there is a strong possibility that they could seriously restrict and even damage the future of the industry.


John Askham Director Private Hire Support Services Ltd Leeds


PHTM JUNE 2025


19


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78