Insurers are most concerned about:
- Motoring convictions: Drink driving (DR10), driving without insurance (IN10), using a mobile at the wheel, speeding, and penalty points.
- Criminal convictions: Offences involving dishonesty, drugs, violence, or fraud.
- Totting up: If you’ve reached 12 points or more, most insurers will take a much closer look and your options will be more limited.
Your local council or licensing authority will also have its own policies, and some types of conviction may mean you cannot get a taxi licence at all. Always check their requirements as well as your insurer’s.
How To Get Taxi Insurance With A Conviction
- Work with a Specialist Broker or Introducer: Some providers are open to covering drivers with convictions, but acceptance is never guaranteed – it depends on your details and their risk profile.
- Be Upfront About Your Record: Always declare all convictions, even if you think they are spent or not relevant. Failure to disclose may void your policy, even if you get a quote at first.
- Provide Full Details: Dates, offence codes, outcomes, and any rehabilitation or extra training you’ve completed can all improve your chances. The more open you are, the more likely a specialist will consider you.
- Consider Extra Security or Telematics: Installing a black box, CCTV, or a dashcam may help show you are a low-risk driver and sometimes bring down your premium – especially if your conviction is for a driving offence.
- Shop Around and Be Patient: Not every insurer will say yes. Expect higher premiums and stricter terms, but with persistence and full disclosure, many drivers do find cover eventually.
Why Taxi Insurance Still Matters (Even After A Conviction)
- Legal requirement: You need valid taxi insurance to keep your badge and work – regardless of your past record.
- Financial protection: If you’re involved in an accident, a suitable policy is your financial safety net – especially when your history makes insurers more cautious.
- Trust and compliance: Declaring convictions and holding the right policy shows your council and customers you’re committed to working safely and legally.
This is why you need taxi insurance that takes your full record into account – so you can stay on the road if you’re eligible, with confidence your cover is valid.
For Instance
Suppose a taxi driver has finished a driving ban for speeding or accumulated penalty points for using a mobile while driving. When applying for insurance, many providers may decline to quote or offer a high premium, but some specialist brokers may offer a policy, depending on the details and how recent or serious the conviction is. Over time, by keeping a clean record and adding extra vehicle security, drivers may improve their chances and lower their costs – but acceptance is never automatic.
Who Needs Taxi Insurance For Convicted Drivers?
- Taxi drivers with any unspent motoring or criminal convictions
- Drivers returning to work after a ban or disqualification
- Anyone with penalty points or a non-standard driving record
- Private hire, hackney carriage, or app-based drivers with a previous conviction
