It’s supposed to be ‘simples’ to compare insurance deals online these days. Simply click onto any one of the well-known comparison websites, type in your requirements and bingo! Dozens of great deals displayed for you. All you have to do is pick the one that offers you the best deal/cheapest rates/cutest cuddly toy offer (delete as applicable).
Okay. Now try the same exercise, but this time type in something other than ‘car insurance’ or ‘home insurance’. Try typing in ‘compare taxi insurance’, for example, and see just how many variations you get. We’re guessing that you could probably count them on the fingers of one hand. And we’ll bet that there’s not one single offer of a cuddly toy in there, either.
Going online to compare taxi insurance may not be your best option
The simple truth is that going online to compare taxi insurance deals may not be the best way to find a good deal. While the comparison websites may do an excellent job for anyone wanting cheaper house insurance, for anyone looking for more specialised cover the resources are much more limited.
It’s a simple matter of logistics. There are millions of homeowners and tenants in the UK, and they all want cover for their house or contents. As a result, there’s plenty of competition, and plenty of suppliers.
However, there are a finite number of taxi drivers across the UK, and their requirements are considerably less than the general population. So unfortunately, anyone looking to compare taxi insurance prices online is going to be sadly disappointed at the lack of results.
What are the alternatives?
If you want specialist insurance, you need to talk to a specialist broker. It’s a simple answer, but it’s the only alternative to spending days (if not weeks) trawling through every listing on Google to find something that might be relevant (and affordable) to your exact needs.
Specialist brokers have several advantages over comparison sites:
- They know both the insurance market and your business needs
- They often have what is known as ‘preferred status’ with insurance providers, meaning they can use their reputation and influence to find better deals
- They already have a number of contacts offering the type of specialist insurance you need, and can present you with tailored options
- They’re there to help if your situation changes or you need to amend or update a policy
- They give you a single point of contact rather than ending up being passed from one operator to another, none of whom know anything about your history or requirements.
Probably the greatest benefit of talking to a specialist broker has to be their experience, not just in the insurance industry, but in finding affordable policies for niche market customers such as taxi drivers. They take into consideration not just the fact that you’re looking for a good price, but what you actually need from your policy, and what kind of cover is going to be suitable for your individual situation.
Share and share alike…
Take, for example, London taxi drivers. Some Black Cab drivers who are just starting in the business may not be able to afford to buy their own cab outright. So in London it’s quite common for two drivers to ‘share’ a black cab (one working a day shift and the other a night shift). How do you specify that on an online site when you compare taxi insurance providers? The truth is that such a specific requirement could effectively scupper your chances of finding suitable insurance cover, unless you have the help of an experienced specialist. They can use their network of contacts to find a policy that will take a specific such as a shared vehicle into account, without penalising you financially.
So asking a Russian, ground-dwelling rodent to find you home or car insurance online may be ‘simples’, but if you need something a little more specialised then the advice is always talk to an expert. You may not get a cuddly toy, but you’ll probably get a much better insurance deal instead.