Car insurance
Motor liability is required by law and covers injury to passengers and other road users and damage to their vehicles.
Insurance broker / Business types / Transport and logistics
Insurance for taxis, private hire with driver and ride services in Germany
A taxi covers as many kilometres a year as three private cars, mostly in town, often at night and always with strangers on board. That is why insurance costs more, and why comparing quotes pays off so well. This page shows what is compulsory, what it costs and where taxi operators throw money away.
The question almost everyone asks first
Why does a taxi cost so much more to insure than my private car?
Because a taxi drives much further, mostly in town, often at night and with changing drivers, and because passengers can be injured at any time. Insurers therefore put taxis in their own tariffs. It gets cheaper with a high no claims class (Schadenfreiheitsklasse), a fixed group of drivers, an excess and a comparison: for the same vehicle, quotes are often several hundred euros apart.
What goes wrong in this trade
- 01
Accidents with passengers
A rear end shunt in rush hour, whiplash on the back seat: injured passengers claim compensation for pain and lost earnings.
- 02
Off the road after a crash
The taxi is in the workshop, the licence earns nothing, and the driver's wages and leasing keep running.
- 03
Assault and robbery
Night shifts, cash, passengers who have been drinking: drivers get threatened, hurt or robbed.
- 04
Passengers damaging the car
Soiled seats, scratched doors, luggage left behind followed by an argument over its value.
- 05
Changing drivers
Several drivers per taxi raise the risk. Drivers not declared to the insurer can lead to reduced payouts after a claim.
- 06
Licence and legal issues
Disputes with the licensing authority, fines, employment questions with drivers: taxi operators often need a lawyer.
Compared with other trades, 1 low to 5 high.
The insurance you need
Essential
Strongly advised
Fleet insurance
From three taxis a fleet policy brings all vehicles together; the premium then follows the claims record of the whole business.
Business liability
Not compulsory but expected by licensing authorities: covers damage away from driving, such as carrying luggage or helping passengers get in.
Business legal expenses
With motoring legal expenses for accidents where fault is disputed, fine proceedings and disputes with drivers.
Occupational disability
If you drive yourself, you live off your back, eyes and health; if you are no longer fit to drive, the income stops.
Depends on the business
Accident insurance
Protects you as the owner if you drive yourself and are not voluntarily insured with the Berufsgenossenschaft.
Cyber insurance
For dispatch centres and ride services with an app, booking data and payment processing.
What it costs: example prices
Taxi insurance depends heavily on region, no claims class, the group of drivers and the excess. The same saloon costs much more in Munich than in a rural district.
| Insurance | Example | Typical range |
|---|---|---|
| Car insurance | Taxi estate car, no claims class 25, liability only, €1,000 excess, rural | from about €450 a year |
| Car insurance | Taxi estate car, no claims class 25, full time drivers only, cities such as Berlin or Frankfurt | about €850 to €1,050 a year |
| Car insurance | Taxi with liability and comprehensive, mid range no claims class, big city | about €1,500 to €3,500 a year |
| Business liability | Taxi business with three licences, €3 to €5 million limit | about €150 to €400 a year |
| Business legal expenses | Taxi operator with motoring and employment legal expenses | about €400 to €900 a year |
For comparison: Motor liability for a big city taxi costs about as much a year as three or four good shifts bring in.
The first two examples come from publicly quoted tariff examples of a specialist intermediary (2026); the other values are guide figures from our own quoting work, excluding German insurance premium tax. Your premium depends on vehicle, region and claims history.
Our suggestions: three packages
01
One taxi
For: Owner with one licence who drives
- Car insurance
- Business liability
- Occupational disability
Together about €1,500 to €4,500 a year, excluding income protection
Request this package02
Small business
For: Two to five taxis or private hire cars with employed drivers
- Fleet insurance
- Business liability
- Business legal expenses
Together about €5,000 to €16,000 a year
Request this package03
Dispatch
For: Taxi or ride service with a dispatch centre, app and larger fleet
- Fleet insurance
- Business liability
- Business legal expenses
- Cyber insurance
- Accident insurance
Together priced individually, usually from about €16,000 a year
Request this packageThe worst day in the taxi
Six things taxi operators really go through, all in one Friday shift. Tap through and see who pays.
Damage so far€39,500
-
A rear end shunt on the way to the airport. The passenger complains of neck pain and is off work for two weeks.
-
The tailgate of the car in front and the front of the taxi are damaged.
-
While a walking frame is being loaded, an elderly passenger falls at the kerb.
-
A passenger opens the door as a cyclist passes, and the cyclist is hit.
-
The other side denies all responsibility for the morning's accident, and a lawyer is needed.
-
A drunk passenger kicks the door: dent and paint damage.
Which package would you have had?
Illustrative amounts before any excess. Whether and how much is paid depends on the policy terms.
Practical tips from your broker
- Choose a high combined limit for motor liability; €100 million is usual, and the legal minimum is not enough after serious injuries.
- Declare all drivers and their ages; undeclared drivers can lead to the insurer claiming money back after a loss.
- A higher excess on comprehensive cover lowers the premium noticeably, and many operators pay small damage themselves anyway.
- Vandalism by passengers is only covered under comprehensive; if you work nights, it is more likely to be worth it.
- From three vehicles, look at a fleet policy, especially if some vehicles have poor no claims classes.
- Private hire cars with driver need the same cover as taxis; the insurer must be told they are used to carry passengers.
Why NAMMERT for your business
We compare taxi tariffs not everyone offers
Not every insurer covers taxis. As a broker we approach those that do and lay out liability, comprehensive and excess side by side.
We know accident settlement
In boat insurance we handle claims ourselves. We know how to push injury claims and loss of use through with an insurer.
Vehicle, business and private in one place
Taxi, private car, home and pension all sit with us; one call is enough.
Family run since 1989
Many taxi businesses are family run, just like us. Our work is free for you; the insurer pays our commission.
Questions and answers
Frequently asked
Which insurance is compulsory for a taxi?
Motor liability with at least €7.5 million for injury, €1.3 million for property damage and €50,000 for financial loss. Much higher combined limits are advisable.
What does taxi insurance cost?
With a very good no claims class, liability starts at about €450 a year in rural areas and is usually €850 to €1,050 in big cities. With comprehensive cover €1,500 to €3,500 is typical.
Can I transfer the no claims discount from my private car?
With many insurers yes, sometimes with deductions. That can lower the premium for your first taxi considerably and belongs in any comparison.
Do I need public liability as a taxi operator?
Not by law, but licensing authorities often expect it. It covers damage that does not happen while driving, such as when carrying luggage.
Are my drivers covered for accidents at work?
Employed drivers are covered by the BG Verkehr, Germany's statutory accident insurer for transport. As the owner you are only covered if you insure yourself there voluntarily or have personal accident insurance.
Does this also apply to private hire with driver and ride services?
Yes, motor liability is compulsory here too, and the use for carrying passengers must be stated in the policy. Private car tariffs do not apply.
NAMMERT insurance broker
Request quotes for Taxi
The recommended covers are already ticked. Change what does not fit; we obtain quotes and come back with a comparison. You can write in English.
Thank you, we have your request.
We will be in touch within one working day. If it is urgent: +49 3375 29 12 77.
Related trades
What limit does a coach need?
Can I insure my hire cars on ordinary motor tariffs?
Who pays if a learner causes an accident during a lesson?
Official classification
This page covers the following classes of the German WZ 2025 (identical to NACE at four digits):
- 49.32 Personenbeförderung im Gelegenheitsverkehr auf der Straße
- 49.33 Personenbeförderung mit Fahrzeug mit Fahrer auf Abruf
Source: Federal Statistical Office of Germany (Destatis), WZ 2025. All business types
Boat or yacht? Here we are not the broker but the underwriting agency, with our own policies and our own claims handling.
Boat insuranceNAMMERT Assekuradeur GmbH, insurance broker licensed under section 34d(1) of the German Trade Regulation Act, broker register no. D-C08Q-TOSD4-37. For boat and yacht insurance we act as underwriting agency, not as broker. Statutory disclosure (German) · Updated