Your step by step guide on how to start work as a taxi driver in Ireland.
The flexibility offered by working as a taxi driver is something that appeals to many people these days. Amidst the hustle and bustle of modern living, private hire work gives you the freedom to set your own schedule, choosing to work at times most convenient for you. However, getting started with taxi work is not always easy and you may find difficulty in determining where to begin. In this post, we’ll look at what you need to do to start taxi work in Ireland. We’ll also give you some tips to help you get through the application process quickly and easily.
Step 1: Get a vehicle
When it comes to getting a vehicle to use for your taxi work, there are plenty of options available. You may already have access to a family car, or you may own a vehicle that you can use. If not, you may need to purchase a car to use specifically for work.
Another option that’s available to you is to rent a car to use for your work or you can set up a rent-to-buy plan for a vehicle. This is perfect for drivers looking for short-term access to a vehicle, without high up-front costs.
The car you choose is likely to be a very important decision, so it’s always worth looking at different vehicles and payment plans. Another important aspect to consider is whether your chosen car meets any vehicle requirements necessary for a particular taxi operator.
Step 2: Insurance
If you have purchased your vehicle using a rent or rent-to-buy option, you may find that public and private hire insurance is already included as part of your contract. Otherwise, if you are using a personal vehicle you will need to make sure you set this up yourself.
Standard Social, Domestic & Pleasure (SD&P) insurance does not cover you for work as a taxi driver, so you will need to have additional protection in place to carry out this work. The additional type of cover is called Hire & Reward (H&R) insurance and will allow you to carry passengers in exchange for payment. Attempting to work as a taxi driver without this type of cover can have some serious consequences including points on your license, fines or even vehicle impounding.
At Zego, our public and private hire policies will cover you for SD&P and H&R, allowing you to get started working as a taxi driver and even offering you cover for delivery work as well!
Step 3: Get approved as a taxi driver
To work as a taxi driver in Ireland, you’ll need to first pass your SPSV driver entry test. You will then need to submit a PSV15 form to the carriage office in Dublin or your local Garda PSV office if you are based outside Dublin. Once these checks have been completed, you will be allowed to work as a taxi driver!
Step 4: Onboarding
Once you have everything in place for your application, you can begin the onboarding process with a taxi operator. This process will vary from company to company, so it’s a good idea to research what different companies are looking for and prepare in advance of any appointments.
If you go to an onboarding session with your vehicle, insurance and taxi licence all sorted, you’ll be likely to get through the onboarding process quickly so you can start work as soon as possible.
To get a quote for your insurance and take one step towards starting taxi work, feel free to visit our product page and get in touch with our friendly team!