A DM News reader has contacted us after receiving a shocking private-hire insurance renewal quote of £6,603.31, up from £2,190.57 the previous year, following an incident that was ultimately logged as a fault claim — despite the driver insisting it was caused by a passenger.
The driver, who operates a Tesla Model 3 under a private hire license, explained that the incident occurred when a passenger opened the vehicle door into oncoming traffic, despite being warned that a car was approaching. The door struck the passing vehicle, damaging both cars.
Although the driver says the situation was outside of their control, the claim was recorded as fault, resulting in the loss of their no-claims bonus.
The consequences went far beyond the damage itself.
According to the driver, the vehicle was off the road for six weeks while repairs were carried out. During that time, the insurer was unable to provide a replacement hire vehicle, stating that no Wolverhampton-licensed vehicles were available. Uber was notified by both the insurer and the driver, but no compensation was offered, and the driver was unable to work until repairs were completed and photographic evidence was submitted.
The driver also said Uber made no welfare contact following the incident.
Despite living in a low-risk area and having no previous major claims history, the renewal quote from Acorn Insurance rose to over £6,600 annually, with the driver noting it would exceed £7,000 if paid monthly.
The driver believes this highlights what they describe as a wider problem within the private-hire trade, where drivers face severe financial penalties for incidents they feel are outside their control — particularly when passengers are involved.
DM News Commentary
Passenger-caused incidents — doors being opened into traffic, sudden exits, rushing behaviour — are common, yet the liability almost always lands on the driver. Once an insurer records a fault claim, the knock-on effects are brutal: loss of no-claims bonus, higher premiums, limited insurer options, and in many cases, being priced out of the job altogether.
What makes this worse is the lack of support once something goes wrong. No hire vehicle, no income protection, no platform compensation, and no meaningful aftercare. Six weeks off the road for a full-time driver isn’t an inconvenience — it’s financially devastating.
Private hire drivers are increasingly treated as high-risk liabilities, not professionals providing a regulated service. Whether you’re new to the job or have one claim — fault or not — the insurance system appears stacked against you.
We’d like to hear from other drivers:
- Have you had an insurance claim caused by a passenger?
- Were you also found at fault?
- Did your premium jump at renewal?
This feels less like risk assessment and more like exploitation — and it’s pushing experienced drivers out of the trade.
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