PCO car insurance, explained
To drive a PCO car for work, you need insurance that covers carrying passengers for money. Here is what to look for before you rent.
Last reviewed 19 October 2026
You need hire or reward insurance
Normal car insurance does not cover carrying passengers for money. TfL says every private hire car must have hire or reward insurance. The insurance must be valid when the car is licensed, and every time it is used as a private hire car. You must show the details to the police if they ask.
The three levels of cover
- Third party only: pays for injury to other people, including your passengers, and damage to their property
- Third party, fire and theft: the same, and also pays if the car is stolen or damaged by fire
- Comprehensive: all of this, and also pays for damage to the car in an accident
Read the excess
The excess is the part of a claim you pay yourself. A low weekly price with a high excess can cost you more after one accident. Some rental companies put insurance in the weekly price. If they do, ask what the excess is, and whether you can pay to make it lower.
What Uber and Bolt ask for
- Uber asks for your private hire insurance certificate when you start
- In London, Uber only accepts insurers it works with through its document system, Instadoc
- Outside London, Uber accepts any insurer if the policy covers your work and meets your council's rules
- Bolt does not accept insurance limited to one other app, such as Uber only
- Uber's driver requirements
How insurance works on Kharo
- The weekly price The weekly price is the rent, set by the rental company.
- Your insurance We get you competitive quotes from different insurance brokers, and you choose the one you want.
- The excess Every quote shows the excess before you choose.
- Uber and Bolt Once your collection is booked, we upload your documents to Uber and Bolt for you.
- PCO car hire in London
- See the full cost of PCO car hire
More guides
- What PCO car hire costs What renting a private hire car costs, from the weekly rent to the deposit. The prices come from the cars on Kharo, which show what rental companies charge.
- How a PCO car hire deposit works Most rental companies ask for a deposit before you collect a PCO car. Here is how it works, and what to check before you pay.
- All guides
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Questions
Is insurance included in the rent on Kharo?
No. The weekly price is the rent, set by the rental company. We get you competitive quotes from different insurance brokers, and you choose the one you want.
Can I use normal car insurance for Uber?
No. TfL says a private hire car must have hire or reward insurance whenever it is used as a private hire car.
What is an insurance excess?
The part of a claim you pay yourself. Check it on every quote before you choose.
Can I get insurance quotes on Kharo today?
Cars are not booked online yet. You can see the cars and prices now. Register your interest or message us on WhatsApp, and we'll help you arrange a car.