What we mean by...
Swinton Taxi Division Glossary of terms
Here are the meanings of some of the words and phrases used on this website. This glossary is here as a general guideline designed to help you with terms that you might not be familiar with. If you need to understand the term in detail and how it applies to you, then have a look at the policy wording.
Click on the relevant letter to jump to the section you need:
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Breakdown Cover:
Additional protection which can be purchased with your taxi insurance policy. The Swinton online breakdown policy brings a qualified mechanic to your assistance if your vehicle should break down. If your taxi cannot be repaired at the roadside, you may choose to be towed to your home anywhere within the UK or your intended destination; and then your vehicle to be taken to a garage within 20 miles. You could even gain assistance if your car won't start at home.
Terms, conditions, exclusions and excesses apply. Please refer to relevant policy wording for full details.
Car Security Device:
Any means of making your car more secure could, in theory, make it eligible for a reduction in your premium. Typically, insurers usually only take into account approved car alarms, immobilisers and tracker devices. See also Security Device.
Comprehensive Cover:
The widest ranging vehicle insurance cover. In addition to the cover provided by Third Party, Fire and Theft insurance, this also covers your taxi against any damage caused by an accident or someone else, whether you are at fault or not.
Terms, conditions, exclusions and excesses apply. Please refer to relevant policy wording for full details.
Compulsory Insurance:
The classes of insurance which are legally required. In the UK, Third Party Only cover is the minimum compulsory level of insurance required under the Road Traffic Act.
Certificate of Motor insurance:
the proof issued by the Insurer that your taxi is insured, as required by law.
Compulsory Excess:
The amount of any claim which the Insurer insists you pay in the event of a claim.
Condition:
A clause in a policy which governs the payment of a claim.
Decline:
If a proposal is declined, the Underwriter has decided not to accept it.
Deductible:
See Excess.
Direct Debit:
A way for a business to collect regular payments from customers. It is the most popular way for people to pay for services such as insurance as it enables the payments to be spread easily across several months.
Driver's Legal Protection Cover:
An optional extra insurance policy to run alongside most taxi insurance policies which covers you for legal costs in recovering so-called 'uninsured losses'. These can include everything from taxi hire costs and loss of earnings through to damage to your clothes and luggage if you are involved in an accident which isn't your fault.
Terms, conditions, exclusions and excesses apply. Please refer to relevant policy wording for full details.
Driving Licence:
The legal approval needed to drive a motor vehicle.
DVLA:
Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency - an executive agency of the Department of Transport which is responsible, among other things, for issuing driving licences and vehicle registration documents.
Excess:
The amount of any claim which you agree to pay if your taxi is stolen or damaged, irrespective of fault. You are entitled to seek recovery from a responsible party in the event of an accident which was not your fault.
Exclusions:
Circumstances which are not covered under an insurance policy
Full Driving Licence:
The Licence issued by the DVLA to drivers who have passed their driving test. You need a Full Driving Licence to drive a car unsupervised.
Immobiliser:
This is an electronic anti-theft device that is usually activated when the ignition key is removed and largely prevents unauthorised starting of the engine. Generally these are now factory fitted by the manufacturer, however it is also possible to have an immobiliser fitted by a garage or specialist who would supply a certificate of installation, detailing the exact model of immobiliser.
Indemnity:
This ensures that following a claim you are restored to the same financial position that you were in immediately before the insured loss. Account is taken for age, wear and tear and depreciation.
Inexperienced driver:
A person who has not held a full United Kingdom or European driving licence for the last 12 months.
Insurance Broker:
An individual or firm which places its customers' insurance with an Insurer.
Insurance Schedule:
The document that describes details of the cover you have and information that you have supplied to your insurer.
Insurer:
An organisation which issues an Insurance Policy in exchange for a premium and pays any eligible claims arising.
Insured:
The person who is, or whose motorbike is, insured. Also known as the Policyholder or Proposer.
Kerbweight:
The weight of a motor vehicle when empty.
Legal Liability:
The obligation to recompense others because of your negligence.
Load Index:
A number marked on a tyre's sidewall which indicates its maximum load carrying capacity.
Loading (Premium):
An increase to a premium which is applied as a result of an increase to the probability of a claim.
Low-Profile Tyres:
Tyres which are comparatively shallow in cross-section compared to their width and therefore fitted to relatively large-diameter wheels.
Manufacturer's Unbraked Towing Limit:
A statement by a vehicle manufacturer of the maximum weight of unbraked trailer it is permitted to tow.
Market Value:
For taxi insurance, the cost of replacing a taxi with one of similar make, model and condition at the time of the loss or damage.
Medical Condition:
For most car insurance policies, this means any condition which you have had to report to the DVLA as it may affect your driving. Terms, conditions, exclusions and excesses apply. Please refer to relevant policy wording for full details.
Medical Examiner's Report (MER):
A report by a doctor, given at the request of the Insurer. The cost is usually paid by the Insurer.
Terms, conditions, exclusions and excesses apply. Please refer to relevant policy wording for full details.
Modification:
Alterations to a vehicle which affect either its appearance and/or performance.
MOT:
An annual test required for motor vehicles, including motorhomes but not caravans.
Motoring Convictions:
Offences such as speeding which are detailed on your driving licence. You will need to notify Swinton of any motoring convictions in the last 5 years, even though these may have been removed from your licence.
Negligence:
The legal definition of negligence is the failure to exercise the care towards others which a reasonable or prudent person would do in the circumstances, or taking action which such a reasonable person would not.
No Claims Bonus:
A discount offered as a reward for you not making a claim on your insurance for a number of years.
Period of Insurance:
The time covered by a policy and shown in the Schedule.
Permanently Attached Accessories:
Alterations to a taxi after its manufacture which are not directly related to its function as a taxi. These include radios that form an integral part of the taxi, security screens, CCVT and luggage carriers while fitted to a taxi.
Personal Liability:
See Legal Liability
Passenger:
The person or fare in the taxi.
Policy:
The document which details what is covered and outlines the circumstances under which a claim will be paid and the Conditions governing any payment. A policy is a contract which is binding on both the customer and the Insurer.
Policyholder
See Insured
Premium:
The amount you will need to pay to an Insurer to be covered by the insurance.
Private Hire
Private hire vehicles are generally saloon type vehicles that can be booked through an operator or taxi office. These vehicles are not able to be hailed on the street.
Proposer
See Insured
Protected No-Claims Bonus:
If you have 4 or more years no claims bonus, you may be able to pay an extra amount, so you may not necessarily lose your no claims bonus if you make a claim.
Terms, conditions, exclusions and excesses apply. Please refer to relevant policy wording for full details.
Public Hire
Public hire vehicles (often called Hackney Carriages) are generally London-style black cabs. These vehicles can be hailed on the street or picked up at designate taxi ranks.
Registered Keeper:
This is not necessarily the legal owner of a car. It is the person recorded by the DVLA as being liable for the licensing of the vehicle or declaring it off the public road and also the person to whom the police would contact about motoring and parking offences. The actual legal owner could be the person or company who bought the car.
Renewal:
Almost all insurance Policies run for a year. At the end of this period, it usually can be continued ('renewed') or transferred to a different Insurer.
Responsible Party:
This is a term used to describe the person who is responsible for causing any losses or damage.
Road Tax:
A tax which must be paid on motor vehicles (but not caravans) before they are allowed on the road.
Schedule:
The document that describes details of the cover you have and information that you have supplied to your insurer.
Security Device:
This is a general term covering car alarms, immobilsers and tracking devices.
Service Description:
The markings on a tyre's sidewall which indicate its size, load index and its speed rating.
Swinton:
A UK insurance intermediary who searches leading insurers to get you a great deal. The paperwork sent out to you will show the name of the insurer with whom we have arranged your insurance.
Third Party Only Cover:
The minimum level of insurance cover for a taxi which is required by law. Third Party Only covers your liability for death or bodily injury to anyone else and your liability for damage to someone else's property. It does not cover any damage to your vehicle.
Terms, conditions, exclusions and excesses apply. Please refer to relevant policy wording for full details.
Third Party, Fire and Theft:
In addition to the cover provided by Third Party Only Cover insurance, this also pays you compensation if your vehicle is stolen or destroyed by fire (subject to Policy terms).
Terms, conditions, exclusions and excesses apply. Please refer to relevant policy wording for full details.
Tracker Device:
A device which allows a vehicle to be located if it is stolen.
Underwriter:
This can be either an Insurer or a particular person working for the Insurer who decides whether or not to accept a Risk and the premium to be charged.
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN):
A unique serial number given by a manufacturer to a vehicle.
Voluntary Excess:
An additional amount you may wish to pay in the event of a claim above any compulsory excess insisted upon by the Insurer. You can decide this sum at the point you take out a policy. Doing this will usually help to lower your Premium.
Wheelbase:
The distance between the front and rear axles of a vehicle.
Wheelclamp:
A means of stopping a wheel on a vehicle from turning. Used as a security device and also to hold illegally parked cars.
You:
See Insured