The rise of ride-hailing apps like Uber and Bolt has made it easier than ever to earn money driving passengers. For people without a car, car clubs might seem like an attractive shortcut — book a vehicle for a few hours and start picking up fares. But can you legally use a car club car as a taxi or Uber?
The answer is no. Car clubs do not allow their vehicles to be used as taxis or for any form of hire-and-reward driving. That includes ride-hailing platforms, minicabs, and private hire work. While the cars are fully insured for everyday driving and ordinary business trips, they are not covered for carrying paying passengers.
Why Taxi Use Isn’t Allowed
When you drive for Uber, Bolt or any other taxi service, you need a special kind of insurance known as hire-and-reward cover. This protects you and your passengers in case of an accident, and it is a legal requirement in the UK for anyone carrying passengers for payment.
Car clubs provide insurance with every booking, but it is limited to social, domestic and standard business use. That means things like going to meetings or driving to a site visit are fine, but carrying paying passengers is excluded. Without the right insurance, you’d be driving illegally.
On top of this, using a car club car as a taxi would breach the club’s terms of membership. If discovered, it could lead to your account being suspended or closed.
Even Peer-to-Peer Clubs Ban It
Some drivers assume that peer-to-peer car sharing services such as Hiyacar might be different, since you’re renting from an individual owner rather than a fleet operator. In reality, the rules are exactly the same.
Even on peer-to-peer platforms, the booking is backed by platform insurance, and that insurance does not cover taxi work. Owners may also specifically forbid it in their listings. So whether it’s Zipcar, Enterprise, Co-Wheels or Hiyacar, the answer doesn’t change: you cannot use their cars for Uber, Bolt or any other taxi work.
What Happens If You Ignore the Rules?
Trying to use a car club car as a taxi is a serious risk. The consequences include:
- No insurance cover – if you have an accident while carrying passengers, you could be personally liable for all costs.
- Legal penalties – driving passengers without hire-and-reward insurance can result in fines, penalty points, and even prosecution.
- Membership loss – the car club can terminate your account if you break the rules.
- Passenger risk – your passengers would have no protection if something went wrong.
The combination of legal and financial risk makes it a very costly gamble.
The Right Way to Drive for Uber or Taxi Work
If you want to work as a taxi or ride-hailing driver, you need:
- A vehicle that meets your local council’s private hire licensing requirements.
- Hire-and-reward insurance specifically covering taxi work.
- A private hire licence issued by your local authority.
These are legal requirements, not optional extras, and councils carry out regular checks to make sure vehicles and drivers are properly licensed. Without them, you simply can’t operate legally.
Some specialist rental companies offer vehicles with the correct licensing and insurance already included, often on weekly or monthly contracts. These cars are approved for Uber or minicab use and come with the paperwork in place. By contrast, car clubs are designed for personal and standard business journeys only, and none of their cars can be licensed for taxi work.
So, Can You Use a Car Club Car as a Taxi?
No. Car club insurance excludes hire-and-reward driving, and the rules are the same whether you’re with a fleet operator like Zipcar or a peer-to-peer platform like Hiyacar. Using a car club vehicle for Uber or taxi work would leave you uninsured, break the law, and almost certainly get your membership cancelled.
Car clubs are designed for personal trips and everyday business use, not for carrying paying passengers. If your goal is to work as a taxi driver, you’ll need to look at specialist hire options that include the right licensing and insurance.