Spanish Taxi Drivers Stage Strike over Rising Insurance Costs

Driver associations, including Elite and Antaxi, have called on the government to intervene, citing concerns over an alleged price-fixing cartel among insurers. They argue that skyrocketing premiums—rising from around €1,000 to over €4,000 within three years—are forcing drivers out of the industry, according to TheOlivePress.

“We don’t understand the commercial strategy of insurers, which is totally unfounded and will see many drivers quit,” said Rafael Baena, president of Elite Taxi Andalucía. He accused insurers of using a "non-transparent and unjustified risk assessment," making costs prohibitive and requiring drivers to take out multiple policies.

Last week, taxi associations successfully urged smaller political parties to file a motion in Congress, calling on the government to "guarantee the taxi sector insurance policies with a competitive cost, adjusted and proportional to the coverage required for drivers to work." Lawmakers are set to debate the proposal.

The insurance industry has defended the price increases. Unespa, the sector’s employer association, stated that rising repair costs and higher government-mandated compensation for damages have led firms to lose money in recent years. “The total cost of claims, along with operating and administrative expenses, exceeds the income obtained from premiums in this line of business,” Unespa said.

Pelayo, a leading insurer for taxi drivers, rejected allegations of price-fixing, stating: “Prices are totally adjusted to maintain the sustainability of insurance, and the cost depends on each taxi driver.”