Ground Transport Group - Patons Insurance revives Cabshield brand

For more than 30 years, Cabshield provided taxi drivers with insurance cover that met the needs of their business. The name reassured them that they were in safe hands and was a guarantee of the service they would receive.

Cabshield was launched as part of Shield Insurance Consultants general insurance brokerage in 1989 by Duncan Simpson in Dundee. As the taxi side of the business continued to grow, it began to focus solely on taxi insurance from 2004 and provided cover for drivers nationwide.

At its peak, it was recognised as one of the UK’s leading taxi and private hire insurance providers. It employed 27 staff and relocated to larger offices in Dundee as it continued to build its trusted reputation among taxi drivers. It enjoyed repeat business, as well as welcoming new customers who had been recommended by existing drivers.

Cabshield was bought by Patons Insurance in 2019 and the acquisition combined the strengths and expertise of the two businesses for the benefit of customers.

It bolstered the team of brokerage experts who are ready to help drivers looking for a suitable policy. The team knows that drivers are busy running their business and haven’t got time to compare the minute details of public hire insurance or private hire insurance quotes. They want experts who know what they are doing to find them the right insurance quote at the best price and know they will be looked after along the way.

Since the mutually successful purchase, which has seen Patons and Cabshield staff share their experience and expertise to deliver a specialist taxi insurance offering to the trade, drivers have continued to come to Cabshield and its staff who have looked after them for so many years.

And as that relationship thrives, it made sense to revive the popular Cabshield brand as part of the Patons Insurance offering.

Patons Insurance managing director Darren Roberts said: “Cabshield is a well-known name in the taxi industry that is trusted by drivers.

“For years, it has established itself as a reliable taxi insurance broker and drivers know the levels of expertise and service they can expect.

“Following any acquisition, people often refer to a business by its previous name until they get used to the new one, but the Cabshield name has never gone away. We still have some of the original Cabshield staff as part of our team today and for the past five years, drivers have continued to call the original Cabshield number and search for the website online. The name also appears in dozens of social media recommendations for taxi insurance.

“Cabshield is a name drivers know and trust and we are committed to delivering the same standards of service so it made sense to give it the prominence drivers expect and make it easier for them to find when taking out or renewing their insurance.”