Just a little confused

Hi All,
It is my understanding that the red plated taxis are insured and to not use white plated taxis. We booked dinner reservations with three different restaurants that offer free pick up/ return. I noticed that the vehicles are white plated. Last night after dinner we were approached by a white plated taxi and I respectively refused his service and told him that we are taking red plated taxi. Of course he said he is very experienced and so on but was kind enough to call a red plated taxi. There was no negotiating with this fellow. He asked for 1000.00 from Kuyaba to Bloody Bay.

I also approached two reputable red plated taxi's to be dropped off at the west end. Their fee was $1500.00 for each way. Just wanted to check with you experienced boardies if these fees are in line?

Thanks

Neither price is that bad. From Kuyaba to Bloody Bay is about 7 miles worth of driving. To the West End is much further. Just think about what a cab costs per mile in the states.

Monica, I was confused the same way..When I went to Jamaica with my adult daughters..the cab that picked up my daughter to go ziplining didn't have a red plate..When I asked at the desk..they said..Its ok.. It was a long day waiting for her to come back!

We just returned from Negril last night. For a chartered taxi, the going rate for the deep West End to anywhere on the beach (or vice versa) for 2 passengers seemed to be ~$800J. A couple drivers insisted on $1000, and would not budge (usually the guys in nice cars or vans). Was the $1500.00 quote for Bloody Bay to the West End? Some drivers add on an a few extra dollars to go the extra mile to the AIs.

You are correct that you should always use red plate taxis (white plates are not taxis, just private vehicles). If a restaurant offers pickup/return and they send a white plate vehicle, it is probably one their employees who may be driving a car owned by the resort (or may be driving his own car). It is up to your discretion whether or not you want to take that ride.

MikeD, How was it? I am headed to the yunk tonight for happy hour.

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Originally Posted by Flipadelphia26

MikeD, How was it? I am headed to the yunk tonight for happy hour.

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We had a great time! We usually travel during the off-season, so it was cool to be there with lots of tourists around. It was also nice to hit-up some spots that are usually closed during the off-season. I'll post some pics and stuff in a new thread. We visited a couple new places that were fun.

Hey thanks guys - your input is very much appreciated!!!

I was surprised to see it posted elsewhere that Ivan's also sent a white plate vehicle to pick up tourists for dinner. Also, my last two trips, I booked airport transfers with popular licensed independent/company. Both times, the vehicle picking me up to go back to the airport had a white plate. Seems you never know what you'll be getting, even at the most reputable businesses.

What don't you get?

White plate = no insurance for passengers...... No matter who sent it........ The only possibility a white plate might be insured is that it's covered under an umbrella policy with the resort that sent it.......good luck with that one

Red plate = you have a leg to stand on with insurance

Cap

i've had a white plate from catch a falling star every time . . .

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Originally Posted by JitterBug

i've had a white plate from catch a falling star every time . . .

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I've seen both actually. If you are concerned with a red plate ask for Dandy or Wayne, both of who I have used many times and are great drivers. Or simply ask Catcha for a red plate driver.

Hold on a minute Cap, white plate car insurance does not cover casual passengers, only the driver is covered?

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If you are asking for a taxi, then a red plate you should get.

If you are utilizing an offer of transportation courtesy of a restaurant, that is not a taxi. If you insist that courtesy transport be a red plate then you should hire a taxi. My perspective.

So if you get injured in an accident in a red-plate cab, your medical expenses will be covered? I'm skeptical despite what the law might be.

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Originally Posted by Lola

Hold on a minute Cap, white plate car insurance does not cover casual passengers, only the driver is covered?

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If you are asking for a taxi, then a red plate you should get.

If you are utilizing an offer of transportation courtesy of a restaurant, that is not a taxi. If you insist that courtesy transport be a red plate then you should hire a taxi. My perspective.

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I'm not sure if any visitor including myself would be a casual passenger. I ride with Ailsa in her car with a white plate and can prove she's my daughter etc. Never had to do that so I really can't say what judgment an insurance company would make and would probably involve getting lawyer.

When I ride with Linston I always have the chartered sign in the window. Most likely a legal grey area.

I imagine you would have to produce evidence indicating a relationship. The question may be if you are paying for the ride or not.

If a restaurant send a whites plate to pick you up is that a part of the financial arrangement to buy food and drink?

Better safe than sorry.

Perhaps Rob can lend some information.

CapD, if its not too much trouble next time you are in yard could you photo/scan the Covered and Excluded sections of the white plate and red plate insurance policies?

I agree if a person is paying for a ride, they should be in a red plate.

Re: the restaurant financial arrangement, maybe, I thought about that too. Like if a minimum purchase is required.

Lola,

No problem. I'll be back a week from Thursday. I want to read it myself.

Cap

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Originally Posted by gerryg123

So if you get injured in an accident in a red-plate cab, your medical expenses will be covered? I'm skeptical despite what the law might be.

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I didn't think the insurance of a red plate would cover your medical expenses, that you would need to have covered yourself with medical insurance. My understanding was that if you got into an accident in a white plate vehicle, you could be accountable for any damages and legal charges. Hopefully Rob or Captain will be able to confirm exactly what is covered.

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Originally Posted by Melody

I didn't think the insurance of a red plate would cover your medical expenses, that you would need to have covered yourself with medical insurance. My understanding was that if you got into an accident in a white plate vehicle, you could be accountable for any damages and legal charges. Hopefully Rob or Captain will be able to confirm exactly what is covered.

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Of course it covers your medical costs, that is the entire point of the requirement of the red license plate for taxis in the first place.

The required insurance covers all the paying passengers in the vehicle, otherwise they would not be allowed to be a legal taxi. That is why you should always take a legal, red plated taxi. Should a hotel or restaurant secure you a ride in a non-red plated vehicle, their business liability insurance coverage would cover you in case of an accident. But I would certainly ask that the establishment find me a red plated legal and proper taxi when asking for the ride.

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Originally Posted by captaind

I'm not sure if any visitor including myself would be a casual passenger. I ride with Ailsa in her car with a white plate and can prove she's my daughter etc. Never had to do that so I really can't say what judgment an insurance company would make and would probably involve getting lawyer.

When I ride with Linston I always have the chartered sign in the window. Most likely a legal grey area.

I imagine you would have to produce evidence indicating a relationship. The question may be if you are paying for the ride or not.

If a restaurant send a whites plate to pick you up is that a part of the financial arrangement to buy food and drink?

Better safe than sorry.

Perhaps Rob can lend some information.

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Many drivers in Jamaica (or almost any country for that matter) carry the minimum coverage required by law. That is normally what is called "third party" coverage, which covers damages to others that the driver and vehicle may cause. But this does not cover the vehicle nor anything or anyone in the vehicle which caused the damages.

Paying passengers in a white plated vehicle are essentially breaking the law and no coverage would exist at all and you would be held accountable for damages done to others just as the driver would be.

As for an establishment procuring a ride for you, there is no minimum purchase requirement. If an employee of the business gets you a ride, the business now assumes the risk and their liability insurance will kick in. If you are unsure if a business has proper business insurance, then always ask them to get you a legal red plated taxi when asking for the ride. I would do this all time anyway.

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Originally Posted by Lola

Hold on a minute Cap, white plate car insurance does not cover casual passengers, only the driver is covered?

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In many cases, the driver is not covered. The minimum requirements under the law require insurance that covers damage to others caused by the driver/vehicle - not the vehicle or the driver or the contents in the vehicle.

If either a restaurant pays for a white plate "taxi" ride, or you pay [whether a restaurant recommended it, or not], the contractual relationship between you and a driver could not be argued at all. In both cases, it would be considered a violation of applicable rules, therefore driver's insurance would not touch it.
Rob is right, again : red plates only.

FYI... this year's PPV (public passenger vehicle) insurance for Linston was 92,000JA.

That's three times more than we pay for the white plate on Ailsa's car......and we have good insurance not just the minimum

Cap

Rob and CapD thanks!