Taxi drivers across Spain are striking due to soaring insurance premiums, demanding government action to address the issue and reduce costs for drivers.
Taxi drivers across Spain are holding a three-hour strike on Wednesday, from 11 am to 2 pm, in protest over rapidly increasing insurance premiums. Driver associations such as Elite and Antaxi have demanded government intervention to curb the rise in premiums and address what they allege is a price-fixing cartel among insurers.
Surge in Insurance Premiums
Since 2022, many taxi drivers have experienced a dramatic increase in their insurance costs, with premiums doubling for some drivers. For instance, some have seen their insurance payments soar from €1,000 to over €4,000 in just three years. Rafael Baena, president of Elite Taxi Andalucia, expressed frustration over the situation, stating:
"We don’t understand the commercial strategy of insurers, which is totally unfounded and will see many drivers quit."
Call for Government Intervention
The strike follows a motion filed by smaller political parties in Congress, urging the government to intervene. The motion calls for the government to guarantee that taxi insurance policies are competitive, adjusted, and proportional to the coverage needed for drivers to operate efficiently.
Insurers’ Perspective
The insurance employers’ association, Unespa, argues that companies have been losing money due to increased repair costs and rising claims. They claim that operating and administrative expenses are higher than the income they receive from premiums.
Pelayo, a major insurer for taxi drivers, defended the price hikes, stating:
"Prices are totally adjusted to maintain the sustainability of the insurance and the cost depends on each taxi driver."
They also denied any involvement in price-fixing with other insurers.
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