Minibus, taxi and truck insurance in Malawi

Short answerChecked 31 October 2026

A vehicle that carries passengers for hire or reward in Malawi must have third party cover that includes those passengers: the exemption for passengers in section 144(b) of the Road Traffic Act does not apply to them, and in a public service vehicle any contract term that limits liability for a passenger's death or injury is void (section 149). Commercial vehicles are insured under the motor — commercial class (comprehensive, third party fire and theft, third party, Act), and the goods they carry under goods-in-transit cover.

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Answers come from the law, the regulator and the insurers' own documents, with the source under each answer. General information, not advice.

What cover does a taxi or minibus need?Are my passengers covered?What should I check before I renew?

Passengers, drivers and the law

Paying passengers: a policy may exclude passengers only when they are not carried for hire or reward or under a contract of employment (section 144(b) of the Road Traffic Act). Minibuses, taxis and buses therefore need passenger liability cover.
Public service vehicles: a contract for carrying a passenger cannot negate or restrict liability for the passenger's death or injury, or impose conditions on enforcing it (section 149).
Your own driver and conductor: the third party policy need not cover the insured's employees injured at work (section 144(a)). That is the employer's liability under the Workers' Compensation Act.

The covers for a commercial vehicle

Risk	Class in the Registrar's Directive
Third party liability, the vehicle itself	Motor — commercial: comprehensive, third party fire and theft, third party, Act
Goods carried	Miscellaneous: goods-in-transit
Cash carried	Miscellaneous: cash-in-transit
Driver injured at work	Liability: employers liability (workmen's compensation)
Personal accident of driver or owner	Personal accident: death, permanent disability, temporary total disablement, medical expenses

From the First Schedule of the Classes of Insurance Business Directive, 2017. Insurers price motor risks by vehicle type and usage under the 2025 pricing guideline.

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Next step

1. Find the cover that fits

Frequently asked questions

Must a minibus in Malawi insure its passengers?

Yes in practice: section 144(b) of the Road Traffic Act lets a policy exclude passengers only when they are not carried for hire or reward, and section 149 makes void any restriction of liability to passengers in a public service vehicle.

Who pays when a minibus driver is injured at work?

The employer is liable under the Workers' Compensation Act; the motor policy need not cover the insured's own employees (Road Traffic Act, section 144(a)).