Uber Auto Insurance: Rates & Requirements (2024)
Uber requires drivers to have their own auto insurance but provides up to 1 million dollars in supplemental coverage in case of an accident while transporting a guest. Find cheap Uber auto insurance quotes online by comparing rates.
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Daniel Walker
Licensed Auto Insurance Agent
Daniel Walker graduated with a BS in Administrative Management in 2005 and has run his family’s insurance agency, FCI Agency, for over 15 years (BBB A+). He is licensed as an insurance agent to write property and casualty insurance, including home, life, auto, umbrella, and dwelling fire insurance. He’s also been featured on sites like Reviews.com and Safeco. To ensure our content is accura...
Licensed Auto Insurance Agent
UPDATED: Oct 18, 2023
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right coverage choices.
Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident auto insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one auto insurance provider and cannot guarantee quotes from any single provider. Our partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from many different companies please enter your ZIP code on this page to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about auto insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything auto insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by auto insurance experts.
UPDATED: Oct 18, 2023
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right coverage choices.
Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident auto insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one auto insurance provider and cannot guarantee quotes from any single provider. Our partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from many different companies please enter your ZIP code on this page to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
On This Page
- Traditionally, auto insurance providers exclude certain incidences from personal auto insurance. For instance, accidents that occur when a vehicle is being used to transport people for a fare. Now, you can buy Uber insurance coverage
- Uber, for its part, provides liability coverage up to one million dollars in case of an accident leading to personal injury for the passenger as well as comprehensive and collision coverage to replace your car
- Rideshare drivers cannot rely solely on the auto insurance provided by the company. For instance, the coverage provided by Uber has some serious gaps and you should combine it with your personal insurance
- If gaps are still there even after combining the coverage with personal auto insurance, you should consider adding either rideshare coverage or commercial insurance (if rideshare is not available in your state) to your policy
Since TNCs (Transportation Network Companies) like Uber were introduced in the united states a few years ago, there have been a lot of questions about how the entire concept of Rideshare works. A significant portion of the questions about Uber and Lyft — the two leading TNCs in the country — are centered on auto insurance.
Does your personal auto insurance cover you while driving an Uber or do you have to purchase a specific coverage? What about your passengers?
Your personal auto insurance does not cover you when driving an Uber with your rideshare app on, and yes, you will have to purchase additional coverage or get an endorsement on your auto insurance policy.
Read more: How to Get an Uber Driver Auto Insurance Discount
As long as the rideshare app is on, your customer is covered via Uber’s liability coverage. When looking for additional coverage for your Uber, go online and compare quotes from various providers to get the best rates. Use our free quote tool above to start comparing Uber insurance rates online today!
Do I Need Commercial Auto Insurance For Driving an Uber?
Uber is one of the most popular rideshare services in the United States, and the world by extension. Many have considered driving for the service to make a few dollars on the side since the cost of living is high.
But before you do that, you need to consider the implication on your car insurance and how much you would have to pay in the event of a car accident.
Essentially, Uber is a ride-sharing (sometimes referred to as ride-hailing) service where customers hail for a ride and make pick-up arrangements via a smartphone application often at a lower cost than a regular taxi.
Uber competes with taxi and black car services in the people transport business. Passengers must have the Uber app downloaded to their phones to hail for a ride.
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Am I Covered By The Rideshare Company?
About three years ago, Uber expanded their liability coverage and rolled it out for its growing fleet of independent drivers across the world.
The implication of the newly rolled out coverage was clear for the riders — in the event of an accident that results in bodily injuries, the company would provide coverage for up to one million dollars in damages. If you are an Uber driver, the claim navigation process remains the same.
The company, however, provides collision and comprehensive coverage during a trip.
Your car’s rideshare app has to be on, and you have to have a passenger in the vehicle for the coverage to apply — that’s what is implied by “during a trip.”
For the collision and comprehensive coverage provided by Uber to apply, the driver must have collision and comprehensive coverage on his/her auto insurance policy.
Note: be sure to also read our guide to food delivery auto insurance.
Are There Coverage Gaps Between Commercial Policies and My Personal Policy?
Unless you have additional coverage, your auto insurer will not provide coverage when ferrying passengers for the Uber service with your car.
Personal coverage stops as soon as you turn on the rideshare app in your vehicle, creating a coverage gap. The Uber coverage might adequately protect the customer and your car during a trip, but what about you, the driver?
If you are a rideshare driver, you can buy commercial insurance to make sure you are fully protected in the event of an accident during a trip. However, commercial insurance policies are prohibitively expensive hence unaffordable for an average Uber driver.
As a result, car insurance companies have started offering auto insurance products designed to provide coverage for Uber drivers during trips. A good example of such a product is rideshare insurance.
What is rideshare insurance?
Rideshare insurance is the product of an effort by auto insurance providers to meet Uber and Lyft drivers’ demand for coverage as the rideshare services grow in popularity.
A typical rideshare insurance plan covers personal use and periods when the app is on but there is no passenger in the car – at least in part.
Note that Uber may deny your claim if your Uber app was on during an accident but there was no customer on board.
Getting rideshare insurance is way cheaper and makes more sense than purchasing commercial insurance. All the major auto insurance providers in the country including State Farm, Farmers, Allstate, Safeco, Progressive, USAA, and Geico all offer rideshare insurance.
Specific coverage varies from one provider to the next, so make sure you compare quotes before you purchase a policy.
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How Do You Purchase Rideshare Insurance?
Rideshare insurance is not available in all states, and not all auto insurance companies offer the product. If your auto insurance carrier doesn’t offer rideshare insurance, you can try elsewhere — that’s a smart thing to do anyway, especially when it comes to price comparison.
Remember that you have to inform your insurer that you are driving for Uber.
Failing to disclose this information may lead to the cancellation of your personal auto insurance policy – the insurance company will find out that you are driving for a ride-sharing service eventually.
Find out the gaps between Uber’s insurance policy and your personal auto insurance policy and fill them. If rideshare insurance is not available in your state, consider commercial insurance.
Does Comparison Shopping to Get the Best Uber Rideshare Insurance Policy Actually Work?
Ridesharing is a fairly new industry. As the industry continues to evolve, auto insurance options will also be expanding. For Uber and Lyft drivers, obtaining auto insurance coverage will be easier as the industry grows. For now, weigh your options and compare online quotes to obtain coverage that meets your needs.
Don’t miss out on our free insurance quote tool below! Just enter your zip code and start comparing rates now!
Is It Hard To Find Auto Insurance for Drivers?
Uber is an excellent way to use your personal car to make some extra money or even function as a full-time job.
As services like Uber become more popular, concerns around the insurance risks faced by drivers have come up countless times.
- Uber is a ridesharing service
- Drivers for these services use their personal vehicles to shuttle passengers from one location to another
- While the service operates similar to a taxi, the insurance risk is different
- Some of these rideshare services may provide primary auto insurance to their drivers
- However, there are coverage options that may not be available through these services
If you are considering driving for Uber, it’s important to determine what kind of insurance coverage you may need.
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What is Uber?
It is a transportation network company, or more commonly known as a ridesharing service. Services like this are normally operated by a driver using their personal vehicle, and passengers request the service through a mobile application or website.
One of the biggest things that make this service different than a traditional taxi service is the use of personal vehicles rather than company-owned vehicles.
In addition to the use of personal vehicles, the requirements at the state and local levels are much different for ridesharing services. Taxi service, for instance, require licensing, vehicle inspections, and liability policies that protect the passengers.
Ridesharing services such as this one do not fall within these same requirements, meaning they may not offer the same protections to passengers or third parties.
Do services like Uber provide insurance coverage?
Services like Uber often provide primary insurance to drivers, but these amounts of coverage may not fully protect drivers from physical damages or liability incidents.
In addition to physical damages or liability incidents, services like Uber usually do not provide coverage for uninsured or underinsured drivers.
This means that being involved in an accident with one of these drivers could leave you paying out of pocket for damages or injuries.
When you begin driving for a service like Uber, it’s important to start asking questions about the coverage options available to you, as well as any coverage that is your responsibility. Also, ask them about the claim process and whether their insurance would act as the primary coverage.
Understanding in which situations your coverage will protect you will help as you shop around for insurance that meets your needs.
Will your personal auto policy provide coverage while driving for Uber?
While some rideshare companies may require personal auto insurance to drive for them, there is still confusion surrounding the coverage that your personal policy provides and the coverage that a commercial policy provides.
Insurance providers and legislators have recognized that there is a lack of understanding regarding this coverage gap and are actively working to define what is legally required to drive for ridesharing services like Uber.
Although they are working towards a solution, some insurance providers are hesitant to provide coverage until they fully understand the exposure risk services like Uber introduce.
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How do you protect yourself from liability risks?
One of the most important things to do is to protect yourself from liability or property damage incidents.
When you begin driving for a service like Uber, it’s important to talk to any potential insurance provider about the coverage options available.
As ridesharing services have grown in popularity, some insurance providers offer specialty coverage designed for the unique exposure risks a rideshare driver is exposed to.
In addition to purchasing coverage designed for services like Uber, legislation is beginning to come into play to help regulate these types of companies.
In some states, it is required that proof of insurance is visible anytime a driver is operating the ridesharing application. Also, it may be required to report to your insurance provider that you were working as a rideshare driver if you are involved in an accident.
What Are The Risks of Ridesharing?
Ridesharing services like Uber are a heavily relied on service in many areas, which means drivers for these companies need to understand the risks they’re taking on. These risks include low insurance limits, the risk to their personal vehicle, and risk to their passengers or a third party.
Lawmakers are still working out how these ridesharing services will be required to operate in many regards, including insurance requirements.
While every state has different insurance regulations already in place, this makes defining how services like Uber operate even more difficult. If you have questions about how your coverage works as an Uber driver, contact your insurance provider or your state’s Department of Insurance.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does Uber provide auto insurance for its drivers?
Yes, Uber provides auto insurance coverage for its drivers while they are using the app and actively driving passengers or en route to pick up passengers. This coverage is designed to protect both the driver and the passengers during the ride.
What are the insurance requirements for Uber drivers?
Uber has specific insurance requirements that drivers must meet. The requirements may vary depending on the region, but generally, drivers need to have personal auto insurance that meets the minimum liability coverage limits set by Uber. In addition, Uber provides contingent liability coverage that becomes active when the driver is logged into the app but doesn’t have a passenger yet.
Are there any additional insurance options available for Uber drivers?
Yes, Uber offers additional insurance options for drivers who want extra coverage. These options include comprehensive and collision coverage, which can help protect the driver’s vehicle in case of damage, even if the driver is at fault. However, these additional coverages may come at an extra cost to the driver.
How are insurance rates determined for Uber drivers?
Insurance rates for Uber drivers are influenced by several factors, such as the driver’s location, driving history, age, and the type of vehicle they use. Uber collaborates with insurance providers to determine the rates based on these factors and the specific requirements of the region.
Are there any pros and cons to consider regarding Uber auto insurance?
Pros:
- Coverage during active driving: Uber provides insurance coverage when a driver is actively using the app and transporting passengers, offering protection for both the driver and passengers.
- Additional coverage options: Uber offers additional insurance options that drivers can choose to purchase, providing extra protection for their vehicles.
- Collaboration with insurance providers: Uber collaborates with insurance companies, ensuring that drivers have access to appropriate coverage and competitive rates.
- Ease of obtaining coverage: Uber’s auto insurance is integrated into the app, making it convenient for drivers to access and maintain the necessary coverage.
Cons:
- Contingent coverage limitations: Uber’s contingent liability coverage may have limitations, such as lower coverage limits or exclusions for certain situations. Drivers should review the policy details to understand the extent of coverage.
- Additional cost: While basic coverage is provided by Uber, additional insurance options may come at an extra cost to the driver, potentially increasing their overall expenses.
- Personal auto insurance requirements: Drivers must have personal auto insurance that meets Uber’s minimum liability coverage limits, which can be an added expense if they don’t already have it.
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Enter your ZIP code below to view companies that have cheap auto insurance rates.
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Daniel Walker
Licensed Auto Insurance Agent
Daniel Walker graduated with a BS in Administrative Management in 2005 and has run his family’s insurance agency, FCI Agency, for over 15 years (BBB A+). He is licensed as an insurance agent to write property and casualty insurance, including home, life, auto, umbrella, and dwelling fire insurance. He’s also been featured on sites like Reviews.com and Safeco. To ensure our content is accura...
Licensed Auto Insurance Agent
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about auto insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything auto insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by auto insurance experts.