How does car insurance work for Uber drivers?

Services like Uber have been popular for several years, you may consider signing up as a driver to earn some extra money. You may also wonder about the implications when it comes to your car insurance and who would pay in the event of an accident. Read on to learn what steps you may have to take to avoid any insurance-related surprises while driving for Uber.

What is Uber?

Uber is a ridesharing service (sometimes referred to as “ride hailing”) that competes with taxis and black car companies. Passengers hail an Uber from a smartphone app and arrange for a car to pick them up, often for less than the cost of a traditional taxi.

While Uber has a number of commercially licensed black car services, it also has a product called UberX, which allows local drivers to respond to notifications on the Uber app by driving customers in their own (non-luxury) cars.

Unlike traditional taxi medallion companies, almost anyone can drive for UberX and competitors like Lyft and Via. In some states, the only requirements for UberX drivers are car insurance, appropriate age, health, completion of a driving test and passing a background check.1

Coverage While Driving for UberX May Not be Covered by your Personal Auto Insurance Policy

Your personal auto insurance policy may not provide coverage for you while driving for a service like UberX. This is because personal car insurance policies have a list of exclusions, and they often include “driving-for-hire.” If you are driving for UberX or a similar service, you should check with your insurance company to confirm whether your policy covers this “commercial driving.” If it does not, you will want to consider purchasing supplemental commercial auto insurance.2

Uber Provides (Some) Auto Insurance Coverage… When the App is On

Uber requires all their drivers to have car insurance, and provides supplemental insurance coverage, but only while the app is on. Here’s how it works: When the Uber app is off, a driver is covered by their own personal car insurance. When the Uber app is turned on, a low level of liability insurance becomes active. When a trip is accepted, a higher level of coverage kicks in and remains active until the passenger exits the vehicle. Previously, Uber driver insurance had only offered coverage when a passenger was in the car, but the company has since updated their policy, but make sure to continue to check Uber’s policies as they can be updated from time to time.

Lyft and some of the other ridesharing services point to the $1 million per incident excess liability coverage that certain states require them to carry. The policies are designed to deal with liability claims, which a driver’s insurance doesn’t cover. But these policies won’t cover a driver’s car – you must rely on your own personal auto insurance policy.3

UberX Drivers May Also Need A Commercial Driver’s License

If you drive for UberX or a similar service, whenever you pick up a passenger, you are driving professionally. While each state’s laws are different, UberX and Lyft drivers should be aware that your state may require you to have a commercial driver’s license. (Note: Some states only require drivers to have a commercial license if they drive as a full-time occupation.) Check with your state’s DMV for its requirements.

Several insurance companies have recently created additional coverage options specifically for drivers of Uber and Lyft, which are available in all 50 states.

In the end, if you’re looking to start driving for Uber, your best bet is to be upfront with your insurance company about the fact that you’ll be “driving-for-hire,” find out if you need commercial insurance and find out if you need a commercial driver’s license.

Who is Answer Financial?

As one of the nation’s largest and most reputable auto & home insurance agencies, Answer Financial has insured nearly 54 million homes and vehicles. We work with more than 40+ top-rated carriers to save our customers an average of $565 a year on insurance.* 

Answer Financial can help you compare, buy and often save the smart way on insurance. So before you shop, remember to rely on your insurance experts to find you the right home insurance plan for your needs and budget. Call us at 1-800-258-5101 to find the auto insurance policy that best fits your driving needs. And you can always get a personal and commercial driver’s insurance quote at AnswerFinancial.com.

11 Comments

  1. Bill on June 22, 2016 at 6:24 pm

    I was involved in an accident with an Uber driver. Now we are being told his insurance may not cover it. How do I find out if the Uber insurance will pick up where his stopped ?



  2. Christina on April 21, 2016 at 5:28 pm

    What about a “no fault” state like Michigan? I know liability can be found. How does it affect Uber, Lyft.



  3. simon on April 3, 2016 at 4:14 pm

    What kind of insurance do you need to cover your own vehicle if Uber’s insurance is just covering liability?

    For example: You drive for Uber & have a passenger in your car. You get in a collision where you are liable. Uber’s insurance covers the liability. What do you need to supplement what’s not covered? If your vehicle is financed it has to be covered and personal insurance will not cover you while you are driving commercially.



  4. Pernell on March 13, 2016 at 5:43 pm

    Sorry if you are using someone’s car do u have be on their insurance??



    • dee peterson on August 6, 2016 at 10:15 am

      Yes. If they are aware that you are using their vehicle, you must be listed on their insurance policy as a driver of the vehicle. There are clauses which cover the vehicle for limited use during repairs or due to theft, but if you are a regular driver, you must be listed on the policy. Otherwise, you could be in violation of the contract between yourself and your insurance company, and you and your vehicle may not be covered if you have an accident. Further, this violation will go into the insurance database and list you as a higher risk driver, and you will be subject to surcharges when you try to get another insurance policy. So it’s best to be honest with your insurance company if your vehicle is being used as a commercial vehicle in the same way that a taxi is.

      The old saying, ‘there’s no free lunch’ is applicable here. You can’t just start using your vehicle for a business (which will increase the risk of liability) without incurring extra insurance charges.



  5. Jazmine on December 2, 2015 at 6:07 pm

    Well, as Uber requires drivers to have car insurance and will be bounded by the policies if the app is on does still make sense. Great article here!



    • Torr Leonard on December 7, 2015 at 4:53 pm

      Thank you!



  6. Matthew Gehrman on December 2, 2015 at 11:22 am

    Great article!

    I have this conversation with our clients all the time and many of them decide to not drive with Uber. Not only does Uber not cover your vehicle but according to my knowledge they do not extend any first party medical coverage which again leaves the driver high and dry in the event of an at fault accident. There are always growing pains when starting pilot business like this and I hope to see an insurance company step up and create a niche specific commercial auto policy specifically for this type of risk. This is the future of for-hire services and the typical taxi service will ultimately be obsolete unless they find a way to become more competitive.



    • Torr Leonard on December 7, 2015 at 4:53 pm

      Glad to hear you enjoyed the article, thank you for your thoughts.



  7. Don Austin on October 31, 2015 at 1:02 am

    I would like more details on how to become a Uber driver….and how to get started. Also, whose car would I be driving? Is this a lemo service?



    • Torr Leonard on December 7, 2015 at 4:52 pm

      Hi Don, you can find more info on how to become an Uber driver on https://uber.com Thanks!