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From the flexible schedule, easy-to-use app, bonus opportunities and entrepreneur status, there are numerous benefits to being a rideshare driver! But, before you head out to pick up your first customer, you’ll want to make sure you have all your gears in check when it comes to insurance.
At American Family Insurance, we support many small businesses, and that includes your rideshare entrepreneurial endeavor. That’s why we offer Rideshare coverage that fills in a big gap left by the insurance Uber offers its drivers. So when does Uber insurance cover you and what are your limitations? Here’s the 411.
A rideshare company, like Uber or Lyft, typically protect you with liability coverage whether you’re waiting for a request, en route to pick up a passenger and when the passenger is in the vehicle. If you’re held liable for an accident, you’ll be grateful you have liability coverage, since it helps cover the costs for injuries you cause to a person or damage to their property.
Your liability coverage includes:
Property damage. This helps pays for damages that your vehicle causes to someone else’s property, whether it be their car, mailbox, home, etc. It’ll also help cover legal expenses if the other party files a lawsuit against you.
Bodily injury. This helps cover the expenses if you injure another person while using your car. And, it also helps cover legal expenses if another party files a lawsuit against you.
But this liability coverage offered by your rideshare company is limited and probably won’t fully cover you. And the liability limitations mostly exist in how you and your vehicle are protected. Keep reading to find out more about the gaps in your Uber insurance.
So Uber helps cover you for liability (again, this is pretty limited liability coverage), but what else do they cover you for — and what don’t they cover you for?
Let’s break it down:
You’re covered by your personal auto policy — not your rideshare company.
Once you’re logged in, you’re officially on the clock and using your vehicle for business purposes. This means that if you get into an accident and file a claim with your personal insurance company, you most likely will be denied. Though every insurance company will handle your claim differently.
Does Uber insurance cover your car during Stage 1? Stage one is considered a gap since you’re left with no coverage or very minimal coverage during this time. So if you’re driving around waiting for a match, meaning there is no passenger in your car and you’re not on your way to pick one up, you may not be covered by your personal insurance policy during this time, and Uber’s insurance doesn’t cover your car for collision or comprehensive during this stage. Also, as noted before, your liability coverage limits are typically low here.
That’s why you need Rideshare insurance with American Family Insurance — it steps in where Uber’s insurance leaves off.
To reiterate, if you get into an at-fault accident during stage one, you’ll usually be covered under your Uber’s insurance — but only for any damages you cause to another person or their vehicle. You personally will be minimally covered for any injuries, and damages to your vehicle almost always won’t be covered by your rideshare company at all.
If you’re on your way to pick up a rider, Uber does insure you during this stage, but make sure you know exactly how you’re covered by them before you head out.
Are Uber drivers insured to carry passengers? If you have a rider in your vehicle, you’ll typically have the same coverage that you do when you are headed to pick them up — and the rider in the car is usually covered as well. Again, be smart about your protection and check with your specific rideshare company to know exactly how you’re covered.
Here’s the gist:
This gap can easily be fixed with American Family Insurance Rideshare coverage, which protects you from the moment your ridesharing app is on until you get matched with a passenger. You’ll get the same coverages that you have with your personal auto policy, including bodily injury liability, property damage liability, collision and comprehensive, medical expense and personal injury protection. And most of the time, the deductible you have with a Rideshare coverage will be lower than that of your rideshare company’s deductible.
Just like each state requires different minimums for personal auto insurance coverages, they also have different state insurance requirements for Transportation Networking Companies (TNC), such as Uber or Lyft. You’ll want to make sure that you understand the local or state regulations that are in place for TNCs and their drivers.
If you’re on the clock and only covered by Uber, you won’t be able to take advantage of the benefits and discounts that an auto insurance company offers.
When you have Rideshare insurance from American Family Insurance, you can benefit from things like roadside assistance, discounts for safe drivers, bundled house and commercial auto insurance, etc.
During the gap in stage one, having Rideshare insurance with us opens the door to many different ways to save money and stay protected on the road.
We want to help make sure that you’re properly covered when you hit the road. Take the time to go over your policy with an agent to see where your coverage gaps exist in your insurance with Uber and whether Rideshare insurance is right for you.
American Family Mutual Insurance Company, S.I. & its Operating Companies, 6000 American Parkway, Madison WI 53783
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