Even though Uber’s employer-provided car insurance offers liability coverage to drivers during certain phases of the rideshare process, coverage gaps can still occur — making the added protection of a rideshare policy a valuable asset. Rideshare insurance costs drivers around $30 per month and can provide essential protection during periods when company-provided insurance is thin.
How Uber insurance works
Your personal car insurance plan will likely not cover your vehicle while it’s being used for a business purpose. So when you’re driving for a transportation network company (TNC) like Uber or Lyft, you’ll be protected by both the company’s car insurance and your personal policy. These two policies work in tandem with one another to ensure you’re covered throughout your entire shift.
Note that without full coverage (comprehensive + collision), you will not be eligible for Uber’s insurance to cover the cost to repair your car in Periods 2 and 3. Here’s an overview of how your personal insurance and insurance from Uber will both work during each period of the rideshare process.
| Period | When it occurs | What coverage is active | What’s covered |
| 0 | Any time your rideshare app is off and your car is being used for personal reasons | Personal insurance | • Bodily injury (BIL) and property damage liability (PDL) up to your policy limits • Comprehensive and collision coverage up to your policy limits (if you have a full coverage option). |
| 1 | Uber app is on and you’re waiting for a request | Uber car insurance | • Minimal contingent liability coverage (typical limits are $50,000/$100,000/$25,000) |
| 2 + 3 | Accepting a ride request through dropping off your passenger | Uber car insurance | • $1M third-party liability • Uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) bodily injury insurance • Contingent collision coverage and comprehensive coverage up to the actual cash value (ACV) of the vehicle — with a $2,500 deductible |
Uber’s insurance requirements and policies
Let’s take a closer look at Uber’s driver insurance coverage:
Period 0
This is for any time your rideshare app is turned off and your car is being driven for personal use. Your individual auto insurance policy will cover you at this stage with no additional protections from Uber’s insurance.
Period 1
In this phase, the Uber app is on and you’re waiting for a ride request. You’ll technically have Uber auto insurance, but coverage gaps are still a big concern since the provided coverage is liability-only.
Uber only offers liability insurance during Period 1, which includes:
- $50,000 in bodily injury liability per person.
- $100,000 in bodily injury liability per accident.
- $25,000 in property damage liability per accident.
It’s important to note that if you’re found at fault for the accident, this 50/100/25 liability coverage won’t pay for any of your medical expenses or property damages to your vehicle. After an at-fault accident during this stage, you’ll be fully responsible for covering your medical bills, property damage expenses and any other bills or damages to the other involved party that surpass the company coverage limits — unless you supplement this coverage with rideshare insurance.
Periods 2 and 3
Once you accept a ride request, Uber increases your coverage from when you’re en route to pick up your rider until you drop them off at their destination. Depending on the laws of your state, this additional coverage likely includes:
- $1,000,000 third-party liability in damages or injuries to property, riders and third parties in an accident where you are found at fault.
- UM/UIM bodily injury insurance.
- Contingent collision coverage and comprehensive coverage up to the ACV of the vehicle, with a $2,500 deductible.
Depending on state laws, Uber may also provide drivers with other protections at this stage of the rideshare process, such as personal injury protection (PIP) or medical payments (MedPay) insurance.
NEED TO KNOW: Uber’s insurance to cover the cost to repair your car — even during Periods 2 and 3 when you’re actively picking up or transporting a passenger — is only available if you have personal collision and comprehensive coverage. So unless you have full coverage on your personal policy, you won’t have financial protection for damage to you or your property in Periods 2 and 3.
You’ll benefit from having more coverage
Uber provides extensive coverage for their drivers, but there are still gaps that can appear when you’re transitioning between your personal policy in Period 0 to when you’re waiting on a request in Period 1. As a result, drivers can avoid insurance problems with Uber by purchasing rideshare insurance. This type of coverage is most necessary when drivers are waiting for a ride request.
Rideshare coverage is often added to your existing car insurance policy, so contact your provider if you’re interested in adding it to your package.
How much does rideshare insurance cost?
Drivers can pay as little as $10 or under per month for rideshare insurance, but the average cost is closer to $30 per month. To find the best rideshare policy for you, it’s a good idea to shop around and compare rates using the Jerry app.
With Jerry, you can create a customized profile and compare rates based on your individual driver needs and coverage requirements. The entire process from signup to a secured policy takes approximately one to two hours — but searching for quotes only takes minutes.
Learn more: How to shop for car insurance like a pro
The best insurance companies for Uber
Insurance and Uber driving go hand-in-hand. Several auto insurance companies offer rideshare insurance, including Allstate, State Farm, and Progressive. Take a look at the different programs available with each provider, and how they can service you while you’re on the clock.
Note that each program is not available in all states.
| Insurance company | Type of program |
| Geico | Hybrid rideshare insurance policy that works in tandem with your personal car insurance policy. |
| State Farm | Add-on policy option for existing policyholders. |
| Allstate | Ride-for-Hire package that covers Uber’s $2,500 deductible. |
| Progressive | Customizable rideshare insurance package. Current Progressive policyholders must purchase it as an endorsement if they work for Uber. |
| Travelers | Does not offer deductibles for gap coverage — policyholders will need to pay the Uber deductible if involved in a crash. |
| USAA | Can cost as low as under $10/month. Does not offer gap coverage deductible. |
» Learn more: The best car insurance companies
FAQ
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Does your personal insurance cover you when driving for Uber?
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Do you need rideshare insurance in California?
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Do Uber drivers need extra car insurance?
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Why does Uber Eats check to see if you have car insurance?
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What documents are needed for Uber for car insurance?
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Does Uber have insurance for drivers?
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How much is Uber insurance?
Megan Lee is an editor, writer, and SEO expert who specializes in insurance, personal finance, travel, and healthcare. She has been published in U.S. News & World Report, USA Today and elsewhere, and has spoken at conferences like that of NAFSA: Association of International Educators. Megan has built and directed remote content teams and editorial strategies for several websites, including NerdWallet. When she`s not crafting her next piece of content, Megan adventures around her Midwest home base where she likes to drink cortados, attend theme parties, ride her bike and cook Asian food.
Everett Cook is an award-winning journalist and editor with more than 10 years of experience across a variety of industries. In editing for Jerry, Everett’s mission is to help readers have a better understanding of the costs of owning or leasing a car and to better understand their vehicle in terms of insurance and repairs. Prior to joining Jerry, Everett was an editor for Axios. His previous work has been featured in The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The San Francisco Chronicle, The Atlantic, Atlantic Re:think, The Boston Globe, USA Today, and others. He’s also been a freelance writer and editor with experience in SEO, audience building, and long-term content roadmaps. Everett is a proud graduate of the University of Michigan.
