Although you may find articles online claiming the contrary, Wawanesa does not offer car insurance coverage for rideshare drivers—there is no information about rideshare coverage on Wawanesa’s website.

In fact, in the past Wawanesa has sent out policy renewal questionnaires asking policyholders outright whether or not they drive for a rideshare company. If the answer was yes, the policy was reviwed in detail by their underwriters and most were canceled. Standard auto policies are not intended to cover situations where the driver is carrying a paying passenger.

Wawanesa recommends drivers to speak with their agent so that the policy can be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Wawanesa does offer commercial insurance. However, this coverage is intended for small fleets, farmers, and garages. It will not cover drivers that work for companies like Uber or Lyft.

What to do if you have Wawanesa car insurance and drive for a rideshare company

After having your local Wawanesa insurance agent review your policy, you may be able to keep your policy as a rideshare driver while you use your car for personal purposes.

If you can keep your Wawanesa auto policy, it will not cover you when you are working.

Once you accept a ride or delivery request or a passenger or item enters your vehicle, you are considered to be on the job. If you get into an accident while in active delivery, you cannot file a claim with Wawanesa.

Because you still need coverage while you’re working, you should know about the commercial auto insurance offered by Lyft and Uber.

You may have up to $1 million in

bodily injury

and

property damage liability coverage

while you’re working, along with collision coverage and comprehensive coverage for drivers who already have

full-coverage policies

for personal use. However, be aware that this coverage only applies to the period when a passenger is in the car—and it comes with a high deductible ($1,000 for Uber drivers and $2,500 for Lyft drivers).

However, there is a gap in coverage with this approach.

The commercial policy only covers you while your passenger or delivery item is in the vehicle. Your Wawanesa policy covers you when you are driving for personal purposes. So, you have no coverage when driving around with the app on, waiting for orders.

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MORE: Wawanesa car and home insurance: everything you need to know

What is the best rideshare insurance company?

While Wawanesa doesn’t offer rideshare insurance, other companies do—if you’re willing to switch. Here are some insurance providers that currently sell some form of rideshare coverage for Lyft and Uber drivers:

Here’s how it works.

Rideshare coverage is an add-on endorsement, so you must have an existing personal auto policy with this company. Then, you can tack on the rideshare coverage. It usually includes liability, collision, and comprehensive options, but check in with your agent to verify how much coverage the endorsement provides and when their coverage stops and TNC (transportation network coverage) kicks in.

Expect to pay between $20 to $300 per year for rideshare coverage on top of your personal auto policy. Because of the inherent risk associated with rideshare driving, it can be challenging to find affordable policies.

The way to shop for rideshare coverage is to find several companies that sell rideshare coverage and then compare rates.

Connect with an insurance agent to learn more about what is covered and how your rates could change if you get the rideshare endorsement.

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Should I tell my car insurance company that I drive for Uber?

Absolutely, you should tell your insurance provider that you drive for a rideshare company.

We understand the temptation to keep it secret. You’re afraid of a rate increase or a policy cancellation. However, the consequences of keeping it a secret could be far more serious.

After you disclose, your rate will probably go up. Whether full-time or part-time, rideshare drivers are subject to additional risk for personal coverage and getting into an accident.

Not disclosing accurate vehicle usage can cause policy cancellation or non-renewed.

If Wawanese is notified of rideshare usage due to an accident, your claim could be flat-out denied. You’ll have no help with repair costs, no wage payout if you’re unable to work, and no protection against lawsuits. No matter how they find out, your insurance company could cancel your policy. The consequences of driving without insurance include jail time and high fees in nearly every state.

So, you should always tell your insurance company you work as a rideshare or delivery driver. It’s far more important to have proper coverage than it is to save a few bucks and hope for the best.

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