Because most standard personal auto policies exclude driving for hire.
That exclusion is not universal and not identical everywhere. What it turns on is usually your app status at the moment of the crash, and whether you carried a rideshare endorsement.
Why the exclusion exists
A standard personal auto policy is priced for personal driving. Carrying passengers for money is a different risk, and most policies exclude it. Some policies exclude it from the moment the app is on; others only once a passenger is aboard. The wording differs by policy and by state.
A denial is not proof that no coverage exists anywhere. It means that policy did not cover that activity.
What may still apply
Platform coverage may respond depending on your app status. Both Uber and Lyft maintain liability coverage across the periods when the app is on, and vehicle-damage coverage once a trip is accepted \u2014 though that vehicle-damage coverage is contingent on you carrying comprehensive and collision personally, which a denial does not remove.
Three questions worth answering before you argue
- What was your app status? Offline, waiting, en route, or passenger aboard. This decides almost everything.
- Did you have a rideshare endorsement? Endorsements differ by carrier and do not all cover the same periods.
- What was the claim for? Liability, your injuries, and damage to your own car are handled separately and can have different answers.
What was covered while I was waiting? →What changed when I accepted the ride? →
Exclusions and disclosure duties vary by state. Open your state and jump straight to what we have verified.
Still have questions?
Tell us your app status and whether you had a rideshare endorsement.
Ask ClaimedUp →