Not necessarily to sign up. Uber says additional rideshare insurance isn't required to drive with Uber. Both Uber and Lyft do require personal auto insurance that meets your state's minimum requirements.
The catch is that personal policies usually exclude driving with the app on. Lyft warns that most won't cover rideshare activity and tells drivers to consider a rideshare policy or endorsement. Uber says rideshare endorsements may be available for additional protection.
What each platform says
Uber
Requires personal auto insurance at mandatory minimum limits. Says additional rideshare insurance isn't required to sign up, and that rideshare-specific endorsements may be available for additional protection.
Lyft
Requires personal auto insurance that meets minimum state coverage requirements. Warns that most personal policies won't cover rideshare activity, and tells drivers to consider a rideshare policy or endorsement for more complete coverage.
Three different layers
- Your personal policy. Covers personal driving. It usually contains a livery or commercial-use exclusion that can apply once the app is on.
- Uber's and Lyft's coverage. Mainly liability for harm you cause to others. Coverage for your own car is contingent: it applies after you accept a ride, only if you carry comprehensive and collision personally, with a $2,500 deductible.
- A rideshare endorsement. An add-on to your personal policy that extends it into app-on time. Not every insurer offers one, and what it covers varies.
Buy it before you need it
An endorsement has to be in place before a loss. You can't add it after an accident to fix a denial.
What we haven't verified
We haven't verified which insurers sell an endorsement in your state or what it costs. Ask your insurer directly, and use the word rideshare - or delivery, if that's what you do.
Why did my personal insurance deny my claim? →Why does Uber or Lyft care whether I have collision coverage? →
Some states write the insurer's right to exclude app-on driving into law. Open your state and jump straight to what we have verified.
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