Rideshare Insurance

by Paula Gibbins on October 20, 2019 Leave a Comment

Help! I Hit a Pedestrian. Here’s How We Both Got Through It

If you’ve been driving for any length of time, there’s a fairly good chance you’ve been involved in some type of minor accident. However, what happens if you hit a pedestrian while driving for Uber or Lyft? Senior RSG contributor Paula Gibbins details when this unthinkable accident occurs, and what you can do to handle a situation like this.

Driving every day or every night or a mix of the two can be dangerous. We all know this. Accidents happen every day. But what if the unthinkable happens? What if you hit a pedestrian while driving for Uber or Lyft? Below, I’ll cover what you need to know if you hit a pedestrian, how rideshare insurance can help, and how to get help in this scenario.

Need a car to drive with Uber? Try FAIR

CA drivers: Fair is the official vehicle partner for Uber and is a great option for drivers in need of an eligible rideshare vehicle. Click here to sign-up! Not a California driver? Fair has options nationwide, and you can sign up here and get $100 off the start-up fee when you use the code 'RSG100'.

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by Dash Bridges on October 17, 2019 5 Comments

How Delivery Insurance Works For Uber Eats & DoorDash Drivers

Delivery app work is becoming increasingly popular with rideshare drivers and each app provides a different level of insurance coverage to its drivers. A rideshare insurance policy covers you while you drive passengers, but it may not provide coverage while you deliver packages or food. It also might not cover add-ons like life insurance.

Below, we will detail what some of the major apps cover and some delivery insurance offerings we’ve found. It’s a good idea to check your policy and make sure you’re properly covered for any app you’d like to work with. Insurance companies are still adjusting to this new industry segment of delivery, so you may need to contact an agent directly to find solutions for your coverage. Expect to see an increase in delivery-friendly insurance policies offered in the future.

With the rising popularity of on-demand food and package delivery services, it’s no surprise that there’s a huge demand for new drivers. Companies like Uber Eats, Postmates, DoorDash and Amazon Flex are constantly looking for new workers to come on board and deliver for them. And becoming a new driver means a new 20-some-odd page independent contractor agreement to read through and digest.

How many of us actually read those things in full? Well, if you haven’t read those contracts, it’s probably a good idea to start making a habit of it, and here’s one reason why: insurance.

Insurance is a subject that a lot of us tend to ignore until we actually need to file a claim. Even today, regulators and insurance companies have had trouble keeping up with the quickly-evolving sharing economy and the insurance issues drivers face. Thankfully, many states now have specific regulations regarding rideshare insurance and insurance companies now have a lot more offerings for drivers than they used to. But when it comes to delivery work, there is little in terms of regulation or industry standards.

So let’s take a closer look at a few major delivery services and how they each handle the insurance issue.

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by Paula Gibbins on October 11, 2019 Leave a Comment

James River Insurance Drops Uber – What Does It Mean for Drivers?

Recently, the news dropped that by the end of the year, the James River Group will no longer provide insurance for Uber. What does this mean for drivers? RSG contributor Paula Gibbins breaks down the latest below.

On Tuesday, the James River Group announced it was cutting ties with Uber. Is this a good thing or a bad thing for drivers? Are drivers still covered? Who will replace them? We’ll be answering all these questions as best we can and more! But first, a little background.

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by Harry Campbell on October 8, 2019 463 Comments

Rideshare Insurance – Best Options for Uber & Lyft (By State)

Best Car Insurance Options for Uber Drivers and Lyft Drivers

If you’re looking for the best rideshare insurance in 2019, we’ve made it easy to learn about the options in your state on the page below. Make sure to get several rideshare insurance quotes from the agents below. There are still a few states that don’t have rideshare friendly options, but we keep this page updated as new options are added every week, so be sure to check back frequently!

If you’re just learning about rideshare insurance and not sure why you need it, it’s because as a rideshare driver, you need to be especially mindful about the risks and insurance limits in your state. There are many states where there isn’t an officially recognized rideshare insurance policy and, although you may still be covered by Uber/Lyft, your personal insurer may drop you for being a rideshare driver. You don’t want your income stream cut off before rent is due next month!

Why You Need Commercial Auto Insurance When Driving for Uber and Lyft

Uber and Lyft only cover rideshare drivers during Periods 2 and 3. Period 2 starts once you accept a ride request and are en route to your passenger, and Period 3 starts once your passenger gets into your car. BUT when you’re online and waiting for a request during Period 1, you have no collision coverage from Uber or Lyft and much lower liability limits. So as a rideshare driver, you’re most at risk during Period 1 since you won’t get any collision coverage from rideshare companies and your personal insurer likely won’t cover you during this time either.

Getting a rideshare insurance quote and rideshare insurance solves this gap by covering drivers during Period 1, and additionally they won’t drop you for being a rideshare driver. Some policies will even cover you during Periods 2 and 3 so you won’t be subject to Uber’s $1,000 collision deductible and Lyft’s $2,500 collision deductible.

Rideshare insurance really should be part of Uber driver requirements and Lyft driver requirements. When you drive for Via, you’ll need proper commercial auto insurance.

You may be able to deduct your rideshare insurance from your tax bill. Use the Stride Tax App to maximize your deductions to keep more of your income.

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by Gabe Ets-Hokin on September 27, 2019 Leave a Comment

Your Most Popular Rideshare Insurance Questions: Answered

Rideshare insurance can be a confusing topic for drivers. Depending on where you live, how you drive and even how you purchase other types of insurance, your costs and experience can vary widely. In this article, RSG contributor Gabe Ets-Hokin answers all of your most frequently asked questions about rideshare insurance, including why you need it, how much it costs, and why not having it can cost more than having it.

Insurance: It’s one of those things that you hate paying for, but hate not having even more! When it comes to driving for Uber and Lyft, the companies provide coverage… sort of. Here’s my attempt to fill in some gaps in your knowledge of rideshare insurance.

Looking for more rideshare driver FAQs? Check out the following articles:

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