At that level I think there needs to be some level of benefits and worker protections, unless we want things to turn in to a race to the bottom

So painful indeed. I’ve declined several rides because it would result in me getting off the highway to go the other direction or something. Waste of time.

Did you tell your insurance agent you are driving you car for Uber? And how did that change your insurance rate?

$1 million of liability coverage per incident. Uber holds a commercial insurance policy with $1 million of coverage per incident. Drivers’ liability to third parties is covered from the moment a driver accepts a trip to its conclusion. This policy is expressly primary to any personal auto coverage (However it will not take precedence over any commercial auto insurance for the vehicle). We have provided a $1 million liability policy since commencing ridesharing in early 2013. $1 million of uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury coverage per incident. In , we also added uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. In the event that another motorist causes an accident with an uberX vehicle and doesn’t carry adequate insurance, this policy covers bodily injury to all occupants of the rideshare vehicle. This is important to ensure protection in a hit and run. Contingent comprehensive and collision insurance. If a ridesharing driver holds personal comprehensive and collision insurance this policy covers physical damage to that vehicle that occurs during a trip up to the actual cash value of the vehicle, for any reason, with a $1,000 deductible. No fault coverage (e.g., Personal Injury Protection) is provided in certain states at similar levels as limos or taxis in those cities. $50,000/$100,000/$25,000 of contingent coverage between trips.** During the time that a ridesharing partner is available but between trips, most personal auto insurance will provide coverage. However the driver is also backed by an additional policy that covers driver liability for bodily injury up to $50,000/individual/accident with a total of $100,000/accident and up to $25,000 for property damage. This policy is contingent to a driver’s personal insurance policy, meaning it will only pay if the personal auto insurance completely declines or pays zero. This policy meets or exceeds the requirements for 3rd party liability insurance in every state in the U.S. As always, all UberBLACK, UberSUV, or uberTAXI rides are provided by commercially licensed and insured partners and drivers. Those transportation providers are covered by commercial insurance policies, in accordance with local and state requirements. We are proud of these policies. We continue to look for ways to do more to ensure safety on the road for our transportation providers and their passengers. As we continue collaborating with the insurance industry and other stakeholders, there will be more to come.

You should look in to it (but be cautious)- curious to hear what they tell you. Better yet – ask Uber if you should disclose the fact that you’re driving for them to your personal insurance. As far as I know, the line in Uber’s policy stating “During the time that a ridesharing partner is available but between trips, most personal auto insurance will provide coverage.” is patently false.

Personal auto coverage explicitly prohibits the use of your vehicle for commercial activity

If you get in to an accident and tell your personal insurance that it happened while driving for Uber you will most likely end up in a very unpleasant case and be dropped from your policy…and Uber requires shagle Video-Chat you to have personal coverage to be on their platform (see how that doesn’t quite connect?).

I’m curious to see how the regulation and contractor/employee rulings for these platforms shake out. There are a lot of holes in the system, including insurance. It’s also interesting to me that it is marketed as a “drive in your spare time” kind of deal, yet Uber incentivizes drivers to drive as many hours as they can get out of them (and even matches drivers up with financing to be able to buy cars specifically to drive for the platform).