Driving for Uber or DoorDash? Your auto policy has a hole

Jalopnik reported this week that Uber points to rising insurance costs to explain a growing fee on passenger fares. Buried in that story is something every gig driver should check: drivers are expected to carry their own personal auto policy on top of the commercial coverage the platform provides.

Standard personal auto policies exclude driving for hire. The platform's coverage generally kicks in once you accept a ride or a delivery, which leaves the stretch where the app is on and you are waiting thinly covered, often with liability only and no protection for your own car. Damage during that window can land entirely on you, and a claim can also reveal that you never told your carrier you drive for a living. Most major carriers now sell a rideshare or delivery endorsement that closes the gap, and it usually costs a fraction of a commercial policy. This applies to food and grocery delivery too, not just passengers.

An independent agent can confirm whether your current policy has a for-hire exclusion, add a rideshare endorsement, and compare what a few carriers charge for it.