Understanding Uber's insurance coverage is essential for anyone injured in an accident involving an Uber vehicle. Coverage varies dramatically depending on whether the driver was offline, waiting for a ride request, en route to pickup, or transporting a passenger—and knowing which period applies to your accident determines what insurance is available to pay your claim.

Uber's Three Coverage Periods

Uber divides driver activity into distinct periods, each with different insurance coverage:

Period 0: App Off

When a driver's Uber app is completely off, they are not working for Uber. Only the driver's personal auto insurance applies—Uber provides no coverage. If an off-duty Uber driver causes an accident, you must pursue their personal insurance just like any other car accident.

Period 1: App On, Waiting for Requests

When the driver has the app on but hasn't accepted a ride, Uber provides limited contingent coverage:

  • $50,000 per person / $100,000 per accident bodily injury liability
  • $25,000 property damage liability

This coverage only applies if the driver's personal insurance denies the claim or is insufficient. Many personal policies exclude commercial activity, making Uber's contingent coverage important.

Period 2: En Route to Pickup

Once a driver accepts a ride request and is traveling to pick up the passenger, Uber provides full commercial coverage:

  • $1 million liability coverage
  • Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage
  • Contingent comprehensive and collision (if the driver has personal coverage)

Period 3: Passenger in Vehicle

During an active trip with a passenger, the same $1 million coverage applies. This period provides the strongest protection for passengers injured during Uber rides.

Who Can Claim Against Uber's Insurance?

Different parties may access Uber's coverage depending on circumstances:

Uber passengers injured during a ride have clear access to Period 3 coverage. The $1 million policy covers passenger injuries regardless of fault.

Other drivers and pedestrians injured by an Uber driver can claim against Uber's liability coverage for the applicable period. Period 1 claims face lower limits, while Periods 2 and 3 provide full coverage.

Uber drivers may access uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage if injured by a driver without adequate insurance during Periods 2 or 3. Collision coverage for vehicle damage requires the driver to carry personal comprehensive and collision insurance.

Common Coverage Disputes

Insurance claims involving Uber often face disputes:

Period determination: Uber and its insurer may argue the driver was in a lower-coverage period than you believe. App data and GPS records become crucial evidence.

Personal insurance denials: Driver personal policies often exclude rideshare activity, leaving gaps that Uber's contingent coverage may or may not fill depending on policy interpretation.

Coverage stacking issues: When multiple policies potentially apply, disputes arise over which insurer pays first and how coverage coordinates.

Maximizing Your Recovery

To protect your claim after an Uber accident:

Document the ride status by taking screenshots of the app showing your ride was active or requesting ride history from Uber.

Report promptly to both Uber (through the app) and the police to create official records of the accident.

Don't accept quick settlements from insurance companies before understanding your full damages and which coverage applies.

Consult an attorney experienced in rideshare accidents who understands how to identify and access all applicable insurance policies.