Uber & Turo
Ride Sharing
If you’re carrying paying customers in your own private vehicle for Uber or Lyft, you’ll require rideshare insurance and we’re happy to help. Renting our your car entirely on Turo? Not a problem!
Yes, you need special insurance
Using your vehicle to make money? Whether you’re picking up passengers with Uber or renting your vehicle through Turo, your insurance needs can be a little different from the average driver.
Personal auto insurance isn’t necessarily designed for commercial or peer-to-peer vehicle use, so having the right coverage is important. The right policy helps make sure you’re properly protected when your vehicle is being used to earn income, not just when you’re driving to work or running errands.
Because when your car is also your side hustle, you don’t want your insurance to be along for the ride without knowing what’s going on. We can help you understand the coverage you need and find an option that fits how you actually use your vehicle. We are trusted partners of Intact, Aviva and Economical insurance – leaders of rideshare insurance in Canada.
What does rideshare insurance cover?
Basic auto insurance in Ontario doesn’t include coverage for paid passengers. Uber, Turo and Lyft have their own policies that cover you during a ride or rental, and you’ll need personal auto insurance from an insurance company that accepts rideshare. Your personal rideshare auto policy covers the following when you’re off duty:
Third party liability
Protects you from lawsuits and claims if someone else is hurt or killed, or their property is damaged.
Accident benefits
Provides Medical benefits if you or your passengers are injured in a car accident, no matter who was at fault.
Direct compensation
Provides compensation for you when your vehicle is damaged in an accident caused by someone else.
Uninsured auto
If you get hit by a car that’s uninsured or flees the scene, you can recover damages as if they had full insurance coverage.
What does Uber, Turo and Lyft cover on their policy?
Covering the following while you drive for them:
Paid passengers
When you log in to your Uber or Lyft app, their rideshare insurance kicks in, so you can drive paying customers with complete coverage under your Uber insurance.
Mandatory coverage
While you’re driving for a rideshare service like Lyft, their policy covers you for all the same things that your private auto policy covers you for.
Enhanced coverage
During a ride, you have $2 million in liability coverage and $2 million in uninsured auto coverage, regardless of what the limit is on your personal policy.
Collison, fire and theft
Even if you don’t have optional collision and comprehensive coverage as part of your own personal auto coverage, you do while driving for Uber or Lyft.
Frequently asked questions about rideshare quotes
-
Every insurance policy requires you to share information with your insurer or broker that could affect your level of risk. When you apply for auto insurance, your broker will ask if you are using the vehicle for business purposes. If you say no, and then drive for Uber or Lyft, that’s considered material misrepresentation (or lying), and can lead to a claim being denied and your policy being cancelled. That will lead to much higher rates for at least six years.
You may think that your insurance company has no way to find out, but if you ever have to make a claim, there might be an investigation.
In many cases Uber insurance isn’t much more than you pay now.
-
There are lots of claims where there’s a dispute between insurance companies about whether the Uber coverage applies or the personal coverage applies. Inevitably, some Uber claims will end up being paid by the personal insurer, but they don’t collect any additional premium to account for that added risk.
That’s why only the insurance companies that cover Uber and Lyft want to cover the drivers personally. So if you’re not already covered by one of those companies and you want to drive for Uber, you may need to switch. It’s not really special coverage, but your current insurance may not suffice.
-
The risks involved in carrying passengers and delivering food are very different. Drivers carrying passengers tend to be more careful and drive more calmly because they are trying to create a pleasant experience. Food delivery drivers are usually more motivated to get the food to the customer as quickly as possible, which leads to riskier driving. For this reason many insurance companies refuse to insure drivers who deliver food, or charge higher rates to account for the increased risk of an accident.
-
Yes, but only conditionally. Uber provides contingent collision and comprehensive coverage while you are on a trip. However, this coverage only applies if you already carry collision and comprehensive coverage on your personal auto policy. If you only have basic liability on your personal plan, Uber will not pay to fix your car.
-
A rideshare endorsement (such as the OPCF 6A in Ontario) is a special add-on policy you buy from your personal insurance provider. It bridges the gap between your personal policy and Uber's commercial policy. While Uber does not explicitly require it to sign up, many personal insurance companies in Canada require you to add this endorsement to maintain your personal policy in good standing.
Save on property insurance with bundle discounts
Combine your home and auto coverage to save 10-20% on your premium.