Honestly, I’ve wondered the same thing. It’s crazy how much gray area there is, especially when you’re just sitting there with the app on, waiting for a ride. I’ve pored over my own policy and it’s like reading a foreign language—so many “ifs” and “buts.” I get why you’re frustrated. You’d think by now insurance companies would have this nailed down, but nope.
I haven’t personally had a claim denied in that in-between status, but I did have a friend who got into a fender bender while waiting for a ping. His insurer tried to push it off on the rideshare company, and the rideshare company said he wasn’t “on a trip,” so it was a mess. He eventually got partial coverage, but it took months and a lot of back-and-forth. Not exactly confidence-inspiring.
It feels like they’re just hoping most people won’t fight it or even realize what’s covered. If you’re budget-conscious like me, it’s nerve-wracking to think you could be left hanging over some technicality. Definitely worth double-checking every little detail in your policy, even if it means bugging your agent more than once...
It feels like they’re just hoping most people won’t fight it or even realize what’s covered.
That’s honestly how it feels sometimes. I had a minor scrape while “online but waiting” and my agent acted like I was speaking Martian. Took forever to sort out. Has anyone actually gotten clear answers from their insurance? Or is it always this murky?
Honestly, it’s not just you—insurance during that “Period 1” (online, waiting for a ride) is notoriously confusing. Here’s what usually happens: most personal auto policies won’t cover you once the app is on, but the rideshare company’s coverage is super limited until you actually accept a ride. If you get into an accident in that window, you’re stuck in this weird gray area. I’ve seen people have to push back a lot to get answers. My best advice is to ask your agent for the actual policy language, in writing, and don’t settle for vague explanations. It shouldn’t be this murky, but… here we are.
Yeah, that “Period 1” mess is a headache. I’ve actually handled a couple of claims where drivers thought they were covered, only to find out their personal policy flat-out denied it because the app was on—even though they hadn’t accepted a ride yet. Then the rideshare company’s insurance steps in, but the deductible is sky-high and coverage is bare bones. One guy I worked with ended up paying thousands out of pocket just because he was sitting in a parking lot, waiting for a ping.
It’s wild how many people don’t realize their regular insurance basically ghosts them as soon as they flip the app on. Ever tried to get your agent to explain exactly what’s covered in that window? I’ve seen some agents dodge those questions like it’s hot lava. Curious if anyone here has actually managed to get clear answers—or even better, found an insurer that offers decent “gap” coverage for that period?
Yeah, that “Period 1” gap is a nightmare for drivers. I’ve seen claims get tossed around like a hot potato—personal insurance says nope, then the rideshare company’s policy barely covers the basics (and that deductible hurts). I actually talked to an agent once who straight up admitted they didn’t really know how it worked unless you bought a specific rideshare add-on. Has anyone here actually had luck with those add-ons? Do they really fill the gap, or is it just more fine print?
