That “between trips” period is where things get murky, for sure. The insurance companies love their fine print almost as much as they love denying claims. I’ve seen people assume the app’s coverage kicks in the second they log on, but it’s not always that simple—sometimes you’re basically driving around with less coverage than you’d have just running errands. It’s wild. Always pays to double-check what your personal policy says about rideshare, too... some won’t touch it with a ten-foot pole.
Honestly, I get where you’re coming from about the fine print—insurance contracts aren’t exactly light reading. But I think it’s a bit of a stretch to say you’re always worse off “between trips” than just running errands. It really depends on the carrier and the state. Some of the big rideshare companies actually do provide a baseline liability coverage as soon as you flip the app on, even if you haven’t accepted a ride yet. It’s not as robust as when you’ve got a passenger, sure, but it’s not nothing.
Here’s where it gets tricky: your personal auto policy almost always excludes “driving for hire,” but some policies have started offering endorsements for rideshare. Have you checked if yours does? I’ve seen people surprised to find out their insurer will actually cover them for that gap, but only if they specifically add it. It’s not automatic.
One thing I’d push back on is the idea that insurance companies are just itching to deny claims. I mean, yeah, they’re strict about the rules, but a lot of the confusion comes from people not realizing how those rules work. For example, if you’re logged into the app but haven’t accepted a ride, you usually have liability coverage but not comprehensive or collision. That’s a big difference from just driving to the grocery store, where your full personal policy applies.
I’ve had clients who thought they were covered for everything just because they were “on the clock,” but then found out the hard way that wasn’t the case. It’s not always about insurers being sneaky—sometimes it’s just a weird overlap between personal and commercial use that the law hasn’t totally caught up with yet.
Curious if anyone’s actually had a claim during that “Period 1” time and what the outcome was. I’ve only seen a couple, and both times the rideshare company’s insurance did step in, but the deductibles were way higher than people expected. That’s another thing to watch for... those numbers can be brutal.
That’s a good point about the higher deductibles—those can really catch people off guard. I’ve seen folks assume their regular deductible applies, then get hit with a $2,500 bill after an accident during that “Period 1” window. It’s wild how much the details can shift depending on the company and state. Out of curiosity, has anyone actually had their personal insurer deny a claim outright for an incident between trips? I’ve heard mixed stories, but never seen it firsthand.
Title: What happens if your rideshare app is between trips and you get into an accident?
I’ve wondered about this too, honestly. The whole “Period 1” thing feels like a weird insurance limbo. I haven’t had it happen to me (knock on wood), but my buddy did get in a fender bender while he was just waiting for a ping, not actually driving anyone yet. His regular insurance straight up told him nope, not covered since the app was on—even though he hadn’t accepted a ride yet. He ended up having to go through the rideshare company’s coverage, which had that crazy high deductible you mentioned. I remember him being pretty salty about it.
What gets me is how little most drivers seem to know about this stuff until something goes sideways. Like, you think you’re good because you’ve got “full coverage,” but then there’s all these weird carve-outs depending on whether your app is open or not. It feels like the rules are written in invisible ink half the time.
I’ve also heard of some people getting lucky and their personal insurer just paying out anyway, maybe because they didn’t realize the app was on? But from what I’ve seen online, that’s more the exception than the rule. The companies are getting pretty sharp about sniffing out rideshare activity now.
Honestly, it makes me nervous every time I see someone with both Uber and Lyft stickers on their car. Like… are they double-dipping? Are they covered at all? Feels like playing insurance roulette.
Anyway, definitely agree that it depends a ton on your state and which company you’re driving for. Some places have better protections baked in, but for most folks it’s just hoping nothing happens during that weird gray area between trips.
Yeah, the whole “Period 1” thing is honestly kind of wild. I’m still learning all this insurance stuff, but it’s like there’s a secret handshake you need to know just to figure out if you’re covered or not. My driving instructor actually warned us about this—he said if you’re logged into a rideshare app but haven’t picked up anyone yet, your personal insurance can just bail on you. Like, thanks for nothing.
I’ve heard some people try to sneak it past their insurer, but with all the tech in cars now, it seems risky. GPS, app data... they probably know more than we think. That deductible from Uber/Lyft is no joke either—might as well just buy a new bumper out of pocket.
Seeing people with both stickers cracks me up too. Are they just hoping for the best? Or maybe they know something we don’t... Either way, it feels like you need a law degree just to drive for these apps safely.
