I totally get the “better safe than sorry” mindset, but it still bugs me how insurance companies play these weird games.
That right there is exactly it. I’m a new driver and just started doing rideshare on weekends, and honestly, the whole “between trips” thing freaks me out. Like, if I’m logged in waiting for a ping and someone rear-ends me, whose insurance actually covers that? Uber’s? Mine? Both will probably try to dodge it.Isn’t it wild how we pay for peace of mind, but the fine print still keeps us up at night?
Last month, a friend of mine got into a fender bender while he was just waiting for a ride request. He thought he was covered by the app, but turns out their deductible is insane—like $2,500 or something. His own insurance tried to say it was “commercial use,” so they wouldn’t touch it. Just feels like you have to be a lawyer to figure out what you’re actually paying for.
But yeah, as much as I hate shelling out for extra coverage, I’d rather be annoyed now than bankrupt later. Still think the system should be way more upfront about all this though...
Honestly, I get why people are frustrated, but I think some of this is just the reality of how insurance has always worked—especially when you’re mixing personal and commercial use. It’s not just rideshare. Classic car folks like me run into similar headaches with collector car policies. If I take my old Mustang out for a quick errand instead of a “pleasure drive,” suddenly my coverage can get sketchy. Insurance companies love their definitions.
The “between trips” thing is definitely a gray area, but I don’t know if it’s fair to expect Uber or Lyft to cover everything at the same level as when you’ve got a passenger in the car. They’re running a business too, and honestly, if they covered every second you’re logged in with low deductibles, the rates would probably be even higher than they already are.
I do agree that the fine print is a nightmare, though. It’s wild how much you have to dig to figure out what’s actually covered and when. But at the end of the day, if you’re using your car to make money—even part-time—it makes sense that regular insurance won’t touch it unless you tell them up front (and pay more). Not saying it’s fair, but it’s not exactly new either.
My neighbor learned this the hard way—he was using his pickup for landscaping jobs on weekends, got into a fender bender while hauling tools, and his insurer flat-out denied the claim because he hadn’t disclosed anything about business use. He was furious, but honestly... it was in the paperwork.
It’d be nice if insurance companies were clearer about all this stuff instead of burying it in legalese. Still, I’d rather deal with annoying paperwork than risk being on the hook for thousands after an accident. Just seems like one of those necessary evils if you want to protect yourself.
I get what you’re saying, but I don’t think it’s totally fair to let Uber/Lyft off the hook for the “between trips” gap.
Maybe, but they’re making money off drivers being available, not just when there’s a passenger. Feels like they should share some of that risk, instead of pushing it all onto drivers or personal insurance. I’d rather pay a little more up front than get stuck in a coverage black hole.“if they covered every second you’re logged in with low deductibles, the rates would probably be even higher than they already are.”
I’ve been looking into this exact thing since I just started driving part-time, and honestly, the “between trips” coverage is confusing. My personal insurance agent said they’d probably deny a claim if I was logged in, even without a passenger. That makes me nervous. Has anyone actually had to file a claim during that gap? Did Uber or Lyft step up at all, or was it just a mess?
Yeah, the “between trips” thing is wild. My friend got rear-ended while waiting for a ping and her personal insurance basically noped out because she was logged in. Uber’s coverage kicked in, but it was way less than her regular policy and took forever to process. Has anyone tried those rideshare-specific add-ons? Are they actually worth the extra cash or just another money grab?