Ended up paying my deductible just to get my car back on the road. Not sure “nice” is in their vocabulary during that window...
That “bad game of telephone” is the perfect way to describe it. I had a similar runaround a couple years back with my ‘85 Cutlass Supreme—she’s survived more than her fair share, but nothing quite prepared me for the insurance gymnastics during that in-between period. It’s wild how both companies can be so quick to say, “not our problem,” when you’re just sitting there waiting for a ride request.
I get what you mean about the deductible, too. I remember thinking, “Isn’t this why I pay for coverage?” but apparently, that logic doesn’t always apply when you’re logged into an app but haven’t picked up a passenger yet. The whole thing made me appreciate how much simpler things were before rideshare apps complicated the insurance landscape.
Still, you got your Buick back on the road, and that counts for something. These old cars have a way of coming back from just about anything—even if the paperwork nearly does us in first.
Man, I swear insurance companies must have a playbook for how to make us jump through hoops. Had a similar headache with our minivan—wasn’t even rideshare related, just a fender bender in the school pickup line. Still ended up arguing with two different reps about who covered what. At least you got your Buick back in action; these older cars have more lives than a cat, but the paperwork is always the real test of patience.
Yeah, insurance is a maze, especially when you’re in that “between trips” gray area. Here’s what I learned the hard way: if your app’s on but you don’t have a passenger, most rideshare policies only give you bare-bones coverage. Your own insurance might try to dodge it too. Always document everything—photos, time, app status—because they’ll look for any excuse to pass the buck. It’s a pain, but it’s the only way I got them to pay up after my last mess.
Yeah, that “between trips” zone is a nightmare. Been there myself—insurance companies love to play hot potato with claims. You nailed it with,
It’s a hassle, but honestly, it’s the only way to protect yourself. I’ve started keeping a cheap dashcam running just in case. Not perfect, but better than nothing when you’re trying to save every penny.“Always document everything—photos, time, app status—because they’ll look for any excuse to pass the buck.”
That dashcam idea is actually pretty smart—video evidence can clear up a lot of confusion when stories don’t match. I’ve seen cases where the app status was the only thing that determined which policy kicked in, but sometimes even the timestamp screenshots get questioned. Has anyone ever had an insurer push back on dashcam footage, or is it generally accepted without much hassle? Just curious how much weight it really carries if things get messy.