If I’m sitting in a parking lot with the app on, waiting for a ping, that’s not personal use? But also not commercial? So if someone rear-ends me right then, who’s got my back?
That “coverage limbo” is exactly what frustrates me too. It’s wild how insurance companies can slice up your driving time into these weird categories, just to limit their liability. I’ve always thought it was odd that using your car for a side hustle suddenly makes you a high-risk case. Honestly, you’re not alone in feeling like they’re making it up as they go. I’ve seen similar nonsense with classic car policies—lots of fine print, not much clarity. You’re smart not to hide the rideshare thing from your insurer, though. That’s a gamble I wouldn’t take either.
Honestly, I get the frustration, but I don’t think it’s all just insurance companies trying to dodge responsibility. The risk profile really does change when you’re logged into a rideshare app, even if you’re just waiting for a ping. From what I’ve seen, the app’s insurance usually kicks in during that “available but not on a trip” phase, but it’s typically bare-bones—like, liability only, no collision or comprehensive. That’s where it gets dicey for those of us with higher-end cars. My policy specifically excludes any period when I’m logged into a rideshare app, so I had to get a rideshare endorsement just to be safe.
It’s not perfect, but I get why they draw those lines. The real headache is how little they explain it up front. I had to dig through pages of legalese to figure out what was actually covered. It’s not just about limiting liability—it’s about them not wanting to pay out for risks they didn’t price in. Still, the lack of transparency is what bugs me most... not just the categories themselves.
Yeah, the lack of clear info up front is what gets me too. I had to call my agent twice just to get a straight answer about what’s covered when I’m in “driver mode” but not on a ride. It’s wild how your regular insurance just nopes out the second you log in. I get that it’s a higher risk, but for those of us trying to make a few extra bucks, adding another endorsement or policy really eats into the profit. Feels like there should be a simpler way to handle this...
Yeah, it’s honestly kind of ridiculous how murky the insurance stuff gets once you’re just logged in but not actually driving anyone. I dug into this a while back and found out that most companies only offer super basic liability when you’re just waiting for a ride—like, enough to technically cover you, but nowhere near what you’d want if something major happened. It’s frustrating because the whole “gig” setup is supposed to be flexible, but the insurance part is anything but. There really should be a middle ground that doesn’t force people to pay for a full commercial policy just to be covered between trips.
There really should be a middle ground that doesn’t force people to pay for a full commercial policy just to be covered between trips.
I get what you’re saying, but I’m not convinced the companies will ever make that happen unless they’re forced to. They save money by keeping coverage minimal when you’re just waiting for a ping. Has anyone actually tried making a claim during that “dead zone” period? I’ve heard stories about personal insurance bailing if they find out you were logged in, but I wonder how often that really happens.
