Disclosure: The author is not a licensed insurance agent. This guide is general information, not insurance or legal advice. Prices below are averages or samples from the sources named; your own quote will differ.
- $34/moIndustry average cost to add rideshare coverageSource: Compare.com
- $23/moState Farm and USAA averageSource: Compare.com
- $38/moAllstate and Progressive averageSource: Compare.com
- $1 millionLiability Uber and Lyft carry once a ride is accepted (most markets)Source: Uber, Lyft
If you drive for Uber, Lyft, DoorDash or another app, your personal car insurance probably does not cover you while the app is on. The gig company’s insurance fills part of the hole, but not all of it. A rideshare endorsement on your personal policy usually closes the gap for about $23 to $38 a month, according to Compare.com’s October 2026 data, and LendingTree puts the average add-on at $31 a month.
This guide explains the three “periods” that decide who pays after a crash, what Uber, Lyft and DoorDash actually cover, which insurers sell rideshare coverage, what it costs, and the state rules that change the picture. Every number links to the page it came from.
Key takeaways
- The gap is “Period 1”: app on, no ride accepted yet. Uber and Lyft only carry third-party liability then, starting at $50,000 per person, $100,000 per accident and $25,000 for property damage (Uber, Lyft). Nothing covers your own car in that window unless you buy rideshare coverage.
- Once a ride is accepted, Uber and Lyft carry at least $1 million in liability in most markets, and repair your car only if you have collision and comprehensive on your own policy, with a $2,500 deductible.
- Delivery is different: DoorDash says it provides no liability coverage while you are online but have not accepted an order, and never pays to fix your car (DoorDash). Uber’s delivery coverage is up to $500,000 en route or on a trip (Uber Eats).
- Cost: State Farm and USAA averaged $23 a month to add rideshare coverage, Allstate and Progressive $38, industry average $34 (Compare.com). State Farm itself says its coverage generally adds about 15% to 20% to your premium.
- Not telling your insurer is the real risk: Progressive warns an insurer could cancel or non-renew a policy if it learns you drive for a rideshare service without disclosing it.
Why personal car insurance doesn’t cover gig driving
Personal auto policies are priced for commuting and errands, not for carrying paying passengers or deliveries. Progressive says most insurers, including itself, require you to add rideshare insurance to your personal policy if you drive for Uber, Lyft or any other rideshare service, and that an insurer “could cancel or non-renew your policy” if it finds out you were ridesharing without telling it. GEICO says the same for delivery: a vehicle used for Uber, Lyft, Amazon Flex or Grubhub “will require rideshare insurance.”
State law recognizes the problem. In Texas, the agency that licenses transportation network companies (TNCs) warns that “standard insurance companies may choose to deny coverage while operating as a TNC driver,” and requires primary coverage while a driver is logged on, which can come from the TNC, the driver or both (Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation).
The three rideshare periods, explained
Every coverage question comes back to one thing: what the app showed at the moment of the crash. Regulators such as the California Public Utilities Commission define it as three periods, and Uber and Lyft use the same structure.
| Period | What’s happening | Uber / Lyft coverage (most states) | Your own car |
|---|---|---|---|
| Period 0 (app off) | Personal driving | None; your personal policy applies | Your personal collision/comprehensive |
| Period 1 | App on, waiting for a request | Third-party liability only: $50,000 per person / $100,000 per accident bodily injury, $25,000 property damage | Not covered by Uber or Lyft; needs a rideshare endorsement or commercial policy |
| Period 2 | Ride accepted, driving to the pickup | At least $1,000,000 third-party liability; may include UM/UIM, PIP or MedPay by state | Contingent collision/comprehensive up to actual cash value, $2,500 deductible, only if you carry collision/comp yourself |
| Period 3 | Passenger in the car | At least $1,000,000 third-party liability; first-party coverages vary by state | Same contingent coverage, $2,500 deductible |
Sources: Uber driver insurance page and Lyft driver insurance page, both accessed October 2026. Lyft notes lower or different limits in some markets, listed in the state section below.
Period 1 is the one that hurts. If you rear-end someone while waiting for a ping, Uber or Lyft’s liability policy pays the other driver, but nobody pays to fix your car and you may have no medical coverage for yourself. NerdWallet’s summary of the same structure notes that damage to your car is covered by the ride-hailing company only if your personal policy includes comprehensive and collision (NerdWallet).
What Uber, Lyft and DoorDash cover in 2026
Uber (rides)
While you’re online and available, Uber’s third-party liability insurance carries limits of at least $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident for injuries plus $25,000 for property damage. En route or on a trip, Uber maintains at least $1,000,000 for injuries and property damage to riders and third parties when you’re at fault, and covers repairs to your car up to actual cash value with a $2,500 deductible, but only if your own policy has comprehensive and collision. In most states, drivers can also buy Optional Injury Protection and Vehicle Interruption Coverage, which pays a $2,500 lump sum if a covered accident or theft leaves your car out of service for at least 24 hours (Uber).
Lyft
Lyft’s structure mirrors Uber’s: $50,000/$100,000/$25,000 liability while the app is on and you can receive requests, at least $1,000,000 in third-party liability in most markets once you’re en route or on a ride, and contingent comprehensive and collision up to actual cash value with a $2,500 deductible if you carry those coverages yourself. Lyft states plainly that “most personal auto policies will not cover you while you’re driving with Lyft” and suggests a rideshare policy or endorsement (Lyft).
DoorDash
DoorDash’s coverage is narrower. In the state sections of its help center, DoorDash lists a $1 million combined limit during an active delivery (from the moment you accept an order until it is delivered, unassigned or canceled). When you’re not in that status, including when you’re available but haven’t accepted an order, “DoorDash does not provide any liability coverage” and your personal policy is primary. Damage to your own vehicle is always your responsibility (DoorDash Help Center).
Uber Eats and other delivery apps
For deliveries, Uber says its coverage en route or on a delivery trip is up to $500,000 (or more where required) for third parties, and that it “does not pay for repairs to your car at any period of a delivery” or for your own injuries. Uber adds that some insurers, such as State Farm, may cover delivery under standard personal policies, while Progressive and Farmers may offer optional endorsements (Uber delivery insurance). NerdWallet notes that Grubhub and Instacart don’t provide car insurance at all.
Progressive says its rideshare coverage applies to delivery services in most states, but how far it applies varies by insurer, state and whether the delivery company provides any coverage (Progressive). Always confirm that your endorsement names the kind of work you do.
How much does rideshare insurance cost?
Because a rideshare endorsement is an add-on to a personal policy, the add-on itself is usually modest. Compare.com’s data, updated October 21, 2026, shows these average monthly costs to add rideshare coverage:
| Insurer | Average monthly base premium | Average monthly cost to add rideshare | Total monthly cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| State Farm | $85 | $23 | $108 |
| USAA* | $91 | $23 | $114 |
| Allstate | $136 | $38 | $174 |
| Progressive | $139 | $38 | $177 |
| Industry average | $145 | $34 | $179 |
Source: Compare.com, real quotes plus Quadrant Information Services rate filings. *USAA is limited to military members, veterans and their families.
State Farm’s own page says its rideshare driver coverage “generally adds about 15 to 20 percent to your current State Farm premium” (State Farm). LendingTree’s analysis puts the average add-on at $31 a month, ranging from under $10 to more than $40 depending on company and location (LendingTree, updated May 14, 2026).
Total cost of full coverage with a rideshare endorsement
The add-on matters less than your base rate. LendingTree priced full coverage including a rideshare endorsement for a 30-year-old man with good credit and a clean record driving a 2018 Honda CR-V EX, using quotes in California, Georgia and Illinois:
- Travelers: $143 a month (not offered in California and some other states)
- State Farm: $180
- Progressive: $200
- Mercury: $239
- Allstate: $255
- AAA: $284
- USAA (military families only): $139
If you’re not sure how your base premium compares, our car insurance cost by state report ranks average rates in all 50 states.
Which insurers offer rideshare coverage?
You generally can’t buy rideshare coverage as a stand-alone policy from a different company than your personal auto insurer; NerdWallet gives the example that you can’t have Progressive for your car and buy rideshare coverage from Farmers. Insurers that offer it don’t always offer it in every state.
| Insurer | What it calls it / how it works | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| State Farm | Transportation Network Company Driver Coverage, an endorsement that extends your personal policy’s limits and deductibles while you’re on the app | Adds about 15%-20% to premium (State Farm). Does not cover black-car services such as Uber Black. |
| Progressive | Rideshare coverage added to a personal auto policy | Covers comp/collision with your personal deductible while waiting for a request; may reimburse the gap to the TNC’s deductible after a request is accepted. Applies to delivery in most states. |
| Allstate | Ride for Hire | Covers your car while you wait for a request; may pay the difference between your deductible and the TNC’s $2,500 deductible (e.g., $2,000 if yours is $500). |
| GEICO | Rideshare insurance; amendment to personal contract in some states | GEICO says the option is available “in some states”; call (800) 207-7847. |
| USAA, Farmers, American Family, Travelers, AAA, Mercury | Endorsements in some states | Listed as rideshare providers by LendingTree and NerdWallet; availability varies by state. |
Sources: State Farm, Progressive, Allstate, GEICO.
When you need a commercial policy instead
Progressive notes that some states and rideshare services require a commercial auto policy, and that if you drive a taxi, limousine or other vehicle a business uses to carry people for a fee, you typically need commercial or livery insurance. State Farm’s endorsement excludes black-car services such as Uber Black and Lyft Black, which require commercial livery insurance State Farm doesn’t sell. LendingTree likewise says you usually need a commercial policy to drive for Uber Black.
State rules that change your coverage
TNC insurance is set state by state. A few examples from official and company sources:
- California: In Period 1, TNC insurance must be primary and at least $50,000 per person and $100,000 per incident for death and injury, plus $30,000 for property damage, and TNCs must maintain at least $200,000 in excess coverage. In Periods 2 and 3, primary commercial coverage of $1,000,000 is required (CPUC). See our California car insurance guide for personal rates.
- Texas: Insurance Code Chapter 1954 sets the requirements; the coverage can come from the TNC, the driver or a combination, and standard insurers may deny coverage while you’re operating as a TNC driver (TDLR).
- Arizona and Nebraska: Lyft’s Period 1 liability is $25,000/$50,000/$20,000, consistent with state requirements. In Arizona, Lyft’s liability while en route to a rider is $250,000 combined single limit (Lyft).
- Maryland: Lyft’s liability while en route to a pickup is $125,000 combined single limit, consistent with state requirements (Lyft).
- New York City: For TLC-licensed drivers in the five boroughs and several nearby counties, Lyft does not procure insurance; those drivers buy their own policies under state and local rules (Lyft).
- North Dakota and Indiana (DoorDash): DoorDash lists $50,000/$100,000 bodily injury liability while a Dasher is available for deliveries in these states, plus $25,000 property damage, $50,000 uninsured and $50,000 underinsured motorist coverage and PIP in North Dakota, and $50,000 property damage in Indiana (DoorDash).
What happens after a crash: three scenarios
- App on, no request (Period 1), you’re at fault: Uber or Lyft’s liability pays the other driver. Your car is covered only if you have a rideshare endorsement (or commercial policy) with collision. Without it, your personal insurer may deny the claim because you were working.
- Passenger on board (Period 3), your car is damaged: Uber or Lyft’s contingent collision pays up to actual cash value after a $2,500 deductible, provided you carry collision and comprehensive yourself. Some endorsements, like Allstate’s Ride for Hire, may pay the difference between your own deductible and that $2,500.
- DoorDash order accepted, you’re at fault: DoorDash’s liability coverage pays third parties, but your car repair goes to your own insurer, which may refuse if your policy excludes delivery and you have no endorsement.
Insurance after a crash also affects what you pay later. Our guide to how much car insurance goes up after an accident shows typical surcharges by insurer.
How to get covered: a five-step checklist
- Call your current insurer before your first shift. Ask whether it sells a rideshare or delivery endorsement in your state and whether the endorsement covers each app you use.
- Keep collision and comprehensive. Without them, Uber and Lyft won’t repair your car even in Periods 2 and 3. LendingTree notes the exception: if your car is worth only a few thousand dollars, collision may not be worth it.
- Compare at least three quotes. If your insurer doesn’t offer rideshare coverage, switching may be cheaper than going commercial. Our guide to comparing car insurance quotes walks through it.
- Match the policy to your work. Black-car, livery and NYC TLC driving need commercial coverage.
- Keep proof. Uber and Lyft let you view their certificates of insurance in the driver app; screenshot your app status after any crash.
Don’t own the car you drive? Gig platforms generally require a vehicle you can insure; if you only borrow cars for personal use, read our non-owner car insurance guide, but note it is not built for rideshare work.
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Do I legally need rideshare insurance to drive for Uber or Lyft?
Uber and Lyft require personal auto insurance that meets your state’s minimums. A rideshare endorsement isn’t always mandatory, but most insurers require you to tell them and add it, and Progressive says an insurer may cancel or non-renew a policy if it finds out you were ridesharing without disclosing it.
How much does rideshare insurance cost per month?
Adding rideshare coverage averaged $23 a month at State Farm and USAA, $38 at Allstate and Progressive, and $34 across the industry in Compare.com’s October 2026 data. LendingTree’s average is $31 a month.
Does rideshare insurance cover DoorDash and Uber Eats?
Sometimes. Progressive says its rideshare coverage applies to delivery services in most states, and Uber says some insurers cover delivery under personal policies while others sell endorsements. Confirm in writing that your endorsement includes delivery.
What is Period 1 in rideshare insurance?
Period 1 is when your app is on and you’re waiting for a request. Uber and Lyft carry only third-party liability then (generally $50,000/$100,000/$25,000), and nothing pays to repair your car unless you have rideshare or commercial coverage.
What is the Uber and Lyft deductible?
$2,500. Uber and Lyft’s contingent collision and comprehensive, available in Periods 2 and 3 only if you carry those coverages yourself, comes with a $2,500 deductible. Some endorsements help pay the difference.
Sources
- Uber, “Insurance for rideshare trips”: uber.com
- Uber, “Insurance for delivery trips”: uber.com
- Lyft, “Driver insurance”: lyft.com
- DoorDash Help Center, “Understanding Auto Insurance Maintained by DoorDash”: help.doordash.com
- California Public Utilities Commission, “Insurance Requirements for TNCs”: cpuc.ca.gov
- Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, “TNC Operations Guide”: tdlr.texas.gov
- Compare.com, State Farm rideshare insurance (data updated Oct. 21, 2026): compare.com
- LendingTree, “Cheapest Car Insurance for Rideshare Drivers,” updated May 14, 2026: lendingtree.com
- State Farm, “What is Rideshare Coverage?”: statefarm.com
- Progressive, “What is Rideshare Insurance?”: progressive.com
- Allstate, “Ride for Hire”: allstate.com
- GEICO, “How Your Vehicles Are Used”: geico.com
- NerdWallet, “What Is Rideshare Insurance and Do You Need It?”: nerdwallet.com
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Written by
Roberto Gomes, Founder and Editor
Roberto researches insurance and personal finance in the United States and Canada from insurers' policy documents, regulator data and public rate filings. He is not a licensed agent or adviser. How we research.
Written by Roberto Gomes, Editor
Roberto researches car and life insurance rates from state insurance department data, insurers' rate filings and published rate studies. He is not a licensed insurance agent, and Prime Capital Report does not sell insurance.
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