Uber Insurance Requirements

Uber has around 750,000 drivers in the United States and 2 million drivers worldwide. For many people, Uber is an easy and flexible way to make extra money.

If you have a car and are looking to make some extra cash to pay down your debt, driving for Uber may be a good side hustle for you. Some people even make driving for Uber a full-time job.

Whether you’ll be driving full time or just part of the time, you need to have auto insurance in order to drive for Uber. The company places Uber insurance requirements on the driver, the car, and the coverage. Here are some of the things you should know about Uber insurance requirements.

Uber Insurance Requirements

Each state has laws that mandate the minimum level of insurance that drivers must have. Uber drivers must hold a valid insurance policy for at least the minimum levels required in their state.

From the time the driver logs into the Uber driver app until the driver accepts a ride, Uber supplements the driver’s existing insurance policy with coverage up to $50,000 for driver’s liability for one person, $100,000 per each accident, and $25,000 for property damage caused to others.

Once a driver accepts a ride, the insurance coverage increases again. Uber insures those drivers with primary automobile liability coverage of at least $1,000,000 per accident and at least $1,000,000 of uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. Also, Uber provides physical damage coverage to the vehicle up to the actual cash value of the vehicle after the driver pays a $1,000 deductible.

Uber Car Requirements

Drivers must have a vehicle registered in their state. In most cities, the car cannot be any more than 10 years old. In some cases, such as in San Francisco and Los Angeles, the car can be up to 15 years old.

The car must be a four-door vehicle with independently opening doors and must have seating with factory-installed seatbelts for at least four passengers in addition to the driver. The windows and air conditioning must be in working condition. And the vehicle cannot be a full-sized van or any commercial vehicle.

A vehicle must meet all of these requirements to be eligible for UberX, which is the lowest cost and most popular option. Uber also has a variety of other categories that are not available in all locations. Those categories have more stringent requirements. For example, UberXL vehicles must have seven factory-installed seatbelts. UberSELECT vehicles must be newer cars and have leather or vinyl interiors.

Uber Driver Requirements

In order to drive for Uber, you must have a valid U.S. driver’s license in the state where you drive. Uber requires that drivers are at least 21 years old and have one year of driving experience. Drivers under the age of 23, however, must have three years of driving experience. Drivers must have their name on their insurance policy and have in-state license plates with current registration.

Uber requires that drivers have a valid social security number and pass both a background check and a driving record check. So, you must have a clean driving record. If you have questions about any of those requirements, you can contact Uber for additional information.

Bottom Line

If you are over the age of 21 and have a valid, in-state driver’s license, you may be eligible to work for Uber. Before you can start driving, you’ll have to go through Uber’s application process. You’ll need to provide documentation of your license, insurance, and registration.

In addition, you’ll provide information verifying the age and condition of your vehicle. After submitting all of that documentation, Uber will conduct a background check and driving record check. As long as you have a clean driving record and a clean legal record, you should be approved to start driving for Uber soon.