Rideshare insurance in California is set out in a single article of the Public Utilities Code, sections 5430 through 5450. It decides when a driver’s personal auto policy stops applying, when the rideshare company’s insurance takes over, what drivers must be told before they start, and how insurers settle disputes about who was covered at the moment of a crash. Separate rules under Proposition 22 cover drivers’ own injuries. This guide explains how those pieces fit together, whether you drive for a rideshare company, ride as a passenger, or were hit by a rideshare vehicle.
Rideshare Insurance in California at a Glance: Who Carries What
| Coverage | Who provides it | What it does | Source |
| Personal auto policy | The driver | Generally covers nothing from the moment the driver logs on to the app until logging off or the passenger exits, unless the policy or a paid endorsement expressly says otherwise | Pub. Util. Code § 5434 |
| Transportation network company insurance | The rideshare company, the driver, or a combination | Liability coverage specifically written for driving connected to the app, at levels that depend on whether a ride has been accepted | Pub. Util. Code §§ 5431(d), 5433 |
| Passenger uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage | The rideshare company only | $60,000 per person and $300,000 per incident while a passenger is in the car, primary over other such coverage (since Jan. 1, 2026) | Pub. Util. Code § 5433(b)(2) |
| Occupational accident insurance | The network company | The driver’s own medical expenses (at least $1,000,000) and disability payments for injuries while online | Bus. & Prof. Code § 7455 |
| Delivery liability coverage | The delivery network company | At least $1,000,000 per occurrence during engaged time when the vehicle isn’t otherwise covered | Bus. & Prof. Code § 7455(f) |
The dollar amounts of liability coverage at each stage of a trip are explained in Uber accident lawyer.
Rideshare Insurance in California Starts Where a Personal Policy Stops
Section 5434 provides that, from the moment a driver logs on to the app until the driver logs off or the passenger exits, whichever is later, the driver’s or owner’s personal auto policy provides no coverage to the driver, the owner, or anyone else, and has no duty to defend. There’s an exception: the personal policy does apply if it expressly provides coverage for that period, or if the driver bought an amendment or endorsement for it with a separately stated premium. Personal insurers may choose to offer that kind of coverage, often called a rideshare endorsement, but aren’t required to.
What Rideshare Companies Must Tell Drivers
Under section 5432, a rideshare company must disclose in writing, as part of its driver agreement:
- the insurance coverage and limits it provides while the driver uses the app
- that the driver’s personal auto policy won’t provide coverage because of that use
- that the personal policy won’t provide collision or comprehensive coverage for damage to the driver’s own vehicle from log-on to log-off
That last point surprises many drivers. Damage to the car they drive for work may not be covered by their personal policy while they’re online. They should review what the company offers and whether a rideshare endorsement fills the gap.
Who Can Carry Rideshare Insurance in California
The required coverage can come from a policy the rideshare company maintains, one the driver maintains, or a combination. A company can rely on a driver’s policy only if it verifies that the driver maintains it and that it’s specifically written to cover rideshare use. If a driver-held policy lapses or ceases to exist, the company must provide the required coverage from the first dollar of a claim. Rideshare insurance meeting section 5433 also satisfies California’s financial responsibility requirements, and section 5443 makes this article the controlling rule on which policy is primary or excess.
Rideshare Insurance in California After a Crash: Proof and Claims Cooperation
- Proof at the scene. Section 5442 requires rideshare drivers to carry proof of rideshare insurance while using the app, and to provide it to anyone involved in an accident and to a police officer on request. If you’re hit by a rideshare driver, ask for it.
- Log-on and log-off times. In a claims coverage investigation, section 5435 requires the rideshare company or its insurer to cooperate with other insurers. That includes sharing the date and time of the accident and the precise times the driver logged on and off. These timestamps often decide which policy applies.
- No denial needed first. Rideshare coverage can’t be made to depend on a personal insurer first denying the claim.
- Passenger privacy. Section 5437 bars rideshare companies from disclosing passengers’ personally identifiable information to third parties except with consent, under a legal obligation, or to the CPUC for a complaint investigation. Riders’ trip records usually come through their own app or legal process.
Rideshare Insurance in California for Drivers’ Own Injuries
Liability insurance protects others. A driver’s own injuries are handled differently. Proposition 22 requires network companies to provide occupational accident insurance for drivers hurt while online, covering medical expenses of at least $1,000,000 and disability payments for up to 104 weeks. A driver hit by someone else may also have a claim against that person. See rideshare accident lawyer for claims by drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists.
The 2026 Change and What Comes Next
Senate Bill 371, effective January 1, 2026, set the passenger uninsured and underinsured motorist requirement at $60,000 per person and $300,000 per incident. The same law directs the CPUC to report average rideshare accident and uninsured motorist claim data for 2022 through 2024 in its February 2026 annual report, and average rider fares for periods in 2025 and 2026 in its February 2027 report. Rideshare insurance in California may continue to change, so check the current statute for any crash.
Rideshare Insurance California Questions to Ask After a Crash
- Was the driver logged on, matched with a ride, or carrying a passenger at the moment of impact?
- Did the driver carry a personal rideshare endorsement, or rely on the company’s policy?
- Has the company provided its log-on and log-off times to the insurers involved?
- Does any uninsured motorist coverage apply, and in what order?
- If you were driving, have you reported the injury for occupational accident benefits?
Passengers can see how these answers play out in car accident while riding in Uber, and uninsured motorist claims are covered in uninsured motorist claim.
Deadlines
An injury lawsuit in California is generally due within two years (Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1). Claims against a public entity generally require a written claim within six months (Government Code section 911.2). Uninsured motorist claims and occupational accident policies have their own requirements.
Questions About Rideshare Insurance in California After a Crash?
Vaksman Khalfin, PC helps people injured in rideshare crashes work out which policies apply and in what order. Representation is on contingency; the written agreement states the fee percentage and, separately, how case costs are handled. Call (650) 250-0705. We don’t sell insurance or advise on which policy to buy.
Reviewed by Alan D. Khalfin, Partner and Managing Attorney, Vaksman Khalfin, PC (admitted in California). Last reviewed: 10/08/2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Generally not from log-on to log-off. Under Public Utilities Code section 5434, a personal policy provides no coverage during that time unless it expressly does or you've bought an endorsement for it with a separately stated premium.
A liability policy that specifically covers driving in connection with a rideshare app. It can be maintained by the rideshare company, the driver, or both, and the required amounts depend on the stage of the trip.
Not by the personal policy's collision or comprehensive coverage while the driver is logged on, which the company must disclose in writing. Drivers should check what the company provides and whether an endorsement is available.
Yes. Section 5442 requires the driver to carry proof of rideshare insurance and provide it to others involved in the accident and to police on request.
Section 5435 requires the rideshare company or its insurer to cooperate in coverage investigations, including providing the precise log-on and log-off times.
Since January 1, 2026, $60,000 per person and $300,000 per incident while the passenger is in the vehicle, and it applies before other uninsured motorist coverage.
