Rideshare insurance: How to drive for Uber in Australia without voiding your car insurance
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Since ridesharing services like Uber, Ola, DiDi, and Lyft became popular alternatives to taxis, this particular segment of the gig economy has also become one of the Australian driver’s favourite ways to earn a little extra cash.
With services making it a relatively straightforward process to sign up, everyday motorists are increasingly using their own cars to make money.
But, how does driving for a rideshare service affect your car insurance policy?
Do car insurance companies cover rideshare drivers?
More car insurance providers are starting to offer rideshare insurance
Traditionally, car insurance policies would not have covered you when driving for a rideshare service. However, given rideshare services are commonplace today, there are plenty of car insurance providers out there who include, or give you the option to add, cover if you drive for Uber, DiDi, Lyft, Ola, and more.
If you’re wondering whether your current car insurance policy will cover you as a rideshare driver, contact your provider or check your Product Disclosure Statement (PDS), especially the general exclusions section.
What level of insurance do I need to be able to drive for a rideshare service?
Aside from third-party property insurance, you may want to consider a comprehensive policy for the added benefits
While compulsory third-party (CTP) insurance is, as the name suggests, compulsory in Australia, rideshare companies like Uber, Ola, DiDi, and Lyft may require rideshare drivers to have at least third-party property (TPP) insurance before they hit the road.
However, if you’ve recently signed up for a ridesharing service, you’ll probably be using your car more frequently than when it was just for private use. If that’s the case, a comprehensive car insurance policy could go a long way.
With this level of cover your provider will have your back for a range of incidents including fire, theft or a storm in addition to road accidents, and you could also enjoy the flexibility to choose your repairer or your level of car insurance excess.
Do ridesharing services provide their own car insurance?
Rideshare companies usually offer support that complements your own personal car insurance policy
One of the big myths floating around the ridesharing realm is that the service you’re driving for will cover you, your passengers and your car if something were to go awry while you are working. While there’s usually some form of protection in place, that’s not entirely true.
While your new employers do provide a level of cover, it isn’t as extensive as you might think.
Let’s look at Uber as an example.
If you are at fault for an accident while driving for Uber, the company’s free contingency cover will only cover bodily injury to you, the driver, with up to a $500,000 lump sum in the case of accidental death or disability, plus other minimal lump sums, such as if you can't drive due to being assaulted on the job ($5,000) or incur broken or bones ($2,000).
However, this doesn’t cover any of the damage you may cause to your vehicle or others' during an accident. So it is important to have comprehensive car insurance, or at least third-party car insurance, to help cover those potential costs.
Keep in mind, that the cover discussed above comes with Uber’s insurance policy, but each ridesharing service’s agreement might differ slightly, so be sure to find out what type of coverage they offer before you start driving.
Which car insurance companies offer rideshare car insurance?
Not all car insurance policies offer rideshare driver insurance
Several insurance providers offer coverage for rideshare drivers, either as standard, or as an optional-extra.
You’ll need to read through the PDS to see if the policy suits your needs and get quotes to see which policy looks like good value for money.
Comprehensive Car Insurance*
- $75 discount on your first year’s premium when you buy online (T&Cs apply)
- Lifetime repair guarantee
QBE’s comprehensive car insurance offers a whole range of benefits with convenient optional extras at a great premium.
Enjoy new-for-old replacement (up to 3 years old, driven 60,000km), cover for accidental damage, fire and theft, weather damage, essential repairs up to $500, and emergency transport and accommodation up to $1,000 and a bonus $75 discount when you purchase your policy online (T&Cs apply).
With QBE, you’ll need to inform them that you’re using your insured vehicle for ridesharing and be careful not to exceed the time limit on the number of hours you rideshare for.
Note, adding ridesharing to your certificate of insurance could potentially increase your premium.
For more information about this policy, read our review of QBE Comprehensive Car Insurance.
Kogan Comprehensive Car Insurance*
- $75 off new online applications (T&Cs apply)
- New-for-old-car replacement (within 3 years)
- Reasonable car towing and storage costs covered
Kogan Comprehensive Car Insurance brings with it one of the highest levels of protection. It covers your vehicle for damage caused in an accident, weather events, fire and theft, plus damage your car causes to other people’s vehicles and property.
When you insure your brand new car with Kogan, if it’s written off within the first three years and has driven less than 60,000 kms, they’ll replace it with a new car, as well as cover reasonable towing and storage costs in the event of an accident.
Plus, you’ll score a $5 Kogan.com credit when you complete a quote and new applicants get $75 off their policy when they apply online (T&Cs apply) and a $10 Kogan.com credit when they get a quote (min. spend $100, 1 per customer). Higher excesses apply to drivers under the age of 25.
With Kogan, you’ll need to let them know that your car is being used for ridesharing services and have it listed on your certificate of insurance. You’ll also need to be careful not to exceed the number of allowed ridesharing hours, as listed on the certificate.
For more information, read the Kogan Comprehensive Car Insurance review.
Australia Post Comprehensive Car Insurance*
- New-for-old car replacement (under 3 years and 60,000km)
- Hire car cover for not-at-fault claims
- $1,000 personal property cover
Australia Post’s comprehensive cover is all about flexibility, before, during and following the claims process. If your car is being repaired or replaced after a theft or accident where you weren’t at fault, you could be sorted for 14 days of hire car cover (post-accident hire car cover is often only an option extra).
If you do write off your car, AusPost will replace it with a new comparable model, so long as your retired wheels were less than 3 years old and had travelled under 60,000km.
Other great features include $1,000 of personal property cover for items inside your car, and up to $1,000 cover for emergency travel and accommodation if you’re more than 100km away from home.
Australia Post’s Comprehensive Car Insurance policy includes coverage for rideshare driving, so long as you let the provider know that you’ll be using your vehicle for that purpose.
Ridesharing will need to be listed on your certificate of insurance, and you’ll have to stay below the maximum allowed number of hours you can rideshare for.
For more information about the policy, read the Australia Post Comprehensive Car Insurance policy review.
ANZ Comprehensive Plus Car Insurance
If you have an ANZ Comprehensive policy, make sure you let them know that you will be using it for ridesharing, as you need to have rideshare use listed on your certificate of insurance. Like with other car insurance policies, you'll need to keep the number of hours you are ridesharing below the agreed-upon limit, as stated on your certificate of insurance.
Read the ANZ Comprehensive Plus Car Insurance review for more details about what this comprehensive car insurance policy covers.
Bingle Comprehensive Car Insurance
When getting a car insurance quote from Bingle online, make sure you select ‘rideshare’ as the primary use of your vehicle – you should still be able to use it for personal use too, if you use your car for both private and business use.
For more information, read through the Bingle Comprehensive Car Insurance review.
Carpeesh Comprehensive Rideshare Insurance
As a rideshare driver, you may need to choose the ‘Rideshare’ policy from Carpeesh, which includes comprehensive coverage.
For more information about this policy, read the Carpeesh Comprehensive Car Insurance review.
Other car insurance policies that may offer rideshare insurance include:
- AAMI Comprehensive Car Insurance
- Australian Unity Comprehensive Cover
- Beyond Bank Comprehensive Car Insurance
- Hume Bank Car Insurance
- National Seniors Comprehensive Car Insurance
- Over 50 Insurance Comprehensive Cover
- RAA Premium Comprehensive Car Insurance
- RAC Comprehensive Car Insurance
- RACQ Comprehensive Car Insurance
- RACT Comprehensive Car Insurance
- St.George Comprehensive Insurance
- Suncorp Insurance Comprehensive Advantages Car Insurance
- Suncorp Insurance Comprehensive Car Insurance
- Suncorp Insurance Comprehensive Extras Car Insurance
- TIO Comprehensive Car Insurance
- Westpac Comprehensive Insurance.
Why should I get ridesharing car insurance?
It's pretty important to understand the kind of money you could lose if you don’t ask your provider about ridesharing cover, or shop around for a policy that includes it.
If driving a rideshare vehicle is one of your main sources of income, not being able to do it because your car is being repaired means you’ll be paying the mechanic to fix it, while not being able to earn any money from driving.
Plus, even if you do have a comprehensive car insurance policy, any accidents while rideshare driving will not be covered under your policy if you were ‘carrying passengers for money’ – a common general exclusion.
This means any of the coverage your policy would usually provide, whether it be for your car or someone else’s property, will be void, leaving you to pay the bill.
So, if you’re not covered with the appropriate type of insurance, it could be time to compare comprehensive car insurance, keeping an eye on which policies suit your style as a rideshare driver.
Compare comprehensive car insurance - rates updated daily
Gold Comprehensive Car Insurance
- Monthly premiums
- Yes Costs Extra
- Choice of repairer
- Optional Extra
- Choice of excess
- $550 - $1,900 (varies By State)
- Agreed or market value
- Agreed Or Market
Available discounts
- No Claim Discount
- Online Discount Up To 15%
Gold Comprehensive Car Insurance
Get award winning Car Insurance. Save 15% ^ on your first year’s premium when you purchase a new policy online. Budget Direct offers tailor-made cover, new-for-old replacement, 24/7 claims, a highly-rated claims service, and get a hire car following a theft.
- New car if written off
- Yes - within 2 years or 40,000 kilometres of original registration, whichever comes first
- Rental car after theft
- Yes - Up to 14 days, max $1,000 total.
- Rental car after accident
- Not at fault - Yes. At fault - Optional Extra. Up to 14 days for at fault accidents.
- Windscreen cover
- Yes - standard excess. Option to reduce windscreen excess to $40 on every windscreen claim for an additional premium.
- Modifications
- Covered only if agreed in writing.
- Young driver excess imposed
- $600 for drivers under 21, $500 for drivers under 24, $600 for unlisted drivers, $500 for inexperienced drivers.
- Roadside assistance
- Optional Extra
- Other benefits
- -
- Other restrictions
- -
- States where offered
- SA VIC TAS NSW ACT QLD WA
Terms, conditions, exclusions, limits and sub-limits may apply to any of the insurance products shown on the Mozo website. These terms, conditions, exclusions, limits and sub-limits could affect the level of benefits and cover available under any of the insurance products shown on the Mozo website. Please refer to the relevant Product Disclosure Statement and the Target Market Determination on the provider's website for further information before making any decisions about an insurance product.
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about Budget Direct Gold Comprehensive Car Insurance
Comprehensive Car Insurance
- Monthly premiums
- Yes
- Choice of repairer
- No
- Choice of excess
- $800 Flat Excess Fee
- Agreed or market value
- Agreed
Available discounts
Comprehensive Car Insurance
ROLLiN’ put their customers in the driver’s seat by offering great value comprehensive car insurance with no additional excess for young drivers. Zero cancellation fees, 24/7 claims support via phone and a policy paid monthly. Plus, you can list multiple cars and drivers under the one policy, as long as they fit the underwriting criteria
- New car if written off
- Yes - within 15,000km of original registration
- Rental car after theft
- Yes - Up to 21 days, max $80 per day after a covered event
- Rental car after accident
- Yes - Up to 21 days, max $80 per day after a covered event
- Windscreen cover
- Yes - $0 windscreen excess
- Modifications
- Covered only if agreed in writing.
- Young driver excess imposed
- No additional excess for young drivers. $3,000 for unlisted drivers
- Roadside assistance
- No
- Other benefits
- Optional benefit to boost the Single Car Value by 15%, it will be shown on your Insurance Certificate
- Other restrictions
- -
- States where offered
- SA VIC NT TAS NSW ACT QLD WA
Terms, conditions, exclusions, limits and sub-limits may apply to any of the insurance products shown on the Mozo website. These terms, conditions, exclusions, limits and sub-limits could affect the level of benefits and cover available under any of the insurance products shown on the Mozo website. Please refer to the relevant Product Disclosure Statement and the Target Market Determination on the provider's website for further information before making any decisions about an insurance product.
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about ROLLiN' Comprehensive Car Insurance
Comprehensive Car Insurance
- Monthly premiums
- Yes Costs Extra
- Choice of repairer
- Optional Extra
- Choice of excess
- $500 - $2,200
- Agreed or market value
- Agreed Or Market
Available discounts
- Online Discount $75
Comprehensive Car Insurance
Australia Post Comprehensive Car Insurance offers a broad range of coverage and includes cover for anyone who drives your vehicle. It also covers new car replacement if your recently purchased brand new car is written off within the first three years (provided it has travelled less than 60,000km). Save $75 on your first year's premium when you purchase Comprehensive Car Insurance online. T&C’s apply.
- New car if written off
- Yes - within 3 years and 60,000 km of original registration
- Rental car after theft
- Yes - Up to 14 days.
- Rental car after accident
- Not at fault - Yes. At fault - Optional Extra. Up to 14 days.
- Windscreen cover
- Yes - standard excess ($0 excess for repair only). Option to reduce windscreen replacement excess to $0 for an additional premium.
- Modifications
- Automatically covered.
- Young driver excess imposed
- $600 for listed drivers under 25, $1,600 for unlisted drivers under 25.
- Roadside assistance
- No
- Other benefits
- -
- Other restrictions
- -
- States where offered
- SA VIC TAS NSW ACT QLD WA
Terms, conditions, exclusions, limits and sub-limits may apply to any of the insurance products shown on the Mozo website. These terms, conditions, exclusions, limits and sub-limits could affect the level of benefits and cover available under any of the insurance products shown on the Mozo website. Please refer to the relevant Product Disclosure Statement and the Target Market Determination on the provider's website for further information before making any decisions about an insurance product.
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about Australia Post Comprehensive Car Insurance
Comprehensive Car Insurance
- Monthly premiums
- Yes Costs Extra
- Choice of repairer
- Optional Extra
- Choice of excess
- $400 - $2,500
- Agreed or market value
- Agreed Or Market
Available discounts
Comprehensive Car Insurance
Youi like to get to know you from the very first conversation, which provides you with the opportunity to find comprehensive car insurance cover that could better suit your lifestyle and your needs. Because we’re all individuals, so we all use our cars differently from day-to-day. Youi is car insurance that’s a bit more you-shaped.
- New car if written off
- Yes - within 2 years and a listed driver is the first registered owner
- Rental car after theft
- Yes - Up to 14 days.
- Rental car after accident
- Not at fault - Yes. At fault - Optional Extra. Up to 14 days.
- Windscreen cover
- Yes - standard excess. Option to reduce windscreen excess to $50 for an additional premium.
- Modifications
- Covered only if agreed in writing.
- Young driver excess imposed
- Unlisted and aged 25 and over: $700, Unlisted and aged under 25: $2,000, Listed and aged under 25: $600
- Roadside assistance
- Yes
- Other benefits
- -
- Other restrictions
- -
- States where offered
- SA VIC TAS NSW ACT QLD WA
Terms, conditions, exclusions, limits and sub-limits may apply to any of the insurance products shown on the Mozo website. These terms, conditions, exclusions, limits and sub-limits could affect the level of benefits and cover available under any of the insurance products shown on the Mozo website. Please refer to the relevant Product Disclosure Statement and the Target Market Determination on the provider's website for further information before making any decisions about an insurance product.
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about Youi Comprehensive Car Insurance