Delivery driver insurance guide
If you're delivering food for UberEATS, Doordash, Postmates, Seamless or a similar service, it's important to remember one of the key rules of auto insurance: using your vehicle for business and transportation of goods is typically not allowed.
While most Americans have personal auto insurance policies, delivering goods via your vehicle may require a commercial car insurance policy. This begs the question: how should you insure your vehicle as a delivery driver?
Using your vehicle for business and transportation of goods is typically not allowed.
Do you need special insurance as a delivery driver?
Any vehicle driven or parked on public roadways must be insured with state-minimum liability insurance. Failure to maintain active insurance may result in a ticket or license suspension, along with a lack of coverage in the event of an accident. For instance, within Postmates' onboarding materials, the platform states all drivers must maintain or exceed their state’s liability insurance limits.
Will personal car insurance cover food delivery?
Because delivery drivers use their vehicles to transport goods, i.e., food, the act of making deliveries may fall outside typical personal auto insurance policy guidelines. If you are involved in an accident while driving for a delivery service and have only a personal auto policy, you risk having any corresponding claim denied. Two insurance coverage options could work for Postmates:
- Business-use: An add-on option for a personal policy, designed for minimal business use.
- Commercial policy: Designed to cover businesses and their vehicles.
Commercial and business-use policies are designed to cover the risks associated with food delivery and other commercial uses. Working as an independent contractor — as a delivery driver — creates some unique circumstances that most insurance companies will not cover under a personal policy.
Do delivery services provide insurance coverage for drivers?
It depends. Let's look at Postmates as an example.
Postmates states responsibility for all vehicular damages falls on the driver. However, the platform may step in when a driver's coverage does not cover the damage inflicted on third-party vehicles.
Postmates car insurance assistance includes:
- Excess auto liability — $1M: per-accident limit for bodily injury and/or property damage to third parties.
- General liability — $1M: applies to Postmates couriers who make deliveries by foot or bicycle, covering damage caused to others or their property.
Postmates does not cover a driver's vehicle or bicycle, and the company doesn't offer workers' compensation. Postmates outlines drivers must use their own coverage to cover vehicular damage. This can be complicated, as working for Postmates may require a commercial insurance policy.
Delivery driver car insurance options
As a food delivery driver, you can acquire a commercial car insurance policy, ask whether your provider will provide coverage via a business-use personal policy, or — this is not recommended — fail to report your occupation to your insurance company*.
Commercial policies can be slightly more expensive than personal policies. However, the price will depend on your personal attributes and your vehicle. With a commercial policy, you can rest easy: any incident you encounter will be covered. Get started by receiving a commercial auto insurance quote from our trusted partner, Progressive.
A business-use policy is for drivers who use their vehicles for limited business use. If you’re a full-time Postmates contractor, you might not qualify for this coverage. If you’re curious, speak to an insurance agent.
Declining to report your occupation as a delivery driver has its risks. You risk having your coverage canceled or having subsequent insurance claims denied. Honesty is always the best policy — don't get caught uninsured!
The best option is to speak directly to an insurance agent. The emergence of on-demand delivery services has created a unique situation for even the best auto insurance companies. If you’re interested in speaking to a local agent or have other questions about insurance, call (888) 444-2833 or click below.
Car insurance for seasonal delivery drivers
If you choose to drive for a delivery service like UberEATS, Doordash or Postmates seasonally— whether it be around the holidays to make some extra cash or just in the summertime while driving conditions are fair— you still need to protect yourself with insurance. Your best bet is to add a business use endorsement to your personal auto insurance for the time that you will be driving for delivery. You can add and drop endorsements with your personal car insurance carrier by contacting your insurance agent or amending your policy online, depending on what services your carrier offers. Endorsements cost extra to apply, but it is in your best interest to protect yourself and your vehicle with the right coverage. Add on business use coverage before you start driving for the delivery service and cancel the endorsement when you are done driving for the season.
Delivery driver options by carrier
GEICO
Coverage for delivery drivers is included under Geico’s Rideshare Insurance option. What Geico offers is considered hybrid insurance, which replaces a personal auto policy rather than acting as an add-on to existing coverage. Hybrid coverage is unique to Geico; this type of policy covers you whether you are driving for personal reasons or on the clock for any number of food delivery services. Policyholders may drive for several companies at once and deductibles can be as low as $250. Geico’s rideshare coverage is currently available in 40 states.
| Coverage option | States Available |
|---|---|
| GEICO Rideshare Insurance | AL, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, ME, MD, MA, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NH, NM, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY |
Progressive
Delivery drivers may also be covered with Progressive rideshare insurance. This functions as an add-on to your personal auto policy, so there is no need to purchase a commercial policy unless the add-on is not available in your state. If rideshare coverage is not available where you live, you could always purchase a commercial policy to ensure that you are adequately covered.
Progressive’s rideshare coverage allows drivers to keep their existing policy limits and deductibles whether they are driving for personal reasons or delivering goods for a platform. It is important to note that if the food delivery platform offers its own insurance (which most do) while drivers are actively delivering, you will be covered by that policy first should any accidents occur. Progressive’s insurance would be secondary.
| Coverage option | States Available |
|---|---|
| Progressive Rideshare Insurance | AL, AR, AZ, CO, DC, FL, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KY, LA, MA, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, ND, NE, NM, OH, OK, PA, RI, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WI, WV, WY |
State Farm
State Farm offers what they call Rideshare Driver Coverage for people who drive for apps like Uber or Lyft, but according to the carrier, all you need as a delivery driver with State Farm is a “business use” notation on your personal auto policy. This only applies to drivers who deliver goods and food and never have passengers. If you also drive for hire with passengers, you must obtain the Rideshare Driver Coverage. Adding on the business-use notation to your personal policy is typically more cost-effective than purchasing rideshare coverage. State Farm estimates that adding rideshare coverage will add 15-20% onto your premium. Contact your State Farm agent for quotes with adding business-use coverage.
| Coverage Option | States Available |
|---|---|
| State Farm Rideshare Driver Coverage | AL, AK, AR, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, UT, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY |
USAA
USAA offers rideshare gap coverage as an add-on to your personal auto policy. This additional coverage is effective for the “unmatched” period of time. This refers to the time spent clocked in to your food delivery app awaiting a request. You can add this coverage online with USAA or contact your USAA agent. Rideshare gap coverage rates are dependent on several rating factors, but USAA estimates this endorsement will add on as little as $6 per month to your premium.
| Coverage Option | States Available |
|---|---|
| USAA rideshare gap coverage | AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, ME, ME, MN, MO, MS, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NV, OH, OK, OR, TN, TX, UT, VT, WA, WI, WV, WY |
Allstate
Allstate’s coverage for delivery drivers is called Ride for Hire, and it offers coverage for delivery drivers as well as Uber and Lyft drivers. Allstate partnered with these platforms to offer protection to its drivers. Ride for Hire coverage can be added on to an existing personal auto policy.
Rates for this coverage will vary based on personal factors like age, driving history and location, but Allstate estimates that adding Ride for Hire coverage will add about $30 extra to your monthly premium.
| Coverage Option | States Available |
|---|---|
| Allstate Ride for Hire | AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY |
*Please note that it is your responsibility to inform your insurance company that you drive for a ride-sharing service. Because this is considered a business activity, a standard insurance policy does not provide sufficient coverage. Driving for a rideshare company without a proper insurance policy could leave you at risk for any potential damages and could lead to your coverage being dropped altogether. Please contact a representative at your company to discuss such coverage options.
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