Uber Insurance

My Insurance Broker and Intact Insurance now provide Rideshare Insurance to Uber drivers at no additional cost. This means that if you have an active Intact Insurance, Novex Insurance, or Jevco Insurance policy that includes proper coverage, all you need to do is contact your broker to add the Uber Commercial Insurance classification to it. If you aren’t currently an Intact Insurance, Novex Insurance, or Jevco Insurance customer and would like to be covered as an Uber driver you can contact us at 1 (855) 482-5001 or complete your free Uber insurance estimate.

Uber Insurance can be broken down into 4 phases

Table 1 - Uber Commercial Policy coverage across 4 phases of driving/Uber App use.

1Only drivers who hold comprehensive and collision coverage on their personal auto policy will be eligible for this coverage under the Uber commercial policy.

How does Uber Insurance through Intact, Novex, and Jevco work?

Intact Insurance , Novex, and Jevco have updated their personal auto underwriting rules to allow ridesharing for Uber drivers.

When Uber drivers use their vehicle for personal use (phase 0), Intact Insurance, Novex and Jevco customers are protected as usual under their personal auto insurance policy at no additional cost.

The sharing economy is a new, rapidly growing market in which people offer to rent their assets – such as their car or home, or services as a driver – to their peers through online platforms.

Uber Personal Policy

Intact Insurance, Novex and Jevco have updated their personal auto underwriting rules to allow ridesharing for Uber drivers. When Uber drivers use their vehicle for personal use (Table 1, Phase 0), Intact Insurance, Novex and Jevco customers are protected as usual under their personal auto insurance policy at no additional cost.

Uber Commercial Policy

The Uber commercial insurance policy provides coverage to all vehicles, drivers (regardless of their personal auto insurance provider), and passengers from the moment drivers make themselves available to accept a ride request (Table 1, Phase 1), to the moment passengers exit the vehicle (Table 1, Phases 2 & 3).

The commercial policy is issued to the corporation of Uber and Uber is responsible for the payment of the premium.

The Uber commercial insurance policy provides coverage up to the following limits:

• $1 million Third Party Liability for phase 1
• $2 million Third Party Liability for phases 2 and 3
• Standard Accident Benefits for phases 1, 2 and 3
• Comprehensive and Collision coverage with $1,000 deductible* payable by drivers for phases 1, 2 and 3

*Only drivers who hold comprehensive and collision coverage on their personal auto policy will be eligible for this coverage under the Uber commercial policy.

What coverage is Aviva offering for ride-sharing drivers?

Aviva is offering the Transportation Network endorsement (NPCF 6TN - Permission to Carry Paying Passengers for a Transportation Network). This endorsement transfers the risk from the driver to the insurer, allowing drivers to carry paying passengers when under contract for a transportation network company. The NPCF 6TN is available February 1, 2016 for new and existing Aviva customers in Ontario who can purchase this endorsement to add to their policies

The endorsement extends all policy coverage available to the vehicle in question. Drivers will be covered for all three periods of the TNC activity including:

The 6TN endorsement applies only to the "Described Automobile" ie, only to the automobile listed in the certificate of insurance with the 6TN endorsement. It does not extend to rental cars or any other non-owned car through OPCF 2/27.

What are the requirements to add the endorsement?

• All drivers must be licensed (G2 and up) in Canada or the USA for six years or longer.
• The vehicle is used as a Transportation Network vehicle for a maximum of 20 hours per week. Over 20 hours per week at any time is considered primarily commercial use, meaning that the vehicle is (a) not eligible for this endorsement and is (b) not eligible to be rated as a private passenger vehicle. The insured may, at any time, be required to produce records showing the hours logged onto the Transportation Network(s).
• The vehicle can only seat up to eight occupants, including the driver.
• The vehicle cannot be used for any retail or wholesale delivery or any other commercial use or is not registered or plated for use as a taxi, limousine or any other public transportation

What is the benefit of Aviva’s ride-sharing insurance (NPCF 6TN endorsement)?

• Offers a simple solution to address the gap in coverage in the marketplace
• Provides the driver and passengers with peace of mind that they have insurance coverage while ride-sharing.
• It removes the exclusion for carrying paying customers from their policy.
• Extends all policy coverage available to the vehicle.
• Is the first policy to respond to a claim.
• Covers all three periods of the TNC activity.
• Rates are straightforward, based on driving record, location and hours per week spent driving for the transportation network.
• Up to 10 hours per week or up to 20 hours per week.
• Offers an affordable option for part time drivers.
• Multiple transportation network drivers can be insured on the same vehicle, but the total hours of transportation network driving cannot exceed 20 hours per week for that vehicle.

Does the vehicle need to have full coverage, including physical damage coverage, to add the endorsement?

No. At a minimum, the vehicle must have the mandatory liability coverage.

About Aviva Canada

Aviva Canada is one of the leading property and casualty insurance groups in the country providing home, automobile, leisure/lifestyle and business insurance to more than three million customers. A wholly-owned subsidiary of UK-based Aviva plc, the company has more than 3,000 employees, 25 locations and approximately 1,500 independent broker partners.

Frequently Asked Questions

So, what is the sharing economy?

The sharing economy is a new, rapidly growing market in which people offer to rent their assets – such as their car or home, or services as a driver – to their peers through online platforms. These platforms provide information on both the consumer and the provider of the services and assets, including ratings from previous users, allowing for a level of trust that otherwise would be difficult to establish.

What is ridesharing and how does it work?

Ridesharing is a relatively new industry in which drivers, using their personal vehicles, are matched with passengers through simple and convenient GPS-enabled mobile apps. Passengers have the benefit of convenience and safety – they’re given the driver's name, car model, license plate number and rating through the application. Passengers can watch their driver’s progress towards the pickup point on their smartphone; payment is handled automatically via a credit card stored within their ride-share account. Drivers have a flexible source of income based on a schedule of their choosing.

What is Uber?

Uber operates a technology platform that allows users to obtain and pay for on-demand transportation and logistics services provided by an independent contracted driver, through an application for use on mobile devices. Founded in 2009, it is one of the fastest growing companies in history. They have an evolving business model that initially started as a high-end livery, black car service in California, that grew to include ridesharing in 2013. Their GPS-enabled mobile application allows passengers to organize pre-arranged trips with independent contractors who act as ridesharing drivers. Car owners can use their vehicle to make some extra income with a flexible work schedule.

Which Uber operations are you insuring?

Intact Insurance only insures Uber’s ridesharing operations. Examples of ridesharing in Uber’s current product suite include Uber X, Uber XL, Uber Select, Uber Hop, and Uber Pool. There are also drivers who participate concurrently in ridesharing and the delivery of food (Uber EATS). In such cases, we will provide coverage under Intact Insurance’s commercial insurance policy purchased by Uber. For drivers who only deliver food under the Uber EATS platform and do not participate concurrently in ridesharing, there is no coverage under the Uber commercial policy. These customers should contact their broker or agent to purchase insurance for this, as would any customer making deliveries for other companies.

How does Uber’s Insurance coverage work in Ontario?

Intact Insurance, Novex and Jevco have modified their underwriting guidelines to allow for ridesharing on their personal auto insurance policies at no additional cost. Drivers participating in ridesharing must inform their broker or agent, who should then advise the personal auto insurer of the customer to ensure they are properly protected for non-ridesharing use of the vehicle. Uber has a primary commercial insurance policy with Intact Insurance that provides coverage to all vehicles, drivers and passengers from the moment drivers make themselves available to accept a ride request, to the moment passengers exit the vehicle. The Uber commercial insurance policy provides coverage up to the following limits:

• $1 million Third Party Liability for Phase 1
• $2 million Third Party Liability for Phases 2 and 3
• Standard Accident Benefits for Phases 1, 2 and 3
• Comprehensive and Collision coverage with $1,000 deductible payable by drivers for Phases 1, 2 and 3. Only drivers who hold comprehensive and collision coverage on their personal auto policy will be eligible for this coverage under the Uber commercial policy. 05/16

What kind of proof of insurance is provided for Uber’s commercial policy?

An electronic certificate of automobile insurance can be accessed through the Uber Partner mobile application. In the event of a traffic infraction or an accident occurring while participating in ridesharing, drivers should refer to this document.

Who should Uber Drivers contact in the event of a claim?

In the case of an accident, drivers should contact Uber via email or their Uber Partner mobile application, in accordance with Uber’s claims reporting procedure. Uber will record the details of the incident and provide it, along with a digital log record, to Intact Insurance, who will then process and adjust the claim. Drivers can also call Intact Insurance's dedicated number for Uber claims at 1 (866) 470-2335.

Are optional insurance coverages included on Uber drivers’ personal automobile insurance policies, like replacement cost or reimbursement for loss of use, covered under the Uber commercial policy?

The Uber commercial policy offered by Intact Insurance provides coverage from the moment drivers make themselves available to accept a ride request, until the moment passengers exit the vehicle. This policy does not provide any optional coverages, regardless of what is included on the customer’s personal auto policy, other than Comprehensive and Collision (physical damage) coverage. Comprehensive and Collision coverage, with a $1,000 deductible, is only made available to drivers who have this coverage on their personal auto policy. This policy also provides Third Party Liability coverage and Standard Accident Benefits coverage.

Are Uber drivers penalized on their personal automobile insurance policies for driving incidents occurring from the moment they make themselves available to accept a ride request, to the moment passengers exit the vehicle?

Uber has a commercial insurance policy in place with Intact Insurance that provides coverage from the moment drivers make themselves available to accept a ride request, to the moment passengers exit the vehicle. Any claims arising during this time will be made against the Uber commercial policy. Drivers should reference the Uber electronic certificate of automobile insurance (available on the Uber Partner mobile app) in order to ensure Uber-related claims do not affect their personal auto policy. Drivers should contact their broker or agent if they are charged for a claim that happened while participating in ridesharing with Uber. Intact Insurance will provide participating drivers with a letter to give to their personal auto insurance company, which will confirm that the claim is being charged to the Uber commercial policy. Driving infractions may follow the individual, potentially affecting personal auto policies of drivers.

Should underwriters, agents or brokers ensure that Uber is legal in their customers’ municipalities before advising them that commercial coverage is available through Intact Insurance?

In Ontario, insurance is regulated by the Financial Services Commission of Ontario (FSCO). As our insurance product has been approved by the provincial regulator, its coverage is available throughout Ontario. Depending on the level of liability coverage mandated by the bylaws in each municipality, the Uber commercial policy will provide the necessary coverage in that municipal jurisdiction. As an insurance company, it is our job to ensure that the proper coverage is in place to protect Ontarians. Municipal licensing is also important, however, licensing is outside of the mandate of Intact or the jurisdiction of FSCO and any questions regarding licensing or the legality of ridesharing at the municipal level should be directed to Uber.

What is Uber and why you need Uber Insurance in Toronto and Ontario

There’s no doubt that Uber’s take on transportation network service is a disruptive technology to many industries. One that may forever change the landscape of public transportation and set the benchmark for the sharing economy business model. However, Uber’s “insurance” had not kept pace, leaving the public, drivers, passengers, and municipalities wanting. In response, My Insurance Broker proudly offers Uber Insurance through its partnerships with Aviva Canada and Intact Insurance.

Toronto, ON. March, 20, 2016. Investigators mark evidence between the two cars after the two-car collision on Bay Street between Front and Wellington resulted in 8 people taken to hospital. One person is allegedly quite seriously hurt. The crash occurred around 3 AM Sunday morning and the SIU were called in to investigate. Image Source

Admittedly, insurance is not a sexy topic, but an important one that needs to be discussed. Often individuals and businesses avoid talking about insurance altogether or speak negatively about it due to the perpetual cost of maintaining it. That is, until the day a loss or claim occurs.

A recent accident involving an Uber driver and passengers in the heart of Toronto, Ontario had raised a number of questions regarding Uber operators and the limits of insurance coverage available to drivers and passengers (Stevenson, 2016):

• Does Uber have insurance?
• Do Uber drivers carry legally recognized insurance?
• Are Uber drivers and/or passengers protected in the case of accident or injury?
• What coverage, if any, is available?
• If Uber has insurance coverage does it apply in Canada?
• If an accident occurs who do you contact to make a loss claim?

Before the solutions developed with Aviva and Intact existed, you could ask an Uber driver what happens if they were involved in accident and they would have told you what Uber said at the time, that they are covered and their passengers are covered as well. It’s no surprise drivers felt this way. According to Uber at the time, drivers and passengers were covered from pick up to drop off (Nairi, 2014). However, the reality of Uber’s insurance in Canada was somewhat murky and the company was unregulated within municipalities and under city bylaws (Stevenson, 2016). This created a number of issues including that under “Canadian law, commercial drivers are legally required to have their own insurance to cover claims incurred while transporting a passenger for profit” (CBC, 2015). Meaning that even if Uber’s global insurance said it covered drivers, Canadian law requires each driver to carry commercial insurance to cover passengers. Uber itself recognized the limitations of its insurance in Canada worked with Intact to create a solution for its drivers and passengers (CBC, 2015).

My Insurance Broker is a proud partner of Aviva Canada and Intact insurance and is the first brokerage to offer drivers the ability to get a Uber Insurance quote online. If you're an Uber driver and have additional questions, contact My Insurance Broker at 1 (855) 482-5001. If you are an Uber passenger, make sure the next time you hail an Uber the driver is adequately insured. If they aren;t sure, have them reach out to us.