Uber insurance

Compare cheap Uber taxi insurance quotes.[1]

What insurance do I need to drive for Uber?

To drive for Uber, you need private hire car insurance, otherwise known as taxi insurance. This is a legal requirement for app-based drivers, and means you can carry passengers who pre-book a ride - although you cannot pick up passengers who try to hail you.

It’s important to know that standard car insurance does not cover you as an Uber driver. You specifically need a policy with ‘hire and reward’ cover, meaning you can legally transport paying passengers.

Please note that if you’re based in London, you need to choose from selected insurance providers approved by Uber. If you drive outside London, you can choose any provider you like, although the selected providers will upload your insurance documents straight to Uber - making the verification process easier and quicker.

You also need a private hire vehicle (PHV) licence issued by your local authority. This is commonly known as a PCO licence. To find out how to get your PHV licence, read our guide on how to become an Uber driver in the UK.

What types of Uber taxi insurance are available?

There are a few options to consider when you buy Uber taxi insurance:

• Annual payment - Paying for an annual policy upfront usually works out cheaper than paying monthly, because no interest is added.
• Monthly payment - If you want to spread your costs, paying monthly is an option - although you’ll pay more overall than you would if you pay upfront.
• Pay per mile - Some specialist providers offer pay-per-mile policies, where you pay a base rate and a per-mile fee for driving. This can be a good option for low-mileage drivers, for example if you only work for Uber part-time.
• Food delivery - If you want to deliver food (for example, with Uber Eats), you’ll need specific delivery driver insurance. Please note that this covers you for making deliveries, although does not cover the food itself - for example, if it gets spoiled while you’re out making deliveries.

What does Uber driver insurance cover?

When you compare private hire insurance with us, you can choose from comprehensive cover, third party, fire and theft (TPFT) cover or third party only (TPO) cover. Private hire insurance typically covers:

You could also consider the following types of cover, which might be included in policies you’re comparing, or available as an optional extra:

• Public liability cover - Protects you financially if your business causes injury to a member of the public, or damage to their property.
• Legal expenses cover - Also known as motor legal protection, this helps cover your legal costs if you’re injured in a collision that wasn’t your fault. It can also help with your legal bills if someone makes a claim against you.
• Goods in transit (GIT) insurance - Worth considering if you deliver food or packages, this covers property you’re transporting for your business against loss, damage or theft.
• Courtesy car cover - Can provide an alternative vehicle if your usual car’s damaged and being repaired.

How much does Uber insurance cost?

The cost of Uber insurance varies depending on a number of factors, although you can expect to pay significantly more than you would for standard car insurance.

Factors which affect the cost include:

• Personal details - Like your age, where you live and driving history - including any claims or motoring convictions.
• Your vehicle - More powerful or expensive cars usually cost more to insure.
• Your cover level - The level of cover you opt for, including any optional extras.
• Your car usage - When and how frequently you drive, and also if you deliver food (like working with Uber Eats).

How do I get cheaper Uber insurance?

There are a few ways to try to bring down the cost of an Uber insurance quote:

1. Pay annually

   If you can afford to pay your premium in a lump sum, rather than monthly, you can avoid paying interest. This works out cheaper in the long run.

2. Park your car in a drive or locked garage

   Some insurance companies might give you a discount for taking precautions to protect your vehicle from theft and damage.

3. Install security in your car

   You could get a lower premium if you have an insurer-approved immobiliser or tracker installed – it’s worth asking your provider.

4. Increase your voluntary excess

   This is an effective way to bring down the cost of your premium. Just make sure you can afford the amount should you have to claim.

5. Shop around

   Compare quotes with a range of different providers to find a policy that offers the right cover at a low price.

What do I need to get an Uber insurance quote?

When you apply for Uber insurance, we’ll need to know details like:

1. Personal details

   Your name, age and address, plus details of your driving history - like whether you have any claims or convictions, and your no-claims discount (NCD).

2. Vehicle details

   Your car’s make, model and age (which we can usually get from your registration), any security devices the taxi has, plus where you keep it overnight.

3. Business details

   Your annual business mileage, whether you’ll use your taxi for public or private hire, and whether you’ll be delivering food or packages.

Frequently asked questions

How quickly can I get insured to drive for Uber?

It’s possible to get insured to drive for Uber in only a few minutes. You just need to fill in a short application form, and we’ll show you the PHV insurance providers offering you cover. Choose the policy that suits your circumstances and budget, and you can be covered immediately.

Uber needs to verify your insurance before you can start transporting passengers. This will be quicker if you choose an Uber-approved insurance provider, as they will upload the relevant documents directly to Uber.

Is Uber insurance more expensive than standard car insurance?

Yes, Uber insurance is generally more expensive than standard car insurance. This is because, as an Uber driver, you’re likely to be considered higher risk by insurers due to:

• Driving a higher mileage.
• Driving in congested areas like busy towns or cities.
• Working at peak hours, and also at night.
• Higher likelihood of passenger-related incidents.

Don’t forget that having the right insurance is essential for your business, so it’s also an investment in your livelihood.

If I have to claim on my Uber insurance, will I lose money?

If you’re involved in an incident and need to claim on your Uber insurance, there’s likely to be financial consequences. For example, if you’re at fault, you’ll need to pay an excess - which is the amount you need to pay towards an insurance claim. You agree an excess amount with your insurer when you first take out your policy.

In addition, whether you’re at fault or not, any claim you’re involved in is likely to impact the cost of your insurance in future. Being involved in a collision - even if you’re not at fault - means you’re more likely to claim in future. As such, your insurance cost is likely to go up.

Note that if you lose work due to an incident while driving for Uber, you might be able to claim through Uber’s own Partner Protection Insurance, provided by Allianz.

Do I need to carry proof of insurance in my car?

Yes - like all UK taxi drivers, your local council is likely to require that you carry proof of your insurance. This will usually be a certificate showing ‘carriage of passengers for hire and reward’ wording. This is required by local authorities for licensing, and you might have to show it to police on request.

Do I need different insurance for Uber Eats?

Yes, you’ll need to make sure that your vehicle insurance covers courier services or food delivery.

It’s unlikely that private hire insurance will cover this, although you can always check your terms and conditions.

If in doubt, contact your insurer. You might be able to add this type of cover for an additional fee.

Can I get insured to drive for other ridesharing companies?

Yes, if you drive for another rideshare platform like Bolt or Ola, you’ll need private hire insurance just like you would as an Uber driver.

Can I get temporary Uber insurance?

Yes, some insurers offer temporary Uber insurance as they recognise that some drivers only operate during certain times of the year.

You can often find policies that run for, say, 30 days, three months or six months, rather than a full year.

If you are taking out temporary insurance for more than a couple of months, it’s worth comparing the cost against an annual policy to see which option is more cost effective.

Does Uber insurance also cover social use?

If you use your car for private use when you’re not working, you need to ensure that your policy covers you for ‘social, domestic and pleasure’ use.

Some policies will do this as standard – although check yours does to make sure.

Can I make changes to my policy?

Yes, you should be able to make alterations to your Uber taxi insurance policy either online or by phone. You might be charged an administration fee and there could be an increase in your premium, depending on what you’re changing.

How does Uber know if you have taxi insurance?

When you sign up to become an Uber driver, you’ll be asked to upload your taxi insurance documents to prove you’re properly insured. Uber will then verify the documents.

You’ll need to upload a new insurance document each time the policy renews.

A select few insurance companies that partner with Uber will automatically upload your insurance certificate to your Uber account when you get started and each time you renew, so you do not have to worry about it.

Does Uber provide any insurance for its drivers?

Uber offers Partner Protection Insurance from Allianz. This is designed to protect drivers from the financial impact of lost income as a result of an accident or life-changing event, like a permanent injury or severe illness.

All eligible drivers will automatically be covered.

This insurance is not designed to replace your compulsory Uber private hire insurance though - rather to sit alongside it.