Frequently Asked questions

What insurance covers an Uber or Lyft accident in California?

Quick Answer

California Public Utilities Code §5433 sets up three insurance phases tied to a driver’s app status. Phase 1 (app on, no ride accepted): primary $50,000 per person / $100,000 per accident / $30,000 property damage, plus $200,000 excess per occurrence. Phase 2 (en route to pickup): $1,000,000 primary liability. Phase 3 (passenger in the vehicle): $1,000,000 primary liability plus uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage of $60,000 per person and $300,000 per incident under the current statute. Coverage on any specific claim should be evaluated under the law in effect on the crash date.

Reviewed by Daryoosh Khashayar, ABOTA Member, founder and managing partner of Khashayar Law Group — Last updated May 2026.

Rideshare insurance note: California TNC insurance requirements have changed. The current statutory text of Public Utilities Code §5433 (updated January 1, 2026; verified December 29, 2025) provides the requirements summarized below. The CPUC’s public-facing “Insurance Requirements for TNCs” page currently still references older $1,000,000 UM/UIM language; coverage on any specific claim should be evaluated under the law in effect on the crash date.

On this page

Phase 1 — App on, no ride accepted

Under PUC §5433(c), when the driver is logged in to the app but has not yet accepted a ride:

  • Primary liability of at least $50,000 per person, $100,000 per incident, and $30,000 property damage.
  • Excess coverage of at least $200,000 per occurrence in excess of the primary coverage, insuring both the TNC and the driver.

The primary coverage may be satisfied by the driver’s TNC-specific policy, the TNC’s policy, or a combination.

Phase 2 — En route to pickup

Under PUC §5433(b), from the moment the driver accepts a ride request, primary liability coverage of $1,000,000 for death, personal injury, and property damage applies, and continues until the driver completes the trip or the transaction in the app, whichever is later.

Phase 3 — Passenger in the vehicle

While the passenger is in the vehicle, two coverages apply:

  • $1,000,000 primary liability (continues from Phase 2).
  • Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage of $60,000 per person and $300,000 per incident under current PUC §5433(b)(2). The UM/UIM coverage applies from the moment the passenger enters the vehicle until the passenger exits, and is primary over other applicable UM/UIM coverage.

Note: The CPUC’s public-facing guidance still describes Period 3 UM/UIM at the older $1,000,000 figure. The current statutory text of PUC §5433(b)(2) is $60,000 / $300,000. Coverage on any specific claim should be evaluated against the version of the statute in effect on the crash date.

What if the app was off?

If the driver’s app was off at the moment of the crash, TNC coverage generally does not apply, and the driver’s personal auto policy is usually the starting point. Personal auto policies in California often exclude commercial driving activity. App-status records and trip telemetry resolve disputes about which policy applies.

Sources

This FAQ relates to our Rideshare Accidents practice. For a free consultation, call (858) 509-1550. This article is general information, not legal advice; past results do not guarantee future outcomes.