Lyft Express Drive Insurance: What Coverage Do Drivers Get?

Lyft's Express Drive is a rental program that helps drivers rent a vehicle to drive for Lyft in eligible regions. The program is available through partners Avis, Flexdrive, and Hertz in select cities. To be eligible, drivers must meet Lyft's driver requirements and be 25 or older. The rental costs are covered by the driver's earnings as a Lyft driver, and there is a refundable deposit to rent a vehicle. Insurance and standard maintenance are included in the Express Drive program, and coverage depends on the driver's status when an incident occurs.

Lyft Express Drive insurance coverage depends on whether you're offline, waiting for a request, en route, or ride is in progress

Lyft's Express Drive program allows drivers in eligible regions to rent a vehicle to drive with Lyft. The insurance coverage provided through Express Drive depends on whether you're offline, waiting for a request, en route to pick up a passenger, or if a ride is in progress.

Offline

When you are offline, meaning you are not in driver mode, your personal auto insurance coverage applies. It is important to note that most personal auto policies will not cover you while you are using the Lyft app. Therefore, you may need to consider purchasing a rideshare insurance policy or endorsement for complete coverage when driving for Lyft.

Waiting for a Request

When you are in driver mode and waiting for a ride request, your coverage depends on the rental company you are using through Express Drive. If you are renting from Hertz, Avis, or Flexdrive, their respective insurance policies will apply. These policies vary, but generally, they provide vehicle coverage regardless of fault, with a deductible for which you are responsible. Additionally, they may provide auto liability coverage for bodily injury and property damage to third parties, as well as uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage.

En Route to Pick Up a Passenger

Once you accept a ride request and are on your way to pick up the passenger, Lyft provides insurance coverage for covered accidents. This includes at least $1,000,000 in third-party auto liability coverage and first-party coverages such as uninsured motorist coverage, PIP, and MedPay. However, there are exceptions to this coverage. For example, in Maryland, Lyft maintains $125,000 for third-party liability insurance, consistent with state requirements.

Ride in Progress

When a ride is in progress, from the time of passenger pickup until the ride ends, Lyft maintains similar insurance coverage as when en route to pick up a passenger. This includes at least $1,000,000 in third-party auto liability coverage and first-party coverages. Again, there are exceptions, such as in Arizona and Nebraska, where third-party liability insurance limits are lower, consistent with state requirements.

Lyft maintains third-party liability insurance for covered accidents

Lyft drivers have the option to rent a vehicle through the Express Drive program, which is available in select cities through partners such as Avis, Flexdrive, and Hertz. This program offers flexible pricing plans, including insurance, standard maintenance, and roadside assistance.

When it comes to insurance, Lyft maintains third-party liability insurance for covered accidents. This means that if a Lyft driver is in a covered accident and their personal insurance does not apply or is insufficient, Lyft's insurance will provide coverage. The amount of coverage provided by Lyft's third-party liability insurance varies depending on the state and local laws.

In most markets, Lyft provides at least $1,000,000 in third-party auto liability coverage. This coverage includes uninsured motorist protection, underinsured motorist protection, Personal Injury Protection (PIP), Medical Payments (MedPay), and Occupational Accident coverage. Additionally, if a driver has comprehensive and collision coverage on their personal auto policy, Lyft provides contingent comprehensive and collision coverage up to the actual cash value of the car, with a $2,500 deductible.

However, it is important to note that there are exceptions to the $1,000,000 coverage. For example, in Arizona and Nebraska, the third-party liability insurance limits are lower, with $25,000 per person for bodily injury, $50,000 per accident for bodily injury, and $20,000 per accident for property damage, in alignment with state requirements. Similarly, in Maryland, Lyft maintains $125,000 in third-party liability insurance (combined single limits for bodily injury and property damage) when a driver is en route to pick up a passenger, adhering to the state's requirements.

Furthermore, it is worth mentioning that Lyft's insurance coverage while driving varies depending on the period during which an incident occurs. These periods include personal driving (offline, not in driver mode), waiting for a request (in driver mode but haven't received a ride request), en route to a passenger (from accepting a ride request to arriving at the pickup location), and ride in progress (from passenger pickup until the ride ends).

Additionally, the insurance coverage provided by rental companies like Hertz, Avis, and Flexdrive may differ depending on the state and the period during which the incident occurred. For instance, Hertz and Flexdrive offer vehicle coverage regardless of fault, with a $1,000 deductible for which the driver is responsible. Similarly, Avis may provide vehicle coverage with the same deductible, depending on the state and the terms of the rental agreement.

Lyft drivers must maintain personal auto insurance that meets minimum state requirements

Lyft's Express Drive is a rental program that helps drivers rent a vehicle to drive with Lyft. It is available in select cities through partners like Avis, Flexdrive, and Hertz. To be eligible for the program, drivers must meet Lyft's driver requirements and be at least 25 years old.

When it comes to insurance, Lyft drivers must maintain personal auto insurance that meets the minimum state requirements. However, it is important to note that most personal auto policies do not cover drivers while they are using the Lyft app. Lyft maintains commercial insurance on behalf of its drivers, providing certain coverages while the app is in use. This insurance coverage varies depending on the state and the period during which an incident occurs.

The periods that determine insurance coverage include personal driving (when the driver is offline), waiting for a request (when the app is in driver mode but no ride request has been received), en route to a passenger (from accepting a ride request to arriving at the pickup location), and ride in progress (from passenger pickup to the end of the ride). During these periods, Lyft provides insurance coverages such as auto physical damage, auto liability coverage, and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage.

The extent of Lyft's insurance coverage also depends on the state in which the driver operates. For example, in Arizona and Nebraska, third-party liability insurance coverage is $25,000 per person for bodily injury, $50,000 per accident for bodily injury, and $20,000 per accident for property damage. In Maryland, Lyft maintains $125,000 in third-party liability insurance for covered accidents while the driver is en route to pick up a passenger. In certain states, such as California and Pennsylvania, rental coverage may serve as secondary or split insurance alongside the driver's personal insurance.

It is important for Lyft drivers to understand their insurance coverage and ensure they have the necessary personal auto insurance that meets the minimum state requirements. They should also be aware of any exceptions or specific regulations in their state that may impact their insurance coverage while driving with Lyft.

Lyft rental partners include Avis, Flexdrive, and Hertz

Lyft's Express Drive program allows drivers to rent a vehicle to drive for Lyft. The program is available through rental partners Avis, Flexdrive, and Hertz in select cities across the United States.

Renting through Avis is currently only available in Phoenix, Arizona. Flexdrive rentals are available in Washington, D.C., while Hertz rentals are also available in Washington, D.C., among other cities.

Drivers must meet the standard Lyft driver requirements, including being 25 or older, having a valid driver's license, and passing a background screening. There is also a refundable deposit of around $150, which is returned when the car is turned in. The rental period has a minimum of 7 days, with weekly renewals. Personal use of the vehicle is permitted, but drivers may need to pay extra for personal miles. Rental payments are deducted from the driver's weekly earnings.

Regarding insurance, Lyft's Express Drive program provides coverage depending on the driver's status when an incident occurs. There are three periods: "Personal driving", when the driver is offline; "Waiting for a request", when the app is in driver mode but no ride request has been received; and "Ride in progress", which includes the time from accepting a ride request to the end of the ride.

Insurance coverage through Avis, Flexdrive, and Hertz varies depending on the period the incident occurred. All three partners provide auto physical damage coverage regardless of fault, with a $1,000 deductible for which the driver is responsible. Avis and Flexdrive may provide auto liability coverage for bodily injury and property damage to third parties, and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. Hertz offers unlimited miles for one rental price, while Flexdrive offers unlimited miles while driving for Lyft but charges extra for offline personal miles.

Lyft insurance coverage varies depending on the state

In most markets, Lyft maintains at least $1,000,000 in third-party auto liability coverage for covered accidents. However, this amount may be lower or not procured in certain markets, such as Arizona and Nebraska, where third-party liability insurance is $25,000 per person for bodily injury, $50,000 per accident for bodily injury, and $20,000 per accident for property damage, consistent with state requirements. In Maryland, Lyft maintains $125,000 in third-party liability insurance (combined single limit for bodily injury and property damage) when the driver is en route to pick up a passenger, adhering to state mandates.

It's important to note that Lyft's insurance coverage may not apply if you're logged into the Lyft platform or engaged in a pre-arranged ride, as your personal insurance policy may not provide coverage during these periods. Most personal auto insurance policies exclude comprehensive and collision coverage when you're logged into a transportation network company's digital network and carrying passengers for a charge. Therefore, it's crucial to review your insurance policy and understand the coverage provided by Lyft in your specific state.

Additionally, Lyft's Express Drive program offers rental vehicles for eligible drivers in select cities. The insurance coverage for Express Drive vehicles depends on the rental company and the state in which you're driving. For example, Avis and Flexdrive may provide vehicle coverage regardless of fault, with a $1,000 deductible for which you're responsible. On the other hand, Hertz provides coverage with a $50,000 limit per vehicle and a $1,000 deductible.

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