Uber Driver Insurance - what do you need?

Since launching in the UK in London in June 2012, more and more people have looked to the ride-hailing app as a viable source of income. But most new drivers are confused about what insurance you need as an Uber driver. In this article we’ll cover everything you’ll need to know about Uber driver insurance including what they cover and what insurance you need to buy.

One of the biggest benefits of driving for Uber is that you can also accept deliveries for UberEats—we've got a separate guide to UberEats insurance if you might be thinking about picking up some food orders.

While it won't effect the insurance you require, in March 2021 the Supreme Court announced all UK-based Uber drivers should have access to basic employment rights, such as a guaranteed hourly minimum wage and pension schemes. Initial feedback was overwhelmingly positive, and it looks to be an even better time to sign-up now as a result.

• What insurance does Uber provide for its drivers?
• What insurances do I need to drive with Uber?
• How much does Uber insurance cost?
• How can I save money on my Uber insurance?

What insurance does Uber provide for its drivers?

As of December 2022, Uber provides a number of insurances to protect its drivers while they’re working with Uber from sickness/injury (and even provides a bonus for experienced drivers taking maternity or paternity leave!). However, they provide no protection for your vehicle, nor the coverage you’ll legally require to help passengers get from A to B.

Here's some of the key details of the Uber partner protection insurance policy:

In terms of vehicle insurance, that's something you buy yourself. You'll have to submit the correct insurance documentation during the registration process, and this article will help you know what you’ll need ahead of time.

While they don’t call themselves a ‘taxi service’, while carrying passengers in the UK you’re required to keep to the insurance standards of a traditional taxi/black cab. Uber currently doesn’t offer its own insurance policies to drivers, but does partner with the likes of Acorn, Zego and Fare Cover so finding a suitable policy isn’t too difficult. (Read more about their partners on the Uber site here.)

It’s worth considering that Uber-approved providers do offer some unique benefits to Uber drivers, such as dedicated Uber driver insurance phone lines and reduced excess payments on claims, but these vary from provider to provider so make sure to double check before signing up.

What insurances do I need to drive with Uber?

To make sure you're covered while driving for Uber, you'll need a form of hire & reward—private hire (PHV)—insurance. There are two options for this.

Private car social, domestic & pleasure car insurance is not adequate on its own for an Uber driver. All drivers who act in a taxi capacity (taking passengers from point A to point B in return for payment), are required by law to have a more robust coverage (hire & reward/private hire insurance) than a traditional social, domestic & personal policy.

Due to the long mileage, unsociable hours and possibility of driving around areas they’re not familiar with, hire & reward insurance will cost more than SD&P insurance.

Top-Up Hire & Reward Insurance

Some drivers prefer to keep their existing private car insurance and supplement it with a pay-as-you-go/monthly hire and reward insurance policy to protect themselves. These can be especially useful if you see Uber as a short-term employment solution (and don't want to sign up to a 12 month contract), or if you're working less than 20 hours per week as a courier/driver (our research indicates this is around the cutoff point for when a monthly policy becomes more cost effective).

While these policies are a good solution for some, there are a number of potential issues it's worth being aware of. Some insurers will void your personal car insurance if you've been using your vehicle in return for payment, even if an accident occurs while you're not working (and thus not protected by your pay-as-you-go coverage), so make sure to inform and check with your provider before taking your first Uber customer. We've put together a list of which of the UK's top vehicle insurance companies might/might not accept top-up insurance, so take a look to make sure you're covered.

Public Liability Insurance

Public liability insurance will cover you against any claims made against you by passengers or members of the general public who may be involved in an accident that they blame you for.

The typical policy will cover you against any claims against you, with the option of also including coverage for your legal expenses for a small additional cost.

Injury/Accident Insurance

While Uber does provide some protections in the case of injury or accident, the coverages may be too little for some (e.g. you’ll only be covered for severe illness for up to 15 days). It’s certainly worth considering additional coverage on top of the Uber insurance (provided via AXA).

Policies generally start around £40 for non-smokers, and will cover you for up to one year (depending on which policy you choose) for between 55-70% of your pre-tax earnings. Each provider has their own limits on payout, duration and coverage, so make sure to shop around and find the one that works best for you.

Uber Driver/Taxi Driver Licenses

Private Hire Vehicle/Driver licenses

As an Uber driver, it’s important to make sure you're licensed to carry passengers in your vehicle for payment. You’ll require a private hire policy, as opposed to a public hire, (which would be more suitable for a black cab that can be hailed on the street), as Uber’s are only available by pre-booking.

Before signing up for your insurance, you'll need to sign up for both private hire driver and private hire vehicle licenses. This is to make sure that both you and your vehicle meet the criteria and are safe to carry other people.

Signing up isn't a difficult process, and licenses are fully valid for 3 years. Be aware that there are costs to signing up and getting your license, and make sure to find the regulator most appropriate for you to award you your license (typically a government body like Transport for London or your local city council)

Below is an estimate of the costs of signing up as a London Uber driver through TfL:

How much will it cost me to get insured to drive Uber?

An example driver could expect to pay, annually, between £1,900 to £2,300 for a comprehensive commercial car insurance policy (covering both hire & reward private vehicle insurance and social, domestic & pleasure insurance for personal driving). Monthly private hire insurance (including SD&P) starts around £180 for third-party-only coverage, with comprehensive coverage between £215-300 p/m.

This is significantly more than a plain traditional social, domestic & pleasure use insurance policy. They'll also pay in the ballpark of £80 for their public liability.

You should also account for the c. £500 of application costs discussed above to achieve your Private Hire drivers license.

How can I save money on my Uber driver insurance?

Ways to save money on your Uber driver insurance are similar to those that would help you save money on your personal car insurance. Here are a few examples: