Most of us have seen the meme going around that refers to a couple of life lessons that have reversed course over the past couple of decades: don’t get in the car with strangers and don’t meet people from the internet.The fact is, the internet, when combined with the “sharing economy,” has drastically changed the ways by which we travel, where we stay when we travel, and, in some cases, who we meet up with once we arrive at our travel destination.Insurance has been relatively slow to keep up with some of these changing behaviors, but the good news is that there is an answer to one of the largest sharing economy exposures: ridesharing.

A number of insurance companies, including Central Mutual, have adopted revised personal policy forms that utilize the term “transportation network platform” in them.This term is defined as “an online-enabled application or digital network used to connect passengers with drivers using vehicles for the purpose of providing prearranged transportation services for compensation.” As one might expect, this terminology clarifies several liability and physical damage exclusions that are found in the policy, as old policy language wasn’t clear-cut about ridesharing services.So, to circle back around on this, what if you or one of your children are using a vehicle owned by you to work as a driver for Uber, Lyft, or another transportation network platform? If you don’t make sure that your personal auto policy is endorsed with the proper coverage, your insurance protection may be insufficient if you get into an accident.

For example, Uber provides $1,000,000 of third party liability for drivers who have picked up riders and are undertaking a trip.However, this changes when their drivers are available and waiting for a ride request but have not yet picked up a passenger.The limits, in that case, decrease substantially and become $50,000 per person / $100,000 per accident for bodily injury liability and $25,000 for property damage liability.

For an additional premium with Central Mutual, you can buy back coverage so that your personal auto limits of insurance will apply when you are logged into a transportation network platform and a passenger has not yet entered your vehicle.Coverage also extends to the physical damage insurance on your policy.So, if you suffer a comprehensive or collision loss while logged in (and before you have accepted a passenger), the damage will be covered – subject to the remaining policy provisions, of course.

So, in short, you can have some additional peace of mind if you are waiting to pick up a passenger you don’t know to take them to a house they are about to rent from a person they don’t know.Speaking of not knowing, I don’t know what else to say about this “sharing economy,” so I’ll just stop here.Contact your independent insurance agent with any questions on transportation network coverage! The information above is of a general nature and your policy and coverages provided may differ from the examples provided.

Please read your policy in its entirety to determine your actual coverage available.Share this:FacebookTwitterLinkedInMoreEmailPrintLike this: