Auto Insurance for Delivery Drivers
Many Americans are looking for other ways to make an income. Because restaurants can offer to-go options thanks to food delivery services such as Favor and Uber Eats. Many are taking on these jobs to make extra cash but might not know that, as delivery drivers, they need to upgrade their insurance plan to accommodate commercial business if they drive their own car.
You May Need to Purchase Commercial Insurance
Since food delivery is technically a business use of your vehicle, not personal use, insurance companies might require you to purchase a commercial auto insurance policy. The insurance company will charge more for this policy because they believe you are more likely to get into an accident as a delivery driver or taxi driver, probably because you will likely be on the road much more often than for personal use. If you plan on taking a job as a food delivery person, you must notify your insurance company and ask about the possible consequences of not upgrading your policy. Sticking with your regular personal policy might come back to bite you later if you get into an accident during a delivery and file a claim.
However, some auto insurance companies have already made changes to their policies to accommodate these uncertain and sometimes confusing times. For example, Allstate automatically granted each of their policyholders special coverage for delivering items such as medicine, meal delivery, grocery delivery, etc., through the end of April. In that case, Allstate customers will not need to upgrade their policy to commercial status. Farmers Insurance has enacted a similar extension of their coverage through April 30
th, as well.
According to an article by
The Rideshare Guy, many food delivery companies like Uber Eats and Domino’s Pizza have their own insurance policies, so their hired drivers don’t need to buy their own commercial policies. However, certain companies’ insurance plans do not extend to drivers in the state of New York, and they will be responsible for purchasing their own commercial policies. Amazon Flex and Uber Eats specifically do not cover New York drivers. GrubHub, Instacart, and Walmart also do not provide company coverage for their drivers.
If you got into a
car accident while delivering food or using your car in a commercial capacity, you might need help navigating your insurance claim. The attorneys at
Hach & Rose, LLP are ready to stand up for you and help you get the compensation you’re owed. Call our office at
212-779-0057 to discuss your legal options today.