If you want to work for Uber in London or Manchester, Wolverhampton or Bradford, your average, run-of-the-mill car insurance simply won’t suit your demands as an Uber driver. Uber insurance isn’t as difficult to get as many people believe. It’s really rather simple.
If you’re looking for Uber taxi insurance in the United Kingdom, you’ll need to have private hire insurance, but the competitive insurance market makes it very easy to get. This article offers a simple overview of the information that new Uber drivers should have to understand about Uber insurance.
What exactly is Uber?
In 2012, Uber made its debut in the British taxi market, and since then, the term “taxi” has been used as a synonym for Uber. If you don’t want to wait for a taxi or call a booking agency before getting a ride, this is the app for you! It locates your position and links you with a nearby driver using the GPS on your mobile.
You can even choose and select what kind of vehicle you want. It is the new taxi service, and it is taking over every big city around the globe, with everything done by credit card and via the app.
Why should I drive for Uber?
There are many different reasons for individuals to become Uber drivers, including the following:
- It gives you the freedom to work when and how much you choose. Once you log in, you’re basically already working.
- Due to the work schedule’s flexibility, you have the option of doing it either full or part-time as a supplementary income.
- It’s a great career for people who like socializing and gives you the opportunity to run your own business.
- As passengers are also rated, you can stay away from those who might cause trouble.
How can you get started as an Uber driver?
There are a number of requirements that must be met before you can qualify to become an Uber driver. We’ll focus on the regulations of the United Kingdom, which differ from nation to country:
- You need to be at least 21 years old, legally permitted to work in the United Kingdom and have a legal driving license.
- After that, you will be required to successfully complete a full medical checkup administered by your GP, an improved DBS check, and even a local map test.
Once you meet these standards, Uber has its own criteria:
- You’ll need to have a private hire licence, which can cost up to different prices depending on where you reside in the country.
- On the Uber homepage, you’ll find a list of pre-approved vehicles, and if you prefer, you can hire one of their own for around £165 per week.
- Set an appointment with Uber to engage in their interview session, which may take many months to complete.
For Uber, what kind of insurance should I get?
If you want to drive for Uber or another booking service, you must have private hire insurance. It’s part of your contract with Uber. If you get into an accident while driving with your standard car insurance, you run the risk of having your claims denied.
Uber doesn’t at all pay for your private hire insurance; you are responsible for finding another provider on your own. The same rules apply whether you use Uber for personal reasons and also for transportation.
Everything you should know about Uber insurance
The United Kingdom requires private hire insurance for Uber drivers. When it comes to insurance companies, Uber and private-hire taxi drivers are essentially the same. Having the proper insurance is your obligation, and failing to do so might get you in hot water with the law.
Insurers will not cover you as an Uber driver unless you get ‘business use’ coverage for your car. Anyone in the UK who accepts payment for transporting another person must have insurance to cover the cost of their journey. Taxis, limo drivers, ride-sharing systems, and Uber all fall under this umbrella.
Uber is not responsible for insuring your car since it does not own it. When it comes to insurance, it doesn’t matter if you’re a full-time or irregular Uber driver.
What is covered by Uber’s insurance?
Uber’s insurance plan can help you identify areas where you need further protection, so make sure you know how much coverage you have. There are four levels of Uber taxi insurance, each with a different level of coverage:
1. Offline:
Your personal insurance protects you if you go offline. As of right now, there’s no Uber insurance.
2. Waiting for requests:
Uber’s liability insurance covers you alone as soon as you hit “Go” on your Uber app and become accessible to accept ride requests.
If you’re at fault for a covered automobile accident, you’re insured for up to £80,000 in damages, £40,000 in physical injury damages for each person, and £20,000 in property damages.
3. En route:
Between accepting a trip and picking up the passenger, your Uber taxi insurance is at its max. Your liability coverage has been increased to a million pounds.
An uninsured motorist can be held responsible for up to £200,000. Uber’s insurance will step in and cover physical damage for your vehicle up to its real cash worth, regardless of who is to blame, as long as you have collision coverage on your own car insurance.
4. On Trip:
As long as you’re on the road, you’ll be covered from the moment you pick up your passenger until you leave them off. In the case of a major mishap, the “Waiting for Requests” period might leave you with a big financial shortfall, particularly if you don’t have enough insurance coverage.
Even if you have full coverage, you’ll still have to pay a hundred of pounds on your car and maybe much more in medical bills.
Uber insurance types
There are three kinds of private Uber taxi insurance policies to select from. Basic to comprehensive coverage is available here:
- Third-party only
- A third party, a fire, or a burglary
- Comprehensive
There is no better option for Uber drivers than full-coverage insurance since it gives the most comprehensive protection, including damage to your own car and the vehicles of others, and includes events beyond your control such as fire or theft.
On the other hand, third-party only provides the minimum of coverage required by law. In the case of a mishap that is your responsibility, it’ll also protect other persons, cars, and property.
On-demand Uber insurance
It’s possible that some private hire plans may provide on-demand insurance that will protect your Uber taxi insurance while you’re working but will return to a standard car insurance policy once your shift is done. This will allow your insurance to adapt to the flexibility of your employment.
Several private hire Uber cab insurance packages contain ‘personal use cover,’ which is similar. This means that you can utilize the same car that you use for Uber while you’re not on duty, for personal reasons.
If you presume that your company’s private hire insurance will cover your Uber driving as well as personal usage, do some research first. Make sure your company insurance isn’t invalid due to a misunderstanding by carefully reading the terms and conditions. Depending on the policy, you may be eligible to pay an additional price to cover driving for personal use.
Private hire insurance
If you work as an Uber driver, your car will be classed as a private hire taxi. Instead of getting a licence for a public taxi service, you will need to get a licence for a private taxi service.
Uber payment patterns
Uber taxi insurance can be paid in weekly, monthly, or yearly instalments, according to your needs. Temporary car insurance that suits your own timetable is one of the many choices that private hire insurance companies are now providing for Uber drivers working in the gig economy.
To save money, we recommend investing in your private hire insurance Uber over the course of a year rather than paying monthly or quarterly.
What is the cost of Uber insurance?
A straightforward answer to that issue does not exist, since a broad variety of criteria will be utilized to compute your insurance rate, such as where you want to drive for Uber; your age; how long you’ve had a licence; the sort of car that you drive; and so on.
It is possible, however, to save money on your Uber taxi insurance by comparing quotes from many insurance companies.
Uber drivers that are covered by an insurance plan
It can be used for the following types of ride-sharing services:
UberX: Can accommodate up to four people. UberX is the cheapest option.
UberXL: Seats up to six people and is often an SUV.
Uber Select: This is a basic premium automobile service for those who can afford it. It can accommodate up to four passengers in the vehicle, which includes BMWs, Porsche, and other high-end cars.
UberHop: During peak hours, you can share rides with other customers on popular routes.
UberPool: You ride with other individuals to split the cost of the journey. ‘
Uber Eats: Getting food, grocery items, and other things delivered.
Uber’s insurance limitations
1. Fleet insurance
It is normally more cost-effective to get a private hire fleet insurance if you operate a private hire car service and have a large number of drivers. Due to the fact that Uber drivers are independent contractors who are individually responsible for their own car and insurance coverage, fleet insurance is not an option.
2. Age restrictions
The majority of Uber insurance plans will have lower age limitations. If you are not 25 years old, you will probably have a difficult time finding a fair rate on insurance.
Uber drivers under the age of 21 can be covered by certain insurance, although they are likely to be pricey. If you wait until you’re over the age of 25 and have sufficient experience in driving to show that you’re a responsible driver, you’ll get cheap taxi insurance prices.
3. Non – authorized Uber drivers
There are policies that will let you add insurance coverage for your partner so that they can drive the car that you use for Uber riding, even if it’s simply for personal use. Still, most of the time, unlicensed drivers won’t get as much coverage as they need. Check your terms and conditions to ensure that permitting an uninsured person to drive does not cancel your insurance coverage.
4. Lack of safety
Even if an accident occurs because of your own negligence, most insurance plans won’t cover the costs. Thefts that occur as a result of leaving keys inside the automobile while drunk are some examples. These scenarios can be avoided if you drive properly, take care of your vehicle, and ensure the safety of your Uber passengers at all times. However, failing to do so is a violation of Uber’s rules and conditions.
Is Uber insurance pricey in London?
The price of Uber taxi insurance can vary widely depending on the density of a city’s population. As London is the UK’s biggest metropolis, Uber taxi insurance is likely to be more costly due to the large population and high risk of an accident.
If you reside in an urban region and you drive for Uber in London, the possibility is higher that there will be a rise in the number of your insurance rates.
However, this extra cost must be considered against the fact that Uber drivers can earn more when they are in great demand, and being the UK’s capital city and biggest metropolitan area, London could provide Uber drivers with a steady flow of paying passengers.
Summary
In recent years, one of the most popular ways to make money has been to sign up to drive for Uber. This includes both full and part-time driving opportunities. It’s a flexible job that lets you choose your own schedule and dictates how much time you spend with coworkers.
Becoming an Uber driver involves meeting several requirements. I hope this tutorial will assist you to understand the fundamentals of being an Uber driver and the kinds of car insurance you’ll need to get a licence.