Uber and Lyft Accident Insurance Coverage by State
Last reviewed June 2026
Quick answer. Uber and Lyft coverage depends on the driver’s status. App off means the driver’s personal policy. App on but waiting means limited contingent coverage. Ride accepted or passenger aboard means up to 1 million dollars in liability coverage, or up to 1.25 million dollars in New York. The period decides the policy.
Rideshare crashes do not work like ordinary car accidents. The coverage available turns on what the driver was doing at the moment of the collision, which is sorted into three periods.
The Three Rideshare Coverage Periods
Period 1 (app off). The driver is using the car personally. Only the driver’s own auto policy applies.
Period 2 (app on, waiting for a request). Uber and Lyft provide contingent liability coverage at lower limits, typically around 50,000 / 100,000 / 25,000, if the driver’s personal policy does not respond.
Period 3 (ride accepted or passenger aboard). The companies generally carry up to 1 million dollars in third-party liability coverage, plus uninsured and underinsured motorist protection. In New York this active-trip coverage is up to 1.25 million dollars.
How Coverage Differs by State
The three-period framework is broadly consistent because it follows the companies’ commercial policies, but two Northeast wrinkles matter. New York requires higher active-trip coverage, up to 1.25 million dollars, and adds 50,000 dollars in no-fault PIP for occupants. New Jersey applies its verbal threshold under N.J.S.A. 39:6A-8 to rideshare injury claims, so whether you can sue for pain and suffering still depends on meeting the threshold. In the at-fault states, you pursue the responsible party’s coverage directly.
| State | System | Active-trip rideshare coverage |
|---|---|---|
| New York | No-fault | Up to 1.25 million dollars + 50,000 PIP |
| New Jersey | No-fault | Up to 1 million dollars (verbal threshold applies) |
| Massachusetts | No-fault | Up to 1 million dollars + PIP |
| Connecticut, Rhode Island, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine | At-fault | Up to 1 million dollars |
Why Identifying the Period Matters Most
Because the period decides which policy pays, securing the trip records that prove the driver’s status is often the single most important early step. A crash that looks minor can involve very different coverage depending on whether the app showed an accepted ride.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How Much Insurance Do Uber and Lyft Carry?
It depends on the driver’s status. With the app off, only the driver’s personal policy applies. With the app on but no ride accepted, lower contingent coverage applies. Once a ride is accepted or a passenger is aboard, the companies generally carry up to 1 million dollars in liability coverage. In New York the active-trip coverage is higher, up to 1.25 million dollars, plus 50,000 dollars in no-fault PIP.
Who Pays If I Was a Passenger in an Uber That Crashed?
During an active trip the rideshare company’s commercial policy, up to 1 million dollars (1.25 million in New York), is generally available to injured passengers. As a passenger you are almost never at fault, so you may have a claim against the rideshare driver, another driver, or both.
Does No-Fault Apply to Rideshare Crashes?
In no-fault states like New York and New Jersey, PIP still pays first for medical bills, and the threshold to sue still applies, layered on top of the rideshare company’s commercial coverage. In New York, a rideshare passenger can access both the 50,000 dollar PIP and the 1.25 million dollar trip coverage.
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