Miss T Says: “What do Uber Drivers need to know about car insurance?”

File illustration picture showing the logo of car-sharing service app Uber on a smartphone next to the picture of an official German taxi sign in Frankfurt, September 15, 2014. A Frankfurt court earlier this month instituted a temporary injunction against Uber from offering car-sharing services across Germany. San Francisco-based Uber, which allows users to summon taxi-like services on their smartphones, offers two main services, Uber, its classic low-cost, limousine pick-up service, and Uberpop, a newer ride-sharing service, which connects private drivers to passengers - an established practice in Germany that nonetheless operates in a legal grey area of rules governing commercial transportation. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach/Files (GERMANY - Tags: BUSINESS EMPLOYMENT CRIME LAW TRANSPORT)

From a legal point of view, being a registered Uber Driver is the same as being a taxi driver, because you’re transporting passengers from Point A to Point B for money.

This distinction means your regular car insurance will probably not cover you if you’re involved in an accident, even if someone else smashes into you, and even if the accident happens whilst you’re ‘only’ on your way to pick up a passenger.

If you’re not properly insured, you’ll almost certainly have to pay for your own damages, and maybe even for the other person’s damages too.

To get yourself properly insured, you’ll first need to get the correct Uber Driver licenses which include:

  1. A valid SA Driver’s Licence.
  2. A valid SA Professional Driver’s Permit (PDP).
  3. A valid Certificate of Vehicle Registration.
  4. A valid Vehicle Inspection Certificate.
  5. A valid Taxi Operating License.

The insurance you’ll need is called Comprehensive Taxi Insurance which covers damages to your vehicle; injury to the passengers you’re transporting; and which provides 3rd Party cover for damages caused to any property not belonging to you.

No one likes paperwork or ‘wasting’ money on insurance, but if you’re serious about being an Uber Driver you’ll need to get the proper insurance before you can begin transporting passengers.

At TaxiSure we’re fast becoming experts at helping Uber Drivers secure the correct insurance, so why not give me a call, or fill in this form and I’ll get straight back to you?