Riding Uber or Lyft in Florida? You May Not Be Covered If an Uninsured Driver Hits You

Millions of people in Broward and Miami-Dade use Uber and Lyft to get to work, the airport, and nights out. Most riders assume that if anything goes wrong, the rideshare company’s $1 million insurance policy will take care of them.

That’s only partly true. If your rideshare driver causes a crash, there is usually substantial insurance available. But if another driver causes the crash and that driver has little or no insurance, the rideshare company’s policy won’t cover your injuries. Neither Uber nor Lyft carries uninsured motorist coverage for riders in Florida.

Here’s what Florida rideshare passengers need to know, and how to protect yourself before your next ride.

What rideshare insurance covers, and what it doesn’t

Florida law requires rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft, which the law calls “transportation network companies,” to make sure certain insurance is in place while their drivers are working. From the moment a driver accepts a ride until the passenger is dropped off, there must be at least $1 million in liability coverage.

Liability coverage pays for injuries the rideshare driver causes. If your Uber or Lyft driver runs a red light and you’re hurt, that $1 million policy is generally available for your claim.

But many crashes involving rideshare vehicles are caused by someone else: a driver who rear-ends the Uber at a light, runs a stop sign, or drives off after a hit-and-run. In those cases, the rideshare driver’s liability coverage usually doesn’t apply, because the rideshare driver didn’t cause the crash. Your claim is against the other driver instead.

Why uninsured motorist coverage matters so much in Florida

Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage (UM) pays for your injuries when the driver who caused the crash has no bodily injury insurance, not enough of it, or can’t be found.

This coverage is especially important in Florida. Unlike most states, Florida doesn’t require most drivers to carry bodily injury liability insurance at all. Drivers only have to carry Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and property damage coverage. That means the driver who hits your Uber or Lyft may have nothing to pay for your injuries beyond their own PIP, and Florida has a large number of drivers with no insurance at all.

Without UM coverage, an injured passenger in that situation may be left with only limited PIP benefits, even for serious injuries.

Uber and Lyft don’t carry UM coverage for Florida riders

Many people are surprised to learn that neither Uber nor Lyft provides uninsured motorist coverage for its riders in Florida.

Uber states on its own website that it maintains uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage only in states where the law requires it, and not in every state. Uber’s Florida rideshare insurance has rejected UM coverage. Lyft’s Florida rideshare insurance does not include UM coverage either.

Why isn’t this required? In 2024, a federal court in South Florida ruled that no UM coverage existed under Uber’s Florida rideshare policy. The court concluded that the way Florida’s rideshare law is written doesn’t actually require rideshare companies to carry UM coverage, even though that may not be what lawmakers intended. The same reasoning applies to any rideshare company operating in Florida.

You may still see websites stating that Uber and Lyft carry $1 million in uninsured motorist coverage in Florida. That information is outdated.

What this means for riders

If you’re injured as an Uber or Lyft passenger and another driver caused the crash, your compensation may come from:

• Your own PIP coverage (or a household member’s), which pays part of your medical bills and lost wages under Florida’s no-fault system, as long as you get medical treatment within 14 days
• The at-fault driver’s bodily injury insurance, if they have any
• Your own UM coverage, if you have it on your auto policy or are covered under a household member’s policy
• Possibly the rideshare driver’s personal UM coverage, although many personal policies exclude coverage while the car is being used for rideshare work

If you don’t have UM coverage of your own, and the at-fault driver has no bodily injury insurance, there may be very little available to pay for serious injuries, lost income, and pain and suffering. Uber and Lyft’s $1 million policies won’t fill that gap.

How to protect yourself before your next ride

Check your own auto policy for UM coverage. In Florida, UM coverage can be rejected in writing, and many people turned it down years ago to save on premiums without realizing what it covers. Look at your declarations page or call your insurance agent. UM coverage on your policy generally protects you as a passenger in someone else’s vehicle, including a rideshare.

Consider your limits. UM coverage is only as helpful as its limits. Talk with your agent about whether your limits are enough to cover a serious injury.

If you don’t own a car, ask about your options. You may be covered under a household member’s policy. If not, ask an insurance agent about coverage available to people who don’t own a vehicle.

Rideshare drivers should check their coverage too. Uber and Lyft drivers face the same gap when another driver hits them while they’re working. A rideshare endorsement or commercial policy with UM coverage may help protect both drivers and their passengers.

What to do if you’re hurt in an Uber or Lyft

1. Call 911 and make sure a police report is made.
2. Report the crash in the Uber or Lyft app and take a screenshot of your trip details.
3. Get the names, insurance information, and plate numbers of all drivers involved, plus contact information for witnesses.
4. Take photos of the vehicles, the scene, and your injuries.
5. Get medical care right away, and within 14 days to protect your PIP benefits.
6. Don’t give recorded statements to any insurance company before talking to a lawyer.

Rideshare claims often involve several insurance companies, each pointing to the others. The timing of the crash, the driver’s app status, and which policies apply can make a big difference in what you can recover.

Injured in a rideshare crash? Talk to Kane & Vital.

The attorneys at Kane & Vital help injured people across Broward and Miami-Dade County, with offices in Sunrise and North Miami. We can review every insurance policy that may apply to your crash, including your own, and explain your options. Consultations are free.

Learn more about our auto accident practice or contact us today. You can also call (954) 523-5123.

This article provides general information and is not legal advice. Insurance coverage depends on the specific policies involved, and rideshare companies’ coverage can change over time. Reading this article does not create an attorney-client relationship. Please contact an attorney about your specific situation.