Florida Rideshare Insurance & Legal Requirements for Drivers

While Florida's rideshare insurance requirement is generally met by a policy paid for by Uber or Lyft, rideshare drivers may also want to purchase their own policies. An individual rideshare insurance policy can offer higher liability limits when a driver doesn't have a passenger, and it can reduce the deductible a driver would have to pay if their car was damaged.

How does rideshare insurance work in Florida?

Rideshare insurance in Florida for Uber and Lyft drivers, as well as those who drive for other transportation network companies (TNCs), works similarly to the way it works in other states. If a driver purchases a rideshare insurance policy or adds a rideshare endorsement to their personal auto insurance policy, there are four stages during which coverage can differ.

Does my car insurance cover rideshare driving?

In Florida, there is no period of time during which a driver might not have insurance coverage, since the law requires all TNCs to have a policy that can cover all periods when the app is on. However, not every rideshare company has the same commercial insurance policy, and different coverage limits can be extended during different periods. We recommend confirming how your company's policy behaves and whether there are times you would need additional rideshare insurance coverage.

Even though you may be covered during all periods of driving, you should let your personal auto insurance company know that you're a rideshare driver. Otherwise, it may cancel your policy or decide not to renew it. You should also notify your insurer of any accidents, even if they were covered by your rideshare company's insurance, or your insurer may contest a claim later on.

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Florida insurance requirements for rideshare drivers

Rideshare drivers in Florida first need their own auto insurance policies, since there are times you'll be driving while not logged in to the app. At a minimum, you'll need $10,000 of personal injury protection (PIP) coverage and $10,000 of property damage liability coverage to meet Florida's auto insurance requirements.

This requirement can be fulfilled with either personal or commercial auto insurance, but if you have a personal auto insurance policy, your insurer can deny coverage during the time your rideshare app is on. On the other hand, commercial insurance is more limited in coverage of personal use of vehicles for hire, and it's typically more expensive than purchasing both personal auto insurance and rideshare insurance policies.

Car insurance requirements when the app is on

Once the app is on, Florida requires rideshare drivers to carry higher limits of insurance. This mandate can be met by the driver, but the TNC, such as Uber or Lyft, is required to provide coverage for drivers with insufficient policy limits. In addition to the state's personal auto insurance requirements, Florida law mandates that rideshare drivers are covered by the following while their app is on:

Rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft may provide comprehensive and collision coverage as well during Periods 2 and 3, but their policies typically have deductibles of at least $1,000. To qualify for this coverage, Uber and Lyft require that you have your own comprehensive and collision coverage. If you want full coverage during all periods and greater liability coverage during the times you don't have a passenger, you'll need rideshare insurance to supplement these policies.

Rideshare driver requirements in Florida

All prospective rideshare drivers are required by Florida law to submit to criminal background and driving record checks before they're approved to drive. Once approved, the background check will be performed at least every three years. Florida won't approve a rideshare driver if the company you're applying to, such as Uber or Lyft, finds any of the following:

Florida's law also has a zero-tolerance drug and alcohol policy for rideshare drivers, so your TNC will immediately suspend you from its program and investigate if it has any suspicion that you drove while under the influence.

Lyft and Uber driver requirements in Florida

In addition to Florida's requirements, Lyft and Uber have their own rules for drivers in the state. While Lyft requires you to be 25, Uber only requires that you're 18 and have one year of licensed driving experience — or 3 years if you're under 25. Lyft only requires a screening of your driving history and background check. For both services, drivers must provide a picture that will be shared with passengers before pickup.

Uber also has its own rules with regards to specific programs. You must have a commercial license if you want to drive for Uber Black or Black XL. And Uber requires all Black, Black XL and Premier drivers to maintain a rating of at least 4.85 in order to remain in the programs.

Since Uber and Lyft perform, or hire a third-party to perform, the criminal and driving history checks on drivers, they also may reject you if they find certain violations. Florida's laws for drivers act as a minimum, so Uber and Lyft can set and revise their own rules to ensure only safe drivers are involved in their programs.

Uber and Lyft car requirements in Florida

Uber and Lyft car requirements for Florida rideshare drivers vary by city and program. For example, if you drive for Lyft in Miami, your car is required to be a newer model than if you drive in Tallahassee. It's important for rideshare drivers to be familiar with these requirements. Don't go through the process of purchasing and getting insurance for a vehicle, or applying to a program, just to be rejected.

Lyft car requirements in Florida

Lyft's car requirements are consistent across most of the state.

Uber car requirements in Florida

Uber's car requirements in Florida are determined by city, but the actual requirements are primarily based on the services offered. So if you're driving for Uber Premier in Orlando, you'll generally have the same requirements as an Uber Premier driver in Sarasota. If you instead were driving in Miami, Uber offers the Black and Black XL programs, which have different requirements.

Uber car requirements in Florida by program

The cars need to be registered and have a Florida auto insurance policy. Only drivers for UberSELECT in Florida need to have their full legal name listed on the car insurance policy tied to that vehicle. Cars driven for LUX, LUX SUV and UberSELECT must be maintained in pristine condition.

Rideshare insurance companies in Florida

Rideshare insurance is available in Florida from Geico, State Farm, and Farmers through its Foremost brand. Some other insurance companies may offer coverage in certain regions of Florida, but few provide rideshare insurance throughout the state. Depending on the company, how the rideshare policy works and which periods it covers will change.

Depending on your policy, insurer and how regularly you drive, the cost of rideshare insurance can vary between an additional $30 per month to an additional $300 per month. Once you've determined your coverage needs, we recommend gathering quotes from at least two to three insurers to help ensure you get the cheapest rates. If you own multiple vehicles, you should confirm that those not used for ride-sharing are either listed on a separate policy or categorized differently by your insurer. Otherwise, you may end up paying for unneeded coverage.