The three app periods
California regulates Uber and Lyft as transportation network companies. Under Public Utilities Code 5433, the insurance available depends on what the driver was doing in the app:
- App off. The driver is just a driver. Their personal auto policy is the main source of coverage.
- Period 1: app on, waiting for a request. Required minimums are $50,000 per person and $100,000 per incident for injury, $30,000 for property damage, plus $200,000 in excess liability coverage.
- Periods 2 and 3: ride accepted, driving to the pickup, and passenger in the car. At least $1,000,000 in liability coverage applies.
The 2026 change to uninsured motorist coverage
Rideshare companies used to be required to carry $1,000,000 in uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage. SB 371, signed in October 2025, reduced that to $60,000 per person and $300,000 per incident, effective January 1, 2026. It applies from the moment a passenger enters the vehicle until they exit.
That matters most when a rideshare passenger is hit by a driver with no insurance or too little. Crashes before January 1, 2026 fall under the old limits.
Who you might be in the crash
A passenger
You were in Period 3, so the $1,000,000 liability policy applies if the rideshare driver was at fault. If another driver caused the crash, that driver’s insurance is first in line, and the rideshare uninsured/underinsured coverage may apply if they have none or not enough.
Another driver, pedestrian, or cyclist
What the rideshare driver’s app was doing decides which coverage applies. That information is in the company’s records, which is one reason these claims benefit from a lawyer sending a preservation letter early.
The rideshare driver
Drivers’ own injury claims follow different rules and can involve their personal policy, the company’s coverage, and any occupational accident coverage the company provides. Talk to a lawyer before giving statements to either insurer.
Evidence to save right away
- Screenshots of the trip in your app: route, times, driver name, car, and plate
- The emailed receipt
- Photos of both vehicles, the scene, and your injuries
- Names and numbers of witnesses and any other passengers
- The police report number
Report the crash through the app as well, but keep the report factual and short.
Deadlines
Most injury lawsuits must be filed within two years (CCP 335.1). Uninsured motorist claims have their own two-year rule, and claims involving a government vehicle or road condition have a six-month claim deadline.
Related: rideshare accident representation · talking to the adjuster