Home » Blog » What Are Uber and Lyft’s Insurance “Periods” and Why Do They Matter in California?
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Last Modified on Oct 23, 2026
A crash involving an Uber or Lyft driver can bring up to three different insurance policies into play. Which one applies depends on the driver’s app status at the moment of the crash. Rideshare coverage is divided into “insurance periods” based on that status.
If you’re trying to make sense of Uber and Lyft’s insurance periods after a crash, the attorneys at Bentley & More LLP can help you sort out which policy applies and fight for the compensation you’re owed.
Key Takeaways
- Coverage depends on the driver’s app status at the moment of the crash, not just who was at fault.
- Period 0, app off, means only the driver’s personal auto policy applies.
- Period 1, app on with no match, sets primary liability at $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident.
- Periods 2 and 3, from accepted ride through drop-off, trigger $1 million in primary liability coverage.
If you’re not sure which period applied when you were hurt, talk to a trusted Orange County rideshare accident lawyer before accepting any settlement offer.
What Happens During Period 0, When the App Is Off?
Period 0 means the driver is logged out of the app entirely. The vehicle is legally just a personal car, so only the driver’s own policy responds. California’s minimum insurance requirements set that floor at $30,000 per person and $60,000 per accident.
How Much Coverage Applies During Period 1, App On But No Match?
Period 1 runs from log-on until a ride request is accepted. Many personal policies exclude this window as commercial use, so the rideshare company’s coverage steps in. Under Cal. Pub. Util. Code § 5433, Uber and Lyft must carry:
- $50,000 per person for bodily injury
- $100,000 per accident for bodily injury
- $30,000 for property damage, plus $200,000 in excess coverage
Those limits may not be enough after a serious injury, which is why victims often consult an experienced Orange County car accident lawyer to explore underinsured motorist claims.
What Coverage Applies During Periods 2 and 3, Once a Ride Is Accepted?
Period 2 begins when a driver accepts a trip and rolls into Period 3 once a passenger gets in. Per the California Public Utility Commission’s Transportation Network Company rules, Uber and Lyft must carry $1 million in primary liability coverage through drop-off. This protects passengers, pedestrians, and other motorists.
Sorting out these periods often comes down to app data and timestamps, which is why a rideshare accident attorney gets involved early.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my own car insurance ever apply if a rideshare driver hits me?
Yes. If the rideshare driver’s coverage is denied or exhausted, your own uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage can fill the gap.
What if the driver had just dropped off a passenger when the crash happened?
That usually places the driver back in Period 1, because the trip is complete and no new request has been accepted. If the driver had already logged off, Period 0 applies instead. App logs and trip receipts can confirm the exact timestamp.
How long do I have to file a claim after a rideshare accident?
Most personal injury lawsuits must be filed within two years under Cal. Civ. Proc. Code § 335.1. Waiting too long can cost you the right to recover anything at all.
Can Uber or Lyft dispute which period applied to avoid paying?
Yes, Uber, Lyft, or their insurers sometimes argue a different period applied to shift responsibility elsewhere. This is where an attorney who understands Uber and Lyft’s insurance periods can push back with app data and trip records.
Bentley & More LLP: A California Rideshare Accident Law Firm
Uber and Lyft’s insurance periods decide whether a crash victim gets full compensation or a check that barely covers a week of treatment. Sorting out app data, timestamps, and overlapping policies takes real investigation, the kind Bentley & More LLP brings to its cases.
If you were hurt in a rideshare crash anywhere in California. Contact our firm today for a free consultation.
About the author: Greg Bentley
Co-Founder & Trial Lawyer at Bentley & More LLP
Greg Bentley is Co-Founder of Bentley & More LLP in Newport Beach, California. With 36 years of experience, he represents plaintiffs in personal injury, wrongful death, product liability, insurance bad faith, dangerous road and property conditions, and construction-site failure cases. Admitted to the State Bar of California, Greg earned his J.D. from Western State University College of Law in 1990. He is a member of several invitation-only trial organizations, including the American College of Trial Lawyers and the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, and is active in multiple statewide and regional trial lawyer associations.
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