Do I need rideshare car insurance?

If you drive for Uber, Lyft or another ridesharing service then yes, you will need rideshare car insurance. An ordinary car insurance policy only covers private use of your vehicle and doesn't cover you if you use your car to carry passengers for profit.

How do I apply for rideshare cover?

The exact process varies between insurers, but you'll typically be able to select the ridesharing option during the application process when asked if you use your car for business purposes.

Do I need business car insurance for Uber?

You don't need a special business car insurance policy to drive for Uber. You simply need to select that you will use your car for business purposes when you take out car insurance. Insurers will ask you this during the application process.

Do I have to tell my car insurance I drive for a rideshare service?

Yes, if you drive for Uber or any other rideshare company, you'll need to tell your car insurance provider. If you don't, your car insurance policy might be void and any claims you make will be denied. Many insurers automatically exclude transporting passengers for money with a personal car insurance policy unless you let them know.

What are Uber's insurance requirements in Australia?

At a minimum, Uber requires drivers in Australia to have compulsory third party insurance (CTP) and third party property damage insurance (TPPD).

Can I claim my rideshare car insurance on tax?

Yes, you should be able to claim tax deductions on your car insurance. However, you can only deduct the percentage proportional to how much you used the vehicle for work (e.g. business use). Keep a logbook of how much you worked to make calculating this easier. There are other business expenses you can claim, such as the following: Fuel expenses Your rideshare platform's fees Car registration Repair and maintenance costs Cleaning costs Parking fees Depreciation on your car's purchase price if you are the owner of the car Rental fees if you lease or rent the car Tolls that were not covered by your rideshare platform Mobile and internet expenses if you use your phone for ridesharing Make sure you keep receipts and bank records related to these expenses so that you can claim a percentage of them come tax time.

How much does the rideshare extension cost?

The cost of this policy addition will depend on how frequently you rideshare as well as where you live, the type of car and your driving history.

How are Uber passengers covered?

Your CTP insurance covers medical and liability costs sustained by passengers in vehicle accidents while you're driving. Uber's insurance policy can also cover passenger medical and liability costs where your own insurance won't. You will need to pay the excess that applies to this cover.

Does rideshare car insurance also cover me for the private use of my vehicle?

Yes. A rideshare car insurance policy typically also covers you for the private use of your car.

Does your insurance go up if you become an Uber driver?

Yes, driving for Uber or any other rideshare company will likely increase your car insurance costs. There are more risks involved so your premiums are likely to increase. These risks can include potential legal fees if you're involved in a crash or a passenger opening the door and causing an accident. You're also using the car more often, so there's a greater chance of an accident occurring. You might pay a higher premium, but if something happens, you'll be covered.

Rideshare car insurance

Compare car insurance for rideshare drivers

1 - 6 of 7

Product	Finder Score	Agreed or market value	Amount of hours you can drive for a rideshare service:
Bingle Rideshare	Finder Score 9.5 Excellent	Market	No limit	View details Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Australia Post Comprehensive	Finder Score 6.9 Standard	Agreed or Market	32 hours	Summary: Covers a little more than other insurers. You don’t need to pay an excess for windscreen repairs and cover applies to anyone who uses your car. ⭐ Current offer: Get $75 off your first year's comprehensive car insurance premium when you buy online. T&Cs apply. Who it might be good for: Multiple people using one car.	View details Compare	loading Fetching your data...
QBE Comprehensive	Finder Score 5.9 Standard	Agreed or Market	32 hours	⭐ Current offer: Save $75 when you purchase a new comprehensive policy online. T&Cs apply. Who it might be good for: Those who want a trustworthy insurer and more cover than other brands, such as 3-year new car replacement (e.g. they'll give you money for a new car for up to 3 years if yours is written off).	Get Quote View details Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Kogan Comprehensive	Finder Score 5.7 Standard	Agreed or Market	32 hours	Summary: Kogan comes with all the perks that most comprehensive car insurance policies include, but you’ll also be entitled to some benefits from its online store. This usually comes in the form of a gift voucher or discount if you buy online. ⭐ Current offer: Get $5 monthly kogan.com credit. T&Cs apply. Who it might be good for: Kogan shoppers and those after a good range of policy options.	View details Compare	loading Fetching your data...
ANZ Comprehensive Plus	Finder Score Not yet rated	Agreed or Market	31 hours	View details Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Kogan Third Party Property Damage	Finder Score Not yet rated	Market	32 hours	⭐ Current offer: Policyholders are entitled to $10 off Kogan.com per month on purchases over $100. Who it might be good for: Drivers who want a no-frills policy with some legal liability cover and up to $5,000 for damage caused by an uninsured driver. Keep an eye out for a gift voucher if you buy online.	View details Compare	loading Fetching your data...

Finder Score for car insurance

We analyse over 80 car insurance products and rate each one on price and features. What we get out the other end is a nice round number out of 10 to help you start comparing.

To make sure we're comparing apples with apples, we collect quotes for 8 different personas and analyse different car insurance features. Our team then does some fancy maths to get the Finder Score, taking both price and features into account. We analyse comprehensive, third party fire and theft and third party property damage products individually.

Read the full Finder Score methodology

Finder survey: Do Australians find it hard to get car insurance that covers rideshare drivers?

Response
No	50%
Yes	50%

Source: Finder survey by Pure Profile of 1006 Australians, December 2023

Rideshare insurance pricing

We got quotes from a few popular car insurers to see what a quote for a rideshare driver could look like. Keep in mind, the below costs are only for the driver profile we used and your own costs will differ based on your age, car, suburb and driving experience.

Provider	~Annual cost
Australia Post	$3,000.11
Bingle	$3,507.82
QBE	$3,837.15
Kogan	$4,500.99

To get these quotes, we used the following details:
- 35yr old male
- Sydney based postcode
- Drives a 2019 Toyota Corolla
- Drives up to 15 hours for a rideshare service
These quotes were sourced in June 2025.

Why is rideshare car insurance important for rideshare drivers?

If you haven't told your insurer that you're an Uber driver or other rideshare driver, it may refuse to cover you for any accidents that occur while you're working.

Many insurers still don't cover ridesharing. For example, popular insurers such as Budget Direct, Qantas, Coles and Huddle do not cover your car at any time for ridesharing. Others, such as ANZ, will only cover you if you drive less than 32 hours per week.

All of the main rideshare services in Australia (Uber, DiDi, Ola) require you to have compulsory third party insurance (CTP) and third party property insurance. We've outlined more about specific requirements below.

Rideshare car insurance requirements for different services

Rideshare platforms typically offer some kind of liability cover, but in most cases, you'll need to take out your own individual car insurance policy too. Here are the insurance requirements of each rideshare company in Australia.

What insurance do I need?	Compulsory third party insurance (CTP) Third party property damage insurance (TPPD)
Driving requirements	You must Be listed as a driver on your insurance certificate Be over 21 years old Have a full valid licence in the state you're driving in

What insurance do I need?	Third party property damage (TPPD) or comprehensive car insurance
Driving requirements	Requirements vary between states. You can see what documents are required here. Have a car that is road registered and insured for compulsory third party in the correct state or territory

What insurance do I need?	Compulsory third party insurance (CTP) Third party damage or comprehensive insurance cover
Driving requirements	You must Have a full driver's licence Have a vehicle insurance certificate

What insurance do I need?	Compulsory third party insurance (CTP) Third party damage or comprehensive insurance cover
Driving requirements	You must Have all the necessary insurance documents Have a police check Have a vehicle inspection Have an unrestricted Australian driver's licence

What insurance do I need?	Compulsory third party insurance (CTP) Comprehensive car insurance
Driving requirements	You must Be at least 21 years old Have a smartphone Speak English Hold an unrestricted Australian driver's licence Have or set up an ABN Have access to a 4-door car in good condition

What insurance do I need?	Compulsory third party insurance (CTP) Third party property damage insurance (TPPD) Insurance must be from a company operating within Australia
Driving requirements	You must Have a current driver's licence Have a criminal background check

How do I find the right rideshare car insurance cover?

Watch out for a cap on hours you can drive

A small number of rideshare insurance policies will only cover you if you drive less than a specified amount per week, often around 32 hours (we've outlined these in the table above). If you're ridesharing for more than that, opt for a provider with no limit.

Decide what level of cover you want

You are required by most rideshare services to have CTP and third party property insurance. This doesn't cover you for damage to your own car though; if you want cover for that, you should get a comprehensive car insurance policy.

Decide what you want covered

All comprehensive rideshare insurance policies should cover you for damage to your own car (usually up to the market value), other people's cars and property, floods, hail, fires and storms. However, features such as a hire car after an accident and windscreen cover, are sometimes optional. (Good to know: you won't be covered for ridesharing a hire car with most insurers but you can still use the vehicle for personal use).

Compare quotes

It's simple to apply for car insurance quotes online, so get multiple policies for a better idea of how much rideshare car insurance costs.

❮ ❯

Don't just assume that your car insurance will cover you for ridesharing – lots don't. You will need to contact them and let them know. Fortunately, there are a handful that do. It's worth getting a quote from each of them to see who is cheapest.

Gary Ross Hunter
Insurance editor

Moving across to an insurer that offers rideshare cover isn't hard. The switching process is simple once you've found a replacement policy that meets your rideshare needs. I reviewed more than a dozen policies – most insurers charge no more than $40 in cancellation fees.

James Martin
Editor for Insurance

If you’re unsure if your insurer offers coverage for ridesharing, it’s always best to check. It’s usually pretty straightforward; you can give them a call, go online and ask their live chat or just use “command+f” to search the PDS for “rideshare”. If it’s still not made clear, it could mean you won’t be covered and it’s time to start looking elsewhere.

Peta Taylor
Associate publisher

What does rideshare car insurance cover if I have an accident?

CTP insurance can provide cover for death or injury to a third party.

A third party property damage policy can cover damage to another driver's vehicle or property.

If you have a comprehensive rideshare car insurance policy in place, you'll also be covered for damage to your own vehicle (as well as others).

There are a few injuries and accidents where rideshare car insurance won't cover you. For example, certain personal injuries, such as broken bones, or cover if you can't work. This is where your rideshare platform's injury insurance can help.

Why you can trust Finder's car insurance experts

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You save time. We spend 100s of hours researching car insurance so you can sort the gold from the junk faster.

You can trust us. We say it like it is. We aren't owned by an insurer and our opinions are our own.

Frequently asked questions

Yes, if you drive for Uber or any other rideshare company, you'll need to tell your car insurance provider. If you don't, your car insurance policy might be void and any claims you make will be denied. Many insurers automatically exclude transporting passengers for money with a personal car insurance policy unless you let them know.
Yes, you should be able to claim tax deductions on your car insurance. However, you can only deduct the percentage proportional to how much you used the vehicle for work (e.g. business use). Keep a logbook of how much you worked to make calculating this easier. There are other business expenses you can claim, such as the following:
Fuel expenses
Your rideshare platform's fees
Car registration
Repair and maintenance costs
Cleaning costs
Parking fees
Depreciation on your car's purchase price if you are the owner of the car
Rental fees if you lease or rent the car
Tolls that were not covered by your rideshare platform
Mobile and internet expenses if you use your phone for ridesharing
Make sure you keep receipts and bank records related to these expenses so that you can claim a percentage of them come tax time.
Yes, driving for Uber or any other rideshare company will likely increase your car insurance costs. There are more risks involved so your premiums are likely to increase. These risks can include potential legal fees if you're involved in a crash or a passenger opening the door and causing an accident. You're also using the car more often, so there's a greater chance of an accident occurring. You might pay a higher premium, but if something happens, you'll be covered.

Thank you for your feedback!

To make sure you get accurate and helpful information, this guide has been edited by James Martin as part of our fact-checking process.

Written by

Gary Ross Hunter

Journalist

Gary Ross Hunter has over 6 years of expertise writing about insurance, including life, health, home, and car insurance. Having reviewed hundreds of product disclosure statements and published over 800 articles, he loves simplifying complex insurance topics for everyday readers. Gary has contributed to major outlets like Yahoo Finance, The Sydney Morning Herald, and news.com.au, and holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in English Literature from the University of Glasgow, along with a Tier 2 General Advice certification, ensuring his work adheres to ASIC’s RG146 standards. See full bio

Gary Ross's expertise

Gary Ross has written 594 Finder guides across topics including:

Health, home, life, car, pet and travel insurance
Managing the cost of living

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