If you use your car to drive for Uber, DiDi or another rideshare service, your standard private-use car insurance may not cover you while you’re working.
Instead, you’ll need to make sure you have a policy that covers rideshare use and meets any insurance requirements set by the platform you drive for.
What type of car insurance do rideshare drivers need?
Rideshare car insurance, in most cases, isn’t its own type of car insurance policy. The same types of cover are available as for private use, but if you drive for Uber or another rideshare service, you’ll need a policy that specifically covers rideshare driving as a standard plan won’t cover you while you’re carrying passengers.
Depending on the insurer, this may mean adding rideshare use to a personal car insurance policy or taking out a business-use policy. However, business-use cover doesn’t automatically include rideshare driving, so it’s important to check before signing up for a plan.
Regardless of how the car is used, all registered vehicles in Australia need Compulsory Third Party (CTP) insurance. CTP covers injuries or death caused to other people in a motor vehicle accident, but it doesn’t cover damage to vehicles or other property.
Beyond CTP, there are three main types of optional car insurance in Australia, each offering a different level of cover:
- Third party property damage (TPPD): covers damage you cause to someone else’s car or property, but generally not damage to your own vehicle.
- Third party fire and theft (TPFT): includes third party property cover, plus cover for your own car if it’s stolen or damaged by fire.
- Comprehensive: provides the broadest cover, including damage to your own car as well as damage you cause to other vehicles or property, subject to the policy.
These are optional for private drivers, but rideshare platforms often set their own minimum insurance requirements, requiring you to hold a certain level of cover. You can also choose a higher level of cover than the minimum required if you want greater protection for your own car.
Rideshare cover also tends to cost more than private-use insurance. That’s because rideshare drivers are generally on the road more often, travel greater distances and drive across a wider range of locations, increasing the insurer’s exposure to risk.
What car insurance does each rideshare platform require?
Each rideshare platform sets its own insurance requirements. The following are the minimum levels of cover required by some of Australia’s major rideshare services, although you can choose a higher level of cover if you want greater protection.
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Uber
Uber requires drivers to have CTP insurance and at least TPPD cover. UberX drivers must also be listed on the vehicle’s property damage insurance policy, even if they aren’t the main policyholder.
Since May 2026, Uber drivers in Australia can also take out an optional rideshare policy through the Uber app. This only covers rideshare trips completed through Uber, so drivers using other platforms will need separate or broader cover.
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DiDi
Like Uber, DiDi requires drivers to have the appropriate CTP cover and at least third party car insurance that covers rideshare use in every state it operates in.
Insurance is only one part of becoming a rideshare driver.
You’ll also need to meet the platform’s other requirements, which can include holding the right driver’s licence, using an eligible vehicle and completing any required background or accreditation checks.
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Shebah
Shebah requires drivers to have comprehensive car insurance and to tell their insurer that the vehicle is being used for rideshare purposes.
Other rideshare platforms will have their own insurance requirements, so check what applies before you start driving. Requirements can also vary by location and change over time, so it’s important to stay on top of what’s required to make sure you remain properly covered.
Which car insurance companies offer rideshare coverage?
Not all car insurers cover rideshare driving, but providers that offer or may offer cover include:
- AAMI
- Allianz
- ANZ
- Bingle
- GIO
- NRMA
- QBE
- ROLLiN’ Insurance
- Suncorp
- Youi
Cover can vary quite a bit between insurers. Some only include rideshare driving under certain policies, while others may limit how many hours you can drive or require you to switch to a business-use policy. Availability can also differ between states and territories.
Even if you’re already insured with a provider that offers rideshare cover, you’ll usually need to update your policy before you start driving for Uber, DiDi or another platform. You won’t automatically be covered just because your insurer offers rideshare insurance.
