So I got an reply from Uber to my question, "Are we REQUIRED to have personal Rideshare Insurance?"....
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Jan 20, 16:15
Hi XXXX-
Below, you can find an overview of how insurance works for rideshare drivers with Uber. You can always read a more detailed overview
here.
From the time you log into the Uber partner app until you accept a trip in Texas we maintain a policy that provides 3rd party liability coverage in the amounts of $50k/$100k/$25k. This policy is contingent to your personal policy, meaning it will apply only if your personal auto insurance does not apply
From the time you accept a trip until its completion and the rider(s) exits the vehicle, in Texas we maintain the following coverage:
• $1M of 3rd party liability;
• $1M of uninsured/underinsured motorist injury; and
• contingent comprehensive and collision insurance - so, if you maintain comprehensive and collision insurance on your own personal policy, our policy will cover physical damage to that vehicle up to the actual cash value of the vehicle, for any reason, with a $1,000 deductible
Note, you are NOT required to purchase rideshare insurance as we will maintain coverage on your behalf that will comply with all state and local laws.
You can find the certificate of insurance we maintain
here and you can also find this in the app through the Waybill.
Best,
Gus
help.uber.com
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I believe the take away here is that while Uber does NOT require it's driver partners to have Rideshare Insurance, your personal insurance may require it. Basically if you get into an accident while online waiting for a ping, you'd have to notify and get denied by your personal insurance first before James River will consider the case. But once your insurance knows you drive for Uber, you're pretty much dropped (unless you have the Rideshare policy!). Hence personal insurance is the one necessitating a Rideshare policy. Uber needs to close that loophole! But Uber never will because they know your idle online hours are way more than actual active pax time!!!!