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Uber or Lyft accident: which insurance applies?
Rideshare insurance changes with what the driver was doing when the crash happened. Here is what Uber publishes and what Tennessee law requires, side by side, with the date checked, and where to find Lyft's current figures.
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Three stages
The stages of a rideshare trip
People usually describe a rideshare crash in three stages. Each company's published policy, and Tennessee's statute, treat them differently.
| Stage | Uber (published page) | Tennessee statute (§ 55-12-141) |
|---|---|---|
| App off | The driver's personal auto insurance applies. | Not covered by the TNC rules. |
| App on, no ride accepted | Liability of $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident for injuries, $25,000 property damage [1] [1]. No Uber collision or comprehensive coverage for the driver's car. | "Logged on" but not on a prearranged ride: primary liability of at least $50,000 per person, $100,000 per incident, $25,000 property damage [2]. May come from the driver's policy, the company's, or both. |
| On the way to a rider, or a rider on board | At least $1,000,000 for injuries to riders and third parties and property damage [1]. Repairs to the driver's car subject to a $2,500 deductible and the driver's own collision and comprehensive coverage [1]. | Engaged in a prearranged ride: primary liability of at least $1,000,000 [2]. |
Uber figures are from Uber's page, checked November 8, 2026. For Lyft, see its help page. The statute column is the text of § 55-12-141 as published by FindLaw (current as of January 2, 2024), so check the official Tennessee code for later changes.
Tennessee law
What the Tennessee statute adds
Beyond the dollar amounts, § 55-12-141 says a few things people often look for:
- No "deny first" rule. The rideshare company's coverage "shall not be dependent on a personal automobile insurer first denying a claim" (subsection (f)) [2].
- Lapsed or missing personal coverage. If the driver's own insurance "has lapsed or does not provide the required coverage," the company's insurance must cover the claim from the first dollar and has the duty to defend it (subsection (e)) [2].
- A disclosure to drivers. Companies must tell drivers in writing that their personal policy may provide no coverage while they are logged on or on a ride (subsection (j)(2)).
- Uninsured motorist coverage. The statute text does not mention it. Uber says it does not maintain UM/UIM for rideshare in every state, so ask the company which coverage applies in Tennessee [1]. Tennessee's separate offer rules for UM are in our insurance minimums guide [3].
Rideshare crash record
Write these down, any stage
More than one insurer
Why several insurers can be involved
A rideshare crash can involve the driver's personal insurer, the rideshare company's insurer, the other motorist's insurer and, for the person hurt, their own policy (for example medical payments or uninsured motorist coverage, if they have it). Which of them applies is a question of the facts and the policy language. It is not something a web page can decide for you. A Tennessee-licensed attorney can explain how the policies apply to a particular crash.
The court deadline is separate from any insurance deadline: see how long you have to file in Tennessee.
Want to talk it through? A person usually calls you back in about 15 minutes (8am to 8pm Central). You never pay CrashFirst. CrashFirst is not a law firm, does not evaluate your crash and does not give legal advice. General information as of November 8, 2026.
CrashFirst is not a law firm and does not give legal advice. This checklist is general information. Every situation is different.
Keep reading
- Guide
What to do after a crash.
A calm, ordered checklist for the scene, today, the next 72 hours and the next few weeks. Tick it off here or print it for the glove box.
Open - State reference
Tennessee minimum car insurance limits and uninsured motorist rules
Tennessee minimum liability is 25/50/25. See what each number covers, uninsured motorist offer rules, and penalties. Official sources, checked Nov 2026.
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Find your crash report.
Pick where the crash happened in Memphis, Birmingham, Tulsa or Columbia to see which agency likely has your report and how to request it. Each row shows its source.
Open - State reference
How long do you have to file after a car accident in Tennessee?
Tennessee gives one year for most injury claims after a crash. See each deadline, the statute text, exceptions and a Memphis court ruling. Checked Nov 2026.
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Sources
- Uber, U.S. insurance for drivers (coverage by trip phase) (checked November 8, 2026)Official source“$50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident for injuries”“$25,000 in property damage per accident”“At least $1,000,000 for property damage and injuries to riders and third parties involved in an accident”“with a $2,500 deductible, contingent on your personal insurance including comprehensive and collision coverage”“Uber does not maintain UM/UIM for rideshare in every state”
- Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-12-141, TNC driver insurance requirements (FindLaw, current as of Jan. 2, 2024) (checked November 8, 2026)Code text via FindLaw (unofficial copy)“at least fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) for death and bodily injury per person”“at least one million dollars ($1,000,000) for death, bodily injury, and property damage”“shall not be dependent on a personal automobile insurer first denying a claim”“with the first dollar of a claim and have the duty to defend such claim”
- Tenn. Code Ann. § 56-7-1201, uninsured motorist coverage (FindLaw) (checked November 8, 2026)Code text via FindLaw (unofficial copy)“may reject in writing the uninsured motorist coverage completely or select lower limits of the coverage”
- Lyft Help, insurance coverage while driving with Lyft
Unofficial copies come from a legal publisher, not the state. They can lag the current code, so check the official code before relying on a date or amount.
Page last updated November 9, 2026. Attorney review pending. General information, not legal advice. Fees, hours and rules change; confirm on the official page. How we source.
Questions
Does Uber's insurance apply if the driver had the app on but no rider?
Uber's own page lists liability of $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident for injuries and $25,000 for property damage for the 'online, available for a trip' stage [1] [1]. Tennessee's statute, as published on FindLaw, sets the same amounts for a driver who is logged on but not on a prearranged ride [2].
How much liability coverage applies during a rideshare trip in Tennessee?
Tennessee's statute, as published on FindLaw, requires primary liability coverage of at least $1,000,000 while a driver is engaged in a prearranged ride (§ 55-12-141(d)) [2]. Uber's page lists at least $1,000,000 once a driver is en route or on a trip [1]. Coverage can vary by state and over time; check the company's current certificate of insurance.
Does the driver's personal insurer have to deny the claim first?
As published on FindLaw, under § 55-12-141(f), the rideshare company's coverage does not depend on a personal auto insurer first denying a claim [2].
Is there uninsured motorist coverage in an Uber or Lyft?
It depends. Uber says it does not maintain uninsured/underinsured coverage for rideshare in every state, so ask the company or check its certificate of insurance for Tennessee [1]. Check the certificate of insurance each company publishes or shows in its app.
How long do you have to file after a rideshare crash in Tennessee?
Tennessee's usual deadline for a personal injury lawsuit is one year, with exceptions (Tenn. Code Ann. § 28-3-104). See our deadline guide. This is general information, not legal advice.