Do I Need Rideshare Insurance to Drive Uber in NYC?

No — in New York City, a "rideshare" add-on to a personal car policy is not what you need. To drive for Uber or Lyft in NYC, the car must be a TLC-licensed for-hire vehicle, and TLC requires every licensed vehicle to carry a for-hire policy that meets TLC rule 59A-12: approved by TLC, written by an insurer authorized in New York, covering the car 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, at TLC's minimum amounts. TLC must have the policy's certificate (the FH-1) on file.

Why the NYC answer is different

In many places, a driver uses a personal car and buys extra coverage for app time. NYC works differently. Uber and Lyft are licensed by TLC as high-volume for-hire services, and TLC rule 80-11(d) bars a driver from knowingly driving for hire in a vehicle that is not a licensed taxi, FHV or street hail livery. A personal car cannot simply be switched on for app work; see can I use my personal car for Uber in NYC? and do I need a TLC license to drive for Uber?.

Once a car is TLC-licensed, its insurance must follow §59A-12 of TLC's Chapter 59 rules.

The minimum amounts

TLC's Get a For-Hire Vehicle License page lists these minimums (read Oct 12, 2026):

• Black car or livery, 1–7 passengers (most Uber and Lyft cars): $100,000 per person, $300,000 per occurrence, $10,000 property damage, $100,000 personal injury protection (PIP).
• 8–15 passengers: $1.5 million combined single limit (CSL) + $100,000 PIP.
• 16–20 passengers: $5 million CSL + $100,000 PIP.
• Luxury limousine, 1–7 passengers: $500,000 per person, $1 million per occurrence, $100,000 PIP.

Excess policies can be used to reach these amounts if they are from a New York-authorized insurer (§59A-12(c)(6)). We do not list prices; quotes depend on the insurer, the car and your record. To see which insurers actually cover TLC cars today, see can I insure my TLC car with any company?.

How TLC knows you are insured

TLC says licensed vehicles "must maintain proof of a current liability insurance policy (insurance certificate / FH-1) on file with the TLC" (TLC: Vehicle Insurance). The rules add:

• Changes: tell TLC in writing within seven days (not counting weekends and holidays) when your carrier or coverage changes, with proof (§59A-12(b); fine $100).
• Cancellation: if your insurance is ending, you must surrender the vehicle license and decals by the end date — unless, before it ends, you send proof of a new policy that starts that same day (§59A-12(a); fine $150–$350 and/or up to 30 days' suspension).
• How to send it: email TLCinsurance@tlc.nyc.gov with the FH-1 and the declaration page (TLC says "this is not the accord"). Step by step: how do I send new insurance to TLC?

What insurance does not cover here

For-hire auto insurance is about crashes and injuries involving the car. It is not health insurance and not workers' compensation. Black car and app drivers have a separate workers' comp system through the Black Car Fund; see how much does Black Car Fund workers' comp pay? and does Uber give health insurance in NYC?. For a full picture of running costs, including insurance as a cost per mile, see TLC driver costs per mile.

This is general information about TLC rules, not insurance or legal advice.