Rideshare gap coverage is insurance for the time an Uber or Lyft driver is logged into the app but has not accepted a ride. Many personal auto policies exclude that period, and a rideshare endorsement or policy is written to fill it.
Public Utilities Code §5433 splits the driving into two periods. While the app is on and no ride is accepted, the required coverage is primary and at least $50,000 per person and $100,000 per incident for injury and $30,000 for property damage, plus $200,000 of excess coverage the company maintains. From the moment a ride is accepted until it ends, the requirement is $1,000,000 primary. The statute also says that coverage cannot depend on a personal policy first denying the claim.
Why the gap matters
The statute sets liability limits. It does not pay for damage to your own car in the app-on period unless your policy does. Read rideshare insurance in California. Spanish: cobertura rideshare. Index: glossary.
Source, checked October 7, 2026: Public Utilities Code §5433.