Does standard auto insurance cover Uber and Lyft driving?

At Peninsula Underwriters Insurance Agency in Gainesville, FL, we understand that times are tough for most consumers. As a result, many of you find opportunities to supplement your income. A common way many do this is to drive for Uber or Lyft. However, it is vital that you contact your insurance company to ensure that you have coverage when operating your vehicle for one of these ridesharing companies.

Driving for a ridesharing company is a common exclusion for most insurance companies on a standard personal auto policy. Therefore, you may not be covered if you are in an accident while transporting passengers to their destinations. This could leave you responsible for any injuries to your passengers and those in the other vehicle with which you were in an accident. It could also leave you responsible for damage to the property of others caused by the accident.

Why, you ask? Uber and Lyft are considered commercial use, and a personal auto policy does not cover business driving. So, you would need other coverages, such as a commercial policy or a rideshare endorsement, to cover your vehicle when driving for one of those companies. This rule also includes driving for delivery services such as Uber Eats, Grub Hub, and Door Dash, to name a few.

Now that you know this information, you must protect yourself, even if you think there is a possibility that you may begin to drive for one of these transportation or delivery services.

Call Peninsula Underwriters Insurance Agency Today!

When supplementing your income by ridesharing or making it your main source of income, ensure that you are protecting yourself and everything you are working hard for. Call Peninsula Underwriters Insurance Agency in Gainesville, FL, today with questions about rideshare driving. Our number is (866) 791-9016.

Five Things Auto Insurance Doesn’t Cover

If you want to add collision insurance to your policy, you’ll receive peace of mind that it covers damage to your vehicle hit by a stationary object or another car. However, there are some things that this insurance won’t cover. The pros at Peninsula Underwriters Insurance Agency in Gainesville, FL have put together this guide to help you understand what condition insurance is and doesn’t cover.

What Is Collision Insurance?

Collision insurance covers your car if it’s damaged by another vehicle or other object. That includes stationary objects like guard posts and fences. Collision insurance may also reimburse you for damage to your car or truck caused by unavoidable perils. If you’re looking for insurance to pay for damage resulting from a collision with a telephone pool or other objects, collision insurance can meet your needs. Typically, it pays the costs of repairing your car minus the deductible.

Things Not Covered by Collision Insurance

This insurance won’t pay for every type of collision damage. Although all policies vary, collision insurance typically doesn’t cover dings and dents from nonvehicular accidents. So, if a deer jumps in front of your truck late at night, damaging your fender, you’ll need comprehensive coverage. Similarly, it doesn’t cover events such as theft or extreme weather.

If you cause an accident resulting in damage or injury to other drivers and their passengers, it’s not covered by collision insurance. You’ll need property damage and bodily injury insurance for that. Talk to your agent about the type of insurance you’ll need to pay for injuries after a car accident (not covered by collision insurance).

Do you carry valuable equipment or belongings in your car? Collision insurance doesn’t cover personal belongings.

Talk to the Peninsula Underwriters Insurance Agency team in Gainesville, FL, about your collision insurance needs today!

How do You Know You Have the Right Level of Insurance Protection for Your Vehicle?

If you own a vehicle, you need to have reliable auto insurance to prevent losses associated with covered risks. It’s not enough to simply have liability coverage; you’ll need the right coverage level for your specific situation. If you want to learn more about your auto insurance options, you can trust the Peninsula Underwriters Insurance Agency professionals. We offer exceptional Insurance products and services to the Gainesville, FL area residents.

Auto Insurance Protection 

Having the right level of auto insurance protection is essential. You’ll want to ensure your auto insurance policy and add-ons cover potential incidents that can create loss while also preventing gaps in coverage. Gaps in insurance mean the difference between what insurance covers and the vehicle’s actual value or the overall loss.

If you want to find out if you have the right level of protection, our expert insurance agents can help. We work closely with each customer to get a clear picture of their present situation and then match them with insurance products that meet their needs. We can assist with policy changes, additions, or claim submissions. It’s all a part of our dedication to providing the area’s best support, services, and insurance products.

Contact Us Today 

Having the right level of insurance coverage is essential. If you would like to learn more about auto insurance and which options are the best for your current situation, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us today. Feel free to call or stop by the Peninsula Underwriters Insurance Agency office to schedule a consultation for services. We proudly serve the residents in and around the Gainesville, FL area to ensure they get policy coverage that provides security and peace of mind.

Is Auto Insurance Required in Florida?

When you register any type of vehicle with four wheels in the state of Florida, you have to show proof of Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and Property Damage Liability (PDL) automobile insurance. These two types of insurance coverage will help pay for medical expenses and property damage if an accident occurs.

Our agents at the Peninsula Underwriters Insurance Agency serve the Gainesville, FL area and can explain the other types of auto insurance coverage options that are available for Florida drivers.

Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage

While the state of Florida does not require motorists to have uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage, it’s a good idea to have it anyway. This type of insurance will help pay for any medical bills or property damage you incur if you are involved in an accident with a driver who has no insurance or does not have an adequate amount of insurance to cover your bills.

Collision Insurance

Collision insurance is very important to have in place since it will help pay for your vehicle if you collide with another vehicle or even a stationary object. It can also help pay for any damage to the other vehicle or the object that you collided with.

Comprehensive Insurance

Comprehensive insurance is very important to have since it will help you protect your vehicle if it is damaged by a natural disaster, an act of vandalism, or a fire. It can also assist you with replacing your vehicle with a comparable one if your vehicle is stolen.

Get Your Policy Started

Call the agents at Peninsula Underwriters Insurance Agency serving the residents of the Gainesville, FL area today to get your policy started!

What Are The Consequences Of Driving Without Auto Insurance?

According to research, one in eight drivers is uninsured. That means that if you’re in an accident, there’s a 12.50% chance the other driver doesn’t have insurance to cover your damages. What these drivers don’t realize is that there are serious consequences for driving without auto insurance. Peninsula Underwriters Insurance Agency in Gainesville, FL is here to help you navigate this important coverage.

The consequences of driving without auto insurance and how it can impact you and your wallet:

1. Your License May Be Suspended

If you’re caught driving without auto insurance, your driver’s license may be suspended. Depending on your state, the length of the suspension may vary. In Florida, for example, your license will be suspended for three years if you’re caught driving without insurance and cause an accident. If caught a second time, your license will be permanently suspended.

2. You May Be Fined

In addition to having your license suspended, you may be fined if caught driving without auto insurance. The amount of the fine will vary depending on your state. In Florida, the fine for driving without insurance is $150 for the first offense and $250 for the second offense.

If you cause an accident while driving without insurance, you may be subject to additional fines. To avoid these fines, get sufficient insurance from Peninsula Underwriters Insurance Agency.

3. You May Be Sued

If you cause an accident while driving without insurance, the other driver may sue you to recover damages. If the other driver is injured, they may sue you for medical expenses. If their vehicle is damaged, they may sue you for repairs. If they miss work due to their injuries, they may sue you for lost wages. If you’re sued and don’t have insurance, you’ll be responsible for paying the damages out of your own pocket.

Give Us A Call

Driving without auto insurance is a risk that is not worth taking. If you’re caught, you may be fined, your license may be suspended, and you may be sued. Peninsula Underwriters Insurance Agency in Gainesville, FL can help you find the right auto insurance policy to protect you and your assets. Contact us today for a free quote. We’ll work with you to find a policy that fits your needs and budget.

Does auto insurance cover a rental vehicle?

If you are thinking about going on vacation or just getting away for a weekend, you may decide to use a rental vehicle to get there. When you rent a vehicle you will be asked about how you are going to insure the vehicle. The rental company prefers that you buy their insurance, but do you really need to? At Peninsula Underwriters Insurance Agency in Gainesville, FL, we will be happy to talk to you about whether you need to purchase rental insurance. 

The answer to the question does auto insurance cover a rental vehicle is yes if you have the correct coverage. In Florida, if you have basic insurance, that means you only have liability coverage. This protects other drivers from you and an accident that you cause. Florida is a no-fault state, so this is less of an issue for you than in a fault state. The rental company will try to sell you excess liability coverage. If you are comfortable with your coverage, you don’t need this excess coverage. 

If this is the only coverage you have, then you need to get collision and comprehensive coverage from somewhere. You should check first with your credit card company to see if it offers car rental coverage. It may be a less expensive option. If, however, that option isn’t available to you, you should accept the collision damage waiver from the rental car company. 

While technically CDW is not insurance, it takes away the liability for any damage to the vehicle from you and gives it back to the rental car company. It is not inexpensive but, not having to worry about getting in an accident and paying to repair the vehicle makes it worth the expense. 

Contact Peninsula Underwriters Insurance Agency in Gainesville, FL with any auto insurance questions you may have.