Am I covered if my Uber driver was running a personal errand off the app?
If the Uber driver had the app off and was running a personal errand when the crash happened, the rideshare company’s coverage generally does not apply, because Georgia ties that coverage to active use of the platform. In that situation the driver is treated as an ordinary motorist, and only the driver’s personal auto policy is normally in play.
The app-off rule ¶
O.C.G.A. § 33-1-24 builds rideshare insurance around the driver’s status on the digital network. The required coverage attaches when the driver is logged on and waiting and rises to $1,000,000 during a prearranged ride. None of those tiers apply when the app is off. A driver who logged out to handle personal business is, for insurance purposes, just a private driver, and a crash during that errand falls outside the rideshare framework entirely.
This is why the timing and status of the app matter even for someone who thinks of the driver as “an Uber driver.” The label attaches to the person; the coverage attaches to the activity. Off the app, the activity is personal driving.
When the line is less clear ¶
Real situations are not always tidy, and a few wrinkles can change the answer:
- A driver who was logged on but briefly detoured may still be within a covered phase, depending on the records.
- If a separate at-fault driver caused the crash, that driver’s liability insurance applies regardless of the Uber driver’s app status.
- An injured occupant may have personal UM coverage that responds when no other adequate coverage exists.
Establishing the driver’s actual app status at the moment of impact, usually through the company’s trip and login records, is therefore the pivotal fact.
The bottom line ¶
A passenger or other injured person is generally not covered by Uber’s policy when the driver was off the app running a personal errand, because O.C.G.A. § 33-1-24 coverage applies only during active rideshare use. Recovery in that case typically runs through the driver’s personal insurer or, if a different motorist was at fault, that motorist’s liability coverage, making the driver’s verified app status the controlling question.
This article is for general educational and informational purposes only and is not legal advice. It does not create an attorney-client relationship, and Georgia law may change. For advice about a specific situation, consult a licensed Georgia personal injury attorney.