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If you are using your car to earn extra cash by delivering groceries, take-out meals, and packages, you must purchase delivery driver insurance for protection on the road. Personal auto insurance does not typically cover drivers using their cars for work and without protection, you could end up owing money for damages if you are in an accident on the job.
Like any insurance, you should shop around for the right policy and look for robust coverage options, high policy limits, and affordable premiums. In addition, the best delivery driver insurance companies should have excellent customer reviews and easy-to-navigate websites.
Best Delivery Driver Insurance of 2023
- Best Overall: USAA
- Best for Small Business: Erie
- Best for Food Delivery: Progressive
- Best Coverage Options: Allstate
Best Overall : USAA
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USAA
- Price: Varies
- Industries covered: Food, goods, Amazon, and passenger rideshare
- Coverage limit: Varies
- Policy types: Rideshare endorsement
USAA is highly rated for customer service and overall satisfaction. It offers flexible delivery driver insurance to workers in most states.
Guaranteed vehicle repairs through USAA’s network of shops
Excellent customer service ratings
Can be used for rideshare and delivery services
Only available to active duty and retired military personnel, as well as their family members
Must have a personal USAA auto policy for rideshare coverage
USAA, which stands for United Services Automobile Association, was founded in 1922. A members-only insurance company and FDIC-insured online bank, it caters to military families, sells insurance products, and offers traditional banking services, like checking and savings accounts, investments, and credit cards. The company is regularly recognized for its excellent customer service, including the highest overall score in all but one region in the J.D. Power 2022 U.S. Auto Insurance Study.
Although USAA is highly rated, there are a few downsides. Notably, you must be an active duty or retired military service member or family member to use its services. If you have your auto insurance through USAA, you can purchase its additional rideshare insurance. This type of policy can be used for any delivery driving, such as traditional ridesharing, delivering food, or delivering medications.
You also can easily file a claim online or through the mobile app if your vehicle gets damaged during a delivery run. We also like that you can get guaranteed vehicle repairs at one of many auto body shops in USAA’s network. USAA doesn’t specify how much its rideshare insurance costs or what coverage limits are available. However, you can get a free quote and add a rideshare endorsement to your existing policy by logging into your USAA account online.
Best for Small Business : Erie
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Erie
- Price: Varies
- Industries covered: Food, goods, Amazon, and passenger rideshare
- Coverage limit: Varies
- Policy types: Business use designation
Small business owners can get delivery insurance through Erie by adding a “business use” designation to their personal auto policy, which allows them to use their vehicle for any business purpose.
Provides coverage for all types of transport.
Comes with with a variety of built-in add-ons
Offers in-person agents
Not available in every state
Limited information online
Erie offers rideshare insurance as a business use designation added to your personal auto policy. It’s the best option for small business owners who deliver items and use their personal vehicles for other business purposes. Because Erie’s rideshare insurance is a business use designation badge, you can use this coverage for any delivery or business-related transportation.
Erie claims its rideshare insurance is affordable but doesn’t advertise a potential cost. You can get an auto insurance quote online, call an agent, or visit one in person to get a free quote. During the quote process, you can see how much coverage is available where you live and what deductibles you can choose. You have to work with an agent to purchase a policy.
One of the most significant downsides to Erie is that coverage is limited to only a few states. As of March 2023, you can get rideshare coverage in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia.
Best for Food Delivery : Progressive
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Progressive
- Price: Varies
- Industries covered: Food, goods, Amazon, and passenger rideshare
- Coverage limit: Varies
- Policy types: Rideshare endorsement
Progressive’s rideshare insurance covers drivers with passengers, but it also provides coverage to drivers who use their personal vehicles to deliver food through companies like DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub.
Specifically covers food delivery drivers
Provides roadside assistance
Offers a deductible reimbursement
Must have a Progressive car insurance policy
Policies can be expensive
We chose Progressive as the best delivery driver insurance company for food delivery because its rideshare policies extend coverage to anyone working as a food delivery driver, including drivers for Uber and Lyft. To get food delivery insurance from Progressive, you must have an active personal car insurance policy from the company. While delivering food, all of your personal car insurance coverages apply, including roadside assistance and rental car reimbursement (if you add them).
You can get a free quote online by filling out the car insurance application and checking the box that says, “I also use this vehicle for Ridesharing.” You can also choose your coverage limits and set your deductible. If you already have a Progressive auto insurance policy, you may be able to add a rideshare endorsement through your online account.
If you need to file a claim, you can do so online, through the mobile app, or by calling customer service. Progressive works with a network of auto body shops, but you can choose any car repair shop if your vehicle gets damaged during a delivery.
There aren’t many downsides to Progressive’s delivery driver insurance, but the main one is that coverage is not available everywhere. While it's now available in many states, there are some where it's not offered. You can call them or initiate a quote online to see if it's available in your state. Progressive does offer a separate commercial auto policy in all states. Additionally, a policy from Progressive may not cover food delivery drivers in every state or for every stage of the food delivery process.
Best Coverage Options : Allstate
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Allstate
- Price: Varies
- Industries covered: Passenger rideshare
- Coverage limit: Varies
- Policy types: Rideshare endorsement
If you have a personal car insurance policy from Allstate with add-ons, most of those endorsements will apply when driving for a delivery service, including accident forgiveness and rental car reimbursement.
Available in most states
All personal coverage options stay in effect while making deliveries.
Includes deductible gap coverage
Must contact agent to add rideshare endorsement
May not cover all types of delivery drivers
No information online about coverage limits
We chose Allstate as the best delivery driver insurance company for coverage options because any endorsements you have on your personal auto policy will automatically apply when you deliver goods or food or transport passengers. Not all rideshare insurance providers structure their policies this way and Allstate's methods can make coverage easy. For example, if you have endorsements, like accident forgiveness, new car replacement, or custom equipment insurance, those coverages will still remain active when you drive for a delivery service.
While auto insurance quotes are available online, there's not much information online for the endorsement, so if you want to get a free quote or purchase the endorsement, you'll need to contact an agent in your area. The rideshare endorsement has deductible gap coverage up to $2,500 which gives some hints about what deductibles might be available.
Another advantage of Allstate's delivery driver insurance is that coverage is available almost everywhere. As of 2023, Allstate's Ride for Hire policy was available in 47 states. The only catch is that you must have a current personal car insurance policy from Allstate.
One thing to keep in mind with Allstate is that it may not cover all types of delivery drivers. The website focuses mainly on coverage for rideshare drivers, so if you deliver food or goods, check with an agent to see if Allstate's policy will cover you.
Final Verdict
Many delivery driver insurance companies are on the market, but each has its pros and cons. Based on our comparison, we determined that USAA is the best provider overall. USAA is highly rated for customer service and claim satisfaction, and it’s easy to add a rideshare endorsement to your policy online. Not to mention, USAA typically has affordable rates if you meet the military eligibility requirements.
Compare the Best Delivery Driver Insurance
Company | Price | Industries Covered | Coverage Limit | Policy Types |
---|---|---|---|---|
USAA
Best Overall |
Varies | Food, goods, Amazon, passenger rideshare | Varies | Rideshare endorsement |
Erie
Best for Small Business |
Varies | Food, goods, Amazon, passenger rideshare | Varies | Business use designation |
Progressive
Best for Food Delivery |
Varies | Food, goods, Amazon, passenger rideshare | Varies | Rideshare endorsement |
Allstate
Best Coverage Options |
Varies | Passenger rideshare | Varies | Rideshare endorsement |
Guide for Choosing the Best Delivery Driver Insurance
Is Delivery Insurance Worth It?
Car insurance for delivery drivers may be worth it for some people and not for others. It depends on your specific needs, including what type of coverage (if any) the delivery company provides for you. This will vary among companies.
For instance, Uber Eats and Amazon Flex provide coverage during deliveries, and assuming you have auto insurance, you may not need to purchase separate delivery driver insurance. But if you deliver food for a local restaurant, they may not offer insurance, so having delivery driver insurance would come in handy.
Comparing Delivery Insurance
Not all delivery insurance is created equal. Here are a few things to consider when comparing providers:
- Price: Some insurance carriers are more expensive than others. Get a few personalized quotes and compare them to see which company can offer the coverage you need for the lowest premium.
- Coverage limit: Every insurance company offers a different amount of coverage. This is something to pay attention to when you compare carriers.
- Industry: Some insurance carriers have restrictions around which industries qualify for coverage. Make sure your industry is covered before you buy insurance.
- Availability: Some insurance carriers, including the ones we reviewed, don’t offer nationwide coverage. Pay attention to the coverage area for each company you compare to ensure that both states are within the coverage area if you drive between states for work.
Signing Up for Delivery Driver Insurance
Choosing your delivery driver insurance can be slightly more difficult than getting a regular car insurance policy. Most providers require you to contact an agent to get a quote and purchase a policy, so it may take longer than simply applying online.
When you purchase delivery driver insurance, you will likely need to purchase it through your current car insurance company. For example, if you want to buy delivery driver insurance through Allstate, you can’t have a personal auto policy from State Farm. Once you purchase the policy, you can choose what day the coverage takes effect. If you need to change your coverage, you can do so through the online customer portal or by contacting an agent. Many providers also have a mobile app to file claims, get roadside assistance, and download ID cards.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What Is Delivery Driver Insurance?
Personal auto insurance coverage is intended to protect policyholders when they're behind the wheel, but it often won't cover incidents if the driver is operating the vehicle for business use.
Rather than risking a denied claim and being forced to pay for damages and injuries out of pocket, policyholders should consider purchasing delivery driver insurance coverage. This coverage aims to protect drivers even when working from an on-demand delivery app, usually at a low monthly cost.
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Does My Employer Cover Accidents When I’m Working?
Some delivery platforms offer protection to drivers when actively working, though it’s essential to know that the coverage limitations will vary. For example, certain companies cover drivers only when they are on a delivery route and the items (food, groceries, or passengers) are in the vehicle. At the same time, you may not be covered by your personal auto policy if you’re on your way to or from making a delivery, and this gray area is why delivery driver insurance is so important.
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Who Needs Delivery Driver Insurance?
Some companies, like courier firms and restaurants, provide insurance coverage for their delivery drivers, especially if they are considered employees and not independent contractors. However, if you make deliveries, like groceries or packages, as an on-demand or contracted driver, you will likely need driver delivery insurance to protect you.
It is important to note that rideshare insurance often covers drivers working for ride-hailing companies (meaning driving passengers), and it often excludes deliveries such as groceries, food, or medications.
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How Much Does Delivery Driver Insurance Cost?
You can expect rideshare coverage to add approximately 15% to 20% to your existing personal policy premiums. Of course, this may vary depending on factors such as your coverage, location, and miles you drive for business each year.
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What Does Delivery Driver Insurance Cover?
Personal car insurance policies don’t cover you when you’re using your vehicle for business purposes, including making deliveries. Delivery driver insurance companies cover the period when you are traveling from one point to another while making a delivery. Once you make the delivery, your personal car insurance policy takes over.
Methodology
To find the best delivery driver insurance, we compared six auto insurance carriers that sell this type of coverage. Specifically, we looked at the coverage options, premiums, third-party ratings, areas of coverage, and accessibility for each company. We also compared providers based on the industries covered and prioritized carriers that offer coverage to a wide variety of delivery workers.
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