States continue to increase their regulation of ridesharing companies like Uber and Lyft (also known as Transportation Network Companies or TNCs) and their drivers. The increased regulation comes with increased insurance obligations and Farmers Insurance is expanding a new product to fulfill those requirements. As one example, the governor of Ohio recently signed a bill that includes insurance coverage requirements applicable to TNCs and their drivers. To help remedy the potential coverage gaps that must now be filled, Farmers announced on Monday that it would expand its ridesharing coverage to Ohio.
The Ohio bill requires insurance for the time when the drivers are logged on to an app like Uber but are not carrying a passenger. Previously, this time period was potentially uninsured since a driver’s personal auto insurance likely did not provide coverage when logged on to the app and the TNC’s insurance likely did not provide coverage until the driver picked up a passenger.
Farmers, consistent with its ubiquitous television spots about coverage gaps, quickly stepped in to eliminate the previously uninsured gap that must now be filled in Ohio. For an estimated $15 more in premium per month, Farmers will provide this ridesharing coverage as part of the driver’s personal auto insurance policy.