What Documents Uber Needs to See for Your Car Insurance

Uber requires proof of active car insurance before you can drive for the platform, and the document they need is your insurance declaration page

Uber does not provide car insurance for you. You must have your own policy, and you must show Uber a document that proves it covers you to drive passengers for money. The document Uber accepts is your insurance declaration page — the one-page summary your insurance company sends you that lists your policy number, coverage types, coverage limits, and the dates your policy is active.

You upload this document through the Uber Driver app during the vehicle registration process. Uber checks that your policy is active on the date you submit it and that it lists your vehicle by its vehicle identification number (VIN) or license plate. If your policy has already expired or does not list your specific car, Uber will reject it and ask you to upload a new one.

The declaration page is not the same as your insurance card, your policy documents, or your bill. It is a single sheet that your insurance company generates when you buy or renew a policy. Most insurance companies send it by email and by mail. You can also log into your insurance company's website and read it yourself.

Key Takeaways

• Uber requires your insurance declaration page, which is a one-page summary from your insurance company showing your policy number, vehicle, coverage types, and active dates.
• Your policy must be active on the date you upload it to Uber, and it must list your specific vehicle by VIN or license plate.
• You can read your declaration page from your insurance company's website, request it by phone, or use the copy sent to you by email or mail.
• If your policy expires or you change vehicles, you must upload a new declaration page to Uber within a certain timeframe or you cannot drive.

Where to find your insurance declaration page

Your insurance company mailed you a declaration page when you first bought your policy and again when you renewed it. Check your email inbox and your mailbox for a document labeled "declarations page," "dec page," "policy summary," or "coverage summary." It will have your insurance company's name and logo at the top.

If you cannot find the paper copy, log into your insurance company's website or mobile app. Most companies have a section called "My Policy," "Policy Documents," or "Downloads" where you can view and read your declaration page as a PDF. You can also call your insurance company's customer service line and ask them to email it to you or read the key details over the phone so you can take a screenshot.

Some insurance companies generate a new declaration page every time you make a change to your policy — adding a vehicle, changing coverage limits, or updating your address. If you have made recent changes, read the most current version. Uber will reject an outdated declaration page.

What information Uber checks on your declaration page

Uber scans your declaration page for four specific pieces of information. First, it checks that your policy is active — meaning the "effective date" has passed and the "expiration date" has not. Second, it confirms that your vehicle is listed on the policy by matching your car's VIN or license plate to what appears on the page. Third, it verifies that your policy includes commercial or rideshare coverage, or at minimum that you have not excluded ridesharing from your policy.

Fourth, Uber checks your liability coverage limits. Most states require a minimum of 15/30/5 (meaning $15,000 bodily injury per person, $30,000 per accident, and $5,000 property damage). Some states and some insurance companies require higher limits. Your declaration page will show your limits in this format. If your limits are below your state's minimum, Uber will reject the document and you will need to contact your insurance company to increase them.

Uber does not check your deductible, your collision or comprehensive coverage, or whether you have added passengers to your policy. Those details do not appear on the declaration page anyway — only on the full policy documents.

What happens if your policy expires or you change vehicles

Uber checks your insurance status periodically, not just once when you first upload it. If your policy expires and you do not renew it, or if you renew it but forget to upload the new declaration page, Uber will deactivate your account. You will not be able to accept rides until you upload a new, active declaration page.

The same applies if you sell your car and buy a new one. Your old declaration page lists your old vehicle. When you add the new vehicle to your insurance policy, your insurance company generates a new declaration page that lists the new car. You must upload this new page to Uber within a few days, or Uber will deactivate your account. You cannot drive the new vehicle on the old declaration page, even if the policy is still active.

Uber sends you a notification through the app when your insurance is about to expire or when they detect a mismatch between your vehicle and your declaration page. Check your app notifications regularly, especially 30 days before your policy renewal date.

Insurance policies that Uber accepts and rejects

Uber accepts personal auto insurance policies that explicitly allow ridesharing, and commercial auto insurance policies. Most major insurance companies — State Farm, Geico, Progressive, Allstate, and others — now offer rideshare coverage as an add-on to a personal policy, usually for $10 to $25 per month. When you add rideshare coverage, your declaration page will say "rideshare" or "transportation network company" in the coverage section.

Uber rejects personal auto insurance policies that do not include rideshare coverage. If your policy says "personal use only" or does not mention ridesharing, Uber will not accept it. Some older policies explicitly exclude ridesharing. You will need to contact your insurance company and add rideshare coverage before you can drive for Uber.

Uber also rejects declaration pages from insurance companies that do not operate in your state, or policies that list a different state as the policy address. If you recently moved, update your address with your insurance company and request a new declaration page with your current state listed.

How to upload your declaration page to Uber

Open the Uber Driver app and go to the "Documents" or "Insurance" section. You will see a box that says "Insurance" or "Proof of Insurance." Tap it and select "Upload Document" or "Add Photo." You can take a photo of your declaration page with your phone camera, or upload a PDF file if you have downloaded it from your insurance company's website.

Make sure the entire page is visible and readable in your photo or file. The document must show your name, your vehicle information, your policy number, your coverage types, and your coverage limits. If the photo is blurry, cut off, or too dark, Uber will reject it and ask you to resubmit.

Uber usually reviews your document within 24 to 48 hours. You will receive a notification in the app telling you whether it was accepted or rejected. If it is rejected, the notification will say why — for example, "policy expired," "vehicle not listed," or "rideshare coverage not shown." You can then take corrective action and resubmit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use my insurance card instead of my declaration page?

No. Your insurance card is a small wallet-sized card that shows your policy number and customer service phone number, but it does not show your coverage types, coverage limits, or vehicle information. Uber needs the declaration page because it contains all the details Uber must verify.

What if my insurance company has not sent me a declaration page yet?

Contact your insurance company and request one. You can call their customer service line, log into your online account, or visit a local agent. Most companies can email it to you within a few hours. If you are in a hurry, ask the agent to read your coverage limits and vehicle information over the phone so you can take a screenshot and submit that temporarily while you wait for the official document.

Do I need commercial auto insurance or can I use personal insurance with rideshare coverage?

Either one works. Personal auto insurance with rideshare coverage add-on is cheaper and is what most Uber drivers use. Commercial auto insurance is more expensive but covers you more broadly. Uber accepts both as long as the declaration page shows your vehicle and your coverage is active.

What if I have multiple vehicles and want to drive different cars for Uber?

Each vehicle must be listed on your insurance policy and must have its own declaration page. You cannot use one declaration page for two different cars. If you want to switch between vehicles, you must upload a new declaration page that lists the vehicle you are currently driving.

Can I drive for Uber if my policy is pending renewal?

No. Your policy must be active and your declaration page must show an expiration date that has not passed. If your policy renews on a specific date, you can drive starting on that date once you upload the new declaration page. Until then, Uber will not let you accept rides.