Drivers for Uber and other ride-sharing apps will need separate insurance to drive in Indiana, under legislation set for final approval today.
Ride-sharing drivers currently face a catch-22—most companies provide insurance only once a passenger is in the car, but the moment a driver accepts a client most auto insurers consider it a car for hire and won't cover them.
House Insurance Chairman Matthew Lehman, R-Berne, says not only are the ride-sharing companies willing to extend their reach, but insurers may rethink their policies to avoid being shut out of a rapidly growing market.
The bill also requires a background check before you can drive for a ride company. Lehman says most ride-share apps already do that, but the law will provide a safeguard against less scrupulous companies.