What happens if I get in an accident between rides?
An accident between rides — app on, no trip accepted — is a Period 1 event: the thinnest coverage window in rideshare, and where most denials are born.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Coverage period | Period 1 (app on, no trip) |
| App provides | Liability floor only (~$50/100/25) |
| Personal policy | Excluded (livery clause) |
| With endorsement | Your personal coverages extend into this window |
| Without | Your car and medicals above the floor are yours |
The window, precisely
Between-rides means the app’s $1M trip liability has not attached — only the state-floor liability applies. The real-case version (our denial log) shows the full exposure: $14,000 vehicle damage with no coverage path.
The two fixes
An endorsement extends personal coverage into Period 1 (our anatomy file), or a hybrid policy eliminates period-gaming entirely. Between-rides is also when period documentation matters: our receipt rule covers the evidence habit.
FAQ
Am I insured while waiting for a ride request?
Only for minimal third-party liability. Your own vehicle and medicals need an endorsement or hybrid policy.
Does the gap really matter for minor accidents?
Minor accidents still mean your own repair bill — $2,000 parking-lot scrapes come entirely out of pocket in Period 1 without an endorsement.
Related reading: Period 1 anatomy · Denial case · Endorsement file · FAQ library