Health & Fitness
The Ride Sharing Phenomenon
Do you have the correct auto insurance if you want to provide ride sharing services? You need to check with your independent agent before proceeding.
Smart phones have recently changed the face of hired transportation services with the evolution of "Ride Sharing." In the past, you would hail a taxi if you needed a ride in a big city. Now, you have more options, and all you need to have in order to take advantage of them is your phone.
There's a new way to hail a cab!
In 2012, two businesses were founded. Lyft and Sidecar and revolutionized the for-hire transportation industry. Both of these services are available for iPhone and Android users, and both are operating in the Boston area.
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Recently featured in an article in the Boston Globe, these services have become the hip way to get from one place to another in big cities, making more traditional taxi services seem like a crutch, confined to the older (and less tech-savvy) generations.
Interested in providing transportation?
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Need some extra cash? You may be thinking about applying to be a driver for Sidecar and/or Lyft, but hold your horses - there are a few things that you need to consider before sending off your resume.
The most important of these concerns your personal auto insurance policy. It is only meant to cover you for your own personal excursions. While it's true that ride sharing companies typically provide you with extra liability coverage, that may not be enough if you get into an accident with a passenger in the car. Before you accept any fares, make sure that you have all the insurance coverage that you need.
Contact your independent local agent as the very first step in considering the possibility of providing ride sharing services.
Photo credit: WSDOT / Foter / CC BY-NC-ND
