Vehicle and Driver Requirements For Uber and Lyft in Texas

April 16, 2024 | Texas Law

The rise in rideshare services has led to an exponential increase in rideshare drivers and accidents. Uber and Lyft have vehicle and driver requirements in place to avoid liability arising from these incidents and to comply with government regulations. When these driver and vehicle requirements are not enforced, the risk of an accident occurring may rise in many situations.

Uber and Lyft Driver Requirements in Texas

Uber and Lyft want as many people as possible to drive for them. However, they have strict requirements that help ensure only the safest drivers make the cut. Sometimes, however, bad drivers slip through, resulting in unsafe rideshare drivers on the road.

Some of the requirements to drive for Uber or Lyft include:

Having a license and personal auto insurance meeting state coverage minimums
Being at least 21 years old
Passing a driver and criminal background check for DUIs and other disqualifying factors
Possessing a qualifying vehicle that passes a company inspection
Possessing an adequate smartphone
Completing an application to become a driver
Completing orientation and onboarding training

Regarding insurance, the state minimums in Texas are:

$25,000 in property damage coverage per accident
$60,000 in bodily injury coverage per accident
$30,000 in bodily injury coverage per victim

Depending on the timing of the accident, the required coverage may be higher.

Background Checks

Uber and Lyft are diligent with background checks. Drivers come face to face with the public and take responsibility for their safety. Allowing a person with a history of violence would be negligent, at the very least, as would allowing a driver with a history of DUIs to sign up. Fraud is also a disqualifier for drivers looking to work in the rideshare industry.

A history of tickets and car accidents may also lead to an application denial. Although minor traffic infractions typically do not lead to an application denial, a series of minor violations within a short period of time may. For example, three minor driving violations can result in a denial if they occur within a three-year period.

Uber and Lyft Vehicle Requirements in Texas

Ultimately, every vehicle used for Lyft or Uber must pass an extensive operations and safety inspection.

Various disqualifying factors make many vehicles ineligible on arrival, such as:

Having fewer than four doors
Being too old, often 10 or 15 years (there are some exceptions for higher-end models)
Lack of seat belts
Smoking in the vehicle

Once the initial inspection is complete, Uber and Lyft vehicles must undergo regular inspections throughout the time they are employed as rideshare vehicles. Typically, an inspection must be completed once a year or after 15,000 or so miles.

Holding Rideshare Drivers and Companies Responsible

Uber and Lyft make multiple millions of dollars in profit providing service for many. Injury victims hurt by rideshare drivers have the right to pursue full compensation against these companies when negligence or recklessness is a factor.

The first step involves contacting an experienced car accident lawyer within two years of the accident to prevent a valid claim from becoming void. Once you have an attorney, you can focus on your recovery while they pursue every dollar you deserve.

What compensation your lawyer pursues depends on the timing of the accident and what the driver was doing for the company at the time.

Rideshare Driver Insurance

Rideshare drivers are required to carry state minimum liability insurance, which covers accidents caused by the driver when not logged into the rideshare app. This period is known as Period 0.

When the driver is logged in but has no passenger or is not on their way to pick one up (Period 1), the driver’s minimum insurance coverage rises to:

$50,000 of per-person bodily injury liability coverage
$100,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident
$25,000 of property damage per accident (remains unchanged)

The augmented insurance requirements may be paid by the rideshare company. Drivers should check with their respective transportation network company (TNC).

Rideshare Company Insurance

When a rideshare driver is on their way to pick up a passenger, they are considered to be in Period 2. Having a passenger in the car is known as Period 3. During Periods 2 and 3, Uber and Lyft provide at least $1 million in coverage for bodily injury and property damage per accident.

Uber and Lyft also supply drivers with $1 million of uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage per crash. They both provide contingent comprehensive and collision coverage when passengers are in the vehicle.

How a Lawyer Can Help After a Rideshare Crash

Contacting a lawyer for help with compensation increases an accident victim’s odds of getting properly compensated. The general public is typically not aware of the extent of the damages, such as lost wages, they are entitled to after a car crash, and insurance companies know it.

Insurance companies capitalize on this lack of knowledge and use it to pay claimants less than they deserve.

Experienced lawyers know the true value of rideshare accident claims and how to compel the payment of worthy compensation. They fight hard to leave nothing on the table.

Some of the steps attorneys take to get their clients appropriately compensated include:

Investigating the rideshare accident and all parties
Recreating the accident with accident reconstruction experts
Handling all legal and claim paperwork, documents, and forms
Negotiating with insurance companies

Rideshare accident lawyers will also fight for their clients at trial if necessary. Because initial consultations are free, rideshare accident victims have nothing to lose and much to gain by meeting with an experienced attorney.

Uber and Lyft Driver and Vehicle Requirements and the Law

Uber and Lyft avoid liability through driver, vehicle, and insurance requirements. Victims of accidents caused by Uber and Lyft drivers have recourse through various forms of insurance when rideshare drivers are negligent. You should contact an experienced car accident lawyer soon after a rideshare accident.

Contact The San Antonio Personal Injury Attorneys from George Salinas Injury Lawyers

If you need were injured in an accident in San Antonio, TX, please contact the lawyers at George Salinas Injury Lawyers to schedule a free consultation. We serve all throughout Bexar County and the surrounding areas.

George Salinas Injury Lawyers
6243 I-10 Ste. 955,
San Antonio, TX 78201
(210) 225-0909
Available 24 hours!