Delivery Driver Insurance: What’s Required in California? 

Thinking about picking up a side hustle or making delivery driving your main source of income? Before you start, it’s important to understand delivery driver insurance in California and how it affects your coverage.  

Dropping off groceries through a third-party app or delivering food for Uber Eats to addresses across the city is not as simple as just logging into the app and picking up an order. You must also protect yourself and your car with commercial auto insurance.  

Delivery driver insurance in California gives you more liability protection. There are also different additional coverages depending on where you drive, what you deliver, and how your business works. Ensure you’re covered by learning more about the right insurance for delivery service work and finding the right type of coverage. 

Welcome to Delivery Driver Insurance in California 

If you get in a car accident on the job, personal auto insurance coverage isn’t enough. That’s where commercial car insurance comes in: it provides coverage when you and your car are “on the clock.” With this type of coverage, you can get back on the road faster and cover the bills. 

Coverage Essentials for California Delivery Drivers 

California law requires commercial car insurance for everyone who receives money for delivery driving—whether it’s part-time, full-time, or seasonal. It also has three minimum liability requirements: 

• Liability (with a $30,000/person limit) 

• Bodily injury (with a $60,000 per accident limit) 

• Property damage (with a $15,000 per accident limit) 

If you regularly drive across state lines for your delivery service, you might need higher minimums. Truck drivers also have more extensive commercial car insurance obligations, so you must carefully select the right options for your car and job. 

Isn’t My Personal Car Insurance Coverage Enough? 

There are two main reasons to buy commercial vehicle insurance when driving for a food delivery company. First, individual or personal car insurance may not be enough. In California, private and commercial drivers have similar general liability requirements. But you will need more for bigger trucks and vans.  

Second, your personal car insurance policy does not apply to you when you’re handling deliveries. Your claim can be denied, and your insurance company may investigate if they think you’re relying on personal car insurance to cover a business accident.  

Types of Insurance Policies for Delivery Drivers 

You know you need delivery driver insurance in California, but what are your options? Just purchasing the minimum legally required coverage limits your liability. However, it doesn’t help cover damage to your car or protect you if the damage of the accident is greater than those minimum limits. 

Explore different levels of coverage and think about what insurance will give you the most protection while striking a healthy balance between monthly insurance costs and “what-if” scenarios. 

Commercial Auto Insurance Coverage 

Commercial auto insurance in California has three main areas of coverage. You may already be familiar with two areas in your personal auto insurance policy: liability insurance covers the costs of bodily injury and property damage for the other party if you’re at fault for the accident. Physical damage insurance covers your vehicle and property. 

There is a third miscellaneous category of delivery and rideshare insurance. Some common additional coverage that professional drivers can consider are:  

• Medical cost coverage, which can work in addition to your health insurance 

• Coverage for rentals and tows 

• Legal expense coverage if you get sued 

• Business continuity coverage, which can help support your cash flow if a car accident substantially interrupts your business operations 

• Workers compensation insurance if you own your own business and have employees 

Coverage Through Your Food Delivery Company 

While independent contractors and gig workers aren’t typically eligible for workers compensation insurance, some rideshare and delivery driving services offer limited protection. Uber Eats drivers, for example, get some commercial vehicle insurance coverage. However, there are gaps in what’s covered, and extra coverage incurs additional costs.  

California passed a bill allowing Uber drivers to secure commercial car insurance. It’s an opportunity for gig workers and self-employed food delivery drivers to better protect themselves. 

What Are the Benefits of Proper Insurance for Delivery Drivers? 

Food delivery drivers in California must get commercial auto coverage —it’s the law. However, there are also several benefits. Take a look at how the right California delivery driver insurance can help: 

• Get more claims approved. Personal auto insurance companies can turn down your claim in the event of an accident while you are working. But with commercial vehicle insurance, you can make valid claims and get repairs, liability, and other bills covered. 

• Be eligible for more jobs. Many third-party apps and businesses that want to hire independent drivers will require you to have a certain amount of commercial auto coverage. 

• Have peace of mind. Delivery driving is stressful enough. Good auto coverage means you can worry less about what happens to your paycheck in the event of an accident. 

What’s the Real Impact of Insurance on Delivery Driving? 

You can breathe easier knowing you have the right coverage. Without proper commercial car insurance, your assets are at risk if something goes wrong. If you’re using your car for work, your personal insurance might not fully cover property damage costs and general liability. 

When you have reliable delivery driver insurance in California, you have a clear-cut process for making a claim. You also have options if your car gets damaged on the job. Depending on what kind of delivery work you do, it might even be a tax-deductible business expense! 

Protect Yourself on the Road – Get the Right Insurance for Delivery Driving! 

All commercial drivers need commercial delivery driver insurance in California. That’s true whether you work through third-party apps or own a delivery business. At Cost-U-Less, we want to help California drivers understand their options and get the right coverage for their work and lifestyle with low insurance costs.  

We also work hard to give you flexible, affordable policies. Reach out to your Cost-U-Less independent insurance agent to get started. Find a nearby office and visit us in person, call us at (800) 390-4071, or get a fast and free car insurance quote online.