What Insurance Do You Need for HyreCar?
Last Updated on February 5, 2026
HyreCar was a gig-focused carsharing marketplace that matched vehicle owners with rideshare and delivery drivers who needed a car short-term. In May 2023, Getaround announced it had closed the acquisition of substantially all HyreCar assets, and in February 2025, Getaround announced a wind-down of its U.S. operations (including its HyreCar business). If you’re searching for HyreCar insurance details today, start by confirming whether the platform (or any successor program) is active in your area and which company is providing coverage for your rental.
This guide explains how HyreCar insurance was designed to work for owners (hosts) and renters (drivers), what “included insurance” typically meant during rideshare/delivery use, and what to watch for in exclusions, deductibles, and claims.
- “Included Insurance” Has Rules: Coverage typically depends on the rental agreement, gig platform requirements, and what you were doing at the time of the incident.
- Rideshare Periods Change Who Pays First: For Uber/Lyft-style driving, insurance responsibility often shifts based on whether the app is off, waiting, or on an active trip.
- Deductibles Can Be the Biggest Out-of-Pocket Risk: Host protection plans historically used high deductibles on lower-cost options—plan for that financially.
- Claims Are Won With Documentation: Photos, police reports, and witness info help resolve disputes about damage, timing, and liability.
How HyreCar Worked
HyreCar’s model was straightforward: owners listed vehicles, and approved drivers rented them for gig work (Uber, Lyft, and delivery apps). Rentals were managed through the platform, and the renter typically received documents needed to show the vehicle is properly registered and insured for the intended use (based on the platform’s rules and the gig company’s onboarding requirements).
Because gig driving introduces “commercial use” exposure, the biggest question was always insurance: who is covered, when coverage applies, and what happens if a claim occurs.
HyreCar Insurance Basics (What “Included Insurance” Usually Meant)
HyreCar’s insurance approach was built around two big buckets of protection: liability (injury/property damage you cause to others) and physical damage (damage to the rented vehicle). Exact limits, deductibles, and eligibility requirements depended on the program terms in effect at the time of the rental.
| Coverage Type | What It Helps Pay For | What To Watch For |
|---|---|---|
| Liability | Bodily injury and property damage claims from third parties if the driver is legally responsible. | Which policy is primary can change based on whether you’re actively on a rideshare trip vs. driving off-app. |
| Physical Damage | Repairs to the rented vehicle after a covered collision or comprehensive-type loss (subject to program rules). | Deductibles can be high. Wear-and-tear, mechanical breakdowns, or unapproved uses are commonly excluded. |
Rideshare “Periods” Matter (Who Pays First)
One of the most important concepts for HyreCar renters was the rideshare “period” framework. In HyreCar’s SEC filings, rentals were described using four periods: Period 0 (rideshare app off), Period 1 (app on, waiting), Period 2 (accepted a ride, en route to pick up), and Period 3 (passenger in the vehicle). Those filings stated HyreCar’s policy was written to cover Period 0, and that coverage for Periods 1–3 would subordinate to the rideshare company’s required insurance (for Uber/Lyft). Source: HyreCar S-1 filing (SEC)
In practical terms: if a crash happened while a rideshare trip was “in progress,” the rideshare company’s insurance could be first in line. For other driving (like getting gas, repositioning between trips, or driving with the app off), the HyreCar program coverage could be primary. Always confirm the current “who pays first” rules in the rental agreement and the gig platform’s insurance documents.
HyreCar Insurance for Vehicle Owners (Hosts)
For owners, HyreCar’s protections were designed to make it possible to rent out a car for gig use without relying on a personal auto policy that might exclude commercial activity. Owners typically chose among protection options that traded off earnings versus deductible and protection level.
Host Protection Plan Options (Commonly Cited Structure)
Historically, HyreCar plans were often described as Basic, Standard, Premium, and Premium Plus, with different owner revenue shares and physical damage deductibles. Because these terms can change, treat the table below as a snapshot of commonly published plan structures, not a guarantee of current coverage.
| Plan | Owner Share (Reported) | Reported Deductible | What This Usually Means |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | 85% | $3,000 | Higher earnings, higher deductible exposure on vehicle damage claims. |
| Standard | 80% | $2,500 | Mid-level earnings and deductible. |
| Premium | 75% | $1,000 | Lower earnings, meaningfully lower deductible. |
| Premium Plus | 70% | $500 | Lowest earnings, lowest deductible among these options. |
Source for the plan/deductible structure shown above: Ridester’s HyreCar overview. Always confirm the current plan options, exclusions, and deductibles in the program documents tied to your specific rental.
HyreCar coverage was also generally described as meeting state minimum auto insurance requirements, but required limits and “proof of insurance” rules vary by state and by gig platform.
Quick tip: A $2,500–$3,000 deductible can wipe out months of rental profit. If you list a vehicle, choose a deductible you can comfortably pay if a claim happens—then build your pricing and savings around that reality.
What Owners Should Confirm Before Listing
- Loan/lease rules: Some lenders and leases restrict commercial use or require certain coverages.
- Personal policy implications: Even if a platform provides coverage during rentals, you still need to understand what your personal insurer expects when the vehicle is not on rent.
- Maintenance and wear: Gig driving is high-mileage and higher wear; most insurance does not treat maintenance issues as covered losses.
HyreCar Insurance for Renters (Drivers/Borrowers)
If you rented through HyreCar, the platform typically arranged insurance tied to the rental so you could meet gig platform requirements. However, “included insurance” does not mean “covered for everything.” The right way to think about it is: you’re driving under a specific rental contract with specific rules, limits, and exclusions.
Do You Need Your Own Auto Insurance?
Many drivers still maintain their own personal auto policy even if a rental includes coverage—especially if they also drive a separate personal car, or if they want broader protection when they’re not in a covered rental period. Also, personal auto insurance and credit card rental coverage often have limitations for peer-to-peer rentals and “driving for hire.” Learn more here: personal auto policy rental coverage and credit card rental coverage.
Bottom line: don’t assume your personal policy will step in if the rental program denies a claim—and don’t assume the rental program covers off-contract driving.
Common Exclusions and Gray Areas to Watch
- Unauthorized use: Driving outside the rental terms, allowing an unapproved driver, or using the car for non-approved activities can jeopardize coverage.
- Wear and tear: Scratches, interior wear, odors, and mechanical failures are often excluded or handled separately from insurance.
- Deductibles and fees: Even with coverage, you may owe a deductible or contract-based charges depending on the facts and the program terms.
Quick tip: If an accident happens, document everything immediately—photos, the app status (on/off trip), and who was driving. Coverage disputes often come down to timing (rideshare period) and proof.
Claim Process and What to Document
If a vehicle was damaged during a rental, thorough documentation matters. Take clear photos and gather supporting records so the adjuster can determine what happened and which coverage applies. These guides can help you build a strong file: documenting damage for an insurance claim, filing a police report, and getting witness statements.
In historical HyreCar materials and announcements, claims administration was associated with Sedgwick as a third-party claims partner. Source: HyreCar insurance program announcement (Business Wire) If you need to start or track a claim, follow the instructions in your rental agreement and any claim intake emails you received; you can also reference Sedgwick’s claim resources here: Sedgwick claim help portal.
Deductibles and responsibility can vary by protection plan and scenario. If you need a refresher on how deductibles work (and why they matter so much in gig rentals), see car insurance deductibles explained.
Final Word on HyreCar Insurance
HyreCar’s insurance approach was built to support gig driving, with coverage rules that depended heavily on whether the rideshare app was off, waiting, or actively on a trip. For owners, the biggest decision was usually the protection plan tradeoff between earnings and deductible exposure. For renters, the biggest risks were misunderstandings about rideshare “periods,” exclusions, and deductibles.
Because HyreCar’s U.S. operations were included in Getaround’s announced U.S. wind-down, treat any “how it works” description as historical guidance and verify current availability and coverage terms before you rent or list a vehicle. This article is for educational purposes only and is not legal advice; coverage and claim outcomes depend on the contract, state law, and the facts of the loss.
