The concept of in-home food delivery may not be a new one, but increased demand for grocery and food delivery has recently created a wide-spread market for third-party delivery drivers. If you work in the food delivery industry – whether for a single restaurant or servicing multiple stores or restaurants – you rely on your vehicle to carry out your orders in a timely way. Imagine getting into an accident during a delivery and losing your means of income, all because you lacked sufficient insurance coverage to repair or replace your car. At Integrity Insurance Agency, this is a scenario we are familiar with. We aim to help our clients better understand the risks of driving for-hire and find ways to minimize gaps in coverage protection.
What Does Your Employer Cover?
Unless you are an independent business owner, chances are you drive for a parent company that mediates food delivery orders between the restaurant and the customer. Companies like these are often app-based, meaning drivers are ‘on the clock’ when their app is open and waiting to receive an order. During this time, you may be privy to employer-sponsored insurance coverage that helps protect you against liability expenses incurred as a result of an accident you cause during or before a delivery. If you work for a specific restaurant, such as a pizza parlor, your employer may provide some limited non-owned or for-hire auto coverage while you are driving deliveries.
It is important to understand what is and is not covered by your employer’s insurance, as well as what type of coverage you are required by your employer to carry for yourself. Insurance offered by your company is likely supplementary, meaning you are probably required to have your own personal coverage as primary protection. Furthermore, the coverage that is offered is usually limited and may offer only low levels of liability when you are in between deliveries. During a delivery, coverage may increase to higher limits or to include things like uninsured or underinsured motorist protection, but it is still unlikely to protect your personal vehicle.
Personal Insurance Coverage – Are There Gaps In Your Protection?
If you have your own auto insurance with coverage for comprehensive and collision damages, make sure you understand the limitations of this coverage when you are working. If you damage your car while delivering food for hire, you could find that neither your employer’s or personal auto insurance will cover the loss. By working with an independent agent, you can identify coverage gaps that you may not be able to detect on your own and explore ways you can broaden your protection to safeguard against financial losses while you are working.
At Integrity Insurance Agency, we can help take the guesswork out of insuring yourself and your vehicle against on-the-job accidents, whether you work for Uber, Door Dash, Grub Hub, Favor, or some other food delivery service. We can help you learn more about car insurance for food delivery workers and assess the types of protection that may be right for you.
For more information or to request an insurance consultation, contact our office today.
