You were riding in an Uber. Another driver hit you. Now you’re hurt, the bills are starting, and you’re trying to figure out whose insurance is supposed to cover this — yours, the Uber driver’s, Uber’s, or the at-fault driver’s.
If the driver who hit you was uninsured, underinsured, or took off, you may be searching specifically for whether Uber’s insurance has uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage. The answer in Texas is not what most websites are telling you.
Does Uber Carry UM/UIM Coverage in Texas?
Uber does not carry uninsured or underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage in Texas. Not during a ride. Not while the driver is waiting for a request. Not at any point.
This is confirmed directly on Uber’s Texas Certificate of Insurance, which states: “Uninsured Motorist (UM) / Underinsured Motorist (UIM) coverage is not included in any amount.”
Uber’s insurance coverage in Texas includes liability coverage (up to $1 million during an active ride), contingent coverage during the app-on / pre-ride period, and Medical Payments coverage during active rides. None of that is UM/UIM.
So if you were a passenger in an Uber and the at-fault driver was uninsured, underinsured, or fled the scene, Uber’s policy will not cover your injuries through UM/UIM. You have to look elsewhere.
Why Texas Is Different from Other States
Most rideshare insurance articles reference a $1 million UM/UIM policy. That figure is real, but it only applies in states that legally require Uber to carry UM/UIM coverage. Texas does not.
Texas treats UM/UIM coverage as elective under Texas Insurance Code Chapter 1952. Insurers must offer it. Policyholders can reject it in writing. Uber rejects it.
Texas’s rideshare statute (Chapter 1954, originally enacted as House Bill 1733 in 2015 and updated in later legislative sessions) requires tiered liability coverage for transportation network companies. It does not independently require UM/UIM. Combine that with Chapter 1952’s rejection rule, and the result is what you see on Uber’s certificate of insurance: zero UM/UIM coverage on every Texas rideshare trip.
What This Means If You Were Hurt in an Uber Accident
If the driver at fault was uninsured, underinsured, or unidentified, Uber’s policy will not pay your UM/UIM claim because there is no UM/UIM policy to claim against. The recovery options that remain depend on your specific situation:
- The at-fault driver’s liability insurance. If they were identified and have coverage, this is the primary source of recovery.
- Your own auto insurance policy’s UM/UIM coverage. If you carry UM/UIM on your personal auto policy, it generally follows you as a passenger in someone else’s vehicle, including an Uber.
- MedPay or PIP on your own auto policy. These can pay medical bills regardless of fault.
- Uber’s Medical Payments coverage. During an active ride, Uber’s policy includes MedPay, which can pay some medical expenses for passengers regardless of who was at fault. This is not the same as UM/UIM and the limits are much lower.
- Health insurance. Your health plan can pay medical bills, often subject to subrogation later.
- A resident relative’s UM/UIM. If you live with a family member who carries UM/UIM, you may be covered under their policy.
Common Mistakes After an Uber Accident in Texas
People who get hurt in an Uber and then run into the UM/UIM gap usually make one of these mistakes early:
- Assuming Uber’s insurance will cover everything. Liability coverage requires another driver to be at fault and identified. UM/UIM does not exist on Uber’s Texas policy at all.
- Giving a recorded statement to the at-fault driver’s insurer before understanding their coverage limits. If their policy limits are low and you have no UM/UIM backup, what you say early can permanently shape your recovery.
- Not reporting the crash to their own auto insurance carrier. Even passengers can have UM/UIM through their own policy. Failing to report can jeopardize the claim.
- Waiting too long to investigate the at-fault driver. In hit-and-run scenarios, the window to identify the driver closes fast.
- Settling with the at-fault driver’s insurer for policy limits without checking other coverage sources first. Once that release is signed, those other sources may be harder to access.
When to Talk to a Rideshare Accident Lawyer
A Texas rideshare crash involving an uninsured, underinsured, or unidentified driver is harder than a normal car accident because the most obvious source of coverage — Uber’s $1 million policy — does not apply to UM/UIM situations the way passengers expect.
An attorney can identify every layer of coverage that does apply, coordinate UM/UIM claims under your own or a household member’s policy, evaluate whether Uber’s MedPay or any contingent coverage applies to your specific app-status timeline at the moment of the crash, and pursue the at-fault driver directly when assets or other policies exist. None of this is automatic. It takes someone who reads the certificate of insurance, knows the Texas statute, and pushes back on insurers trying to deny coverage by pointing at someone else’s policy.
If you were hurt as an Uber passenger in Texas and the other driver was uninsured, underinsured, or fled the scene, the Amaro Law Firm rideshare accident lawyer team can review your case at no cost and walk you through the coverage that actually applies to your situation.
Call (713) 352-7975 for a free consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Uber have uninsured motorist coverage in Texas?
No. Uber’s Texas Certificate of Insurance confirms that UM/UIM coverage is not included in any amount, at any phase of the ride.
Does Uber have $1 million in UM/UIM coverage?
Not in Texas. Uber’s $1 million figure refers to liability coverage during an active ride, not UM/UIM. Some other states require Uber to carry $1 million in UM/UIM, but Texas allows Uber to reject that coverage.
What if the driver who hit my Uber took off?
Uber’s UM/UIM does not cover hit-and-run accidents in Texas because Uber does not carry UM/UIM here. Recovery typically depends on your own auto policy’s UM/UIM coverage, a resident relative’s policy, or Uber’s Medical Payments coverage if the crash happened during an active ride.
Does Uber have PIP coverage in Texas?
Uber’s standard Texas policy includes Medical Payments (MedPay) coverage during active rides, which is similar to but not identical to PIP. MedPay can pay some medical expenses regardless of fault but has limits well below typical injury costs.
What if I don’t have my own car insurance?
You may still have options. A resident relative’s UM/UIM, the at-fault driver’s liability insurance, Uber’s MedPay during an active ride, and your health insurance can all play a role. An attorney can identify which apply to your situation.
Is Uber required to have UM/UIM coverage in Texas?
No. Texas Insurance Code Chapter 1952 allows policyholders to reject UM/UIM coverage in writing, and the Texas rideshare statute (Chapter 1954) does not independently require it. Uber rejects UM/UIM coverage in Texas.
How long do I have to file a claim after an Uber accident in Texas?
Texas generally allows two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit, but insurance claim deadlines and notice requirements can be much shorter. Acting quickly preserves all of your options.