Three periods, three answers
Rideshare coverage is usually described in periods. Period 1: the app is on and you are waiting for a request. Period 2: you have accepted a request and are on the way. Period 3: a passenger or order is in the car. The company’s policy generally covers periods 2 and 3 with significant limits; period 1 is the thin spot, and your personal policy may exclude all three.
What Michigan requires
Michigan law requires transportation network companies to carry coverage for their drivers while they are logged in, including the period-1 window. That does not mean your own car is covered for damage during that window, or that your personal policy will respond. The gap is usually your own vehicle and the difference between the company’s limits and yours.
The endorsement
Many carriers offer a rideshare or “transportation network” endorsement that extends your personal policy into period 1 and sometimes beyond. Delivery driving is treated differently from passenger rideshare by some carriers, so name the app you drive for. Food and package delivery may need a different form or, for heavy use, a commercial policy.
Say it before you need it
The worst outcome is a claim denied for undisclosed commercial use. Tell Carly what you drive for and how many hours a week. The answer may be an endorsement that costs less than a tank of gas a month.
This guide is general information about insurance in Michigan, not advice about a specific policy. Coverage depends on the policy’s terms, limits, exclusions and eligibility, and a request does not bind or change insurance.