Uber and Lyft use similar three-period coverage structures in Arizona, but the differences in how each company handles Period 1, when the driver has the app on but hasn't accepted a ride, and their specific policy terms can affect your claim. Here's what actually differs between them.
The coverage structure both companies share
Arizona's TNC statutes (A.R.S. §§ 28-9551 through 28-9566) require both companies to maintain minimum coverage at each period of a ride. Period 0 (app off): driver's personal insurance only. Period 1 (app on, no ride accepted): contingent $50,000/$100,000/$25,000 liability coverage, active only after the driver's personal insurer denies the claim. Periods 2 and 3 (ride accepted through completion): $1 million per-occurrence commercial liability policy.
Key differences
Uber maintains its own commercial auto policy that applies in Periods 2 and 3. Lyft uses a third-party insurer. In practice, both provide $1 million per-occurrence coverage once a ride is active, the difference lies in how claims are handled, the speed of response, and the claims teams involved. For Period 1 claims, both companies' contingent coverage has the same limits under Arizona law, but how aggressively each company's insurer asserts that the personal policy should pay first differs by case.
Driver underinsurance is also handled differently. If the at-fault driver is a Lyft or Uber driver in Period 0 with minimal personal coverage, UM/UIM coverage from the rideshare company's policy is not available, only your own UM/UIM coverage applies. Under A.R.S. § 20-259.01, if you never signed a written rejection of UM/UIM coverage, you may still have it.
What matters most in practice
In cases involving serious injuries, the period distinction is what drives recovery, and establishing which period was active requires the driver's app data. Accident report times, GPS records, and ride-dispatch logs all go to this determination. An attorney can obtain and analyze that data and push back on any claim that Period 1 rather than Period 2 or 3 coverage applies.
The filing deadline
Arizona gives most personal injury victims two years from the accident date (A.R.S. § 12-542). See our post on the Arizona personal injury statute of limitations for exceptions.
Our rideshare accident attorneys handle Uber and Lyft crash claims throughout Phoenix and Scottsdale on a contingency fee basis. No fee unless we win. Call (480) 418-SHER (7437) or reach out online.