Aviva’s Got Uber Drivers Covered, Literally

January 6th, 2016  |  Canadian Business

Aviva beat Intact to the punch. On January 6, Aviva Canada Inc. revealed that it would be launching auto coverage designed for drivers that use their personal vehicles to transport paying passengers.

When Canadian insurance company Intact Financial announced a collaboration with Uber, there was a lot of hoopla followed by a lot of waiting around for more details. But it looks like Aviva found a way to address the need for a ride-sharing insurance solution before Intact did.

In a press release from earlier this week, Aviva says that coverage for ride-sharing drivers in Ontario will be available in early February. Currently, most UberX drivers do not have commercial auto insurance, a costly expense. Instead, they’re relying on their personal policies. However, a standard personal car insurance policy won’t cover claims resulting from incidents where the vehicle was operating commercially.

So Aviva introduced another option. Aviva describes its ride-sharing coverage as an add-on to a driver’s existing personal car insurance policy. More importantly, Aviva promises that the coverage will be affordable. The insurance company says the cost will be a minor slice into drivers’ ride-sharing profits.

Amid bans, protests, and general Uber-induced controversy, Aviva seems to have spotted a business opportunity and acted on it. Other insurers remain wary of ride-sharing drivers. Aviva, on the other hand, has plans to introduce its ride-sharing coverage to the rest of Canada in upcoming months.

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