At Couri Insurance, we understand why some of our clients have chosen to pick up an extra job delivering food. You can provide a valuable service and earn extra money with just about any sort of schedule. On the other hand, driving around in all sorts of weather and traffic conditions can make this job notably risky. That’s why it’s extremely important to make sure that you haven’t left any coverage gaps in your auto insurance policy.
Do You Have Car Insurance for Food Deliveries?
You could be surprised to learn that the Bureau of Labor Statistics ranks food deliveries as one of the most dangerous jobs. This could be because regular drivers usually lack extra commercial training but still spend a lot of time on the road. You’re also likely to spend much more time driving than you would if you didn’t deliver food. Besides car accidents, other risks that drivers may face can include theft and vandalism.
This partly explains why most personal auto policies specifically exclude using vehicles to work. If you deliver food for a local pizza restaurant or Uber Eats, that’s not personal use. Your insurer offered you premiums that were based upon only using your car for personal use. The more time that you spend driving, the more likely you are to have an accident. You certainly won’t want to wait until you’ve already had an on-the-job accident to learn that you weren’t properly covered.
What Insurance Protects Delivery Drivers?
Businesses do buy commercial car insurance to protect their vehicles.
Typically:
- Commercial car coverage won’t pay for damages to personal cars that employers or contract workers happen to use for work. That can include delivering meals or even running errands.
- Employers should offer a type of coverage called non-owner car insurance. If employees or contract workers take their cars to conduct business, this will protect them.
Even if your employer has this sort of policy, you should still speak with an insurance agent about your plans to deliver food. Some non-owner policies still leave drivers vulnerable because they may only cover specific activities or even only offer liability insurance. For instance, the insurance offered by some companies only covers you while you’ve got food in your vehicle. You also need coverage while you’re waiting for an order or driving to pick up food.
There have even been stories of insurers canceling policies because they found out that their customers were using their cars for work without telling them. When you first applied for your policy, you told the insurance company how you planned to use your vehicle. You probably estimated how many miles you typically drove. If that changes, you need to let your insurance company know. You might need to add optional coverage that will extend your current policy beyond personal use. Some insurers offer these options for just a few dollars a month.
We Will Get Your Food Delivery Work Covered
No matter what kind of work you do, you need to manage your risks. At Couri Insurance Agency, we have over four decades worth of experience covering families and businesses in and around Waukesha, WI. If you plan to deliver food or if you run a restaurant that will offer food delivery, contact us today. We will be happy to review your current coverage and help you shop for the right sort of protection. We want to help you manage risks, so you can enjoy the profits of your hard work.
