Insurance & Compliance

Do you need commercial insurance to drive private clients?

Short answer: usually yes — unless you drive on HUM. If you carry paying clients in your own car, your personal auto policy almost certainly won't cover you, so you'd normally have to buy your own commercial or livery policy. On HUM, you don't. Every ride you log in the app is covered under HUM's commercial insurance — the same legal framework Uber and Lyft use.

Why your personal policy won't cover it

Personal auto insurance is written for personal driving. The moment you're paid to carry someone, most personal policies treat it as commercial use — and exclude it. That means if you have an accident while driving a paying client on a personal policy, your insurer can deny the claim and leave you personally on the hook.

This is the gap that catches a lot of drivers off guard. It isn't about how good a driver you are. It's about what your policy is built to cover.

What this normally costs you — versus on HUM

To carry private clients legally on your own, you'd typically buy a commercial or livery auto policy. Those vary a lot by state, vehicle, and driving history, but they often run several hundred dollars a month — and you pay it whether you drive five rides or fifty.

On your own

Buy a commercial policy

Often hundreds of dollars a month
You shop for it, manage it, and renew it
You pay it even in slow weeks

On HUM

Coverage is included

Every logged ride is covered by HUM's policy
One flat monthly subscription
You keep 100% of every fare

Costs vary — get a quote for your own situation before comparing.

How HUM covers the ride

HUM is a registered Transportation Network Company (TNC) — the same legal structure Uber and Lyft operate under. When you log a ride in the HUM app, that trip is covered under HUM's commercial policy. You don't buy or manage a separate commercial policy to drive on the platform.

Coverage follows the ride from the moment you go online through drop-off, with protection that scales as the trip progresses — the standard three-period TNC structure. The practical version: log the ride, and it's covered.

The honest fine print

It has to be in the app. Coverage applies to rides you log and run through HUM. A cash side deal arranged off the app isn't covered.
Keep your personal policy. Your personal auto insurance still applies when you're off the platform with the app closed.
Protecting your own car. For damage to your own vehicle, you'll want to keep comprehensive and collision coverage on your personal policy.
This isn't legal or insurance advice. Coverage details depend on your state and situation — confirm specifics with HUM and your own insurer.

Common questions

Does HUM replace my personal car insurance?

No. Keep your personal policy — it covers you when the app is off. HUM's commercial coverage applies to the rides you log in the app.

Do I need to buy a separate commercial policy to drive on HUM?

No. Rides logged in the HUM app are covered under HUM's commercial TNC registration, so you don't buy or manage your own commercial policy for them.

How is this legal?

HUM is a registered Transportation Network Company — the same legal framework Uber and Lyft use. Logging the ride in the app is what makes it both covered and compliant.

What about rides I arrange off the app?

Those aren't covered. The coverage only applies to trips you run through HUM.

How much does commercial insurance normally cost?

It varies widely by state, vehicle, and driving history, but commercial or livery policies often run several hundred dollars a month. On HUM it's included in your subscription instead.