Vermont requires $1 million in uninsured coverage and $5,000 med pay from the moment a rideshare driver accepts a ride

The $1 million period starts at acceptance and covers uninsured drivers too

A prearranged ride begins “when a driver accepts the rider’s request” and ends “when the last rider departs from the vehicle.” § 750(a)(3).

Three benefits are tied to that accepted ride under § 750(b)(3):

• Liability: at least $1,000,000 for death, bodily injury, and property damage.
• Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage: at least $1,000,000 for death, bodily injury, and property damage.
• Medical payments: $5,000.

Those three run from acceptance until the last rider leaves. They apply on the way to the pickup and while the rider is in the car. They are one statutory tier.

The waiting period is a different list. While the driver is logged on and available, and is not on a prearranged ride, § 750(b)(2) requires $50,000 per person, $100,000 per incident, and $25,000 for property damage, plus “any other State-mandated coverage under section 941.” That subsection does not list the $1,000,000 uninsured benefit or the $5,000 med pay. The amount of the waiting-period uninsured coverage is unsettled. The statute does not list med pay for the wait, and whether any applies then is unsettled.

The company’s insurance pays from the first dollar if the driver’s coverage lapses

The driver, the company, or both may carry the coverage. § 750(b)(2)(B), (3)(B). If the driver’s insurance has lapsed or does not provide the required coverage, the company’s insurance provides it “beginning with the first dollar of a claim” and must defend. § 750(b)(4). Coverage may not depend on a personal insurer first denying a claim. § 750(b)(5).

In a claims-coverage investigation, the company must give the precise log-on and log-off times for the 12 hours before and the 12 hours after the accident, if a directly involved party or the driver’s insurer asks. § 750(d)(8).

Whether a company can be liable for a driver’s negligence beyond its insurance is unsettled.

A personal policy may exclude any and all coverage while the app is on

Insurers writing auto insurance in Vermont “may exclude any and all coverage” under a personal policy for loss or injury while the driver is logged on or on a prearranged ride. § 750(d)(1). That means the rideshare coverage in § 750(b) is usually what pays.

$1 million in uninsured and underinsured coverage from acceptance

During a prearranged ride, the law requires “uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage that provides at least $1,000,000.00 for death, bodily injury, and property damage.” § 750(b)(3)(A)(ii). On personal policies, uninsured coverage must be at least $50,000 / $100,000, and must match higher liability limits “unless the policyholder otherwise directs.” § 941(c). 23 V.S.A. chapter 11.

Uber prints $1 million uninsured coverage on trips and med pay without an amount

Uber’s Vermont certificates are issued by Liberty Surplus Insurance Corporation, NAIC 10725, for March 1, 2026 to March 1, 2027. Uber certificate PDF.

The trip certificate says “Uninsured / Underinsured Bodily Injury and Medical Payments included as further described in the policy” but prints no med pay amount. The statute requires $5,000. § 750(b)(3)(A)(iii).

Lyft prints $5,000 med pay and $1 million uninsured coverage for Periods 2 and 3

Lyft’s certificate SEA-004219130-05 is issued by Mobilitas Insurance Company, NAIC 16392, for October 1, 2026 to October 1, 2027. Lyft certificate PDF.

The certificate says “Policy for Period 1 includes UM/UIM $50,000/$100,000/$10,000” and “Policies for Period 2 and Period 3 include UM/UIM $1,000,000 CSL and Med Pay of $5,000.” No Period 3 liability figure is printed; the statute requires $1,000,000 during a ride. § 750(b)(3).

No PIP, but $5,000 med pay is required from acceptance

Vermont is not a no-fault state and has no PIP requirement. The rideshare law instead requires “$5,000.00 in medical payments coverage (Med Pay)” while a driver is engaged in a prearranged ride, which begins at acceptance. § 750(b)(3)(A)(iii); § 750(a)(3). Med pay pays medical bills regardless of fault, up to that amount. For med pay outside a rideshare trip, check your own policy.

The statute does not list med pay for the logged-on waiting period, and whether any applies then is unsettled.

Recover if your negligence is not greater than the defendants’, and sue within 3 years

Your negligence does not bar recovery if it “was not greater than the causal total negligence of the defendant or defendants,” and damages are reduced by your share. 12 V.S.A. § 1036. This is a 51% bar: at 50% you still recover. Where recovery is allowed against more than one defendant, each is liable for its proportion of the total award. § 1036. 12 V.S.A. § 1036.

• Injury: 3 years, accruing on discovery of the injury. 12 V.S.A. § 512(4). 12 V.S.A. chapter 23.
• Wrongful death: 2 years from discovery of the death. 14 V.S.A. § 1492(a). 14 V.S.A. chapter 71.

Wrongful death damages are based on the losses of the spouse and next of kin

Check with a Vermont attorney about whether any damages limit applies to your case. Wrongful death damages are based on the pecuniary injuries to the spouse and next of kin, and for a minor child include loss of love and companionship. 14 V.S.A. § 1492(b).

The State is liable up to $500,000 per person, and towns only to their insurance

The State’s maximum liability is “$500,000.00 to any one person” and $2,000,000 per occurrence, with exceptions including discretionary functions. 12 V.S.A. § 5601. 12 V.S.A. chapter 189. A judgment against a municipality or county may not exceed “the maximum amount of liability insurance carried by it.” 29 V.S.A. § 1404. 29 V.S.A. chapter 55.

Report injury or $3,000 in damage to the DMV within 72 hours

• Stop and help: stop, render aid, and give your name, residence, license number, and owner’s name. 23 V.S.A. § 1128(a).
• Written report: for injury, death, or property damage of $3,000 or more, mail a report to the Commissioner within 72 hours. § 1129(a).
• Insurance information: give injured people the names of liability insurers and policy numbers within five days. § 1129(c). 23 V.S.A. § 1129.
• Rideshare driver: must give insurance information and say whether they were logged on or on a ride. § 750(b)(8).

Vermont allows automated vehicle testing only

Vermont’s Automated Vehicle Testing Act lets automated vehicles operate on public highways for testing only after the Traffic Committee approves a permit. 23 V.S.A. § 4203(a). 23 V.S.A. chapter 41.

Inconsistent city rules are preempted, and the large-city exception has ended

Municipal rideshare rules “are preempted to the extent they are inconsistent” with chapter 10. § 754(a). A savings clause for municipalities over 35,000 residents with rules in effect July 1, 2017 was repealed on July 1, 2025. § 754(b). Chapter 10 has no airport provision.