Uber partners with the start-up after finding drivers were having difficulties getting private hire vehicle insurance

Uber has partnered with insurtech INSHUR, to offer a insurance to its drivers.

INSHUR will offer a fully digital service, which it claimed to be first of its kind.

A joint survey between Uber and INSHUR last November had found drivers have had difficulties buying private hire vehicle insurance.

It found that over half of drivers waited a day or longer for their policy with 11% waiting between one or two weeks.

However, through this partnership, Uber drivers will now be able to purchase the policy through the INSHUR app - a process the firms say takes only three minutes, with the flexibility to make changes at any time.

Fred Jones, director, Uber London Limited, said: “Safety is at the heart of everything we do, and motor insurance is at the heart of private hire safety. We have introduced many new safety features in the app and improved our processes over the past 18 months. However, we won’t stop there because when it comes to safety on our platform, our work is never done.”

Mobile-first

Founded in 2016, INSHUR claims to be the only 100% mobile private hire vehicle insurance provider in the UK.

Uber drivers will be able to log in using their UBER ID via the INSHUR app, select appropriate cover and pay for it. 

The insurtech has in-built fraud detection within its application process using automated driver validation such as scans of driving licences. It will also collect information about average trips, location and driver ratings in real-time, using it to calculate risks and pricing but also to reward safe driving with cheaper insurance.

David Daiches, co-founder, INSHUR, said: “We have built a data-driven technology platform, secured insurance capacity with a trusted global insurer and are scaling our business in New York and the UK. The relationship with Uber further extends our focus on technology, data and real-time usage-based risk assessment. The aim will be to reward the safe and highest rated professional drivers, this is a great thing for everyone.”

Insurance documents will be automatically uploaded to the Uber platform as soon as the driver is covered, and a notification is sent if the driver is no longer insured.