Gig economy · 4 min read
Insurance for Uber, Bolt and delivery drivers in South Africa
Why a standard private-use car policy doesn't cover gig driving — and what to ask for instead.
Quick summary
Using a private-use car for paid Uber, Bolt, Mr D or InDriver work without telling your insurer voids the policy. SA insurers now offer dedicated e-hailing schedules at a 25–60% premium loading.
Best for
- ·Full-time and part-time e-hailing drivers
- ·Mr D and Uber Eats couriers
- ·Anyone earning side income from their car
Watch out for
- ·Doing one Uber trip 'just to test' on a private policy
- ·Underdeclaring trips per week
- ·Driving a vehicle owned by someone else without their insurer's consent
Frequent questions
- Will Uber's own cover protect me?
- Uber SA provides limited third-party liability cover during paid trips, but it does not cover damage to your own vehicle. You still need a fully-disclosed personal policy with an e-hailing schedule.
- What if I drive someone else's car for Uber?
- You need to be listed as a regular driver on the owner's policy, and the policy must include an e-hailing schedule. Driving a friend's car for paid work without disclosure voids cover for both parties.
Why private cover fails
Standard SA private-use motor policies exclude 'use for hire or reward'. The first time an Uber claim comes through with trip logs attached, the insurer rejects and cancels the policy. Driver insurance bureaus then flag you for future quotes.
Dedicated e-hailing products
King Price, MiWay, Auto & General and Hollard all offer e-hailing schedules in 2026. Expect a 25–60% premium loading over the equivalent private policy. In exchange, you get cover during paid trips and unpaid time, plus loss-of-use cover after an accident.
Delivery vs e-hailing
Food and parcel delivery (Mr D, Uber Eats, Bolt Food, Pargo) is rated differently from passenger e-hailing — usually slightly cheaper. Disclose the platform mix accurately; mixing both without saying so can trigger non-disclosure.