To get Uber Black insurance in California, you go through a licensed agent who is appointed with livery markets, because most standard car insurance companies don’t write this coverage. IIS Insurance Services is appointed with several general agencies that write livery policies, and our Uber Black and limo insurance in California page lays out the coverage itself. Below we walk through the buying side: who to call, what happens after you call, and how to avoid the delays that keep drivers off the road.
Most of the drivers who call us have already lost a week or two calling the wrong places. The process is not complicated once you know the order.
Who actually sells Uber Black insurance?
A small group of specialty carriers write commercial auto for charter-party carriers in California. You can’t buy from most of them directly online. They work through general agencies, and those general agencies work through appointed retail agents. That’s why calling your personal auto company, or a rideshare insurance website, usually ends with “we don’t write that.”
When you call an appointed agent like IIS Insurance Services, we gather your details once and submit them to the livery markets we work with. You don’t have to fill out a long carrier application yourself. We keep our intake to the questions the underwriter really needs.
Why rideshare and taxi policies won’t work
TNC insurance is built for UberX and Lyft drivers in personal vehicles, and taxi insurance is for cabs permitted by cities and counties. Uber Black runs under a CPUC TCP permit, so it needs commercial transportation insurance written for livery use.
How to get Uber Black insurance: what happens after you call
- Short intake call. We ask about your driving experience, your record, the vehicle, and where you are with your TCP permit.
- Submission to the livery market. The underwriter reviews your experience and motor vehicle record. This is where most questions come up.
- Quote and review. You get a quote with the liability limit, deductibles, down payment, and monthly payments. We go over it line by line.
- Bind and pay the deposit. Once you sign and pay, coverage starts on the date you choose.
- CPUC filing. The insurance company e-files proof of coverage with the CPUC so your TCP permit can be active.
- Uber documents. You upload your insurance certificate and TCP information to Uber. Once Uber approves them, you can start taking Uber Black trips.
What the underwriter looks at first
Price matters, but approval comes first. Underwriters for black car service focus on a few things:
- Commercial or chauffeured experience. Years behind the wheel for hire carry more weight than total years licensed.
- Your motor vehicle record. Recent at-fault accidents, major violations, or a suspension can narrow your options and will definitely make the coverage less affordable.
- The vehicle. Its age, value, and seating capacity, since seating sets your CPUC liability limit.
- Where it’s garaged. Location affects pricing just like it does on personal auto.
Be upfront about anything on your record. The carrier will see it anyway, and it’s much better for us to place you correctly the first time than to have a quote change after you’ve planned around it.
Questions to ask before you bind
- Is this a commercial livery policy, and will the insurance company file it with the CPUC?
- Does the liability limit match my vehicle’s seating capacity?
- What is the total down payment, and what are the monthly payments after that?
- What happens if a payment is late?
- How do I add a second vehicle or another driver later?
If you’ll be doing airport pickups, our post on the LAX airport permit for Uber Black and limo operators explains what LAX requires.
How long does it take?
When the submission is complete, a quote can come back quickly and binding can happen once you approve it. The delays usually come from missing information, an incomplete TCP application, or waiting on Uber to review documents. Starting the insurance quote while your TCP application is still in process saves time, because the CPUC needs the insurance filing before it can activate the permit.
If you also run a limo or Sprinter, our post on limo insurance California covers what changes for larger vehicles and event work.
After you’re approved: keeping it active
- Pay on time. If the policy cancels for nonpayment, the carrier notifies the CPUC and your permit can be suspended, which also stops your Uber Black trips.
- Tell us before you change vehicles. A new car needs to be added before you drive it for hire.
- Plan for renewal. Livery policies renew every year. A clean driving record helps your renewal pricing.
- Add drivers the right way. Anyone who drives the vehicle for hire has to be approved by the carrier first. Under no circumstances should your drivers drive the car before they’re added to the policy.
Frequently asked questions
Can I buy Uber Black insurance online?
Usually not directly. Livery markets work through appointed agents, so you’ll get a quote by talking to an agent rather than through a website checkout.
Should I get insurance before or after my TCP permit?
Start the quote while the TCP application is in process. The CPUC needs your insurance filing before it can activate the permit.
Can newer drivers get covered?
Yes, but fewer markets will write a driver with little for-hire experience, and the price is usually higher. Tell us exactly how much experience you have so we place you with the right carrier.
What if I get turned down?
Ask why. Sometimes it’s the vehicle, sometimes the driving record, and sometimes the submission was missing information. A different market may still be able to write you.
My policy lapsed. Can I still get Uber Black insurance?
Usually yes, but expect more questions. You’ll need new coverage filed with the CPUC before you can drive again, and some markets charge more after a lapse, so tell us about it on the first call.
Get your transportation insurance quote
If you’re ready to get on Uber Black, call IIS Insurance Services at (877) 210-9514. We’ll take your details once and submit them to the livery markets we’re appointed with. After you bind, the insurance company files your proof of coverage with the CPUC.
For the official insurance rules, see the CPUC’s General Order 115-G and the California Public Utilities Commission website.
Reviewed by George Karapetyan, IIS Insurance Services. CA license #0E94849, agency license #0G56765. Last reviewed October 2026.