Uber-led Coalition to take on Sky-High Insurance Costs for NYC Cab, Ride-Share Drivers

www.Nypost.com, Carl Campanile, January 13, 2025

A new Uber-led coalition is launching a multi-million ad campaign to urge Albany and the City Council to lower drivers’ insurance costs, The Post has learned.

Citizens for Affordable Rates is particularly supporting city legislation that would reduce the minimum liability coverage taxi and ride-share drivers are required to carry from a whopping $200,000 to $50,000.

The measure is sponsored by Councilwoman Carmen De La Rosa, whose northern Manhattan district that includes Washington Heights and Inwood has a large constituency of for-hire drivers.

She has raised the insolvency of American Transit, the largest insurer of yellow taxis, livery cabs and other ride-sharing and for-hire vehicles.

Ride-share app Uber is bankrolling the group’s first ads on TV/cable, digital/social media channels plus all the major streaming services (Amazon Prime, Tubi, Netflix, Hulu, Peacock, Sling, Paramount+ HBO Max Pluto TV) in the New York City and Albany regions.

The group noted that auto insurance costs in New York are nearly 40% higher than the national average, with premiums exceeding $1,700 annually.

The effort aims to counter the trial lawyers’ and insurance industries that benefit from the status quo, a source said. Continue article