Marsh Risk and specialty insurer Apollo have teamed up to launch a new insurance program for autonomous vehicles operating on Uber’s global ride-hailing and delivery platform. This marks the first time the sector has seen a dedicated insurance facility designed specifically to cover self-driving vehicles working with Uber.
Called the Autonomous Vehicle Insurance Program, the policy is underwritten by Apollo’s ibott division. It allows Uber to provide its self-driving partners with both primary and excess liability coverage, all at preferred rates. Instead of requiring each vehicle maker, fleet operator, or developer to secure separate insurance, this program pools them all under one master policy. This approach aims to close any gaps or overlaps in coverage across Uber’s autonomous vehicle network.
The insurance facility is part of Uber Autonomous Solutions, a service suite introduced recently to help partners scale and commercialize driverless ride-hailing and delivery worldwide. ibott brings over a decade of experience in autonomous vehicle risk products and uses pricing based on exposure such as per mile, per delivery, or per trip, rather than traditional motor insurance models.
Chris Moore, president of Apollo ibott – Commercial, explained that autonomous vehicles need a different way of handling risk and insurance. The combined policy is meant to reduce uncertainty as driverless cars are deployed on a larger scale. Melissa Daly from Marsh Risk called the collaboration a big step forward in creating a scalable and cost-effective system for managing AV risks. Andy Parr, Uber’s vice-president of insurance, added that the policy is part of a larger effort to help partners bring autonomous vehicles to market in various countries.
This new program arrives amid a patchwork of laws and rules around the world concerning autonomous vehicles. In the U.S., 42 states plus Washington D.C. have laws on AV operation, but the requirements differ widely. For example, California demands a $5 million insurance bond, while the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration introduced a new AV safety and deployment framework last year.
Europe is also adjusting to AV regulations. The EU adopted a revised Product Liability Directive in late 2024, requiring member countries to implement it by December 2026. Germany has already put mandatory liability coverage in place for Level 4 and higher AVs, making it one of the first with a full insurance framework. The UK passed the Automated Vehicles Act 2024, which shifts liability to manufacturers or operators when automated features are active, though full enforcement isn’t expected until late 2027.
In Asia, Singapore already allows Level 4 driverless cars in select districts, and Hong Kong recently formed a working group to promote AV development.
For Uber’s cross-border insurance program, the varied and evolving regulations mean the master policy must work under many different legal systems and liability rules. This new insurance solution aims to simplify coverage for everyone involved and support the growing deployment of autonomous vehicles across the globe.