Another industry first - Aviva Canada to offer personal coverage for ride-sharing drivers

With over 16,000 ride-sharing drivers in the GTA, Aviva responds with a simple coverage option

TORONTO, Jan. 6, 2016 /CNW/ - Responding to the growing use of ride-sharing services and the need to protect both passengers and drivers, Aviva Canada – one of the country's leading providers of home, automobile, leisure/lifestyle and business insurance – is excited to announce the launch of coverage for drivers that carry paying passengers in their own vehicles.

The coverage will become available for Ontario drivers in early February, and is a simple addition to an Aviva-insured personal auto policy.  Aviva will be working with regulators across the country to make the solution available in other provinces in the coming months.

"With ride-sharing on the rise, consumers have new options available to them, however there is a gap in insurance coverage which potentially leaves them without appropriate protection and benefits. When consumer needs change, we must evolve our insurance solutions to respond," said Greg Somerville, President and CEO of Aviva Canada. "We're excited to offer a simple and affordable solution within a driver's existing personal auto policy, thereby providing drivers and passengers with absolute peace of mind that they have insurance coverage while ride-sharing."

The coverage will protect ride-sharing drivers (such as those contracted with UberX and the like) from the moment they initiate looking for passengers through to collecting and dropping off those passengers. Eligibility for coverage will be based on some simple underwriting criteria (eg, maximum of eight passengers, licensed for a minimum of six years, no other commercial use, etc.).

The coverage will be available for drivers that spend up to 20 hours a week participating in ride-sharing. The cost for the additional coverage will equate to a small portion of the income earned by the driver, calculated using factors such as time spent ride-sharing, area driven and driving record.

Doug Heaman, Insurance Brokers Association of Ontario (IBAO) President said, "IBAO is pleased to see an insurance company taking a proactive stance in the ride-sharing space. Aviva's approach and coverage options are welcome as many of our members are struggling to provide clear insurance options for their customers to ensure they are properly covered."

About Aviva Canada
Aviva Canada is one of the leading property and casualty insurance groups in the country providing home, automobile, leisure/lifestyle and business insurance to more than three million customers. A wholly-owned subsidiary of UK-based Aviva plc, the company has more than 3,000 employees, 25 locations and approximately 1,500 independent broker partners.

Aviva Canada invests in positive change through the Aviva Community Fund, Canada's longest running online community funding competition. Since its inception in 2009, the Aviva Community Fund has awarded $6.5 million to over 222 charities and community groups nationwide.

For more information visit AvivaCanada.com, our blog or our Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn pages.

SOURCE Aviva Canada Inc.

Media Contact: Glenn Cooper, Senior Manager, Public Relations and Social Media, Aviva Canada Inc., Desk: 416 288 2685, Mobile: [phone], [email protected]