Why Your Personal Auto Policy Isn't Enough

October 8, 2025

Driving for Uber or DoorDash in San Marcos? Why Your Personal Auto Policy Isn't Enough.

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If you’re earning extra money driving for a rideshare or delivery service in San Marcos, you’re part of a growing and vital workforce. Whether you’re shuttling students from The Square or delivering Torchy’s Tacos to a family, you’re providing a valuable service. But here's a critical question: did you know your personal auto insurance likely stops covering you the moment you turn on your app?

This dangerous coverage gap could put your financial future at risk. Let's break down why.

The Dangerous Assumption

Your personal auto policy is designed and priced for personal use only—commuting, running errands, and road trips. Using your car for commercial purposes, like transporting people or goods for a fee, is a specific exclusion in most policies. If you get into an accident while working, your insurer could deny your claim, leaving you responsible for all the costs. This is similar to how a standard homeowners policy won't cover a home-based business.

The Three Periods of a Gig Trip (and Where You're Exposed)

Your insurance situation changes minute by minute when you drive for a service like Uber, Lyft, or DoorDash.

Period 1: App On, Waiting for a Request. This is the biggest gap. You are actively working, but you don't have a passenger or delivery yet. The company’s insurance provides minimal liability coverage, and your personal policy is considered void. If you cause an accident here, you have very little protection.
Period 2: Request Accepted, En Route. Once you accept a ride or delivery, the company's insurance kicks in with higher liability limits and often contingent collision and comprehensive coverage.
Period 3: Passenger or Delivery in the Car. The company’s robust coverage continues until the ride or delivery is complete.

The Solution: Rideshare Insurance

The only way to properly close the dangerous gap in Period 1 is with a rideshare endorsement on your personal auto policy. This is a simple, often inexpensive add-on that modifies your policy to cover you while you're working. It ensures you are fully protected from the moment you log on until you log off.

Why It's Critical on San Marcos Roads

Driving on the I-35 corridor means navigating heavy traffic, endless construction, and a higher statistical risk of an accident. Combined with the high rate of uninsured drivers in Texas, driving without proper coverage is a risk you can’t afford to take.

Protect Your Hustle

Your gig work provides valuable income and flexibility. Don't let an accident threaten it. As your local insurance experts, we can help you find the right, affordable rideshare endorsement for your policy.

Before your next trip, contact San Marcos Insurance Agency for a free policy review and quote. Drive with confidence knowing you’re properly covered.

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Beyond the Commute: Insuring Your Boat, RV, and Motorcycle in Central Texas

December 3, 2025

Living in Central Texas isn't just about the great communities and proximity to Austin and San Antonio. For many of us, it's about the weekends. It’s about getting out and enjoying the incredible landscape that surrounds us. It's about launching the boat at Canyon Lake, taking a scenic motorcycle ride through the twists and turns of the Hill Country, or parking the RV for a long weekend getaway. Your "toys" are your ticket to freedom, but they also represent a significant investment and a major liability. A common and costly mistake is assuming your auto or home insurance policy automatically covers them. It doesn't. At San Marcos Insurance Agency, we help our clients protect their fun. Here’s what you need to know about insuring your recreational vehicles. 1. Boats on Canyon Lake & The Guadalupe Here’s the hard truth: Your homeowners insurance provides little to no meaningful coverage for your boat. It might cover a small canoe or kayak for liability on your property, but the moment you put a motor on it or take it to a lake, you're exposed. A dedicated boat policy is essential and covers: • Physical Damage: Protects the boat, motor, and trailer from theft, fire, or damage, whether it's on the water or in your driveway. • Liability: This is critical. It covers you if you cause an accident that injures another boater or damages their property (docks, other boats). • On-Water Towing: If you're stranded in the middle of Canyon Lake with a dead engine, this coverage is a lifesaver, paying for the tow back to the marina. • Wreckage Removal: If your boat sinks, you are legally responsible for the cost of removing it. This coverage handles that expense. 2. Motorcycle Rides in the Hill Country A motorcycle isn't just a smaller car; it carries entirely different risks. The winding roads around Wimberley and Dripping Springs are beautiful but demand respect. Standard auto insurance isn't enough. A motorcycle policy needs to include: • Guest Passenger Liability: Does your policy cover a passenger riding with you? Many don't unless you specifically add it. • Custom Parts & Equipment (CPE): You've spent money on custom pipes, a new seat, and chrome. Your basic policy won't cover those upgrades unless you add CPE coverage. • Higher Medical Payments: With a higher risk of injury, increasing your own medical payments coverage is a smart move. 3. RVs & Travel Trailers: A Vehicle or a Home? The answer is: it's both. And it needs to be insured that way. Your auto policy only provides basic liability when the trailer is hitched to your truck, and your home policy doesn't cover it at all. You need a dedicated RV or travel trailer policy, which combines the best of auto and home insurance: • Total Loss Replacement: If your new RV is totaled, this can help you get a brand new, comparable model, not just the depreciated cash value. • Vacation Liability: Covers you for injuries or property damage that happen at your campsite—for instance, if a guest trips over your awning. • Personal Effects: Covers all the stuff you keep inside your camper (grills, TVs, clothes, camping gear) that aren't part of the vehicle itself. • Full-Timer's Liability: If you live in your RV for months at a time, this provides broader liability protection that acts more like a homeowners policy. 4. The Bundle is Your Best Friend Here's the good news. Insuring your "toys" doesn't have to be complicated or expensive. Most carriers we work with offer significant discounts for "bundling." When you insure your boat, motorcycle, or RV with the same company that writes your home and auto policies, you not only simplify your life with one agent and one bill, but you can also unlock multi-policy discounts that save you serious money. Get Your Fun Covered Before you hook up the trailer or roll out the bike for your next adventure, let's talk. A quick 15-minute call with us can ensure your weekend fun is properly protected. Contact San Marcos Insurance Agency today for a free, no-obligation quote on your recreational vehicles.