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Comment by BinaryIdiot | Hacker News Reader

I've had at least a dozen Uber drivers suggest something similar when I road with them more than once. Almost all of them wanted to setup something so I'd pay less and they'd make more.

I hadn't done it as I usually don't need Uber / Lyft much but most of the people I know who have used Uber / Lyft have also gotten similar offers so it must be pretty common I would think.

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That works until there is any sort of an accident and the driver's insurance doesn't cover them operating their vehicle as a business. Part of the commission that gets paid goes to providing insurance.

I imagine that when reporting it to the police/insurance agency, many (most?) drivers would omit the fact that they were driving for business purposes when the accident occurred.

Not saying this is legal/ethical, just that it would come to mind in that situation.

Driver probably would. But would the passenger?

So who pays for any medical costs?

Not sure I'd base my livelihood on fraud.

Is it different than when I give a friend with a truck $50 to help me get mulch from Home Depot to my house on a Saturday morning?

If that friend got into an accident while driving to Home Depot for you, would you pay their insurance deductible? If they got hurt would you pay their medical bills? Would you do the same for your off the books taxi driver?

If you get hurt while helping a friend, would you really ask them to compensate you? I wouldn't unless they were somehow responsible. Accidents happen.

Spoken like a person who has never been sued.

It sounds like a good incentive for UbLyft/Lyftber to make things so seamless that it's more hassle to set up an arrangement like that. Until then, that sounds like a good idea.

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