Montana Auto Insurance & Crash Law · Citizen Guide

Montana Rideshare & Transportation Network Coverage

Montana rideshare insurance changes with the driver's digital-network status. A driver who is offline, logged in and waiting for a request, or already engaged in an accepted ride can be operating under materially different insurance rules. Preserve the app-status evidence before deciding which policy applies.

Current-law review: Sept. 12, 2026 App status determines statutory period UM required when § 33-23-201 requires it

The first question is the driver's exact app status

Montana's statutory TNC coverage changes according to whether the driver was offline, logged into the digital network and waiting, or engaged in a prearranged ride.

Period 1

App off

Ordinary auto analysis

When the driver is not logged into the TNC digital network, the specialized TNC insurance requirements generally do not govern. Analyze ordinary applicable personal, commercial and other automobile insurance.

Period 2

Logged on and waiting

50 / 100 / 25

When the driver is logged on, available to receive transportation requests, but has not accepted a prearranged ride, Montana requires primary liability of at least $50,000 per person, $100,000 per incident and $25,000 property damage.

Period 3

Accepted prearranged ride

$1,000,000

Once the driver accepts the rider's request through the digital network, Montana requires at least $1 million in primary liability insurance for death, bodily injury and property damage.

The accepted-ride period begins before the passenger enters the vehicle. Montana defines a prearranged ride as beginning when the driver accepts the rider's request through the TNC digital network.

Accepted request → pickup → passenger transport → drop-off

MCA § 69-12-101 defines a prearranged ride as transportation beginning when a TNC driver accepts a rider's request through the digital network, continuing while the driver transports the requesting rider, and ending when the last requesting rider departs from the personal vehicle.

The passenger does not need to be inside the vehicle for the $1 million statutory period to have begun. A driver traveling to the pickup after accepting the ride is already within the statutory prearranged-ride period.

Logged on and waiting: Montana requires 50 / 100 / 25

While a participating TNC driver is logged into the network, available to receive requests, but not yet engaged in a prearranged ride, MCA § 69-12-343 requires:

Coverage Minimum statutory requirement
Bodily injury / death — one person $50,000
Bodily injury / death — one incident $100,000
Property damage $25,000
Uninsured motorist coverage Required when MCA § 33-23-201 requires UM coverage.

During a prearranged ride: at least $1 million primary liability

While the driver is engaged in a prearranged ride, MCA § 69-12-343 requires:

$1,000,000 minimum primary liability for death, bodily injury and property damage, together with uninsured motorist coverage when required by MCA § 33-23-201.
Do not convert the $1 million liability requirement into a $1 million UIM assumption. Montana's TNC statute expressly references UM when required by § 33-23-201. It does not independently impose the same statutory mandate for UIM.

UM and UIM must be analyzed separately

MCA § 33-23-201 generally requires UM bodily-injury coverage in a motor vehicle liability policy issued for a Montana-registered and principally garaged vehicle unless the named insured rejects that coverage.

The TNC statute incorporates UM when § 33-23-201 requires it.

UIM does not receive the same statutory treatment in § 69-12-343.

Verify actual UIM coverage. Do not assume that a TNC's $1 million liability limit is matched by $1 million in underinsured-motorist protection.

Who may supply the statutory TNC coverage?

Driver

Driver-maintained insurance

Insurance maintained by the TNC driver may satisfy the statute when the policy recognizes and covers the rideshare activity.

TNC

Platform-maintained insurance

The transportation network carrier may maintain the required insurance on the driver's behalf.

Combination

Driver + TNC coverage

Montana permits a combination of driver-maintained and TNC-maintained insurance to satisfy the statutory requirements.

If driver-maintained insurance fails, the TNC policy becomes the statutory backstop

If insurance maintained by the driver has lapsed or fails to provide the limits required by § 69-12-343, the insurance maintained by the TNC must provide the required coverage beginning with the first dollar of the claim.

The TNC-maintained coverage also has the duty to defend the qualifying claim.

No “personal insurer must deny first” requirement. Montana expressly provides that TNC coverage may not depend on the driver's personal automobile insurer first denying the claim, and the personal insurer may not be required to issue such a denial as a prerequisite.

The driver's personal policy may exclude the rideshare period

MCA § 69-12-345 expressly allows an automobile insurer writing coverage in Montana to exclude coverage for a loss or injury occurring while the driver:

  • is logged into a TNC digital network; or
  • is providing a prearranged ride.

The permitted exclusion can reach:

  • bodily-injury liability
  • property-damage liability
  • personal injury protection
  • uninsured motorist coverage
  • underinsured motorist coverage
  • medical payments coverage
  • comprehensive coverage
  • collision coverage
The personal policy must be examined. Montana expressly permits exclusions for TNC activity, so ordinary personal-auto coverage cannot be assumed while the app is active.

A personal insurer may nevertheless choose to provide rideshare coverage through the policy or an endorsement.

An effective TNC exclusion can remove the personal insurer's defense duty

Section 69-12-345 states that an automobile insurer that validly excludes the TNC coverage described by the statute has no duty to defend or indemnify a claim expressly excluded by its policy.

If an insurer nevertheless defends or indemnifies a claim excluded under its policy, the statute provides a contribution mechanism against other insurers supplying the coverage required by § 69-12-343 at the time of loss.

Do not decide this from a generic “rideshare exclusion” label. Obtain the complete policy and endorsement in force on the crash date and determine precisely when the exclusion operates and which coverage parts it reaches.

The TNC must warn the driver about the possible personal-policy gap

Before a driver is allowed to accept a request for a prearranged ride, MCA § 69-12-344 requires the TNC to disclose in writing:

  • the types of insurance coverage provided by the TNC;
  • the limit for each coverage; and
  • that the driver's own automobile policy might provide no liability or optional coverage while the driver is logged on or engaged in a prearranged ride.
The driver should know before accepting rides. Montana requires written information about both the TNC protection and the possibility that ordinary personal coverage will not apply.

The driver has crash-scene insurance and app-status disclosure duties

A TNC driver must carry proof of the required coverage while using the personal vehicle in connection with the TNC digital network.

After a crash, upon request, the driver must provide insurance information to:

  • directly interested parties
  • motor-vehicle liability insurers
  • investigating police officers

Upon the same request, the driver also must disclose whether the driver was:

  • logged into the TNC digital network; or
  • engaged in a prearranged ride at the time of the crash.
That statement is evidence—not the end of the investigation. Preserve objective digital-network records because the applicable statutory insurance period can turn on seconds.

Montana creates a specific digital-network evidence exchange

MCA § 69-12-345 requires TNCs and potentially applicable insurers to cooperate during a claims coverage investigation and facilitate exchange of relevant information with directly involved parties and applicable insurers.

Preserve the 24-hour log-status window. The statutory information exchange specifically includes the precise times the driver logged on and off the TNC digital network during the 12 hours immediately before and 12 hours immediately after the crash.

The statute also requires exchange of a clear description of the coverage, exclusions and limits provided under insurance maintained to satisfy § 69-12-343.

Build a coverage map rather than guessing from one insurance card. App status → TNC policy → personal policy → exclusions → liability limits → UM → UIM → MedPay → physical damage → other insurance.

Passenger claims begin with the statutory TNC layer—but should not end there

A passenger injured during a qualifying prearranged ride should immediately identify the statutory $1 million primary liability layer.

Other potentially relevant insurance can include:

  • TNC liability insurance
  • driver rideshare endorsement
  • another negligent driver's liability insurance
  • TNC UM coverage
  • TNC UIM if actually provided
  • passenger's own UM/UIM
  • household UM/UIM policies
  • MedPay
  • umbrella or excess coverage

What if another driver caused the crash?

The rideshare driver's liability insurance is not automatically the primary recovery source when another motorist caused the crash.

Investigate:

  1. the negligent motorist's liability insurance;
  2. applicable TNC UM protection;
  3. any TNC UIM protection actually provided;
  4. the injured person's own UM/UIM policies;
  5. household insurance; and
  6. all stacking and other-insurance provisions.
UM and UIM remain different coverages. The TNC statute expressly incorporates UM when required. UIM requires separate policy verification.

Statutory liability insurance does not guarantee damage coverage for the driver's car

The TNC liability limits protect against liability to others. They do not themselves establish collision or comprehensive protection for the rideshare vehicle.

Section 69-12-345 expressly permits the driver's personal insurer to exclude comprehensive and collision coverage during TNC activity.

Verify physical-damage coverage separately. Determine whether the driver's personal policy, rideshare endorsement or TNC insurance supplies collision or comprehensive coverage and identify any applicable deductible or other condition.

Financed vehicles add lender and secured-party rights

Section 69-12-345 preserves a lender's or secured party's right to require comprehensive and collision insurance that remains effective while the driver is logged into the TNC digital network.

If the driver fails to maintain required coverage or provide evidence on reasonable request, the lender may obtain that physical-damage coverage at the driver's expense under the statutory framework.

If a TNC insurer pays a covered comprehensive or collision claim on a financed vehicle, the statute directs payment to the repair shop or jointly to the owner and primary lender or secured party.

TNC passenger service is not automatically the same as app-based delivery work

Montana defines TNC services as transportation of passengers between points chosen by the passenger and prearranged through the TNC's digital network.

Food, grocery, package or property-delivery activity should not automatically be placed into the TNC insurance statutes merely because a smartphone app was being used.

Passenger rides and delivery work require separate coverage analysis. Identify exactly what platform activity the driver was performing, the applicable commercial arrangement, and the personal policy's business, delivery or livery exclusions.

Rideshare crash coverage workflow

Identify every driver and vehicle. Do not begin by assuming the rideshare driver caused the crash.
Identify the platform. Determine the exact transportation network carrier and digital network involved.
Preserve exact digital-network status. Offline, logged on and waiting, accepted request, traveling to pickup, passenger aboard, or ride completed.
Determine the ride-acceptance time. That event can move the claim from the 50/100/25 period into the $1 million statutory period before passenger pickup.
Obtain the TNC insurance certificate and complete policy. Identify liability, UM, UIM if any, MedPay if any, physical damage, deductibles, exclusions and endorsements.
Obtain the driver's complete personal policy. Identify TNC, rideshare, livery, delivery and business-use exclusions and any affirmative rideshare endorsement.
Request the statutory digital-network history. Preserve exact log-on and log-off records for the 12 hours before and 12 hours after the crash.
Apply the first-dollar backstop if necessary. If driver-maintained insurance lapsed or lacks required limits, identify the TNC-maintained coverage required to respond from the first dollar.
Separate liability from first-party coverage. Analyze liability, UM, UIM, MedPay, collision and comprehensive independently.
Search for every other policy. Other drivers, household policies, umbrellas, excess policies and other applicable first-party protection may matter.
For a financed vehicle, identify lender rights. Preserve physical-damage coverage and secured-party information.
Confirm the activity actually qualifies as TNC passenger service. Delivery work can require a different statutory and policy analysis.

Evidence and documents to preserve

  • TNC identity
  • driver identity
  • vehicle VIN
  • vehicle registration
  • driver's complete personal policy
  • TNC insurance certificate
  • complete TNC policy
  • rideshare endorsements
  • business-use exclusions
  • delivery exclusions
  • livery exclusions
  • app screenshots
  • precise log-on time
  • precise log-off time
  • ride-request time
  • ride-acceptance time
  • pickup location
  • pickup time
  • drop-off location
  • drop-off time
  • 12-hour pre-crash log history
  • 12-hour post-crash log history
  • trip receipt
  • GPS records
  • platform communications
  • driver communications
  • UM coverage
  • UIM coverage
  • MedPay
  • collision coverage
  • comprehensive coverage
  • physical-damage deductible
  • lender information
  • other-driver insurance
  • household policies
  • umbrella or excess coverage

Common rideshare coverage mistakes

  • Failing to determine exact app status.
  • Using passenger pickup rather than ride acceptance as the start of the prearranged-ride period.
  • Assuming the personal policy remains fully effective while the app is active.
  • Assuming a personal insurer must deny the claim before TNC coverage responds.
  • Ignoring the statutory first-dollar TNC backstop.
  • Assuming $1 million liability means $1 million UIM.
  • Combining UM and UIM into one statutory requirement.
  • Relying only on the driver's memory of app status.
  • Failing to request the 12-hour pre- and post-crash digital records.
  • Failing to obtain the complete TNC policy.
  • Failing to obtain the complete personal policy.
  • Ignoring rideshare or TNC endorsements.
  • Ignoring personal-policy exclusions for MedPay.
  • Ignoring personal-policy exclusions for collision or comprehensive.
  • Assuming statutory liability coverage pays damage to the rideshare vehicle.
  • Ignoring lender rights on a financed vehicle.
  • Stopping after finding the TNC policy and failing to search household UM/UIM.
  • Assuming every app-based delivery driver is governed by Montana's TNC statute.

Montana authority map

Primary Law · MCA § 69-12-101 Digital network, personal vehicle, prearranged ride and TNC definitions

Defines Montana's TNC framework. A prearranged ride begins when the driver accepts the rider's digital request and ends when the last requesting rider leaves the personal vehicle. TNC services are defined around passenger transportation arranged through the digital network.

Primary Law · MCA § 69-12-343 Montana TNC insurance requirements

Establishes 50/100/25 primary liability while logged on and waiting, at least $1 million primary liability during a prearranged ride, applicable UM requirements, the first-dollar TNC backstop, duty to defend when driver-maintained coverage fails, and crash-scene insurance/app-status disclosure duties.

Primary Law · MCA § 69-12-344 Pre-ride written disclosures to the driver

Requires the TNC to disclose its insurance coverages and limits and warn that the driver's own policy might provide no liability or optional coverage during TNC activity.

Primary Law · MCA § 69-12-345 Personal-policy exclusions and claims information exchange

Expressly permits personal-policy exclusions during TNC activity, including liability, UM/UIM, MedPay, comprehensive and collision; addresses defense and contribution consequences; and requires exchange of coverage information and precise 12-hour pre- and post-crash digital-network log information during a coverage investigation.

Primary Law · MCA § 33-23-201 Montana uninsured-motorist requirement

Requires qualifying Montana motor-vehicle liability policies to provide UM bodily-injury coverage at the statutory minimum unless the named insured rejects it. Section 69-12-343 incorporates this UM requirement into the TNC framework when applicable.

Appellate research status: no controlling Montana Supreme Court decision interpreting the insurance requirements of MCA §§ 69-12-343 through 69-12-345 was identified in the completed official-source survey. The statutory text therefore remains the primary Montana authority for this guide.
Source-control rule: Current Montana statutes and official court opinions control. This guide summarizes the law for public education; verify the operative policy, statute, complete opinion, and current treatment before legal reliance.

Frequently asked questions

When does Montana's $1 million TNC liability period begin?

It begins when the driver accepts the rider's request through the TNC's digital network. The passenger does not have to be inside the vehicle yet.

What coverage applies while the driver is logged in but waiting for a ride?

Montana requires at least $50,000 bodily injury or death per person, $100,000 per incident and $25,000 property damage, plus UM when § 33-23-201 requires it.

Does Montana require UIM for a rideshare driver?

Section 69-12-343 expressly requires UM when Montana's UM statute requires it. It does not independently impose a comparable UIM requirement. Check the actual TNC and personal policies for UIM.

What happens if the driver's rideshare insurance has lapsed?

If driver-maintained insurance has lapsed or does not provide the required limits, TNC-maintained insurance must provide the statutory coverage from the first dollar and has the duty to defend the qualifying claim.

Does the personal auto insurer have to deny first?

No. Montana expressly prohibits making TNC statutory coverage dependent on a personal insurer first denying the claim.

Can my personal policy exclude coverage while I drive for a TNC?

Yes. Montana expressly permits broad TNC exclusions that can reach liability, UM, UIM, MedPay, comprehensive and collision coverage. A rideshare endorsement may change that result, so obtain the complete policy.

How do I prove whether the driver was online?

Montana requires cooperation in a coverage investigation and specifically provides for exchange of the precise log-on and log-off times during the 12 hours immediately before and 12 hours immediately after the crash.

Does the TNC have to disclose its insurance to the driver?

Yes. Before the driver may accept a prearranged ride, the TNC must disclose its coverage types and limits and warn that the driver's personal policy might not provide liability or optional coverage during TNC activity.

Does the $1 million liability policy pay for damage to the rideshare driver's own car?

Not automatically. Collision and comprehensive protection must be verified separately, and the personal insurer may lawfully exclude those coverages during TNC activity.

What if another driver caused the crash?

Investigate the negligent driver's liability coverage, TNC UM, any actual TNC UIM, the injured person's own UM/UIM policies, household insurance and applicable stacking or other-insurance provisions.

Does Montana's rideshare statute apply to food delivery?

Do not assume that it does. Montana's TNC definition is centered on passenger transportation arranged through a digital network. Food, grocery, package and other delivery services require their own statutory and policy analysis.

Preserve the digital timeline before deciding coverage.

Identify the platform. Determine the exact log-on status. Find the accepted ride time. Obtain both the TNC and personal policies. Test the personal exclusions. Request the statutory 12-hour pre- and post-crash network logs. Then analyze liability, UM, UIM, MedPay and physical damage separately and continue searching for every additional policy.

Public legal education only. This page does not create an attorney-client relationship and is not individualized legal advice. Montana rideshare coverage depends on the driver's precise digital-network status, whether a ride had been accepted, the complete TNC and personal policies, exclusions, endorsements, UM rejection history where relevant, other potentially applicable insurance and preserved digital-network evidence. Montana's TNC statutory framework concerns passenger transportation arranged through a digital network and should not automatically be applied to food, grocery, package or other delivery-platform activity. Verify current Montana statutes, operative insurance contracts, complete official opinions and current treatment before legal reliance.