An Uber Eats driver who sought cover for a car accident has lost a claim dispute because he failed to disclose his occupation to his insurer. 

The collision happened last November, allegedly while the man was delivering a food order. He said he rear-ended the car in front while trying to pick up his dropped phone.

Auto & General Services denied the claim because the insured did not disclose that he used the vehicle for delivery services, despite being asked about it at policy renewal.

It said its policy clearly stated use of a vehicle for such purposes was not allowed, and if it had been aware, it would not have offered insurance.  

The claimant said he made a mistake in his initial claim lodgement and was not delivering orders when the crash happened but was in fact collecting food for himself.

But the Australian Financial Complaints Authority was not convinced by the man’s argument, noting he made references to delivering food in three separate calls with the insurer.  

It acknowledges that information from the claimant shows a different vehicle was registered on his Uber profile, but finds the statements he made around the claim lodgement are more likely to be accurate.  

AFCA accepts the man did not mislead the insurer before the renewal, because he had not begun his Uber job then, but says he breached his policy when he started delivering.  

It says if he had told Auto & General Services of his vehicle use, it would have cancelled his policy and, therefore, it was entitled to decline the claim.

“The product disclosure statement clearly and unambiguously states that carrying or delivering other people’s goods for payment is never covered,” the authority said. 

“There is no dispute the complainant was provided with the policy documents and did not advise the insurer of the change of use of the vehicle during the policy term.”  

Click here for the ruling.