SAN FRANCISCO (NEWSnet/AP) — Uberon Thursday raised the minimum age requirement to 25 for most of its new drivers in California. The company said the change is necessary because of increased cost of commercial auto insurance.

The new rule applies only to drivers who register to transport passengers with Uber’s ride-hailing platform,  not for those delivering food with Uber Eats. Previously, people as young as 21 could transport customers, and the age limit for deliveries was 19.

Those under age 25 who activated their accounts prior to the decision may continue to drive for Uber, the company said.

Insurance rates for Uber’s California drivers are significantly higher than for personal vehicles or taxi drivers, according to a company statement.

“As a result of these lopsided requirements, personal injury attorneys have created a cottage industry specializing in suing rideshare platforms like ours, pushing Uber’s California state-mandated commercial insurance costs to rise by more than 65% in just two years,” the company said. “By increasing the age requirement for new drivers to 25, we hope to mitigate the growth of those costs.”

All 50 U.S. states require commercial insurance for drivers to earn money with a ride-hailing service. Uber maintains commercial auto insurance for drivers, including at least $1 million of liability coverage after a ride is accepted. Personal auto insurance typically does not cover activity on ride-hailing apps.

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