Seniors Pay the Price as Rideshare Costs Climb

For many seniors, rideshares are key to unlocking independence. They provide a way to get to doctor’s appointments, pick up prescriptions and attend a grandchild’s birthday party. They help seniors stay connected to their communities and maintain a sense of freedom.

But for older Americans living on fixed incomes, that lifeline is becoming more expensive, and in some cases, out of reach. Rideshare fares are driven by a range of factors, including gas prices, which can reach as high as $6 a gallon in California, as well as insurance costs. Drivers now pay nearly $3,000 a year for full coverage, and insurance alone accounts for about 32 percent of the average rideshare fare.

For seniors deciding whether they can afford a ride to a medical appointment or a visit with family, those higher costs matter. Affordable transportation is not a luxury. It is a necessity. When lawmakers think about transportation infrastructure, they must take a holistic view. Roads and bridges are foundational, of course. But California workers cannot build that infrastructure without insurance, and drivers cannot get to the office or visit loved ones without it.

Insurance costs have a significant ripple effect on the price of everyday goods and services, and one of the main drivers behind unsustainable premium increases is lawsuit abuse. Frivolous lawsuits, inflated claims and jackpot payouts are pushing premiums higher. These costly settlements don’t just affect Californians directly involved in accidents or litigation — they ripple throughout the entire insurance system.

The problem also goes beyond affordability. Excessive litigation clogs our courts, delaying justice for legitimate victims while encouraging a system that too often rewards opportunistic bad actors over fairness. Courts should be a tool for justice, not a vehicle for get-rich-quick schemes.

Congress has addressed similar challenges before. In 2005, lawmakers passed the Graves Amendment, establishing that rental and leasing companies should only be held liable for their own negligence. It was a commonsense, market-based reform that brought clarity to the system while preserving accountability.

But today’s transportation landscape is vastly different from what it was 20 years ago. The rise of rideshare platforms has transformed how Americans, especially seniors, access transportation. Yet these companies remain exposed to a legal gray area, where they can be held liable simply because a driver used their app. That uncertainty invites more litigation and drives costs even higher.

As lawmakers take up the federal highway bill, Congress now has an opportunity to act. By modernizing the Graves Amendment to include rideshare platforms, lawmakers can help rein in lawsuit abuse, reduce compliance costs and stabilize insurance rates. In states like Florida, where lawmakers passed similar reforms, auto rates are dropping by 10 percent, saving families an average of $400 a year, and rideshare fares are following suit.

For seniors, this is not an abstract policy debate. It’s about daily life. No one should have to choose between getting to a doctor’s appointment and seeing their family simply because they can only afford one ride. After a lifetime of contributing to their communities and the workforce, seniors deserve policies that allow them to enjoy their golden years with dignity and independence.

Preserving access to affordable rideshare services is part of that promise. Lawmakers should stand strong, bring greater transparency to our courts and address the lawsuit abuse that is slowing seniors down.

Because for millions of older Americans, staying connected shouldn’t come at an unaffordable price.