Before you book, ask for proof. When you’re arranging a private ride to or from John Glenn Columbus International Airport, a few questions about insurance and airport authorization belong alongside the pickup time and price.
A neighbor’s recommendation, good reviews, and a friendly conversation can help you find a driver. You’ll still want to understand who is providing the ride, what coverage applies, and how your airport pickup will work. These are reasonable questions for any transportation provider, including Smart Ride Central Ohio.
Ask about coverage for the ride you are buying
Personal auto insurance may not cover a paid passenger trip. Ohio law allows exclusions involving transportation for compensation, while also allowing coverage through a contract or endorsement. The practical question is whether the actual trip you’re booking is covered. [1]
Ask for current evidence of auto liability insurance that applies to paid passenger transportation. Confirm that the driver and vehicle assigned to your ride fall within that coverage. Check the insured business name, effective and expiration dates, liability limits, and whether the coverage applies on your travel date.
An insurance card or certificate is a starting point. A certificate does not change a policy’s coverage, and it may not explain every exclusion or condition. If the documents leave anything unclear, ask the provider to obtain confirmation from its insurer or insurance agent for your type of trip. [2]
Understand rides booked outside the app
If someone you met through Uber or Lyft offers to take you privately, don’t assume the platform’s insurance applies to that separate booking. Ohio’s transportation network company rules connect covered operating periods to app activity and rides requested through the company’s network. [3, 4]
An independent operator can have appropriate separate coverage for private transportation. Ask which policy applies to your booking and how that can be verified. The same question is worth asking when you find a driver through Facebook, Nextdoor, a business card, or a friend.
Confirm authorization for your airport pickup
Private-car services picking up paying passengers at CMH need the airport authorization appropriate to their operation. CMH’s commercial ground transportation rules require a valid airport permit, while taxis and transportation network companies follow separate rules. Temporary pickup permits are also available. [5, 6]
Ask the provider to explain and document the airport authorization that applies to your pickup. Avoid treating a particular decal as a universal test for every service. Confirm the designated meeting area and what to do if your flight is delayed or the pickup arrangements change.
Airport authorization and insurance are separate things to verify. A permit should not replace questions about the coverage for your specific ride, and an insurance document should not replace questions about airport permission.
A short checklist before you confirm
- Identify the ride. Who is the transportation provider, who will drive, and which vehicle will pick you up?
- Verify the insurance. Does current auto liability coverage apply to this paid passenger trip and the assigned driver and vehicle?
- Check the airport arrangements. What authorization applies to the CMH pickup, and where will you meet?
- Keep the details in writing. Save the confirmation, provider contact information, pickup instructions, and any insurance or authorization information supplied.
Ask these questions before sending payment or committing to the ride, when you have time to review the answers. If the driver or vehicle changes later, revisit the coverage and pickup details. If you can’t get a clear answer, consider another provider.
Plan your CMH ride
For private airport transportation with Smart Ride Central Ohio, visit smartridecentralohio.com to request a quote or contact me about your plans. You’re welcome to ask these questions before booking with me, too.
This independent guide is published by Smart Ride Central Ohio and is not affiliated with or endorsed by CMH or the Columbus Regional Airport Authority. General information only; confirm current requirements and policy terms with the airport and insurer.
Sources: 1. Ohio Revised Code 3942.03 — Insurance exclusions ↗ · 2. Ohio Revised Code 3938.02 — Certificates of insurance ↗ · 3. Ohio Revised Code 3942.01 — App based ride definitions ↗ · 4. Ohio Revised Code 3942.02 — App based ride insurance ↗ · 5. CMH commercial ground transportation rules — Section 502 ↗ · 6. FlyColumbus ground transportation services — Permit guidance ↗
