Safety
Safety and Driver Standards
This page brings together everything about safety on Oak: who can drive, what they drive, how we check them, what insurance covers each part of a trip, and what happens in an emergency. It replaces the separate driver screening, vehicle requirements, distracted driving, insurance and fleet safety pages that were previously published.
1. Who can drive
- 21 or older
- Valid North Carolina driver license held for at least one year (three years if under 23)
- Legally able to work in the United States
- Smartphone that runs the current Oak Driver app
- Pass identity verification: a government ID photo matched to a live selfie
- Pass the background and driving record check in section 3
2. Vehicle requirements
- Model year 2012 or newer; four doors; seats at least four passengers plus the driver; no salvage, rebuilt or branded titles
- Registered in North Carolina or a neighboring state, with current registration and a valid state inspection sticker
- Insured in the driver's name or with the driver listed, meeting North Carolina minimums (see section 5)
- No commercial branding, taxi markings, or full body wraps for other companies; no cosmetic damage that affects doors, lights or mirrors
- Working seatbelts in every seating position, working air conditioning and heat, no warning lights on the dash
Vehicle inspection
Before the first ride and once a year after, the vehicle passes a 19 point inspection covering brakes, tires (minimum 2/32 inch tread), steering, lights, horn, wipers, mirrors, seatbelts, doors, windows, exhaust, and fluid leaks. A current North Carolina state inspection satisfies this. Otherwise a licensed mechanic completes our inspection form, which drivers download in the app, and uploads it. We may ask for a re inspection after any reported accident or complaint about vehicle condition.
3. Background and driving record checks
Checks are run by Checkr with the driver's written consent, following the Fair Credit Reporting Act and North Carolina law. We check: Social Security number trace, national and county criminal records for the past seven years, the national sex offender registry, and the motor vehicle record. Drivers are rechecked every twelve months and continuously monitored for new records where available.
A driver is not approved, or is removed, if the record shows
- Any conviction for a violent crime, sexual offense, or offense involving a minor, at any time
- Any felony conviction in the past seven years
- Any DUI or drug related driving conviction in the past seven years
- Reckless driving, hit and run, or driving on a suspended license in the past three years
- More than three moving violations in the past three years
- Any pending charge for an offense above, until it is resolved
Drivers receive a copy of any report used against them, a summary of their FCRA rights, and a chance to dispute the report before a final decision.
4. Distracted and impaired driving
Drivers follow North Carolina law and these additional rules while a rider is in the car: the phone is mounted, not held; navigation is set before moving; no texting, browsing or video; calls only hands free and only when necessary. Drivers do not drive while impaired by alcohol, drugs or fatigue, and do not drive more than 12 hours in any 24 hour period on the platform; the app enforces a 6 hour offline break after 12 hours online. Riders can report a driver who is texting, speeding, or appears impaired from the safety menu; we investigate every report and remove drivers where it is substantiated.
5. Insurance
Oak carries commercial automobile insurance as required for transportation network companies under North Carolina General Statute 20-280. Coverage depends on what the driver is doing at the time.
| Period | What the driver is doing | Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Offline | App closed or driver offline | Driver's own personal auto policy only |
| Period 1 | Online and available, no ride accepted | Liability of at least $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident for bodily injury and $25,000 for property damage, as required by North Carolina law |
| Periods 2 and 3 | Ride accepted, heading to pickup, or rider in the car | $1,000,000 combined single limit liability; uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage of $1,000,000; contingent collision and comprehensive for the driver's vehicle, subject to a deductible shown in the driver app, when the driver carries collision on their own policy |
Oak Drop deliveries are covered the same way as rides while a delivery is accepted and in progress. Drivers must still carry their own personal policy at all times and should tell their insurer they drive for a rideshare platform; many insurers offer a rideshare endorsement. Insurance details, the certificate and the claims contact are in the driver app and are updated whenever the policy renews.
6. In ride safety features
- Safety button. Reachable from any screen during a ride. One tap shows your location and trip details and lets you call 911 directly. The call is logged on the trip.
- Trip sharing. Share a live link with anyone; they see the driver, car, route and estimated arrival without needing the app.
- Masked calling and messaging. Riders and drivers contact each other through the app without seeing each other's number.
- Identity checks. Drivers periodically confirm their identity with a selfie before going online, so the person driving is the person we checked.
- Women driver preference. Riders who choose it are matched to women drivers when available, and shown the wait time difference when not.
- Ratings both ways. Riders and drivers rate every trip; written feedback is reviewed by a person when it mentions safety.
7. If something happens
In an emergency call 911 first. Then report in the app under Help, Safety, or email safety@oakrides.com. A safety specialist contacts you within 24 hours for any report involving injury, assault, harassment, impairment or a collision. We preserve trip data, contact the other party, and where appropriate suspend the account during review. We cooperate with law enforcement on lawful requests and will give you the trip details you need for a police report or insurance claim. For an accident, drivers must also notify Oak within 24 hours so the insurance claim can be opened.
8. Lost items
Report a lost item from the ride's receipt in the app within 7 days. We contact the driver on your behalf. Return is arranged between you and the driver through masked contact, and the app lets you pay the driver a return fee for their time.