Uber marshaling New York riders to lobby for lower auto insurance rates ALBANY — Uber’s most powerful lobbyists might be its riders. The rideshare company is leaning on the thousands of New Yorkers who use its services to magnify the company’s lobbying power as it seeks to shape the conversation around Gov. Kathy Hochul’s proposals to lower auto insurance costs. For weeks, Uber has stuffed state legislators' inboxes with emailed form letters from riders and drivers urging them to support bills that Hochul and Uber say will drive down the cost of auto insurance in the state. In the last two weeks, some state legislators have received hundreds of emails. WHAT NEWSDAY FOUND - Uber is marshaling the thousands of New Yorkers who use its car share services to increase the company’s lobbying power as it seeks support for Gov. Kathy Hochul’s proposals to lower auto insurance costs. - Uber has stuffed state legislators' inboxes with emailed form letters from riders and drivers urging them to support bills that Hochul and Uber say will drive down the cost of auto insurance in the state. - The ride-sharing company says it is the largest purchaser of auto insurance in the country, with 27% of a rider's fee going toward covering those costs. "I think the Uber-connected auto insurance letters have been some of the most voluminous in our inboxes," said Assemb. Rebecca Kassay (D-Port Jefferson). Josh Gold, a spokesman for Uber, said its riders and drivers sent more than 75,000 letters to state legislators. For Uber, the proposals to lower auto insurance costs could have a major impact on its bottom line. Uber is the largest purchaser of auto insurance in the country, with 27% of a rider's fee going toward covering the company's insurance costs, Gold said. And under state