Problems getting a cab in St. John’s over the weekend have resurrected questions surrounding why car sharing services like Uber aren’t available in the capital city area.

The manager of Newfoundland Taxi, Derek Hayter, says the insurance needed to operate a service like Uber is not yet available in Newfoundland and Labrador. Currently ride sharing insurance is only available in three provinces in the country, and Newfoundland and Labrador isn’t one of them.

The insurance allows people with private vehicles to operate for hire for up to 20 per cent of the day.

Haytor claims there are already people offering that type of service in the province, but he warns, they don’t carry the appropriate insurance.

It’s his understanding that regular auto insurance won’t cover a commercial passenger.