I’ve been driving Uber for practically 5 years. It began as a side-gig and have become my full-time job in the course of the pandemic. Individuals have many questions for his or her Uber drivers, particularly in the event that they need to develop into one. Listed below are the solutions to my passengers’ commonest questions on driving for Uber.
Be aware: Though I can solely particularly converse for my very own expertise as an Uber driver, many of those solutions possible additionally apply to comparable providers equivalent to Lyft and DoorDash.
How A lot Cash Do You Make Driving Uber?
The query my Uber passengers ask me essentially the most typically is a few model of “how a lot cash do you make?” It at all times makes me a bit uncomfortable as a result of it appears barely impolite to ask an ideal stranger that query. And the reply is rarely satisfying to anyone, together with myself. As a result of all of it will depend on while you drive, the place you drive, how lengthy you go, and the way busy it’s. From my expertise, you’ll be able to anticipate to earn wherever from $14 to $35 an hour, relying on these elements.
After all, some driving instances are extra worthwhile than others. For instance, the weekend in a single day drivers normally take advantage of cash per hour in my space. That is possible as a result of excessive variety of riders utilizing Uber to get residence safely after a night of consuming and the relative lack of drivers keen to remain up that late working.
Uber has a number of instruments that can help you plan while you work to maximize your earnings and incentives to finish extra journeys, log in at peak hours, and be in the appropriate place to get the journeys it is advisable to make driving well worth the hassle.
How Do Uber Drivers Get Paid?
Drivers get direct deposits from Uber to their financial institution accounts. You possibly can set this as much as occur weekly at no cost by way of the app or Uber web site. Moreover, you’ll be able to money out all of your earnings at any time for a processing charge. Uber helps you to money out your earnings as much as 5 instances per day.
Does Uber Do a Background Examine?
Sure. Uber does a background check while you signal as much as drive. Moreover, the corporate periodically repeats the background test to make sure you’re nonetheless certified to drive for the service. Uber runs a motorized vehicle report and a felony background test for all drivers.
Riders typically ask me if a felony conviction or dangerous driving report will maintain them from driving for Uber, and I don’t know the reply. Uber’s official web site is somewhat vague about what can be disqualifying. Nevertheless, it does state that convictions for egregious crimes like sexual assault and homicide are disqualifying for all times.
What Sort of Automotive Do You Must Drive Uber?
Once I first began driving Uber in 2018, I recall the necessities have been {that a} automobile wanted to be 9 years previous or newer and have 4 doorways to make use of to drive Uber X (the commonest Uber tier). Nevertheless, the steering is far broader now. As of this writing, the necessities for an Uber vehicle in Salt Lake City are as follows:
- 15-year-old car or newer
- 4-door car
- Good situation with no beauty injury
- No industrial branding
Be sure to test your individual native Uber car necessities earlier than signing up.
What’s The Craziest Factor You’ve Ever Seen Whereas Driving for Uber?
Generally riders love to listen to an excellent story. For those who drive often, some folks will ask you to inform your “craziest expertise” whereas driving for Uber. However, for me, no less than, it actually isn’t the journey most individuals need it to be of their imaginations. It’s not that nothing attention-grabbing occurs. It’s simply that nothing loopy occurs.
Generally you’ll discuss to attention-grabbing folks; typically, you’ll go someplace you’ve by no means been; different instances, you’ll go to a distant location. However, you’ll largely be taking folks to work, selecting them up from the grocery retailer, dropping them off on the practice station or airport, selecting them up from a automobile dealership, and getting them again from the bar safely. It’s mundane stuff, which I’m typically embarrassed to confess when folks ask. I’ve thought-about making up a wild story of journey and pleasure to present them what they hoped for.
Do You Ever Really feel Unsafe When Driving Uber?
No. I’ve by no means felt unsafe whereas driving Uber. I’ve had some shady characters, some creeps, and individuals who made me uncomfortable in my again seat over time. However I’ve by no means felt like anybody would assault me, steal my automobile, kidnap me, or something like that. There have been some events after I felt unsafe on the street. Nevertheless, that was resulting from site visitors, climate circumstances, and different incidents that occur in the actual world that don’t have anything to do with Uber.
That mentioned, I do know that ought to I ever really feel threatened or unsafe, I can finish the experience anytime for any motive. Uber additionally offers you several safety features within the app to alert the corporate if there’s an emergency scenario.
Are Uber Drivers Impartial Contractors or Staff?
Drivers will not be staff of Uber. We’re impartial contractors. Drivers use the Uber app to log into the system, get matched with riders, receives a commission, and never a lot past that. Our affiliation with the corporate is that of a platform to its person, not that of an employer to an worker.
It must be famous that there have been governmental makes an attempt to alter this relationship. For instance, California enacted a law that might classify Uber drivers as staff. Nevertheless, voters in that state approved an exception for Uber to that rule. Future laws could change drivers’ relationship with Uber, however for now, we stay impartial contractors.
Does Uber Reimburse You for Gasoline and Mileage?
Uber doesn’t reimburse drivers for the worth of gasoline or mileage on our autos. As impartial contractors, drivers bear all the prices of proudly owning and working the car.
How Do You Preserve Your Uber Driver Score Excessive?
At present, my score is 4.96 out of 5 stars. Rankings are based mostly on the final 500 journeys. When folks ask me how I maintain my score so excessive, I don’t have that a lot to say as a result of I actually don’t know. The perfect I can give you are the next easy guidelines I comply with:
- Preserve your automobile clear: No one desires to experience in a unclean Uber. Wash and vacuum your car no less than as soon as per week, and often wipe down all of the surfaces and panels.
- Preserve your automobile smelling good: People stink, they usually stink up your automobile. That is only a reality of life. I maintain a sprig bottle of Ozium in my automobile and provides the inside a wholesome dose at the beginning of each Uber shift. Plus, it turns out to be useful when you might have passengers who stink up your car. You may stink—put on deodorant! Which may look like apparent recommendation, however I’ve had a number of riders complain concerning the physique odor of earlier drivers.
- Solely converse when spoken to: Not all people desires to speak to their Uber driver, and being overly chatty and private when an individual is attempting to get some peace and quiet out of their day will wreck their expertise. When somebody will get in my automobile, I greet them by title, affirm the vacation spot, and begin the journey. In the event that they need to chat, I’ll chat about no matter they like. In the event that they don’t say something, I say nothing.
- Keep off your cellphone: Which may sound odd contemplating you’re working an app out of your cellphone. However, I imply don’t take private calls when you have a passenger within the automobile. Don’t textual content and drive. Don’t work together along with your cellphone in any approach that might make your rider assume you’re not being attentive to the street. Generally you might must take an incoming name from a passenger whereas another person continues to be using, most individuals will forgive that. However, simply chatting with your folks when you’re alleged to be being attentive to site visitors places prospects off in a giant approach.
- Be good to folks: Once more, this feels like apparent recommendation. However you might be stunned by some folks’s horror tales about their Uber drivers. Being impolite at all times will get you a ding to your score.
- Play chill music: I’ve experimented with various kinds of music for my passengers over time. The perfect I’ve give you is a playlist of low-intensity instrumental music. Blasting your favourite tunes could not present the very best expertise in your riders. Plus, retaining everybody (particularly your self) as calm as potential with soothing music at all times makes your day higher.
In my expertise, a five-star score is the default that almost all customers give drivers. One thing went incorrect in case you get one thing lower than a five-star score on a visit. And also you’ll in all probability know which rider offers you lower than 5 stars earlier than the journey ends.
What Sort of Insurance coverage Do Uber Drivers Want?
Uber requires drivers to keep up their very own insurance coverage protection on their autos—this usually implies that you want “full protection.” The definition of full protection varies from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. However basically, it is advisable to have a coverage that comprises complete insurance coverage, legal responsibility insurance coverage, and collision insurance coverage.
Nevertheless, Uber separately insures every ride itself as nicely. And it must be famous that many automobile insurance coverage firms’ insurance policies is not going to cowl damages that occur when a driver is logged into Uber. Nevertheless, most firms supply ride-share driver insurance coverage to complement Uber’s protection. Be sure you test in case your private coverage consists of ride-share legal responsibility earlier than you hit the street.
What are the Tax Implications of Being an Uber Driver?
Uber doesn’t deduct state or federal earnings taxes from drivers’ pay. As an impartial contractor, it’s your duty to take care of the tax implications of your earnings. For those who work Uber as a side-gig, that will imply asking your full-time employer to withhold further taxes out of your paycheck—however your common withholding could already cowl your tax legal responsibility.
You might also must file quarterly taxes with the federal authorities. For those who work Uber full-time and nothing else, you undoubtedly need to try this, so that you don’t owe a large sum when tax season rolls round. Make sure that to maintain your receipts and look into some self-employment monetary apps like QuickBooks (iOS, Android) to make sure you’re paying Uncle Sam as a lot (or as little) as you want.
What Occurs if There’s an Accident Throughout an Uber Journey?
When an accident happens whereas driving Uber, deal with it the identical approach you need to deal with some other incident. Simply report the accident to Uber when you’ll be able to safely achieve this. For those who’re at fault for the accident, Uber means that you can use its insurance coverage or your individual to cowl damages. For those who’re in three accidents which can be your fault inside three years, you’re suspended from the platform.
Is Driving Uber Value It?
Individuals typically ask me these questions as a result of they’re contemplating turning into ride-share drivers themselves. (Whether or not for Uber or not—and, I assume that lots of my solutions additionally apply considerably to different ride-share providers equivalent to Lyft and DoorDash.) After they lastly come to the large query of whether or not or not they need to attempt, I at all times say that they need to swimsuit up and hit the street. You’ll know actually rapidly if it’s one thing you take pleasure in. And beside some gasoline cash and some hours of your time, you’re not taking an excessive amount of danger discovering out.
I discover it each pleasurable and a dependable supply of earnings, whether or not working elsewhere or not. I’ve pushed Uber part-time whereas working full-time, used it as a supply of earnings throughout a interval of self-employment, was my solely supply of earnings throughout many of the pandemic, and continues to be a aspect gig now that I write full-time for Overview Geek.
It really works for me as a result of I really like driving, listening to music, podcasts, and audiobooks, speaking to folks, and going locations I’ve by no means been to earlier than. I particularly take pleasure in being outdoors and thrilling surroundings like cities, mountains, deserts, forests, and all the opposite locations I’ve traveled to driving Uber these previous 5 years. Plus, while you drive Uber, you’ll meet folks from all around the world who come to your city, which is absolutely attention-grabbing for a man like me.
Driving Uber additionally delivers a sense of being central to the group. The overwhelming majority of individuals you give rides to for Uber are your prolonged neighbors. You’ll get a a lot better sense of the place you reside, not simply since you’ll study the streets nicely, but in addition since you’ll know the folks extra intimately. Plus, driving Uber makes you a crucial a part of your space’s service infrastructure, which isn’t an unimportant duty.
How Do You Signal As much as Drive for Uber?
You possibly can signal as much as drive for Uber on Uber.com or obtain the Uber Driver App in your cell system.
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