Anyone drive for Uber or Lyft?

viribus

viribus

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Jan 1, 2011
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#1
I couldn't find any other threads on this topic.

Uber is finally coming here after a lot of wrangling with city rules. I have plenty of spare time and an economical-to-drive EV. I'm thinking of signing up as a driver. I would mostly be available from about 11AM to 4PM.

Advice welcomed. I'm mostly interested in the driver experience, not the passenger.
 
#3
Lyft is coming here too so I may sign up with them as well. TBD.

According to Uber's info, they provide the driver with supplementary liability insurance while the driver is "active". All you need as an Uber driver is whatever insurance your state would normally require of any driver.

But according to my insurance company (Progressive), I need a commercial policy. The annual premium is $4,675. That can't be right.

I'm attending an Uber new driver orientation event today. Will see what they have to say.
 
#4
OldDog52 said:
But according to my insurance company (Progressive), I need a commercial policy. The annual premium is $4,675. That can't be right.
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At the end of the day, what your insurance provider says carries the most weight, IMHO. If I were you, I would not want to be involved in a "test case" before the courts.

I can't even begin to imagine the way your life would be turned upside down if the worst should happen and then your carrier cuts you loose and denies the claim...
 
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#5
This is what Uber says about insurance (full details at the link).

Insurance for Ridesharing with Uber | Uber Newsroom US

Screen Shot 2018-09-05 at 7.45.37 AM.png
 
#6
OldDog52 said:
Lyft is coming here too so I may sign up with them as well. TBD.

According to Uber's info, they provide the driver with supplementary liability insurance while the driver is "active". All you need as an Uber driver is whatever insurance your state would normally require of any driver.

But according to my insurance company (Progressive), I need a commercial policy. The annual premium is $4,675. That can't be right.

I'm attending an Uber new driver orientation event today. Will see what they have to say.
Click to expand...
Uber tells lies left and right to suit themselves no matter what the local law says. NZ law says one must have a passenger service driver licence PSL and vehicles must under control of a qualified transport service provider TSL. Uber NZ gets the TSL as the service provider then pays no sales tax. They also give out the TSL underling paperwork to non qualified drivers.
 
#7
Downunderwonder said:
Uber tells lies left and right to suit themselves no matter what the local law says. NZ law says one must have a passenger service driver licence PSL and vehicles must under control of a qualified transport service provider TSL. Uber NZ gets the TSL as the service provider then pays no sales tax. They also give out the TSL underling paperwork to non qualified drivers.
Click to expand...

Sounds like your Gate Keepers share in the blame.
 
#8
Well, I listen to news reports and know one Uber driver. He's had some problem customers and had his car puked in a few times. And according to the news, some customers go much further with the anti-social antics.

I'd say educate yourself on being a cabbie, learn all you can about the Uber/Lyft issues with problem passengers, and try to insulate yourself against it in every way possible.

Aside from that, sounds like decent easy part-time money largely on your terms and time. Good luck with it.
 
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#9
Do Uber or Lyft send a W2 at the end of the year or a 1099? Reason I ask is in NY, a 1099 employee is considered an independent contractor and any insurances are the employee's responsibility.

Myself, I would pass. If I had spare time and needed extra cash, I'd find another way to earn it. I could see Uber or Lyft finding some convenient loophole to deny you coverage if something happened..... and with all the sue happy, ambulance chasing lawyers out there I think things could get ugly very quickly.
 
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#10
So...

Today I “on-boarded” with both Uber and Lyft. Awaiting final document reviews and approvals. Passed the background checks, vehicle inspection, etc.

The Uber signup was crazytown. Around a dozen Uberites trying to process paperwork etc as quickly as possible. The city was also there issuing the required city license ($65, thank you, move along). Everyone looked stressed and over caffeinated. No real interaction. No apparent processing order. I had to ask several people what to do and in what order. No swag or info for new drivers. Just “You’re tentatively approved - Buhbye”. Had to pay $18 for a third-party vehicle inspection.

Lyft was far more organized (to be fair, there were far fewer applicants). But they give you various swag including a Welcome and Quick Start guide, the required Lyft decals, a cell phone dash mount, and their “Lyft Amp” sign thing. Lyft had its own vehicle inspector, and the inspection was free.

Since I’m doing this for extra money, not a living, I have no intention of “working” during hours when I’m likely to have an inebriated passenger or whatever. But you never know.

Lyft specifically mentioned a 1099. I’m sure Uber will do the same.

Uber just released a brand new driver app. My first impression is it’s a beta release. Buggy. The Lyft driver app seems simpler but more solid.

Y’all are scaring me. :bag:
 
#12
saabfender said:
I did both for about 4 weeks. Long story short: it’s a terrible deal for the driver. You won’t make any money. Don’t.
Click to expand...

I’d be doing this with an EV, pure electric. Even if I recharge it only at home, the operating cost per mile is less than half that of a fossil-fueled vehicle. If I make a point of using the numerous free public chargers around here, operating cost drops even lower.

Doing this with an ICE vehicle would be a lot tougher. Gas, oil changes, etc. An EV doesn’t incur some of those expenses.
 
#13
I think it would be a good job. Educate yourself on all the tricks people might use to avoid paying. With Uber, a passenger is able to cancel their ride, while being driven. Some people try to sneak like that. This in turn cancels any need for a transaction (The customer doesn't have to pay).

One way I suggest dealing with this situation is to pretend nothing happened, and proceed to drive them as far away from their destination as possible. (You have every right to do so).

Check out this youtube channel. It's just an uber driver, showing how it is to work for them. He gives some good advice and insight.

Best of luck.
 
#14
OldDog52 said:
I have no intention of “working” during hours when I’m likely to have an inebriated passenger or whatever.
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I have a few friends that drive for Uber and Lyft. Like you intend, they don't drive during times or do routes that would have a fair chance of inebriated passengers. Figure out in your area what the "safe" times and routes are. For example, around here, the guys say doing airport runs is fairly safe. But from a bar area, well, no.

Several drivers I've had use the opportunity for marketing, too. They'll have brochures of some type in the seat pockets. If you happen to pick one up and ask about it, they'll tell you about it. If you don't, they tend to not bring it up. For example, you could be playing your bands music. If they happen to ask "What band is that?" Well, there's your entry point.

Good luck.

- John
 
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#17
OldDog52 said:
I’d be doing this with an EV, pure electric. Even if I recharge it only at home, the operating cost per mile is less than half that of a fossil-fueled vehicle. If I make a point of using the numerous free public chargers around here, operating cost drops even lower.

Doing this with an ICE vehicle would be a lot tougher. Gas, oil changes, etc. An EV doesn’t incur some of those expenses.
Click to expand...
Check your warranty on commercial use.
 
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#18
Downunderwonder said:
Check your warranty on commercial use.
Click to expand...

I’m sure VW would argue this constitutes commercial use and would therefore void some or all of the new car warranty.

Please keep in mind I’m not going to do this 12 hours a day or anything like that. No night driving. When I have an open block of time, say 4-6 hours during a workday, I’ll flip the “I’m available “ switch on and see what happens. I won’t be cruising bars or meth neighborhoods at midnight, or anything like that. My target is UO students, seniors, and “hippie-lifestyle” people who don’t want to own a car. They just need to get from Point A to Point B. Grocery runs, general errands, medical appointments. There’s plenty of demand for this service from those demographics.

Well that’s what I hear. ;). I guess I’ll find out.
 
#19
A part-time job that nets about $6-8/hr. and wears out my car? Where do I sign? To repeat: it's a terrible deal for the driver, awesome deal for the service. I drove OTR for 5 years. I know what real professional driving looks like and this ain't it. Uber and Lyft are scams.

Seriously, you should not do this. You will sit lots waiting for rides. You'll arrive at what you think is the correct address and not see the rider appear for 4+ minutes - just long enough they don't have to pay the patheticly small wait time penalty. You'll drive 10 minutes to a ride only to have them cancel when you are two blocks away. You will have to take rides with serious dead-head mileage/driving time. You got a ride out to the airport that pays pretty well? You will rarely get one back.

The idea that automotive expenses will be ameliorated because it's an EV is erroneous. They still have brakes, struts and tires - which you will beat the hell out of as you make it play taxicab. This is not counting the depreciation hit on your car due to the miles you'll rack up. Empty and loaded miles add up. I did about 4k in less than a couple months.
 
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