Anyone drive for Uber or Lyft?

#41
I've read through most of these posts. Thank you all for your input, as this is a great source of info. Nevertheless, I know a dude who has a family, works 2 jobs, and does both Uber and Lyft. He has no time for his kids (bummer). The rat race is taking it's toll on him and his wife (sad story). Which is what happens in the USA when hard working people try to make ends meat without a decent education.

WITH THAT SAID. I once considered doing the ride share deals here in the USA. But, my better judgment got the best of me, when I looked at all the risks involved. Why, because when companies are out selling their product to hook a fish, they never bring up the risks. Everything is well structured in favor of the online company. They will never lead you to believe there is any risk at all.

Consider the total risks before you take the chance. Car accidents, how likely is it during traffic hours? Liability who takes the hit? Will your car insurance be legit for driving for profit? What is the payout, and why does the organization of these systems take over 40% of your work and bear no risk? How much will your net profit be after fuel cost, proper insurance, and vehicle maintenance?

Also, will you get much action if not driving during the high risk hours between 6AM to 8PM?

NEVERTHELESS, the ride share can be a profitable venture depending where you live, and how much time you put in, how good your references are, and how good you can choose the rides to share. The person I know who drives for both, makes a little less than minimum wage when he goes out on the road in the off hours. For him these online ride share helps pay the bills. But, he's also one traffic ticket or accident away from bankrupcy and foreclosure.

Good luck with your decision for taking the risk. You're going to need a lot of luck too.
 
  • Like
Reactions: saabfender
#42
OldDog52 said:
@saabfender

I would be doing this for coffee cash, not living expenses. I would only drive from about 11AM to 4PM M-F and only if I’m not busy with something else. I would not try to hook up with riders from the “bad” parts of town. My target would be 2 riders a day. I have an EV that costs next to nothing to operate on shorthauls.

I’m not doing it as a do or die life or death grind.

Now I’m sure if I do this long enough I’ll encounter the passenger from hell. I’m not a complete idiot.

I have a plan. Time will tell if it’s a good plan.

I did 2 semi-real drives today (arranged with a friend, who I reimbursed). We went through the entire drill. My total drive time was 28 minutes. Around 5 miles each direction, so 10 total miles. I cleared about $22, with $4 of that being tips.
Click to expand...
That sort of return is your maximum. Any deadheading slaughters it. Sitting around waiting for the next job reasonably close to where the last finished also slaughters it. If you drive home between jobs it slaughters it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: saabfender
#43
Downunderwonder said:
That sort of return is your maximum. Any deadheading slaughters it. Sitting around waiting for the next job reasonably close to where the last finished also slaughters it. If you drive home between jobs it slaughters it.
Click to expand...
Truth. Imagine what destroying a tire (a non-repairable puncture) does to your profitability. I don’t have to imagine it; it happened.
 
  • Like
Reactions: MattZilla
#44
As far as desirable hours or operation, you get a pretty clear field from 5-7am. It takes little imagination to understand that everyone registered as a driver has their phone on waiting for a ping between 1-6 in the afternoon.

Last time: This is a mistake. Don’t waste your time, wear out your car and bring senseless aggravation and disappointment into your life. It is not a job, it is a scam. Run.
 
#45
If you're looking for a part-time gig for "coffee money," there are work from home options out there that don't involve driving. My wife has been doing audio transcriptions for a company called Rev. She's been happy with it so far, and if you're a decent typer (and listener), it's fairly easy money.
 
#46
Badwater said:
What is the payout, and why does the organization of these systems take over 40% of your work and bear no risk? How much will your net profit be after fuel cost, proper insurance, and vehicle maintenance?
Click to expand...

For the two trips I’ve done, Lyft’s share of the fares was 29%, not 40%. That’s excluding tips, which Lyft gets none of. If I factor in the tips, Lyft’s share was 25%.

They bear no risk? That’s completely false. Once the rider is in my car, Lyft (or Uber) are completely on the hook insurance-wise.

I’ve said it about 5 times but I’ll say it again. I would be using an EV. The cost of “fuel” is at worst half that of a gas car (calculated per driving mile), and the fuel is free if I make an effort to use public chargers. There are no routine service needs like oil changes.

Downunderwonder said:
That sort of return is your maximum. Any deadheading slaughters it. Sitting around waiting for the next job reasonably close to where the last finished also slaughters it. If you drive home between jobs it slaughters it.
Click to expand...

I will not be deadheading in the sense you mean. I would not ever be driving around on the road waiting for a hail.

Yes, the insurance part has me concerned. I need to figure out a solution to that. Some insurers like GEICO will add a TNC Endorsement to a standard auto policy for like $20 a month. Unfortunately my current insurer doesn’t offer that in my state. That needs to be figured out.

EDIT: To be more clear, I won't be doing this until I have an appropriate insurance policy on the car in question.
 
Last edited:
#48
Don't forget to track your mileage. I use an app called Stride Tax. IRS allows 54.5 cents per mile. That includes miles you drive to where you wait, to your next fare, etc.
 
  • Like
Reactions: FingerDub and OldDog52
#50
Badwater said:
The rat race is taking it's toll on him and his wife (sad story). Which is what happens in the USA when hard working people try to make ends meat without a decent education.
Click to expand...

Otoh, there's educated people that can't find a decent paying job in their chosen field. I know one person with a Master's Degree that is mixing paint at Sherwin Williams for just over minimum wage.
 
  • Like
Reactions: kobass
#52
OldDog52 said:
Riders were assaulted by the drivers? Or vice-versa?

By any chance are those of you who keep trashing ridesharing services employed as regular cab drivers?
Click to expand...

They were passengers, assaulted by drivers. I am not a cab driver. But I understand there is a reason both cabs and limo services are regulated industries, and there is a cost associated with running such a business safely.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Stewie26
#53
It cost me $65 to obtain the required city permit. The police ran a criminal background check on me in addition to validating my license and driving record.

Uber and Lyft both ran extensive background checks. Uber actually sent me a copy of the report.

It cost me $20 for the required vehicle inspection.

Now none of this directly proves I’m qualified to drive other people around or that I’ll be any good at it. It does suggest I’m a safe driver who is probably not an axe murderer.

As far as professional cab drivers, the majority of them are safe, courteous, etc. But there are always bad apples.
 
#56
Mike N said:
Otoh, there's educated people that can't find a decent paying job in their chosen field. I know one person with a Master's Degree that is mixing paint at Sherwin Williams for just over minimum wage.
Click to expand...


True, I seen and know the type. A lot of people think an education some how gives them an entitlement. But the reality is, education (especially in the US) is sold and marketed as part of the social engineering for profit. And if a person doesn't have the motivation and intelligence to work their way to success, they never will regardless of their education level.

There are tons of high skilled technical jobs in many industries that never get marketed as well as college. And those jobs pay high wages to those willing to work hard to get it. And no degree required, just the will to do what it takes to move up in the world.

Not everyone starts out in this world with millions of bucks. Not every college grad with a graduate degree starts out in a career. Those that don't have the privilege have to start from the bottom up in any career, field, or occupation. And that's why so many college degree holders in the USA live with their parents into their 30s and 40s+.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Texan
#57
OldDog52 said:
By any chance are those of you who keep trashing ridesharing services employed as regular cab drivers?
Click to expand...
The regular cab drivers are bailing you out. What I mean is that they're required by law to take any call at any time of day -- or at least, their operating rules are spelled out for them and they can be penalized for violating them. That's so that you can pick and choose who you will serve, where, and at what time of day. Competing with them selectively for the easiest and most profitable fares makes their work even harder and less profitable.
 
  • Like
Reactions: OldDog52 and buldog5151bass
#58
I’m not advocating for or against ridesharing. But things change and taxi service is changing. Best get with the program. Adapt or be left behind.

Last time I used a regular taxi it was all done very similar to using ridesharing. Mobile app, enter my location and destination, pickup within 5 minutes.
 
#59
Final thought

I calculated what a regular taxi would have cost my “test passenger”, vs using Lyft & me. They’re very close. Lyft is about $1 lower (excluding tip). No doubt Lyft has set their fare to be just slightly under a regular taxi here.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom
Back