Uber/ Lyft drivers check in

So I am considering trying out the Uber driver thing on my days off and mornings I don't work. (My normal work shift is 11-730pm) And I'm just wondering what other people's experiences are as far as being an Uber driver, how much money I should expect to make, etc. I won't be using the Tacoma obviously, if I do it I'll register my 2005 Camry. Please only people who have actually done this chime in, I don't need a bunch of "well my sisters friends boyfriend said this" type stuff. Thanks!

 

Out here Lyft has a better reputation and supposedly better pay.

Other than that, I got nothin. Good luck.

 

There are a few threads on this. Just remember it's not about gas used vs. Cash made.

Factor in mileage/depreciation/added insurance/cleaning/etc.

In busy areas I heard it's pretty good side job, but you need a fuel efficient vehicle to make it worth it.

 

I have *heard* that the vehicle can't be more than 7 or 8 years old. Not sure but look into it before you get all ready to go in an 05.

 

I do Uber with my Tacoma. Now as far as putting miles on the truck I'm not worried for two reasons. 1. It's a Toyota. 2. I work out at sea and am gone every other month. So putting the uber miles while I'm home evens out to if I where driving it every month. If that makes sense.

At the end of the year I write off my miles (not my gas, you get more for miles driven than you do for gas purchased) I write off any car cleaning I do or tools I buy for the truck. (Shopvac, wax, buffer, sockets, wrenches) anything that can be used on the truck is a write off, cell phone (data portion sense it's needed for the uber maps) and of course my Sirius xm radio because it's entertainment for my passengers.

I live near Portland Oregon and I do this as a way to make extra cash for random spending (it all goes towards buying more upgrades and mods for the truck lol)
Today I Ubered from 07:35pm till 08:15pm and made $29.96 after uber took its portion (20%) and I drove a total of 14.9 miles. Plus the 5 miles to get back home so a total of 19.9 miles start to finish. Including the time no passengers where in the truck.
I recommend it not as a source of primary income but if your looking for a decent amount of spending cash it's a good way to go. If I actually try I can clear $100 a day take home and only work 4-5 hours.

 

As far as insurance goes. As long as there is a passenger in the car ubers insurance covers you. (That being said you can't have your friend or kid in the car with you. If you get in an accident uber will cover you and the passengers but your kid or wife or whoever will have to be covered through your insurance and it will go through the roof if they find out you where doing ride sharing)
The vehicle is not suppose to be older than 7 years old. So an 2005 Camry might be to old. But that's the Portland rule. Might be different in your city.

 

Thanks for all the input guys! I didn't even think the car might be too old I'll have to look into that. As far as gas goes, it's a 4 cyl Camry so it gets pretty good mpg. I keep all my vehicles really clean all the time anyway so that is not really an added expense. The car just sits most of the time during the week anyway, I DD the Tacoma and my wife DDs our Ninja ZX6. Is this something that needs to be added to my insurance policy? I know Uber will cover you while carrying passengers but I don't want to run into a fiasco in the event of an accident. This won't be my primary income, just something on the side and on my days off to help offset living in the ungodly expensive Orange County. Lol

 

the way it was described to me was the following. If I get in an accident going to pick someone up or heading home after a drop off then you just go through your insurance. You where driving and got in an accident. If you get in an accident with someone in the car then you go through ubers insurance and not yours.
My neighbor went out and bought a new Audi. He makes about $300 a week from uber driving on the weekends. His car payment is only $500 so after two weekends the car payment has been made not using his regular income and still pockets another 700 dollars

 

Yea I'm doing some research on the Lyft website (the Uber website is short on details) and it basically says what you said about the insurance. California apparently has a different rule as far as insurance coverage during what they call "period 1", the time from when you accept a ride request to the time you pick up the passenger, Lyft's insurance will cover you during that time. And according to the website, the car can't be older than 2003, so my car is good there. @Captain Taco are there any monthly or annual fees that have to be paid by the driver? or is it all pretty much free to drive for them? minus the 20% fare fee of course...

 

No monthly fees. They take the 20% out of every ride and that's it. If you use your own phone and own data package. Uber offers you a iPhone that you can use but it's locked to only have the uber app and nothing else. And then you pay them $15 a month for having the phone and using it. I upgraded my data to 20gb with those extra 15. I use my own phone. And still have plenty of data left over

 

Ok cool... Yea I'd just use my own phone I have an iPhone with a 10gb plan. Thanks for all the info man I appreciate it

 

Yeah no problem. I still consider buying another car. Something with better gas mileage. But then the uber money would just go to another car. I'd rather just use the truck and keep the money for me. Lol

Here I am at the Portland airport uber waiting lot waiting for a rider to request a ride!


You can see the uber sticker on the lower left section of the windshield (only thing I dislike about driving uber is that sticker)

 

I tried Uber. Didn't get approved

I tried Lyft. Now I am a driver. Haven't driven anyone yet so can't answer about the money.

 

You didn't get approved with uber? Wow! I heard it's harder to get approved with lyft than uber. I know a lot of ppl drive for both.

 

Yea uber said it was my background check. Too many tickets haha
Lyft I guess didn't mind

 

Haha thanks everyone loves it when they see it. Actually this is no joke. 2 Canadians liked it so much they refused to let me end the ride. And wanted me to wait for them. So they bought me food at the mall. I walked around with them while they shopped. Took them to a strip club. They bought me a beer then took them back to their hotel. All while getting paid .30 cents a minute

 

Hahahaha that's kinda funny cause that's why lyft told me I could not drive for them!!! Hahaha but uber accepted me! Too funny.

 

lol yea it is!

 

After looking online I guess they do it based on the year. So if you've had a good year you might be able to get approved.

I'm hoping they don't look into this after you've gotten approved otherwise I might be in trouble. I got 3 this year.