uber driver

There are so many ways to make money online or offline. In today’s times, there are endless possibilities for making a good income without spending all of your time in a 9-to-5 job.

I am a firm believer in having a side hustle. Having side hustles can give you more financial stability and also give you the freedom to do more in life.

There are many ways to earn a side income, and the path you choose is entirely dependent on you. I am going to show you how to drive with Uber and earn extra money in this Uber review.

Rideshare driving has become one of the most sought-after side hustles during the last decade. Around 25% of the US population uses ridesharing at least once a month. Rideshare driving is great for people who want a side hustle and is a great earning opportunity. And above all you have the freedom to work as much or as little as you want. 

Ridesharing is great for many reasons:

  • It can be good for the planet by helping reduce carbon emissions.
  • Gives you the flexibility to work whenever you want with additional income.
  • Good social interaction.

One of the biggest companies in the rideshare market is Uber. If you are keen to start your rideshare hustle, read on to know about how to drive with Uber and earn extra money in your free time.

How to drive with Uber 

What is Uber?

Uber is a rideshare service provider that started in California in 2009. Uber has drivers worldwide and is available in over 10,000 cities globally. With such a huge network, Uber is your best bet if you want to start a ridesharing gig. 

Though there are other companies like Lyft in the rideshare market, Uber comes on the top for many factors, which I will share later in this post. 

What are Uber driver requirements?

There are a few important requirements for those who choose to drive with Uber:

  • Meet the minimum age requirement of the city where you live.
  • Have a valid driver’s license, vehicle registration, and proof of insurance.
  • Have at least one year of driving experience in the US (three years if you are under 25).
  • Have a car meeting Uber’s requirements.
  • Apart from that, you will need to complete a driver screening which reviews your driving record and criminal history. 

Related:

What are driver vehicle requirements?

Below are the current driver vehicle requirements:

  • 15-year-old vehicle or newer.
  • 4-door vehicle and be able to transport a minimum of four passengers. 
  • The vehicle should not be salvaged, reconstructed or rebuilt. 
  • Good condition with no cosmetic damage, missing pieces, commercial branding or taxi paint jobs.
  • Pass a vehicle inspection.

These are some of the things you need to consider if you want your vehicle to qualify:

  • No full-body wraps containing advertisements, or any large ads.
  • No exterior holes.
  • No taxi decals or taxi-style paint.
  • There should be no significant damage to the interior (torn seats, large permanent stains, strong permanent odors).
  • There should be no paint oxidation.

Here is the list of eligible car models that Uber accepts with minimum year requirements. 

All drivers are required to have their insurance policy. 

What are the vehicle options with Uber?

Uber has around 5 vehicle options to drive. As per its website below are the requirements for these options. 

UberX

Most newer cars qualify to drive with UberX, the most popular option for riders.

Additional requirements:
  • A 4-door vehicle with independently opening passenger doors.
  • Have 5 factory-installed seats and seat belts.
  • Working windows and air conditioning.
  • No vans, box trucks, or similar vehicles.
  • No taxi cabs, government cars, or other marked vehicles.
  • No salvaged or rebuilt vehicles.
  • No aftermarket seating modifications, such as installed seats, seat belts, or BedRyder systems.

UberXL

Seat extra passengers—and earn higher fares—with your larger vehicle.

Additional requirements:
  • A 4-door, 15 years old or newer vehicle.
  • Have 7 factory-installed seats and seat belts.
  • No cosmetic damage or missing pieces.
  • Working windows and air conditioning.
  • No salvage or rental vehicles. 
  • No commercial branding or taxi colour paint jobs. 
  • No large passenger vans or commercial trucks.

Uber Black

Offer luxury rides with the original premium ride option Uber Black.

Additional requirements:
  • Keep a star rating of 4.85 or higher.
  • Commercial insurance.
  • Additional document required.
Vehicle requirements:
  • 7-year-old vehicle or newer.
  • Exterior: black only.
  • Interior: black leather or vegan leather only.
  • Seat at least 4 passengers in addition to the driver.
  • No cosmetic damage or missing pieces.
  • Working windows.
  • No visible stains.
  • Operational A/C.

Uber Black SUV

Make room for the whole crew with this high-end vehicle service. Only black SUVs qualify.

Additional requirements:
  • Keep a star rating of 4.85 or higher.
  • Commercial insurance.
  • Additional document required.
Vehicle requirements:
  • 6-year-old vehicle or newer.
  • Exterior: black only.
  • Interior: black leather or vegan leather only.
  • Seat at least 6 passengers in addition to the driver.
  • No cosmetic damage or missing pieces.
  • Working windows.
  • No visible stains.
  • Operational A/C.

Comfort

Comfort was designed to maximize possibilities on the Uber platform.

Additional requirements:
  • Maintain eligibility on a different Uber option such as UberX, Select, UberXL, Uber Black, or Uber Black SUV.
  • Have a minimum star rating of 4.85 and have completed at least 100 trips.
  • Drive a vehicle with more legroom than smaller, compact cars eligible for UberX and those that meet the minimum vehicle year requirement.

What is the process to drive with Uber?

Signing up to drive with Uber is pretty easy and simple. If you want to become a driver with Uber follow the below steps:

1. You have to go to the website, sign up with your phone number, and create a password. You will have to give your details at this step.

2. Get the background check done.

3. Give your car specifications in the Uber app. You will have to upload the documents like your driver’s license, vehicle registration, and insurance documents.

After you are done with these steps, you have to download the app and wait for your background check to clear before you can drive with Uber. It can take up to 7 days to receive a confirmation. 

You can start accepting rideshare requests once your account is activated. 

How much does Uber pay?

How much you earn as a driver depends on many factors like

  • Hours you drive.
  • Uber service you provide (UberX, UberXL, etc.).
  • City you work in.
  • Any additional bonuses, tips, and promotions.

As per the website, the Uber earnings are calculated by

Standard Trip Fare

You will be earning a base fare plus pay for how far and how long you drive. 

Surge Pricing

You can earn more when you work in areas where rider demand is high. You can check your app to find out the heat map for such areas. These high-demand areas have surge pricing. 

Service Fee

The fee applies for the upkeep of the app and customer service.

Booking Fee

This is the fee that applies when riders book the ride. 

Cancellation Fee

Riders have to pay a cancellation fee if they cancel a ride. 

Your earning potential will vary, depending on the region you drive, the times you drive and the service you provide, among other factors. 

Pros and cons of driving with Uber

Like any other side hustle, driving with Uber has its both pros and cons.

Pros

  • FLEXIBILITY, that’s the biggest advantage of driving with Uber. You get to work whenever you want, no matter how less your free time is. Driving with Uber can be a side hustle that can give you some quick money if you meet all the requirements.
  • Another interesting point is that you can drive as much as you want and as less as you want. 
  • The sign-up process and accepting the rides are pretty simple through the app. 
  • There are many ways to earn more than your base pay like surge pricing, promotions, tips, etc. 
  • You can get paid anytime you want. You can cash out up to 5 times a day with Instant Pay. 
  • Even if you don’t have a vehicle of your own, you can rent vehicles from companies like Turo or HyreCar, and drive with Uber

Cons

  • You are responsible for all the expenses like fuel, insurance, etc. 
  • You cannot expect to earn a standard income if you drive in low-demand areas. 

How do you get paid?

You get paid directly into your bank account, and the pay is weekly. In case you need the money quickly, you can also request a next-day payout without having to wait for the weekend. This is made possible by FlexPay. To be eligible to use FlexPay, you need to have made 25+ Uber trips, and be active for 14+ days since your first trip with Uber.

You can track how much you have earned from the Uber app, and it displays how much you have made minus fees.

What are the expenses?

There are certain expenses that you could incur driving with Uber-like insurance, toll fees, license payments, gas, and vehicle upkeep. Keep in mind that some of these expenses are tax-deductible. 

Is this side hustle suitable for you?

It may or may not be suitable. It depends on what you are looking for and how much you want to earn from a side hustle. If you are looking for a very flexible and quick money hustle, this is something for you.

The way I see it, if you love driving and have some free time on your hands, then make money from driving.

Like any other side hustle, you need to keep a few things in mind:

  • Not everyone who signs up to drive gets cleared.
  • There is a background check for all the drivers.
  • Keeping your driver profile rating high is critical to continue with this side hustle.
  • Driving with Uber can be a great side hustle but do not expect to make a full-time income from this. 

Uber vs Lyft

Being the two biggest players in the rideshare industry, Uber and Lyft have its own advantages and disadvantages. 

  • Driver requirements for Uber and Lyft are very similar except Lyft requires the drivers to have an iPhone or Android phone. 
  • Vehicle requirements for both the rideshare services are the same. 
  • The pay for Uber and Lyft depends on the base pay and the additional miles they travel. Sometimes both the companies offer driver sign-up rewards that bump up the pay. 

How to drive with Uber FAQ

What is the insurance cover that Uber provides?

Uber has $1M third-party liability insurance, uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury and/or first-party injury insurance, and up to the actual cash value of the car with $2,500 deductible.

What if I don’t have a car of my own?

Uber maintains insurance in some cases. For information see here

Tips to earn more driving with Uber

#1. Drive during peak hours

Drive during peak hours like evenings and in high-demand areas where surge pricing is available. This can increase your earnings along with tips. Weekends are also high pay times in major cities. 

#2. Check for bonuses

Keep checking your Uber app for promotions to earn more. 

#3. Maintain your ratings

Keep your ratings up by picking up riders on time, maintaining your car, and giving the best experience. Higher ratings can mean better earnings and more tips.  

A final word in this Uber review

Ridesharing is growing fast and is one of the easiest ways to earn money by doing what you already do, driving. Driving with Uber is a great choice for flexible hours and good money. Whether you are after a part-time side gig or just occasional work, driving with Uber is a perfect way to do it. 

If you are looking to make some extra income in your day for a couple of hours’ work, this can be an excellent way to do that

So go ahead and sign up to drive with Uber.Save

About Sireesha Narumanchi

Hi, I am Sireesha, and thank you for stopping by to get to know me. I am a work-at-home mom, a side hustler, and a firm believer in making "working from home" a success for everyone. I have worked in a remote job for over 11 years and tried many side gigs. I have been featured on many popular websites like Forbes, Business Insider, American Express, QuickBooks, The Muse, Moneyish, Virtual Vocations, Spark Hire, Bustle, Fairygodboss, Side Hustle School, Payoneer, Jobbatical, and Skillcrush.Read more...

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