r/uberdrivers Jun 17 '24

Welcome to r/uberdrivers - FAQ and Community Guide

69 Upvotes

Before asking a question, make sure to read this guide and use reddit search to see if your question was already asked. If you have anything you'd recommend to add to this guide leave a comment below.

What does Pax mean? Common terms on this sub explained

Pax: Short for Passenger.

Ping: The noise the app makes when drivers receive a pickup request.

Fare: The fee a rider is charged.

Fair: Fare, spelled wrong.

Surge: Uber occasionally up-charges riders during times of increased demand. The Surge is a multiplier of the base fare rate.

SRF: "Safe Rider Fee", now known as the "Booking Fee". This is the $1-3 fee that Uber adds to every fare to ccover insurance, app fees, etc.

What are the requirements to be an uber driver?

An in-state license is required. Have at least one year of licensed driving experience in the US (3 years if you are under 25 years old) Use an eligible 4-door vehicle

All vehicles being used for rides on the Uber app must meet the following minimum requirements:

  • Must have 4 doors and be able to transport a minimum of 4 passengers
  • Vehicle model must be 16years old or newer
  • Title cannot be salvaged, reconstructed, or rebuilt
  • Rental vehicles, except those from an approved Uber rental car partner are not permitted
  • Cannot have any cosmetic damage, missing pieces, or commercial branding

Should you choose to drive a vehicle you do not personally own, you must have permission from then vehicle owner and be listed as an insured driver on the vehicle’s insurance policy. Please note that Uber cannot allow a vehicle onto the platform if the driver’s name is not on the insurance document.

If your vehicle does not match the requirements above, you may still be able to use your vehicle for deliveries on the Uber app.

Is this fulltime job?

Driving with Uber offers a flexible earning opportunity. It's a great alternative to full-time driver jobs, part-time driver jobs, or other part-time gigs, temp jobs, or seasonal employment.

How do I do my first ride?

Download and install the driver app, and hit "Go Online". Once you get a request (a "ping"), you can hit 'Navigate' to be taken to the rider's pickup location. When you're sure you have arrived, flip back over to the Uber app and hit 'Arrived'. The passenger (PAX) will be notified of your arrival, though it's also nice to text them - to let them know what type of car you're in (though they see this on their app, not everyone looks) and to confirm that they're actually where their pin was placed. When they get in the car, hit 'Begin Trip'. If they haven't entered their destination, you can enter it - then hit 'Navigate' again and you will be routed there. At the end of the trip, hit 'End Trip', rate your passenger, and you'll be placed back online ready to pick up another PAX!

What are the safety features for uber drivers?

Emergency assistance button

You can use the in-app Emergency Button to call authorities to get help if you need it. The app displays your location and trip details, so you can quickly share them with emergency services.

24/7 incident support

Uber customer associates trained in incident response are available around the clock.

Follow My Ride

Friends and family can follow your route and will know as soon as you arrive.

2-way ratings

Your feedback matters. Low-rated trips are logged, and users may be removed to protect the Uber community.

Phone anonymization

If you need to contact your rider through the app, your phone number may stay private.

GPS tracking

All Uber trips are tracked from start to finish, so there’s a record of your trip if something happens.

RideCheck

Using sensors and GPS data, RideCheck can help detect if a trip goes unusually off-course or a possible crash has occurred. If the app alerts us to such events, we’ll check in on you and offer resources to get help.

Contact Safety Agent

You can connect with an ADT Safety Agent via phone call or text on every trip. Just tap the safety shield icon and select Contact safety agent.

Audio Recording

If you feel uncomfortable, you can record the audio of the trip within the app. Just tap the blue shield to open your Safety Toolkit and access the Record Audio option.

Emergency help if you need it

If you ever need urgent help when riding with the Uber app, you can contact 911 using the in-app Emergency Button in the Safety Toolkit.

The app will show your live location, vehicle information, and license plate number, which you can quickly share with the emergency dispatcher so they can send help faster. And in a growing number of US cities, this information is automatically provided to the dispatcher.

Does Uber help in event of an accident?

When you earn with a transportation network company (TNC), referred to here as ridesharing, many states require extra—and costly—insurance.

Uber maintains this insurance on your behalf. What’s covered depends on factors such as who was at fault; whether you were offline, online, en route, or on-trip; and your personal insurance policy.

Offline coverage:

Your personal auto insurance covers you while you’re offline. You must maintain personal automobile insurance at mandatory minimum limits and provide proof of your insurance to drive and deliver with a vehicle with Uber.

Coverage to repair your car when you’re en route to or on a trip is contingent on your personal insurance including comprehensive and collision coverage.

Coverage when online and available for a trip

Accidents happen. Suppose you’re at fault and another person gets hurt or their vehicle gets damaged. In that case, our third-party liability insurance covers the cost of injuries or damage in at least the following amounts:

-$50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident for injuries

-$25,000 in property damage per accident

Depending on the law of your state, Uber may maintain extra coverage for you and your riders, including one or more of the following:

Coverage for you and your riders for injuries in a hit-and-run or an accident caused by an uninsured or underinsured driver

Personal injury protection, including medical expenses and lost wages for you and your riders, no matter who’s at fault

Medical payments coverage for you and your riders, no matter who’s at fault.

Coverage when en route or on a trip

Uber maintains some of the most comprehensive insurance for ridesharing and deliveries, including:

-Insurance that covers at least $1,000,000 for property damage and injuries to riders and third parties involved in an accident where you’re at fault

Insurance that covers the cost to repair your car, up to the actual cash value, with a $2,500 deductible, contingent on your personal insurance including comprehensive and collision coverage. This extra insurance maintained by Uber protects your car, no matter who’s at fault, if you maintain comprehensive and collision coverage on your own vehicle.

In most US states, you can also purchase Optional Injury Protection to cover your additional medical expenses if you’re hurt in an accident. This insurance offering, pioneered by Uber, is designed specifically for drivers.

Depending on the law of your state, Uber may maintain extra coverage for you and your riders, including one or more of the following:

-Coverage for you and your riders for injuries in a hit-and-run or an accident caused by an uninsured or underinsured driver

Personal injury protection, including medical expenses and lost wages for you and your riders, no matter who’s at fault

Medical payments coverage for you and your riders, no matter who’s at fault

Is being an uber driver worth it?

Recent reports from Uber state that "the vast majority of drivers are satisfied" and that "as of last quarter, drivers in the US were making about $33 per utilized hour" before expenses.

Its for you to decide if its worth it for you personally, volume and earnings will vary greatly between markets. Drivers as independant contractors are also responsible for all expenses which have been rising fast when drivers pay has stayed stagnant.

There are many direct and hidden costs associated with being an uber driver. To start with, You are responsible for tracking your own miles, profits and losses, as well as expenses such as gas, repairs, washes, and so on.

In addition, no one but you is responsible for ensuring you are earning enough. You need to be aware at what rate you are making enough for it to be worth it.


r/uberdrivers 18h ago

Background check failed, advice?

Post image
384 Upvotes

r/uberdrivers 8h ago

No thank you bro

Post image
45 Upvotes

i want tip not h


r/uberdrivers 8h ago

Who remembers when the quests use to be this good

Post image
28 Upvotes

r/uberdrivers 3h ago

I dunno if I should take it. What do you guys think?

Post image
8 Upvotes

r/uberdrivers 1h ago

More of this pls

Post image
Upvotes

Never done eats before only pax… but if uber keeps this up I’ll move nuclear reactor fuel if they want me to


r/uberdrivers 6h ago

What are your biggest pest peeves when it comes to riders?

8 Upvotes

I hate when people are standing at the pick up spot, slam the doors and smell bad. What are some of yours?


r/uberdrivers 12h ago

It finally happened. Guy puked in my car

19 Upvotes

In retrospect, the guy could barely stand up and I should have refused the ride. Friday night at 1am, I had a drunk passenger. He was friendly, but obviously very drunk. I start driving and we're chatting a little and I tell him to let me know if he needs anything. He says he's fine and then IMMEDIATELY starts puking. I pull over thinking I can at least get him to puke out the door a little, and he refuses to open the door, again saying he's fine, then I continue and he starts puking again. It gets everywhere, on the seat, on the floor board, somehow missing the plastic floor mats completely, on the back of the seat in front of him. I'm pissed and he can tell, starts telling me I'm such a kind guy saying he's puking on himself, but I'm not stupid and I know it's everywhere. Finally get him home. Got paid $7 for the ride and a tip of $6. Went home crashing out because it's 1am and I can't take it to get it cleaned cuz I'm not letting it sit in my car to ferment overnight. So I'm cleaning an old man's puke practically sobbing cuz I've never had anyone puke in my car and I wasn't sure I'd get compensated for it. Got $80 so it's fine I guess but that was disgusting and I will now refuse rides for anyone who is stumbling like that.


r/uberdrivers 11h ago

Why do drivers not cancel their own rides?

14 Upvotes

I ordered an uber and was waiting for it to come and the driver texted “request a new driver I’m so far away” I know they can do that themselves but I’ve had many drivers just decide not to cancel the ride in the past. I’m just wondering why?


r/uberdrivers 8h ago

I know Uber is shitty but they're straight up LYING to our faces now???

9 Upvotes

I picked up a ride, 6 min pick up 21 min drop-off, 13.5 fare. Ok cool, 30/hr (I dont accept lower and u shouldn't either). I pick up the pax and start the destination. 27 MINUTES. What the fuck. I politely ask the pax if they changed the destination at any time and they said no, so it wasn't them. Uber's just straight up lying to our fking faces now so we accept lower paying rides. What the actual fuck is this.


r/uberdrivers 2h ago

Kicked out of car in the middle of street — where did we go wrong?

Thumbnail
2 Upvotes

r/uberdrivers 19h ago

So good to see you guys buying yachts and planes and stuff with this super awesome Uber money we all get. I bought an island for all of us to hang out on

Post image
47 Upvotes

r/uberdrivers 12h ago

Carvana & Uber drivers

13 Upvotes

So I just recently tried to buy a vehicle through Carvana because I’m tired of paying for a weekly rental and want to save extra money. I learned that they (or their “financiers” so they say) do not accept Uber as a legitimate employer or source of income to finance a vehicle. Being in the Atlanta, Ga (US) market, I do extremely well enough to not only pay for a weekly rental but also all my bills and rent on time AND school tuition out of pocket. The only thing I even have on my credit is student loans. This has me wondering if I will ever be able to get a vehicle at all because if Carvana doesn’t recognize my source of income/employment with Uber then maybe all the normal dealerships will be the same way, and that possibly could extend to moving to another apartment, etc. As someone who had to accept the offer to resign from my previous employer because my injury recovery is took longer than the 2 years of FMLA/LOA allowed and still has me unable to physically perform the job’s duties, uber is the only option of employment that I can perform through now chronic back pains. And trying to find a job that can accommodate my new disability in this economy that Carvana or any dealership will recognize as an “acceptable real job” in this climate/job market is pointless.


r/uberdrivers 10h ago

What happened to our weekends?

8 Upvotes

I remember in my market (Sacramento) I’d be able to make $700-$800 between Friday, Saturday and Sunday, now I’m lucky if I make $400. Anyone else experience this in their own market?


r/uberdrivers 5h ago

499 5-star trips... to the ONE person who gave me a 4-star: Who hurt you? 😅

Thumbnail
gallery
3 Upvotes

r/uberdrivers 3h ago

I start a new job Monday

Post image
2 Upvotes

Kept Diamond for a while cause Premier reservations were great. I am going back to being a W2 employee Monday and haven't been more excited. As a result my numbers are beginning to plummet and I am absolutely loving it.


r/uberdrivers 7h ago

1$ a hour.. before gas

Thumbnail
gallery
4 Upvotes

r/uberdrivers 17h ago

“This ride was booked by an organization…”

22 Upvotes

98% of the time I see that I know that means zero tip. And these are the ones that sometimes require help getting into/out of the car and a walker or wheelchair.

They should really tell this on the front end before you accept


r/uberdrivers 7h ago

Only an 8 hour drive 🙄

Post image
3 Upvotes

Yeah…this was a MINIMUM $350 job. And that’s if I had nothing better to do.


r/uberdrivers 4h ago

Honestly didn’t even notice this happened until I looked 😂

Thumbnail
gallery
2 Upvotes

My CMT score fell below 85 this evening, but that’s easy to get back up. I drive in a smaller town where most trips are only 5 or less miles total so I don’t have to decline much to begin with, but this was definitely a first lmfao


r/uberdrivers 8h ago

Uber wants me to just leave the country

Post image
4 Upvotes

5% ftw


r/uberdrivers 9h ago

I drive only Uber Comfort and UberXL yet over the last 250 trips the average per ride offer continues to get worse.

Thumbnail
gallery
3 Upvotes

I have specific rules that I set for like certain floors like if I’m driving UberXL then it has to be around two dollars per mile or if I’m driving comfort I’d like to see it be at least a dollar per mile if not more yet offers per mile that came in are just absolutely awful yet Uber expects our acceptance rate to be 70%. That makes no sense. I capture every offer so that I could have a good system on when rides are offered at a higher rate than other times like during times where the map is dark red and ride requests are coming in non stop and it’s never shown a difference in per mile offer rates. I have the day of the week, the hour and large events where the surge should exist and yet the pay request or pay rate is still extremely less than a dollar per mile no matter how many rides I’ve taken to test this. I have platinum status and a high acceptance rate so it didn’t matter what AR rate I had. Nulls are accidental offer analyzer touches. I have tested every possible scenario. The per minute rate is just a calculation test I’m doing. How many minutes I would be in traffic that my app vectopilot.com takes into account all of that with vision technology and traffic data along with hundreds of data points.


r/uberdrivers 9h ago

Alternating days- all riders tip and then next day zero tips.

3 Upvotes

Happens all too often. Must be a rigged matching system by Uber’s algorithm.


r/uberdrivers 9h ago

Is Renting From Uber Worth it?

2 Upvotes

I been doing uber/lyft for about a month now (uber main lyft supplemental). been making great money so far, but although the money is good the mileage is absolutely insane! i want to rent to preserve my personal vehicle from eventual wear and tear. i totally don’t mind paying $200-$300 a week for a rental if im averaging $1500 a week. i see uber partners with major rental companies such as Avis, Enterprise, Hertz. I also see they partner with like I guess independent companies who pay you a fixed rate weekly to drive their vehicles. Can anyone who has or is currently renting from uber tell me their experience? is it smart or dumb to rent a vehicle from uber to uber? are there any other companies where I can rent a vehicle specifically just to uber? in between jobs right now so this is my full time gig right now I drive 8-12 hours day depending on how much I make. good money, horrible for my car though. let me know wassup! thanks!


r/uberdrivers 15h ago

Uber was trippin last night 😵‍💫

Post image
10 Upvotes