If you’re looking for extra income, working for a rideshare service could be the perfect solution. You’ll have flexible hours, and of course, the tax write-offs are a great incentive. Everything from gas to regular maintenance for your vehicle can be used as a deduction, saving you money on your taxes at the end of the year.
But there are a few things you might not have thought about when working for a company like Uber.
1. The Company Has Car Age Restrictions
When I started the process to become an Uber driver, I went onto their website to find out what steps needed to be taken first. I read through their requirements.
Have had a driver’s license for at least one year. Check. Have proof of auto insurance(avoid making common mistakes by ignoring this matter). Check. According to their website, I was all set to become one of their drivers. I downloaded the app and completed a driver profile with all of the necessary information.
Then I had to bring my car in for an inspection to make sure it was safe for passengers. This made sense, but here is where I went wrong. Upon inspection, I brought my 2001 Toyota Camry into the shop. It was our family car that had been passed down. Turns out my very reliable Toyota Camry was denied because it was over fifteen years old.
If you want to become a driver, make sure your car meets the requirements of Uber within your state and, yes, even within your county. Age restrictions and other vehicle requirements change depending on what city you are registering yourself as a driver in.
2. You Don’t Have to Own Your Car or Phone To Be a Driver
But what if your car is too old or you don’t have a vehicle at all? This is where Uber gets creative and becomes a huge bonus for people who are needing to make extra cash. Uber provides an option to loan or rent a vehicle.
Uber partners with local dealerships who give drivers a chance to rent or lease a car in order to make enough money to purchase their own. Usually, the cost of renting a car for Uber is around $195 to $200 per week, depending on what type of vehicle and what the dealership can offer.
This same type of program also applies to people who don’t have cell phones since this is an obvious requirement for the job. Individuals who sign up to be Uber drivers can rent a phone for $10 per week if used for driving purposes.
3. What Happens If You Get Into an Accident
This was one of my biggest fears during my failed attempt at signing up as a driver. What would happen if I got into a car accident while driving for Uber with a passenger inside? Who would be responsible? Would I have to pay? The company has a set of regulations that are pretty straightforward but aren’t the most cost-effective for the driver.
Uber’s protocol for car accidents(based on common accident causes) starts with the same as any other car accident. Make sure you and the passengers are safe and call 911. Then, contact Uber through the app so they can send an incident report. This takes usually two to three business days for them to be in contact with the insurance companies to find out if they’ll cover anything. If they do, the driver is still responsible for their $2,500 deductible.
4. You Won’t Get Any Passenger Discounts
Unlike a lot of other companies out there, you won’t be getting any company perks if you drive for Uber. If you’re a passenger and call for an Uber, you won’t get a discounted rate simply because you work for the company. You’ll have to pay the same price regardless.
If you’re considering signing up as a driver for Uber, you are one of one million in the United States. They must be doing something right if that many people are driving for them. Make sure you do your research and learn as much as you can before taking the plunge.
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