20 Things You Need to Know When Starting to Drive for Uber

Introduction

• Presenter: Chris from The Ride Share Guy
• Objective: Highlight key things to know when starting to drive for Uber

Key Points

1. Know Your Costs

• Costs: Miles per gallon, cost per mile, gas, wear and tear, maintenance
• Importance: Determine profitability

2. Accepting Rides

• Choice: You don’t have to accept every ride
• Strategy: Avoid unprofitable or undesirable locations

3. Upfront Fares

• Details Provided: Pickup, drop-off, earnings, distance, time
• Decision Time: Only 10 seconds to accept or deny
• Tip: Train yourself to quickly assess worthiness

4. Sign Up for Multiple Platforms

• Recommendation: Sign up for Uber, Lyft, DoorDash, etc.
• Maximize Earnings: Ride share usually pays more, but food delivery can also supplement income

5. Dash Camera

• Necessity: Safety, false complaints, accidents
• Uber Feature: “Record my Ride” using phone camera in some cities
• Recommendation: Use a dedicated dash camera

6. Multiapping

• Definition: Be on multiple platforms simultaneously
• Caution: Go offline on other apps when you have an order or ride

7. Stop New Requests

• Feature Use: Prevents additional requests during a ride
• Safety: Avoids distractions and potential safety issues
• Strategy: Makes you appear offline, potentially increasing surge in the area

8. Don’t Chase Random Surge

• Advice: Identify regular surges instead of chasing randomly
• Pitfall: Random surge often disappears by the time you arrive

9. Follow Local Traffic Laws

• Rules: You are not above the law; adhere to traffic laws
• Passenger Limits: Only take the number of passengers your car seats
• Children: Require car seats; no unaccompanied minors
• Uber Teen: Special rides for ages 13-17

10. Sign Up for All Services

• Flexibility: Rideshare, food delivery, package delivery, etc.
• Options: Turn off preferences for services you don’t want
• Benefit: More opportunities if rideshare is slow

11. Map Features

• Gray Clouds: Predictive, not real-time busy areas
• Recommendation: Focus on actual surge areas in the app

12. Plan for Bonuses

• Trends: Weekend bonuses generally better than weekdays
• Market Variance: Can depend on specific area and market

13. Hidden Surge Amounts

• Identification: Red and deep purple areas indicate higher surge
• Variability: Surge visibility can differ by area

14. Stay Updated

• Resources: Ride Share Guy content, Show Me The Money Club
• Learning: Courses to maximize earnings and stay updated

15. Independent Contractor Responsibilities

• Track: Miles, expenses, income
• Preparation: Estimate taxes, save for maintenance

16. Passenger Interaction

• Approach: Mirror passenger’s talkativeness
• Tip: Greet and assess their willingness to converse

17. Drive During Peak Times

• Strategy: Drive when bonuses and promotions are available
• Efficiency: Maximize earnings by driving during busy times

18. Handling Lost Items

• Prevention: Remind passengers to check for belongings
• Challenge: Returning items can be a hassle

19. Familiarize With Uber App

• Complexity: Many features and settings
• Recommendation: Understand app thoroughly to avoid issues

20. Be a Passenger

• Insight: Experience from passenger’s perspective to improve as a driver

Conclusion

• Next Steps: Check out additional resources for more tips
• Reminder: Subscribe for updates and safety tips

---

Drive Safe, Be Smart!