- Some Uber and Lyft drivers say being choosy in regards to the rides they settle for may also help their backside strains.
- Enterprise Insider requested drivers whether or not declining sure rides is an efficient technique for growing pay.
- Cancelling journeys may also help drivers keep away from conditions that are not worthwhile.
There is no cheat code for earning money as an Uber or Lyft driver — however some have discovered methods that work for them.
Drivers face limitless selections, together with what time of day to work, what sort of auto to make use of, easy methods to internet ideas from clients, and one of the best ways to monitor their earnings. One driver’s optimum technique can differ from one other’s based mostly on their explicit markets.
However one in every of a driver’s most key selections is when to just accept a trip that pops up on their driving apps. Final 12 months, Uber and Lyft adopted upfront fares applications in choose US cities which have supplied drivers with extra data about their journeys earlier than they settle for or decline them — together with how a lot they pay, the estimated time and distance, and their vacation spot.
Enterprise Insider spoke with three drivers about when being selective with rides can enhance their earnings and when being much less choosy is perhaps the most effective method.
Accepting rides that pay a minimum of $0.80 per mile and prioritizing airport journeys can improve pay
Ken, a 36-year-old Uber and Lyft driver in Houston, drives about 4 to 5 hours per day — along with his full-time analyst job — to complement his revenue. Final 12 months, he earned a mixed $25,000 driving for Uber and Lyft from about 2,000 journeys, in line with screenshots of earnings paperwork considered by Enterprise Insider.
Whereas he accepts most rides, he mentioned he prioritizes journeys that pay a minimum of $0.80 to $1.00 per mile, excluding automobile bills — a trip’s base pay and distance are displayed on the app. He additionally tries to keep away from journeys that take him too far out of Houston as a result of he worries he will not have the ability to discover journeys for the trip again. He calls these “empty miles.”
“I have seen a 50-mile trip that only $20 was offered,” Ken beforehand instructed Enterprise Insider. “I wouldn’t be doing that.” He requested that his final title not be included for worry {of professional} repercussions.
Ken, who hasn’t had a lot luck with buyer tipping in current months, mentioned he tries to prioritize rides to and from the airport every time potential as a result of these clients usually tend to tip.
“When I get a ride to the airport, I count my blessings,” he mentioned.
Being choosy with journeys may also help drivers keep away from “one-way rides”
Invoice, a part-time Uber driver in North Carolina, started driving for further revenue after he retired six years in the past. Final 12 months, the 70-year-old earned over $28,000 throughout roughly 1,500 Uber journeys.
However he will not settle for simply any trip.
“I spend a lot of time saying no,” Invoice, who requested to make use of a pseudonym and spoke on situation of anonymity for worry {of professional} repercussions, beforehand instructed Enterprise Insider. All through his years driving for Uber, he is accepted lower than 10% of his rides and canceled over 30% of them, in line with a screenshot of his driver app considered by Enterprise Insider, to make sure he is getting rides which are price his time.
Invoice lives in an space the place Uber’s upfront fares program hasn’t rolled out but, so he has restricted details about his journeys earlier than he accepts them. In consequence, he does no matter he can to keep away from “one-way rides” that take him to distant areas — the place he’s much less prone to discover one other trip heading in his most well-liked route.
To bypass these rides, Invoice asks clients when he picks them up whether or not their vacation spot is within the space. In the event that they’re headed out of city, he usually makes an excuse for why he cannot drive them.
Nonetheless, his method comes with some dangers. Uber lists refusing or canceling a visit based mostly on the driving force’s vacation spot as one thing that might trigger a driver to lose entry to their account. Invoice mentioned he is heard of drivers being banned from airport pickups for canceling lengthy rides, however that it hasn’t occurred to him but.
Accepting most rides may also help drivers land sure perks
Fred, a 40-year-old Uber driver in Virginia, first tried Uber in 2018 however paused his driving between 2019 and 2021. He began driving once more halfway by way of 2022 and made about $44,000 in about 3,000 journeys, in line with a screenshot of an earnings doc considered by Enterprise Insider. This previous September, he earned over $5,000.
Fred’s foremost technique as a driver is accepting almost each trip — his lifetime acceptance fee is about 84%. He mentioned he does this as a result of it offers him the most effective likelihood to retain his Uber “diamond status,” which affords varied advantages, equivalent to financial savings at choose gasoline stations, by way of a rewards system. Fred mentioned the most effective perk of his standing is the devoted buyer assist he receives.
“When I call Uber support, my call or messaging is handled promptly and professionally,” he mentioned. But when a driver does not care about these further advantages, Fred mentioned he understands why they’d reject rides that do not appear worthwhile.
Are you a gig employee keen to share your story about pay, schedule, and tipping? If that’s the case, attain out to this reporter at [email protected].