Anybody here an Uber or Lyft driver?

[Fox5]

Yeah, that is a huge grey area right now. Supposedly the companies cover you when you are online. Your personal insurance definitely WILL NOT cover you if they find out you are doing this.

Lawsuits are in the future.

Yeah, horrible deal for the drivers because of this.

Wear and tear on your own personal vehicle, no guarantee of insurance coverage (0 if you're at fault, and iffy if someone else is), it's just a bad deal for the drivers. And then add the risk of getting robbed or your vehicle damaged by a passenger, and since you're not a "real" employee of Uber or Lyft, who's going to cover it?

That said, as a consumer, it's excellent, prices are lower, service is better, the drivers generally speak English well and are pleasant, the drivers are generally better than taxis, and you can call them to pick you up wherever you are. There's been similar pick-up services for taxis, but in my experience, taxis have been very unreliable in actually picking me up.
Most of the taxis around me only want to take cash anyway.

 

[PhoKingGuy]

I've taken about 15 uber trips over the past 3 days in SD. The worst car that picked me up was a brand new VW Passat.

Some dude picked me up in an A8, I was like seriously? Haha.

 

[OCGuy]

I've taken about 15 uber trips over the past 3 days in SD. The worst car that picked me up was a brand new VW Passat.

Some dude picked me up in an A8, I was like seriously? Haha.

SD had the nicest cars I've used to date.....

 

[Ns1]

Everyone I've uber'd in LA has been a former taxi driver picking me up in a brand new hybrid.

 

[Kaido]

I've taken about 15 uber trips over the past 3 days in SD. The worst car that picked me up was a brand new VW Passat.

Some dude picked me up in an A8, I was like seriously? Haha.

Hah that's cool, do you get to pick what kind or type of car picks you up?

 

[cubby1223]

Uber has been great compared to taxi's, but I doubt it'll last in the long run. I've read that uber drivers often make down around minimum wage when factoring in all the expenses to run and maintain your vehicle. Fewer drivers will sign up, hopefully the app function will be merged into the existing taxi services. That is the major benefit, being able to call a cab from anywhere, and pay up front by cc. No reason that cannot be merged into what already exists. We just have to pay a few more dollars per ride.

 

[AznAnarchy99]

Uber from Newport Beach on Friday was 5x the rate D:

 

[Printer Bandit]

i would never become an uber driver, since i can't do small talk.

 

[gorcorps]

Uber has been great compared to taxi's, but I doubt it'll last in the long run. I've read that uber drivers often make down around minimum wage when factoring in all the expenses to run and maintain your vehicle. Fewer drivers will sign up, hopefully the app function will be merged into the existing taxi services. That is the major benefit, being able to call a cab from anywhere, and pay up front by cc. No reason that cannot be merged into what already exists. We just have to pay a few more dollars per ride.

A few MORE dollars? What these services are showing us is that you can provide the same or better service for LESS. Right now the drivers might not make enough so prices may go up, but it still should be less than current taxis. Competition drives prices down.

 

[Ns1]

A few MORE dollars? What these services are showing us is that you can provide the same or better service for LESS. Right now the drivers might not make enough so prices may go up, but it still should be less than current taxis. Competition drives prices down.

Unlike uber drivers, taxi drivers have fixed costs (ie medallions) that have to be passed down to the consumer.

 

[momeNt]

I heard this is a really easy way to get laid, you're the last person all these drunk people talk to on their nights out, so if they want any that night, you're it.

 

[gorcorps]

I heard this is a really easy way to get laid, you're the last person all these drunk people talk to on their nights out, so if they want any that night, you're it.

I'll bet that's a rumor started by the services to get more drivers.

 

[AznAnarchy99]

i would never become an uber driver, since i can't do small talk.

There's a bunch more foreign people that started doing it who can't small talk.

The other night though I met this guy who used to be an Iraqi soldier who came here just 4 years ago. His stories about Iraq and how he got here was amazing.

 

[PhoKingGuy]

Hah that's cool, do you get to pick what kind or type of car picks you up?

No you can't its all luck of the draw on what your driver will be driving. Needless to say though almost every single ride I've had in SD has been some sort of brand new or newish hybrid or some late model lux car. Here's what I can remember from the past few weeks:

Prius V
Ford C-Max Energi
Mercedes C250
Audi A8
VW CC
VW Passat
Camry Hybrid (had paper plates)
BMW 328i
Toyota Sienna

 

[TwiceOver]

Wow. So you don't need any special insurance or anything? These services sound like a massive law suit waiting to happen.

Also, $3/mile? Really?

and so it begins...

http://www.theverge.com/2014/7/9/58...shington-dc-turns-into-a-high-speed-car-chase

 

[Newell Steamer]

I've looked into this,.. sounds good.

Now, anyone an actual Uber driver? So far, it's been passengers from what I've read in this thread,.. and 2nd/3rd hand stories of horror and world ending doom.

 

[zardthebuilder]

being a driver does sound good. but, my car is leased, so i will need to buy it before i can start.

any actual Lyft drivers out there?

 

[jlee]

I think about doing this every now and again, but I don't own anything new enough.

Edit: Not interested in Uber! http://www.pbs.org/newshour/making-sense/what-its-really-like-to-be-an-uber-driver/

 

[AznAnarchy99]

I Uber hate is strong in the media for some reason. Been using it for a long time now with one issue (with a driver) and Uber swiftly took care of it. My friend was making $1200 a week in the LA area driving only at night about 5-6 hours a day.

 

[thomsbrain]

The tech is great. Side-stepping the arbitrary taxi-company medallion tax is great.

The company is, bar none, the single most evil technology company currently operating.

 

[zardthebuilder]

I think about doing this every now and again, but I don't own anything new enough.

Edit: Not interested in Uber! http://www.pbs.org/newshour/making-sense/what-its-really-like-to-be-an-uber-driver/

uber's corporate culture doesn't fit my personality. i ran the Lyft concept by my wife, and she didn't say no. i might just start the application process with Lyft and see how far I can go before I have to commit.

 

[Brainonska511]

So to the people that do it: do you tell your car insurance company about how you're using your vehicle in a commercial capacity? If no, what would you do if you get in an accident?

 

[AznAnarchy99]

So to the people that do it: do you tell your car insurance company about how you're using your vehicle in a commercial capacity? If no, what would you do if you get in an accident?

http://blog.uber.com/ridesharinginsurance

 

[zardthebuilder]

Lyft has a similar $1M liability insurance after match notification. The most important part is that it is primary.

ETA: collision and comprehensive are contingent with both lyft and uber ... that is not good.

https://www.lyft.com/drive/help/article/1229170

 

[EvilYoda]

I use Uber everywhere I go, whenever possible...I've been using Lyft more but they still lag behind in terms of availability and number of cars in available cities. I haven't had many issues yet...a few drivers being unfamiliar with certain areas (I've dealt with that in cabs) and the usual GPS/location issues.

My coworkers told me that an Audi Q7 picked them up in LA - guy was Robert Downey Jr's publicist and he had just heard about Uber and wanted to see what it was like. I bet he could get some good story ideas out of his passengers. (I know, he's not a writer...still.)