I’m a driver for Uber and Lyft — here are 10 things I wish I knew before starting the job

Clarke Bowman

I started driving for Lyft and Uber to earn extra money at the beginning of this year.
The job is different from what I expected, and in that time, I’ve learned a lot about driving and even more about myself.
These are the 11 things I wish I had known before I started driving strangers in my car for money.
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A long time ago, I thought seriously about becoming an Uber and Lyft driver. It was a big decision to make, and left me with many questions, and hardly any way to find the answers.

Would the people be weird? Is it safe? What is it really like? Would I make a profit? Would it be worth it?

You read outrageous Uber and Lyft headlines where some drivers are harmed by passengers. You also hear about how much money an Uber and Lyft driver can make in a short time. It left me curious, and really wondering what was real, and what was overblown.

Needing to make some money for my upcoming wedding, I eventually convinced myself I could do this. The next day, I signed up for Uber and Lyft.

I’ve learned a lot about driving since then. And through trial and error, I’ve found out a lot myself, too. While some of the things I’ve learned are specific for only certain regions, other aspects of the job are universal.

Here are 11 things I wish I knew before starting driving for Lyft and Uber.

To make the most money possible, you need to avoid traffic.

Shutterstock

Something that is universally loved by Uber and Lyft passengers — and is also a reason why so many people dislike taxis — is that the rate quoted in the app is generally exactly what they pay.

This is because the "per-minute" rate a driver makes is very low, while the "per-mile" rate is pretty decent. The fare won’t suddenly jump up to an unexpected amount just because the driver hit traffic along the route.

While this is a great thing for passengers, it is not so great for drivers. Getting caught in slow or stopped traffic will absolutely kill your dollars-per-hour ratio. In my area, a driver makes about $0.12 per minute, which is the equivalent of $7.20 an hour. In some markets, a driver makes even less.

To keep making the most money possible, you have to keep your car moving. Down in South Florida, there is traffic seemingly everywhere at peak rush hour times around 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., so I try to avoid driving at those most congested times. I also keep a mental note of areas that have lots of construction and try to avoid those routes as well.

Good things come to those who wait. Don’t drive around looking for a ride — let the ride come to you.

MikeDotta/Shutterstock

A good fisherman is a patient person. He picks what he thinks is a good spot, baits his hook, casts his line out, and then, he waits. It might take 30 seconds for a bite, or it might take 10 minutes, but the fisherman remains patient. The bite will come.

To remain a profitable driver, you must become like the fisherman. Find a good spot. Be patient. Wait. The ride will come.

I used to drive around between rides, trying to make myself somehow more available to the next rider.

Don’t do this.

All driving around did was put unnecessary miles on my car and ensured that I ruined my profit margin by wasting gas.

Now, unless I am on a ride or heading to pick up a passenger, I try not to drive around aimlessly. My car is my business, and I try to treat it as such. Soon after I drop someone off, I will try to pull over to a safe area like a parking spot in a public plaza and wait there. A podcast or an e-book keeps me entertained between rides, but it’s usually no more than a few minutes until another request comes. If I don’t get a request within 15 minutes, I will start driving toward a known busier area, and I will almost always get a request shortly after.

The real trick to getting a ride request is to make sure you have to use the bathroom. As soon as you get the urge to go to the bathroom, you are guaranteed a 100% chance of immediately getting a ride request, every time.

The closest driver to a passenger usually gets the next ride. Position yourself accordingly.

Mike Coppola / Getty Images

Driving for Uber and Lyft is a lot like a game. The goal of the game is to earn as much money as possible per hour.

The best way to play this game is to have a paying passenger at almost all times inside your car. Your opponents of this game are the other drivers on the road, as they are your competition, fighting for your ride requests. You can see these other drivers on the Uber and Lyft passenger apps. Yes, those little cars around your location when you open the app are real.

Sorry, fellow drivers, but I have a wedding I’m saving for.

No one knows exactly how Uber and Lyft calculate which driver gets the next ride, but after driving for a while, you get a feel for where you need to be positioned in order to get the next ride. The ride-hailing apps use an algorithm that calculates your position with current traffic patterns and who can arrive to the passenger first. Then the apps will offer that ride to whichever drivers can arrive at the request first.

What does this mean?

In short, the closest driver gets the ride.

If you know there’s a popular hotel that people frequently travel from, don’t wait a half mile away. There are likely drivers between you and that hotel, so they will most likely get the requests first. Get as close as you safely and legally can, and wait. You will almost certainly be rewarded with the next ride request.

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Source: Business Insider – feedback@businessinsider.com (Clarke Bowman)