The impact of Uber and other ride sharing companies has been great, and it has transformed how the transportation industry is working in various countries – especially in the United States. The demand for drivers is ever growing, as more and more people opt to use ride-hailing apps over the traditional taxi/cab system. To further emphasize this point, did you know that as of 2017, over 30% of the people in the major markets have used Uber and other ride-hailing apps? It is very reasonable to want to be a part of this revolution, for one good reason – you are putting your investment into your vehicle to good use. Not all vehicles or drivers will be accepted, of course, and it’s your responsibility to know if you and your vehicle will pass Uber’s inspection process. That’s where we come in. Read on to learn more about the market you want to get into, as well as the requirements on how to do so! What You’ll Learn Toggle The ride-hailing demographicWhat’s in it for you?The requirements to be an Uber driver partnerDoes your vehicle qualify for Uber as well?Recommended cars for Uber drivingKeep your car in tip-top shape The ride-hailing demographic The digital age is in full swing, and it has changed our culture in the most profound ways. People, most notably the Millennials, live in such a way that they want everything to be quick, easy, and convenient. Fortunately for you, those traits are what Uber has over the traditional taxis. To reflect this, studies show that ride-hailing usage varies by age. Only 4% of the older population, aged 65 and up, have tried ride-hailing, 19% of 30 to 49 year-olds have used it, and 28% of 18 to 29 year-olds (yes, Millennials) have used them. If you live in an urban area, that’s another big plus. Usage and awareness are both much higher in the urban setting than in the rural areas. The numbers will only grow – possibly exponentially – as the younger generation steps into adulthood. As much as 39% of urban college graduates use ride-hailing services, as do 35% of urban dwellers who earn more than $75,000 annually and 34% of 18-29 year-old urbanites. It is an industry that could only go bigger. What’s in it for you? Uber is indeed awesome, but not only for the consumer – but for the “employees” as well. Aside from possibly earning $25 an hour after commission and sales tax (2014 statistics according to Uber), the advantage of Uber’s “driver partners” over the traditional taxi/cab drivers are: They are paid weekly They are allowed to work on flexible shifts The more they drive, the more they earn They are able to use their own car Take a look at that last point – you are able to use your own car. As good as that sounds, it would also mean that you have to deal with your car’s maintenance and repairs yourself. Your vehicle is your main asset, and it really pays to properly maintain it. GOFAR adds another dimension to your driving by helping you monitor your car’s health, allowing you to preemptively repair minor damages before they turn into irreversible damages that would require expensive parts replacement! Learn more about how GOFAR works by watching this short video. <span data-mce-type="bookmark" style="display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;" class="lazy lazy-hidden mce_SELRES_start"></span><span data-mce-type="bookmark" style="display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;" class="mce_SELRES_start"></span> The requirements to be an Uber driver partner It might not be easy to find information about the driver’s requirements as they are not completely clear, even on Uber’s website. There are certain extra details that you may need to know before you can be sure that you are qualified to be an Uber driver partner. Apart from the information in your specific city that you can find here (https://www.uber.com/us/en/drive/requirements/), you’ll need to meet these criteria before you can be hired as an Uber driver partner: A minimum age of 21 years old Licensed to drive in the US for at least 1 year or at least 3 years of driving experience if younger than 23 years old An in-state auto insurance policy under your name An in-state driver’s license In-state license plates with current registration A Social Security number You have to pass a background check and a driving record check, which will look for: Cases of DUI Cases of operating a vehicle without insurance Cases of suspended licenses Cases of accidents Records of reckless driving Records of criminal history Fulfill these, and you are qualified to be an Uber driver. Does your vehicle qualify for Uber as well? Apparently, Uber offers various levels and types of services. Your own or rented car can fall into one of these more common categories: UberBLACK – offers black luxury sedans UberKIDS – offers cars with a child safety seat UberPOP – offers compact or sub-compact cars UberSELECT – offers cars with luxurious leather interiors UberSUV – offers luxury SUVs UberLUX – the top-of-the-range service with only the finest cars UberX – Uber’s standard service for non-shared rides, providing private rides in standard cars UberXL – similar to UberX, except using larger vehicles that can seat 6 passengers UberX and UberXL vehicle requirements per city While the requirements for the most premium services, namely UberBLACK, UberSUV, and UberLUX remain the same across the USA (2010 or newer models of luxury vehicles), the more common services, UberX and UberXL’s qualifying vehicles vary depending on the location, listed below: Atlanta – no later than 2005 Boston – no later than 2001 Chicago – no later than 2001 DC: no later than 2005 Denver – no later than 2001 Dallas – no later than 2003 Milwaukee – no later than 2001 Nashville – no later than 2001 New York City: no later than 2010 Philadelphia – no later than 2001 Pittsburgh – no later than 2006, 2004 for hybrid cars LA/OC/SD and SF – no later than 2001 Uber vehicle restrictions If your vehicle is one of these, it does not qualify for any of Uber’s services: A full-size van (Ford E-series, Ford Transit, GMC Savana) Marked vehicles like taxis Crown Victoria models Salvaged vehicles Recommended cars for Uber driving Photo by Mikes Photos from Pexels These cars are our recommendations (this post is not sponsored by any of the brands.) Uber serviceCar make and model UberXToyota Prius, Toyota Camry, Toyota Corolla, Toyota Tacoma, Honda Accord, Honda Civic, Mazda 3 and 6, Ford Focus, Ford F-150, Nissan Altima, Chevrolet Malibu, Chevrolet Cruze, Chevrolet Cobalt UberXLHonda Odyssey, Honda Pilot, Ford Explorer, Ford Expedition, GMC Acadia, Dodge Caravan, Dodge Durango, Jeep Cherokee, Chevrolet Suburban UberPLUS/UberSELECTAudi A3 models and up, BMW 3-series and up, Mercedes C-class and up, Volvo S60, Acura, Hyundai Genesis, Acura, all Infiniti cars, all Lincoln cars UberBLACK/UberSUVMercedes-Benz S-class, Audi A8, BMW 7-series, Porsche Panamera, Tesla Model S, Range Rover Keep your car in tip-top shape Photo by rawpixel.com Your driving and your car are your only assets as an Uber driver partner. If you have the skills covered, then you’re halfway good. Taking care of your vehicle would be the other half. As your car will be having lots of mileage during your driving for Uber, repair and maintenance costs will become bigger of an issue, and naturally, the costs can be higher. Don’t worry, we got your back! With GOFAR, you can keep tabs on your expensive asset and your driving expenses. GOFAR can help you reduce your costs vastly by tracking your driving and your car’s health, and even your expenses. Click here to learn how to increase your gas mileage and save up to 30%* on fuel costs each year. The GOFAR app can help you: Minimize your driving expenses – With the help of the Ray, a device that has been patterned after modern F1 racing technologies, you’ll know if you’re driving efficiently or not! This gives you better mileage on every full tank of fuel, reducing your driving costs by as much as 20%! Minimize your repair and maintenance expenses – GOFAR monitors your car’s health via a device that is plugged into your car’s OBD (on-board diagnostics) port. It would then inform you of anything that might need a repair before it turns into a full-scale breakdown! Help you keep track of your expenses – Taxes and tax deductions are important, especially to a person who uses his vehicle for business – like Uber. The GOFAR app is the last member of the GOFAR trinity, which keeps a digital log of your expenses and displays various necessary info! GOFAR makes taking care of a car a lot simpler. Visit us and check it out now!