GETTING AN APPROVED CAR
As mentioned above, the company requires you to have a 4 door car that is less than 9 years old. The vehicle should have no major cosmetic damage. Likewise, rebuilt or salvaged vehicles are not accepted, and full-sized vans or marked vehicles (such as taxis) are a no-no.
WHAT IF MY CURRENT VEHICLE DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS?
You wouldn’t be the first one, so don’t worry. Many people whose existing vehicles do not fit requirements tend to invest in new cars before they can become a driver. However, I recommend that you don’t go overboard when procuring a car to be used as an Uber transporter. A good idea is to settle on an average (but sturdy) vehicle that’s not particularly new but fits requirements. Everyday cars such as Honda Accord, Toyota Prius, Mazda3, Chevrolet Cruz, Honda Civic, etc are ideal for UberX.
HOW MUCH DO I EARN AS AN UBERX DRIVER IN ADELAIDE?
This is often a debatable issue, and different drivers obviously earn differently based on your workload. However, we can still find an estimated average income. While calculating how much a driver earns, costs should be counted in. This section will help you get a pretty better idea how much you might earn by taking advantage of the opportunity.
In Australia (just like in the U.S), drivers earn 75% of their total weekly fare. The average Australian driver makes between $35 and $40/hour before the firm deducts their 25%. To account for expenses, let’s say that you make $27.88 per hour. Well, an average driver works 30 hours per week, which makes the weekly earnings about $836. That translates to $43,472 in annual salary for the average Adelaide-based driver. However, keep in mind that this may change depending on your expenses tally.
WHAT EXPENSES DO I NEED TO FOOT?
It’s important to be aware that there are certain expenses you need to take care of. For instance, you need to pay for gas. To assess the profitability of your opportunity, you need to factor in all expenses:
- Loan repayments – if your vehicle is under finance, you’ll definitely need to factor in loan repayments and subtract that from your sum pay.
- Insurance fees – the company requires you to have at least compulsory 3rd party, and 3rd party property damage coverage. However, you’re better off with a more comprehensive level of insurance coverage. Do your research to find the most appropriate cover for your vehicle, and count in the expense.
- Petrol – how much you pay for gas depends on total hours of work per week. If you also make use of your vehicle outside Uber driving, your gas bill might even be much higher.
- Phone plan – you need a good phone plan that provides you with enough data, call time and GPS each month.
- Car maintenance – this may include tyre replacement, car repairs, and general upkeep vehicle upkeep e.g. getting the oil changed. How much you spend on car maintenance will be dependent on how old your vehicle is, what brand of vehicle is, how carefully you drive, and how often you drive it.
- Parking – if you have to pay parking fees in the course of your everyday driving, you need to add this to your list of expenses.
- Extras – you probably have ridden in an Uber (as a customer). Chances are that the vehicle was generally very clean inside. You probably even noticed some extras to keep you occupied such as magazines, or water and gum. If you’re serious about keeping your partner ratings up (keep in mind that any driver whose rating is less than 4.5 cannot work), you should consider offering a few extras for your passengers. At the bare minimum, regular cleaning of your vehicle is a must.
Factoring in your total expenses helps you better control your budget, and sometimes even reduce your expenditure. Also, remember that many of these expenses are tax deductible.
WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN UBERX AND OTHER CATEGORIES?
- UberX – seats 4 passengers and is the least expensive Uber service available. Vehicles are ordinary cars such as Honda Accord, Toyota Prius, and other comparable models.
- UberXL – there’s not much difference between UberX and UberXL, except that vehicles need to be larger. UberXL cars need to seat 6 passengers (SUVs and minivans), and this service costs more than UberX. However, the driver requirements are the same.
- UberSelect – this is Uber’s luxury service that’s still penetrating the global market. UberSelect vehicles need to seat 4 passengers, and are selected from brands such as Audi, BMW, Mercedes, and other top brands with a leather interior.
- UberPOOL – allows a rider to share the car with other riders and share the cost.
- UberBLACK and UberSUV – is a luxury service category. A commercially-registered and insured-livery vehicle, such as a luxury sedan or black SUV, is required. This happens to be the most expensive service category.
IS THIS THE RIGHT OPPORTUNITY FOR ME?
Uber is always coming up with new expansion plans, and new ways to render a better service to customers and partners within and outside Australia. It’s easy to see why so many people are looking to find out how they can benefit from a piece of the Uber pie. Fortunately, the requirements to become a driver are not insane. If you have an eligible vehicle and meet the other basic requirements that we pointed out above, then this is the right opportunity for you. You’ll find the extra side income to be quite a boost.
