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Uber is Releasing a New Driver App for 2018

I actually got an invite to sit down one on one with Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi at an event in Los Angeles today for a moderated Q&A panel with over 200 drivers in the audience.  The session wasn’t recorded but stay tuned for my blog post on Friday to learn about what I asked him!

Over the past week, Uber has been peppering drivers with cryptic messages about a global announcement that Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi would be making on Tuesday morning.  Since it was a ‘global announcement’, I wasn’t sure exactly what would be revealed, but now we know that Uber is releasing a brand new driver app for 2018.  It will take a few months to roll out the app to everyone, but Android users in Los Angeles and Atlanta will get to try it out first.

Drive with Uber 1

I was a little surprised that there was so much hoopla over this announcement and, while I didn’t expect a huge rate increase, or an axing of UberPOOL :), I suspect some drivers will be disappointed.  As you’ll see below, the new app looks great and will make driving and absorbing lots of information while driving easier, but I haven’t heard too many complaints about the old Uber driver app relative to big pain points like low pay and upfront pricing.

I think the new driver app may have a bigger impact outside of the US, where many drivers are using older Android phones and experiencing poor reception, but I don’t see it improving a driver’s bottom line here in the US anytime soon.

To Uber’s credit, they worked with 470 drivers worldwide to beta test the new app and solicit feedback through in-person group lunches, ride-alongs and one-on-one text message exchanges. And overall, all of that driver input shows. I like the look of the new app and think it does a good job of sharing the most pertinent information but not overwhelming you like the old app sometimes would do.

Uber built some strong momentum with drivers in 2017 with the ‘180 Days of Change’ and is continuing in the right direction with a new driver app, but I think the big question drivers will be asking is, could their resources have been better spent somewhere else, like increasing rates?

Uber is releasing a new driver app for 2018! I cover what drivers can look forward to, improvements Uber has made and more here -

 

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Rideshare Insurance Options For Uber and Lyft Drivers

GEICO gecco with thumbs up rideshareWe’ve made a bunch of updates to our rideshare insurance page over the past few months, so if you’re looking for rideshare insurance, you can now easily learn about the options in your state.  There are still a few states that don’t have rideshare-friendly options, but there are new options being added every week so be sure to check back frequently.

If you’re not familiar with this topic, having adeqwashiuate auto insurance coverage is very important.  As rideshare drivers though, you need to be especially mindful that you understand the risks and insurance limits in your state.  There are many states where there isn’t an officially recognized rideshare insurance policy and, although you may still be covered by Uber/Lyft, your personal insurer may drop you for being a rideshare driver.

Why Do I Need Rideshare Insurance?

Uber and Lyft only cover rideshare drivers during Periods 2 and 3.  Period 2 starts once you accept a ride request and are en route to your passenger, and Period 3 starts once your passenger gets into your car.  BUT when you’re online and waiting for a request during Period 1, you have no collision coverage from Uber or Lyft and much lower liability limits.  So as a rideshare driver, you’re most at risk during Period 1 since you won’t get any collision coverage from rideshare companies and your personal insurer likely won’t cover you during this time either.

Rideshare insurance solves this gap by covering drivers during Period 1, and additionally they won’t drop you for being a rideshare driver.  Some policies will even cover you during Periods 2 and 3 so you won’t be subject to Uber’s $1,000 collision deductible and Lyft’s $2,500 collision deductible.

I’ve covered this issue extensively, so if you want to brush up on the current state of rideshare insurance, here are some resources for you to review:

Over the past year, almost all of the major carriers have begun offering rideshare insurance policies for drivers.  This is great news since we no longer need to worry about being dropped by our insurance company, if we insure with a rideshare-friendly insurance company.

But changing insurance is obviously not a simple matter since many of us have policies across our homes, other cars, etc.  My hope is that one day all major carriers will offer rideshare-friendly policies but, until then, drivers will have to either switch insurers or assume the risk of going without a rideshare friendly policy.

I’d like to know what your current insurance situation looks like so please fill out this anonymous poll.

Do you have a rideshare specific insurance policy?
15539 votes
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This post will continue to be updated with insurance information for each of the markets, but if you have conflicting info or would like to add to this page, please leave a comment below.  Additionally, if you have an agent that you’d like to personally recommend, don’t hesitate to reach out to me with their contact info.

 Find out what companies will insure rideshare drivers with our comprehensive database. If you're looking for rideshare insurance options, check it out.

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I Signed Up to Be a Bird Electric Scooter Charger, Here’s What It’s Like

Even though Uber and Lyft make up a majority of the on-demand economy, there is no shortage of other apps and services that you can work for. And when I heard about a new electric scooter company called Bird, I decided to sign up and give it a try.

Now if you’re wondering what electric scooters have to do with rideshare driving, you’re right! On the surface, they may seem like pretty different companies, but scooters and rideshare are both part of the shared mobility space, and they actually have a lot more in common than you may think.

Both businesses are mobility marketplaces: Uber connects drivers and riders while Bird connects scooters and customers.  And as it turns out, those scooters need able-bodied workers to charge them every night, so that’s where workers in the on-demand economy come in handy.

After covering the rideshare industry for four years, I’m already seeing a ton of parallels between the two business models and, like we saw with rideshare driving when it first hit the scene, there’s a lot of opportunity for ‘Chargers’ right now since Bird is growing quickly and able-bodied workers are in high demand. Based on my own experience and from talking with other chargers, you can easily make $20-30 per hour working for Bird.

If you’d like to download a copy of our free Bird Charger Quick Start Guide PDF, please opt in to our e-mail list below:

Looking for ways to diversify your income? Check out Bird, a new electric scooter service. What do electric scooters have to do with rideshare? They're both part of shared mobility - and there are opportunities to earn money in this early stage of Bird's growth -

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RSG071: John O’Connell Tells Us What It’s Like to Drive for UberXL

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Have you ever wondered what it’s like to drive for UberXL, but didn’t want to buy an XL vehicle to try it out? Is it true XL drivers make a lot more money? In this episode, I interview John O’Connell, an UberXL driver in San Francisco, about his experience, tips and more driving with UberXL. 

Have you ever wondered what it's like to drive for UberXL, but didn't want to buy an XL vehicle to try it out? Is it true XL drivers make a lot more money? In this episode, I interview John O'Connell, an UberXL driver in San Francisco, about his experience, tips and more driving with UberXL. 

If you’d like to read a transcript of this podcast, please click here.

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What Can Drivers Do if They Forgot to Track Their Mileage?

Harry here.  Uber and Lyft typically send out 1099s by January 31st, so hopefully you’ve been tracking all of your mileage!  But if not, we’ve teamed up with Stride Tax for a guest post to help you figure out how you can still claim all those lost miles.

This post was written by Stride’s Tade Anzalone, who heads up their tax and finance support and is an Enrolled Agent with the IRS.

What can drivers do for their taxes if they forgot to track mileage? It turns out, there are still ways you can figure out your miles for 2017 - tips here!:

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