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How I Got A Free Inspection For Both Uber And Lyft In Half The Time

All Uber and Lyft drivers have to have their cars inspected in order to be qualified to drive, which can be a hassle and cost drivers money. But what if you could get both inspections (for Uber and Lyft) for free? Senior RSG contributor Jay Cradeur shows us how drivers can get free inspections for both Uber and Lyft – in half the time.

When you first sign up with Uber and/or Lyft, you will have to bring your car in and pass a 19-point inspection.  Both companies require an inspection to ensure your car is both safe and capable of delivering a comfortable and pleasant ride.

Drive with Uber 1

Need a car to drive with Uber?  Try FAIR

fair uber promo codeFair is the official vehicle partner for Uber and is a great medium to long term option for drivers in need of an eligible rideshare vehicle.  Get $100 off the start-up fee when you use the code 'RSG100'.  Click here to sign-up!

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Tello Mobile Review – Best Phone Plan for Uber Drivers?

This is a sponsored overview of Tello Mobile but as always, all opinions are our own and we only review products and services that we use ourselves.

Between now and January 16th, Tello is offering TWICE the data on any plan for new customers for the first 6 months. This means you can snag 20 GB of data for $39 + tax (it’s their New Year sale).  

You can sign up using our link.

Say Hello To Cheap Data

Not every job in the gig economy requires a car, but every gig economy job does require a phone with a data plan. Preferably, a phone with a solid data plan.

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3 Best Dash Cams For Uber & Lyft Drivers – Complete Review

Recently we compared and reviewed dash cams for Uber Drivers, Lyft Drivers, and food/package delivery drivers. If you’re not familiar with dash cams, here’s some reasons why you’d need a dashcam for rideshare driving. Suffice it to say, there are many – having video evidence available can be of crucial importance during any number of situations you’re likely to encounter as a driver, both in your car and on the road.

Today, brand new RSG contributor Jonathan Knope reviews the top dashcams for rideshare drivers.  For each camera, we did a thorough dashcam review along with an accompanying Youtube video that covers unboxing, installation, and live footage from the road. Make sure you head over to your Youtube channel to check these videos out or just view them on the blog.

👉 Related article: Essential gear every rideshare driver should have

Dash cam review

Dash cam review: Why have a dash cam? Here’s a photo of an Uber driver being attacked by a passenger – Costa Mesa, CA, October 2015

What’s the Best Dashcam (Quality Vs. Price)?

Executive Summary: Our Top Dash Cam Picks

These are the best dash cams we reviewed for Uber drivers, Lyft Drivers, and food/package delivery drivers like those who drive for Uber Eats, Postmates, Doordash, Grubhub, Bite Squad, and Amazon Flex.

1.) Best overall: Falcon Zero F360 Dashcam

[Note: The Falcon Zero is not always available, but in our updated review, VanTrue came out on top as our new dash camera favorite. You can get it here]

2.) Best value (quality for the price): Zero Edge Dual Lens HD Mirror Camera

3.) Best single-lens unit: iTrue X3 dashcam

A single lens dash cam only has one camera facing in front of the car. A dual lens dash cam has two cameras, the additional camera points inside the cabin/interior of the car.

Dash Cam Review – How do we decide which dash cam is the best for Uber drivers?

So you’ve decided it’s time to get a dashcam. But which one? First, let’s review the various types of dashcams – and what features you should look for to get the most out of your investment.

Installation

Most of the best dashcams come with their own mounting hardware. Some attach to your windshield; others fit over your existing rear-view mirror. If you have a phone or GPS mount (or both) on your windshield already, a mirror camera may be preferable. However, a windshield mount has its advantages – they can usually be removed and stowed away more easily than a mirror system, making them preferable for situations where the device might be stolen: while making deliveries, street parking, etc.

For keeping power cables routed neatly around the frame of your car, I recommend Command strip decorating hooks (only $5 on Amazon) – these adhered to my car much better than some included cable hooks, and proved an invaluable companion to the models that didn’t come with any at all.

Front-facing vs. two-way

Another consideration is how many cameras you need. All the best dashcams look forward to capture any collisions, but not all of them record what’s happening inside the vehicle – a feature of particular importance for the safety and security of Uber drivers and passengers alike. If something starts to go down in your vehicle, you may not have time to spin a one-way camera around to capture the event. On the other hand, if you primarily transport food and packages, an interior camera is probably not necessary.

Other features to consider

Before purchasing any dashcam, you should make sure it has features that match your needs. Here’s a breakdown of some best dashcam features to look for:

  • Memory card: Is it included? Do you have a compatible card already?
  • Loop recording: Will the camera replace old footage as the card fills up, or will you run out of space after a few hours?
  • Video/audio quality: Can the camera see at night? Can you read license plates, or will you need to note them in the event of an incident?
  • Visibility: How obvious is the camera to passengers? Potential thieves?

In this review, we’ll look at all these features and more. Please note that the laws on dashcams may vary by location, so please check your local laws to make sure it is legal to record before doing so. In many cases, compliance can be as simple as posting a small disclaimer in your window.

Can’t buy a dash cam right now but still want to protect yourself with audio and image recording? Check out Seam, an app for your phone that can record audio and images, plus keep you safe by connecting you to your emergency contacts. Read more about Seam here.

👉 Related article: Essential gear every rideshare driver should have

Best Dash Cam for the Budget-Conscious

Zero Edge Dual-lens Mirror Camera Review

Z-EDGE S4 Dual Dash Cam, 4.0 Inch IPS Ultra HD 1440P Front & 1080P Rear 150° Wide Angle Lens Dashboard Camera Recorder, 360° Rotated Rear View Camera with Night Mode, WDR and 32GB Card Included

[Note: The Falcon Zero is not always available, but in our updated review, VanTrue came out on top as our new dash camera favorite. You can get it here]

For under $100, the Zero Edge mirror camera offers great value. It’s actually two cameras – one built into the mirror, and another separate camera that plugs into the mirror via a long cable. The separate camera is designed as a backup camera, but its adhesive backing means it can be mounted just about anywhere inside your car to keep an eye on your passengers. The unit records footage from both cameras simultaneously, and places them in separate, time-stamped video files.

The interior camera is very discreet, if you can figure out a way to keep the long cables out of the way. If you’re handy, one option might be to cut the excess cable out and then splice the wires back together. From the outside, it’s somewhat obvious that the device is not an ordinary rear-view mirror. It’s more difficult to remove than any of the other models we tested, so if you plan on taking the camera in and out of your car every day to prevent theft, this might be an issue. Nonetheless, the camera’s low price and excellent feature set make it worthy of consideration.

In the box:

  • Two-port 12v to USB power adapter
  • Mirror camera unit with microphone
  • Separate mini camera
  • 16 GB microSD card
  • Spare mirror straps
  • USB cables for power and data transfer
  • Manual
  • Lens cleaning cloth

Pros:

  • Automatic loop recording from both camera angles
  • Front-facing camera has good field-of-vision; can be aimed
  • Interior camera is extremely discreet, with excellent field-of-vision

Cons:

  • Interior camera can’t be removed or adjusted once adhered
  • Really long interior camera cord is difficult to hide
  • Attaching and removing unit from existing mirror is somewhat tricky

[Note: The Falcon Zero is not always available, but in our updated review, VanTrue came out on top as our new dash camera favorite. You can get it here]

ZeroEdge Dual Lens Dashcam Review on Youtube

Best Dash Cam For the Food/Package Delivery Driver

iTRUE X3 Review

ITrue X3 Dash Cam,2.7Inch LCD,1080P,170 Degree Angle,Night Vision and 8GB Card

Ths is the best dash cam for those who drive for Postmates, Doordash, Grubhub, Uber Eats, Amazon Flex, Bite Squad, and other delivery services.

The first thing you need to know about the iTrue X3 is that it only records video from the road, not the cabin. So if you don’t have passengers in your car, or you’re just not concerned about having an eye on them, the iTrue is a great choice. It offers the widest field of vision of any of the cameras on our list – 170 degrees – and the camera’s ability to cope with different lighting conditions is excellent. Headlights generated minimal glare at night, and far-off details can be seen clearly during the day.

This is a suction-cup mounted camera, which means it’s super easy to hide when parked. The automatic loop recording was smooth and didn’t drop any frames between clips. The video quality from this unit is definitely its strongest feature.

In the box:

  • 12v power adapter
  • Camera unit
  • Suction cup mount
  • 8 GB microSD card
  • Data transfer cable
  • Manual

Pros:

  • Automatic loop recording
  • Excellent field-of-vision
  • True 1080p quality video with decent audio

Cons:

  • Only one lens
  • Power adapter takes up a whole outlet, and doesn’t leave any extra USB ports
  • Stiff mount makes camera difficult to spin around if you ever need to capture an incident inside your vehicle

iTrue X3 Dashcam Review on Youtube

Honorable Mention Dash Cam

Tendak 2.7″ Car DVR

Tendak 2.7" Car DVR Vehicle Backup Camera Recorder Dash Cam 1080P/30fps Full HD Night Vision with 170 Degree

With specs very similar to the iTrue, the Tendak 2.7″ is also a good choice in the single-lens dashcam category. Though we weren’t able to give it a full review here, it seemed to perform adequately in our tests, and at a great price, which earned it a spot on our list.

👉 Related article: Essential gear every rideshare driver should have

Best Overall Dash Cam

Falcon F360 Review

Dash Cam F360 X - Falcon Zero

The Falcon F360 is a clear winner for its ease of use and installation. Like the other cameras on our list, it will loop record automatically when your car is running – but the physical design of this unit is where it really shines. Both interior and front-facing cameras are built into the mirror attachment, and the whole unit is powered by a single USB cable, which gives it a clean look while installed. To remove or hide the camera while parked, simply unplug the power cable, and slide it off. The spring-loaded clamps hold firm while driving, but they also make this unit one of the easiest to take in and out of your vehicle.

Footage from both camera angles is combined into a single clip, which can be either a pro or a con depending on your point of view. Like the other dashcams on our list, this one performs adequately for night driving, and the 120-degree field of vision is enough to capture the whole scene. The invisible infrared lights around each lens are particularly helpful for illuminating footage from the interior.

In the box:

  • Dual-camera mirror unit
  • 32 GB microSD card with adapter to standard SD card
  • Long USB power cable
  • Shorter USB data cable
  • Cable management hooks
  • Manual

Pros:

  • Automatic loop recording from both camera angles
  • Included memory card has generous 32 gb capacity
  • 5-second attachment and removal process (once cable hooks are already installed)
  • 12v adapter includes two extra quick-charge USB ports

Cons:

  • Field of vision could be wider
  • Color representation in footage could be improved

Falcon Zero F360 Review on YouTube

Conclusion

Best overall: Falcon Zero F360 Dashcam (not always available/in stock)
Best value:Zero Edge Dual Lens HD Mirror Camera
Best single-lens unit:iTrue X3 dashcam

A dashcam is a great investment that could save you a lot of time and money if you’re ever involved in an incident. Although many of the dashcams available today could use improvement on the little things like button layout and cable management systems, they perform their essential functions reliably and effortlessly. Having one in my car has definitely improved my sense of security while driving.

Before you install your dashcam, make sure you’re following all applicable laws. Compliance is often as simple as posting a small warning (here are some stickers on Amazon) in your windows stating that the vehicle is equipped with video recording equipment – although in some states, even that may not be necessary. Especially with the recent debut of UberPool in many cities, the vast majority of your passengers will appreciate that you are being proactive about ensuring their security as well as your own; just ensure that you won’t be breaking any of your local laws by doing so.

Click here to see all dash cams for sale

Our Favorite Dashcams, Comparison Video

Drivers, what do you think about all of these dash cams and which one are you going to buy?  Is there a dash cam we missed or another option that might be better suited for drivers?

Click here to see all dash cams for sale on amazon

-Jon @ RSG

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My Experience Renting My Car Out to a Stranger Through HyreCar

Would you rent out your vehicle to another rideshare driver? For drivers who have an extra vehicle, don’t want to or can’t rideshare drive at the moment, or for those who just want to make some extra cash with their unused vehicle, Hyrecar can be a great option. But what’s it like renting your car out to strangers? RSG contributor Paula Gibbins details her experience renting her car out on Hyrecar here (affiliate link)

HyreCar is not a new concept, but it was new to the Minneapolis/St. Paul area as of May 2018. My husband, Adam, had signed up to be notified as soon as it was available in our area because we wanted to test it out. Passive income is always a great thing in our opinion, so we wanted to see if this would be worthwhile.

For a little background, HyreCar is a service where people who own cars can put them up for rent, typically by Lyft and Uber drivers who don’t have cars that they can use or who don’t want to put the wear and tear on their own vehicles. So, those drivers rely on people like my husband and I to be willing to let them drive our cars.

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6 Uber Tax Deductions That You Don’t Want To Miss This Year

Over the past few months, I’ve seen a lot of misinformation being passed around in regards to rideshare taxes.  I definitely commend the drivers who have taken an active approach to figuring it all out but this is not a matter to be taken lightly.  I’ve even talked to CPA’s and tax professionals who didn’t really fully understand how rideshare taxes work so you shouldn’t feel too bad.  

The problem that I see over and over though is that most people (including some tax professionals) don’t specialize in the sharing economy and 1099 employment.  Most of us have only ever worked W2 jobs so these new expense tracking requirements and deductions probably seem like a foreign concept to a lot of us.  Don’t worry though, you’re not alone.  

Today, I’m happy to bring on Derek Davis, a CPA who specializes in the shared economy to help share a brand new downloadable and free PDF with some tax deductions that you need to know!  If you end up hiring someone to help you with your taxes, make sure that they specialize in small business, 1099 or even better the sharing economy.  And if you’re like me and you want to do your taxes yourself this year, stay tuned because we’re going to be providing a ton of resources, courses and videos to help with all of that!

👉 Your two most important tools during tax season: Turbotax to file your taxes and a mileage tracking app to keep track of your miles!

Veteran readers of this site should probably already know the basics about driving for a rideshare company and its tax implications.  Harry’s podcast explained it pretty well but believe it or not there are a lot of nuances that go into self-employment taxes and rideshare driving in particular.

Nearly everyone is probably aware of the fact that you can deduct the miles you drive as a rideshare driver and some of you may even already understand the difference between the standard mileage rate and the actual expenses method. But the reason why you want to learn and get help from a professional CPA is because there are so many more deductions that go beyond that that you can take advantage of.

Remember, this site is all about helping drivers earn more money by working smarter, not harder.  And taking advantage of tax deductions is one of the easiest ways to keep more money in your pocket.  But you have to understand them and know how and when they apply. [Read more…]