All U.S. cities have a life of their own, something that makes them unique from the rest. Dallas is no exception. If you’re thinking of becoming a driver in Dallas, use this guide to help you learn its layout, special quirks, and more.
To help us with our unique driving for Uber in Dallas coverage, we interviewed local driver and RSG reader Steve about his experience driving for Uber and Lyft in Dallas.
Quick summary:
- Dallas has a variety of hot spots and is a popular tourist destination
- You will need a vehicle inspection to drive for Uber/Lyft, but you may not need emissions testing
- Driver earnings vary, but Dallas drivers report earning several hundred to a thousand+ a week depending on how many hours they put in
If you are looking for city driving guides, check out the guides we have below! Want to see your city listed? Email Harry (harry[at]therideshareguy.com) and let him know which cities you’d like to see covered.
- Driving for Uber in Los Angeles
- Driving for Uber in Miami
- Driving for Uber in Atlanta
- Driving for Uber in Chicago
- Driving for Uber in Seattle
- Best Times to Drive for Uber (any city)
Dallas City Layout
Dallas is often lumped together with Fort Worth since they are so close. It’s referred to as the Dallas/Ft. Worth area and the international airport lies between the two cities, tying them together.
Before considering driving in Dallas, check out this first-time Dallas driver’s experience and see if it sounds like something you’d be interested in pursuing: Diary of a New Uber Driver in Dallas, Texas
JFK Assassination Site
Dallas driver Steve mentioned that one of the most popular places tourists want to see is the site of JFK’s assassination.
Nightlife
Steve also mentioned an active nightlife in Dallas, centering mostly around Uptown and all of the restaurants and bars in that area of Dallas.
Home of the Dallas Cowboys
Of course, during football season, a popular spot is AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys. Technically it’s in Arlington, just west of Dallas.
Get to know these areas well if you’re planning on being a driver in Dallas. You’ll want to know if there are designated drop off and pick up spots that rideshare drivers need to comply with.
Uber Driver Requirements for Dallas
Uber offers sign-on guarantees to new drivers. As of the writing of this article, the guarantee in Dallas was that drivers can earn at least $2,400 when they complete their first 200 trips or deliveries within 30 days of account activation.
Sign up and start driving with Uber hereThat means if you do not earn at least $2,400 in fares with your first 200 unique trips and/or deliveries, within those 30 days, Uber will make up the difference. For example, if you earned $2,000, Uber would then top you off with $400 to reach that $2,400 guarantee.
If, however, you earn more than the guarantee, you won’t get any kind of bonus or extra earnings. You will simply have earned whatever you did for those trips.
Driver requirements:
- Meet the minimum age to drive in your city
- Have at least one year of licensed driving experience in the US (3 years if you are under 25 years old)
- Have a valid US driver’s license
- Use an eligible 4-door vehicle
- Pass a driving record and criminal history background check
Required documents:
- A valid US driver’s license
- Proof of residency in your city, state, or province
- Proof of vehicle insurance if you plan to drive your own car
- A driver profile photo
- Must be a forward-facing, centered photo including the driver’s full face and top of shoulders, with no sunglasses
- Must be a photo only of the driver with no other subject in the frame, well-lit, and in focus; it cannot be a driver’s license photo or other printed photograph
Lyft Driver Requirements for Dallas
Lyft did not advertise an earnings guarantee or sign-on bonus for Dallas, but you may be able to use a current driver’s referral code in order to get a bonus.
Driver requirements:
- You must be 25 years or older to drive
- Valid driver’s license — Temporary or out-of-state licenses are also acceptable
- Pass a driver screening, which reviews your driving history and criminal background check
- Any smartphone that can download and run the Lyft Driver app
Required documents:
- Driver profile photo
- Texas vehicle registration sticker
- Personal vehicle insurance
Vehicle Requirements for Driving for Uber/Lyft in Dallas
According to Lyft’s website, vehicles registered in Texas must pass an annual inspection to get or renew a Texas Registration sticker. While safety inspections are required throughout the state, emissions testing is only required in 17 Texas counties.
Uber vehicle requirements:
- 15-year-old vehicle or newer
- 4-door vehicle
- Good condition with no cosmetic damage
- No commercial branding
- Uber accepts both official and temporary registration documents. The vehicle does not need to be registered in your name to qualify.
- For a full list of eligible vehicles for Dallas, check here
If you want to drive for Uber in Dallas but don’t want to put wear and tear on your own vehicle, consider using a car rental company such as Rideshare Carz. Learn more with RSG’s article Uber Car Rentals in Dallas, Fort Worth & Houston.
Lyft vehicle requirements:
- 2008 or newer (as of the writing of this article)
- 4 doors
- 5-8 seats, including the driver’s
- Not a taxi, stretch limousine, or non-Express Drive rental vehicle
- Not titled as salvage, non-repairable, rebuilt or any other equivalent classification
- Click here to see if your vehicle qualifies for Lyft Lux, Lux Black or Lux Black XL to earn more on each ride.
Dallas Hotspots
JFK Assassination Site
As mentioned earlier, one hotspot is the assassination site of JFK. Some might just want to see the site, others may book a tour and see the museum to soak in the history of the world-changing event.
Uptown Dallas
This is an area of town for the younger crowd. It’s geared toward young professionals, has a high walkability rating, and features numerous bars, nightclubs and restaurants. There are other attractions in Uptown, including the Shops at Legacy and the Katy Trail. There’s also Trolley accessibility for easily moving around the area.
George W Bush Presidential Center
On the campus of Southern Methodist University in Dallas, the George W Bush Presidential Center features both a library and museum with exhibits of a replica of the Oval Office, and beans from the World Trade Center. It also has a rose garden and a number of exhibits that are interactive.
AT&T Stadium Tours
As mentioned earlier, this is the home of the Dallas Cowboys. But more than that, it is the world’s largest domed structure, an art museum, and a classroom.
Dallas Museum of Art
You’ll find the Dallas Museum of Art in the arts district of Dallas, among others. This museum features more than 22,000 pieces of art, including works by Andy Warhol, Vincent Van Gogh, Georgia O’Keeffe and others.
Dallas Airports
Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport
Dallas driver Steve said that the Dallas/Fort Worth Airport is well marked with where drivers can pick up and drop off passengers, and it’s easy to navigate between the terminals.
If you’re driving in and around the airport, take a look at this link to understand where there are closures and construction so you can avoid unnecessary delays.
Dallas Love Field Airport
This smaller, regional airport features one pick-up and drop-off spot for Uber and Lyft drivers, making it very easy and convenient for both drivers and passengers alike.
It’s located in the northwestern corner of Dallas, in the same direction as the international airport, but paced far enough away not to run into each other’s traffic.
Don’t Have a Car to Drive Rideshare in Dallas? Check Out Rideshare Carz
Not everyone has a vehicle new enough or with the required qualities needed for rideshare. In instances like that, there are services out there for renting a car that is specifically suited to this kind of work. One such service is called Rideshare Carz.
What sets Rideshare Carz above similar companies is that it’s run by someone who has completed over 4,000 Uber trips! Rideshare Carz understands the unique challenges that we face as drivers.
Rideshare Carz provides cars to rent and is geared toward rideshare drivers and delivery people. The rental includes commercial liability insurance coverage, maintenance, and tolls, so you don’t have to fuss with Uber or Lyft reimbursing you for the tolls you have to take along your route.
Dallas Rideshare Driver Earnings
So, what are earnings like in Dallas for rideshare drivers?
Steve self-reported earning around $230 a week with only driving very part-time, approximately 8 hours per week total between Uber and Lyft.
Another driver shared his experience in Dallas with the Rideshare Guy and reported earning around $1,500 per week. For him, Paul decided it was best to offer the best service possible to his customers. He provided water and snacks, and he said that action alone helped increase his tip earning potential, even if passengers declined the offerings.
Takeaways for Drivers
In general, it sounds like driving for Uber in Dallas, Texas can be very lucrative depending on how much time you put into it. Dallas is a popular tourist destination year round, yes – even in the summer! There are plenty of things to do and see in Dallas, making it a place that should be fairly easy for drivers to earn consistently.
Other Gig Driving Jobs In Dallas
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Are you a Dallas driver? Agree or disagree with our tips and strategies? Let us know in the comments!
-Paula @ RSG
