As a Lyft and Uber driver, I found that I could make far more money than performing other gig-related jobs.
I quickly learned how to increase my tips to account for an average of 20% of my pay, and sometimes, more than that.
The tips you can earn vary from location to location, the class of car you are driving, and the time of day you drive. Uber, in most areas, pays more than Lyft, although that might be changing, but in general, Uber usually pays more.
Regardless of those factors, there is a standard that I follow to maximize the potential for tips.
5 Strategies I Implemented to Increase My Tips Rideshare Driving
I promise, if you implement these strategies, you will have a greater chance to earn more money in tips.
- Tip 1. Play the Right Music for the Customer
- Tip 2. Advertise Yourself Effectively
- Tip 3. Make Sure Your Car Smells & Looks Good
- Tip 4. Be Patient
- Tip 5. Know Your Audience
My payment screenshots are attached below, and as you can see, my tips can account for nearly 1/3 of my total income during some weeks.
For example, between January 23 – January 30, I made $557 and of that, $139 was generated from tips alone, that’s nearly 25% of that week’s income!
Your earnings will also likely increase during the holiday months. My tips in months of sporting events typically average 30%.
Take advantage of the events in your hometown, and airport pickups are also cash cows when it comes to tips.
Tip 1. Play the Right Music for the Customer
The music you play in your car matters. I can’t tell you how many compliments I have gotten for my taste in music, but I am actually playing one of 6 playlists that are structured as best as possible to match the client’s personal taste in music.
Organize Playlists by Age
I organize my playlists based on age. When a client gets in my car, I put on music that matches their generational tastes. It doesn’t always work, but it never detracts from the ride.
On the other hand, if the driver is playing music that is offensive, it will most likely result in low ratings and no tips. This method has been very effective for me.
In fact, I have gone a step further in curating my music.
Check out my Most Used Playlist, for Older Riders with no Vulgar Language
Organize Playlists by Time of Day
I have one list of music that is called “Morning”, in it are all upbeat, positive songs, some songs do have a bit of profanity, but the best thing about Pandora is that you can choose to mute out profanity.
If a customer gets in my car in the early morning dressed for work, I’ll greet them and announce, “I see you are going to work. I got a playlist to get you in the mood.”
After that, I play the music and often, this proceeds to a conversation. Good conversation is one of the biggest keys to getting better tips, and outstanding service is often rewarded with a tip.
Check out my Morning Playlist on Pandora
Utilize Pandora Stations
If you don’t want to go to the trouble of making playlists, I understand. That took me some time to do. However, Pandora provides easy access to plenty of playlists for all ages. You can select stations for any music and categories.
Remember, playing informational content, or content that might be considered offensive is not the best route. Even if the customer isn’t thrilled by my choices in music, it will not detract from the ride.
Tip 2. Advertise Yourself Effectively
Each driver uploads a picture onto Lyft and Uber. You are allowed to say a few things about yourself.
Before a rider even gets in your car, this sets the stage for interaction and a general atmosphere during the trip.
Here’s How I Have My Driver Profiles Set Up
If you were given the choice to ride with the driver above or the driver below, which would be the obvious choice?
Other good examples of tag lines for your driver profile would be “Mother”, “Father”, or “Bookworm.” My point is that you should Identify yourself with words that show your value and that you are not just another driver.
Outside of the rides, you have a life of your own. Being able to relate to a customer is important because it shows that you have things in common and ultimately everybody wants to feel understood.
Choose a good tagline on your profile for Uber and Lyft so the rider can quickly identify you in a positive light!
Tip 3. Make Sure Your Car Smells & Looks Good
When fragrances were on sale at Macy’s, I bought a bottle of cologne. When I am a minute away from the client, I spray a little in the air.
People don’t want to get into a smelly car, but they also don’t want to smell too much cologne. You must find a good medium and if the passenger rolls the window down it might be a sign that the car smells bad and/or is polluted with too much cologne.
Make sure your car is clean. I subscribe to a carwash and use it every few days. It cost me $14 per month. Each day, before I start giving rides, I go to the carwash and use the free vacuums to make sure the seats are clean. Nobody wants to get in a dirty car. I clean the door handles and seats with professional-grade cleaners.
Remember to clean out your trunk! Don’t get stuck in a situation where a client has groceries or luggage, and your trunk is full or messy. I also am adamant about helping customers by placing their luggage into the trunk for them or helping load the groceries.
Last week I had a customer who remarked on my driving record with Uber. This struck up a conversation about who he tips and who he doesn’t tip. He said to me,
I travel a lot and I never give a tip to a driver who doesn’t help me get my luggage into the car. And I always tip them if they do assist me with my luggage.
Put yourself in his shoes. He gets off a long flight, fights to get out of the airport, and the last thing he wants to worry about is having to load his luggage. At that point, he is likely very tired, and courteous drivers are frequently rewarded.
Tip 4. Be Patient
I know that customers can be frustrating. There are those who are backseat drivers or those who have had too much to drink. Regardless of the situation, remaining friendly goes a long way.
I can’t tell you how many times I have driven intoxicated people home, and they were not always pleasant. However, I have found that being tolerant goes a long way.
You don’t always know what’s going on in a person’s life. Because of this, I have only given passengers less than 5-star ratings when their behavior was directly belligerent, or they acted in ways that jeopardized the safety of individuals in the vehicle and myself.
Most of those who are intoxicated that I drive home are completely harmless. After drinking all night, they often will wake up in the morning and add a tip. It’s important to be patient and understanding if you want to earn tips.
Tip 5. Know Your Audience
The trips with my largest tips are typically the ones where I was able to relate to the customer and engage in positive conversation.
If they are out-of-town, ask them what they thought of the food, or if they enjoyed their time in the city.
For people who are just getting into town, make suggestions on restaurants they should try, museums they should visit, or sightseeing activities that you think they will enjoy.
Not everybody will want to talk. Keep that in mind, and if their eyes quickly shift to their cell phone and they are averse to conversation, don’t force it. Instead, make sure they are comfortable by asking if they want the air conditioner on or off, and by lowering the volume on the radio when they make phone calls.
Customers pick up on these small details and trust me, it pays off!
