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.
Intro
- I don’t talk too much about UberXL, basically because I’ve never had a car that qualifies
- The difference between UberXL and UberX is that you need six passenger seatbelts in addition to your own – you can check out Uber vehicle requirements here
- However, reader John O’Connell reached out to me with his story of driving UberXL, and I’m really excited to share what he’s learned and his tips for driving XL – it’s profitable for him and it could be an option for some drivers
- Also, I have some exciting news! I wrote a book – The Rideshare Guide. It’s a book for really anyone from new drivers to people who’ve been driving for a while, and it’s meant to be a book you can skip around and find what you’re looking for. The book comes out on April 24th, 2018 and you can find out more about it here
Interview with John O’Connell
- After 40 years as a management consultant plus a variety of other roles (including Senior Vice President for organizational development at UCF Stanford Healthcare and Co-Director of a nonprofit education foundation), John O’Connell began driving for Uber
- He’s completed over 7,000 Uber rides in the San Francisco Bay area and maintained a 4.92 rating, and he also drives for Lyft
- After retirement, several family members recommend John give driving for Uber a shot, so he started right before the Superbowl
Driving for UberXL
- Began driving with a Mercury Mountaineer, which qualifies for UberXL; now he drives a 2008 Buick Enclave
- Before getting a qualifying vehicle, it’s really important to know your city – SF is a popular city for tourism and for people going out to the bars/clubs/parties on the weekend
- A city that’s popular with families + tourists + active nightlife is perfect for XL, in John’s opinion
- Try to get to know the areas where tourists go, that’s where your XL vehicle will get a lot more use and keep you busy/making money
UberXL Can Be Profitable If You’re Flexible
- There will be periods of “lull” – when it’s not busy for UberXL
- John usually toggles to accept all rides, including UberX and POOL, to keep busy
- By knowing your city, you know the lulls – that’s when John goes to get gas, something to eat, etc. before going back to UberXL
- John turns on POOL rides to stack up bonuses that require a certain number of rides given – POOL rides in XL help him reach those bonuses faster
- Pay for John driving XL is about 50% more than what he would make driving X, but keep in mind higher expenses for an XL vehicle – gas costs, for one
Tips for Drivers Considering XL
- If bonuses aren’t as frequent in your city, getting an XL car might not be wise because during lull periods, you’ll be taking low-paid POOL rides with no bonus and you’ll be spending more money in an XL vehicle
- Airport rides aren’t as profitable for John as they are for drivers in other cities, because the traffic around the SF airport can be bad
- However, airports can be lucrative for UberXL drivers
- Downside to XL vehicles? They’re large, and in congested cities like San Francisco, that can be an issue
Outro
- Big thank you to John O’Connell for reaching out to me and sharing his experiences driving XL on the podcast!
- Have questions for John? Leave them in the comment section and he’ll try to respond
- Now, driving UberXL is not a slam dunk, even though the rates are higher. Still a lot of things to consider before you buy an XL-approved vehicle!
- Don’t forget – The Rideshare Guide is coming out soon! The book comes out on April 24th, 2018 and you can find out more about it here
- Follow me on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube and you can always contact me if you have questions – I like to hear from you all!
Show Notes
If you’d like to read a transcript of this podcast, please click here.
-Harry @ RSG
