Alex Popovics has been rideshare driving full-time for almost 7 years and has completed over 20,000 rides, mostly with Uber. Today, he will share some of his best tips and strategies for driving for Uber X in San Francisco.
SF has always been at the forefront of technology, including the creation of Uber & Lyft. Now, the proliferation of Waymos (owned by Alphabet, Google’s parent company) has been considerable. Recently, it was reported that Waymo increased from 10 thousand rides per week a year ago to 200 thousand rides per week with the addition of LA and Austin to previously in Phoenix and SF.
Also, Zoox (owned by Amazon) is manufacturing their prototype four-seater autonomous vehicle that has no front end, in the SF Bay Area, and is testing them in SF and Las Vegas. Both Waymo and Zoox have larger XL vans being tested in SF as well.
The adoption rate of autonomous vehicles in SF is very high due the local Hightech culture and the high income of many of the residents and visitors.
So in the foreseeable future autonomous vehicles will increasingly disrupt the Rideshare industry.
It’s probably no secret that traffic in San Francisco gets crazy, so Uber drivers in San Francisco must plan accordingly. While Uber drivers’ income in San Francisco is nowhere near what they were pre pandemic, you can still make OK money if you plan your shifts right especially since there’s very little miles driven in such small radius of operation.
Here’s everything I do and use to make my Uber earnings as high as possible in San Francisco.
Driving for Uber in San Francisco
San Francisco is a cosmopolitan city with 71 hills, making it one of the most beautiful U.S. cities and one of the toughest to navigate.
San Francisco is an ideal place for rideshare drivers because it has currently the fourth lowest number of vehicles per capita in the country, with very limited parking opportunities, making rideshare necessary.
Tourism is a significant industry in San Francisco, currently ranking number one U.S. domestic travel destination and fifth overall including international visitors.
However, with the high adoption of hybrid work schedule rush hour traffic has become more unpredictable on the freeways and bridges approaching the city.
Because of the increasing traffic, it’s important to understand the top strategies for Uber drivers in San Francisco to make the most of your time driving for Uber.
To become a driver in San Francisco, you must meet basic driver requirements, including:
- Be at least the minimum driving age in your city.
- Have at least one year of driving experience (three years if under 25 years old).
- Provide proof of your driver’s license and vehicle insurance.
In addition, your vehicle must meet the following:
- Be no older than 16 years old
- Have four doors
- Have no cosmetic damage
- Have no commercial branding
San Francisco Uber Driver Tips & Strategies
Here are my tried-and-true strategies for driving for Uber in San Francisco.
1. Watch GPS Directions
GPS directions in San Francisco usually account for the shortest route, but don’t consider the wear and tear on your car.
Get to know the best routes to avoid stress on your vehicle since it’s your ‘office’ and how you make money. You won’t make decent hourly pay if your expenses are too high.
2. Value Your Time Over Distance
Since San Francisco is only 49 square miles, you won’t drive very long distances when driving for Uber within the city.
Shorter rides are usually better with the gamble of having to wait for your passenger.
However, if you take the wrong route, you could be stuck in gridlock traffic and reduce your per-hour rate. Focus on the shortest times versus distance to maximize your earnings.
3. Choose Your Locations Carefully
Because you’ll spend a lot of time in traffic, choose your trip requests wisely.
For example, don’t accept a trip that you know won’t result in a trip back, leaving you with an empty car for the time it takes to get back to the ‘busy area,’ especially during rush hour.
Be aware that Municipal buses have cameras that will give you a ticket so scan for buses in your rear view mirror if you’re picking up or dropping off passengers in Bus Lanes (many times unavoidable).
4. Be Prepared for Competition
The impending recession and current high inflation rates have coerced many more people to pick up driving for Uber in San Francisco. So what used to be areas I could essentially rake it in have now become sparse.
Learn to position yourself closest to the busy areas and keep your ratings high to have the best chance at securing rides.
5. Get To Know San Francisco Neighborhoods
Only experienced San Franciscans know all the neighborhoods in San Francisco.
There are some hidden gems that inexperienced drivers don’t know about, especially areas with tall residential buildings that are great opportunities for experienced drivers like me.
6. Only Leave San Francisco Sporadically
Because it takes so much time to get to and from San Francisco on the freeway, it usually doesn’t make sense to do so as an Uber driver.
Unless you have a high-paying trip and know it’s during a time when the freeway is empty (which is rare), it’s likely not worth it.
7. Protect Yourself with Uber’s Safety Features
Uber recently announced a renewed commitment to driver safety. That includes improved efforts to combat false accusations against veteran drivers with a sterling history.
Here are some of the resources I recommend taking advantage of to protect yourself when you’re driving in San Fransisco:
- In-app recording: One of Uber’s greatest additions is the newly available in-app video/audio recording from passengers’ and driver’s phones. This data is encrypted by Uber and will only be accessed in case of an issue. In some markets, Uber is also piloting a video program.
- Drug/alcohol testing: Since California has legalized marijuana, you could be left with the lingering smell of pot from a passenger. If you’re accused of being under the influence, Uber will pay for drug and alcohol testing.
8. Use a DashCam
You should also use a dashcam to protect yourself from false accusations, or in the worst-case scenario, an attack from a passenger. A dashcam can also provide crucial evidence to insurance companies in the event of an accident.
I use a DisplayRide dashcam endorsed by The Rideshare Guy. It’s easy to remove when you park on the street to avoid theft, and you can pay a monthly subscription rather than buying it outright. All the data is backed in the cloud in real time, as well.
In California, privacy laws require you to display a sign that you’re recording both video and audio (otherwise the audio can’t be used in a court of law).
My sign says “Smile, you’re on an audio/video camera,” and I display it on all passengers’ windows.
9. Get Diamond Status
Rides to and from the San Francisco airport are the crux of most Uber drivers’ income, especially in San Francisco. If you are a Diamond driver, you get priority requests in the Uber queue after dropping off your riders.
However, consider limiting the hours you go to the airport. Currently, I only go before 7:00 AM and after 8:30 PM; otherwise you’ll get stuck in traffic on the freeway.
Learn More:
San Francisco Uber Driver Hotspots
Knowing the Uber driver hotspots in San Francisco is key to maximizing your earnings.
Here are Some Hotspots in San Fran to Consider:
- Fisherman’s Wharf – Major tourist attraction
- North Beach – San Francisco’s Little Italy
- Chinatown – Stockton Tunnel to and from Union Square
- Theater District – Large number of hotels
- Market Street – San Franciscos’ Main Street, Westfield Mall, cable cars start and stop here.
- Moscone Convention Center – Yerba Buena Gardens, Modern Art Museum, Oracle Baseball Park
Van Ness separates the downtown area from the western neighborhoods. It also links the freeways coming from the south via Hwy 101 or the Bay Bridge from the east.
This is where you’ll find the Civic Center, City Hall, the War Memorial Building, Opera House, and the SF Symphony Building.
Other Hotspots Further Southwest of Van Ness Include:
- Castro District – Historical, cultural area active night life
- Twin Peaks – The highest vista point in the city
- Marina District – Fort Mason, Crissy Field, Golden Gate Bridge
- Chestnut Street – One of the Busiest Walking Shopping Areas in SF
- Japan Town – Shopping, restaurants, and Saint Mary’s Cathedral
- Golden Gate Park – Ocean Beach, San Francisco Zoo, and museums
- Golden Gate National Recreation Area – Baker Beach
- Presidio Trust – an Area with a lot of history, including where the Spanish Army settled
- SFO – Limit your times to early in the morning or late at night
Best Times To Drive for Uber in San Francisco
No matter where you drive, knowing the best times to drive for Uber in San Francisco will make you the most money and make the best use of your time.
It’s best to split your shifts between early morning and nighttime, taking a break at lunchtime, as there aren’t as many rides during the middles of the day.
To make the most money driving for Uber, consider these shifts.
- Early Morning Airport Shifts: Taking the 6 AM reservations for departing passengers is a great way to get premium pay. After dropping them off, you can pick up arrivals. Continue the loop until rush hour traffic kicks in. If you provide airport riders with great customer service, they will most likely tip the best. Load and unload their luggage and provide extra guiding tips.
- Morning Rush Hour Shifts: Consider the morning commute from the outer neighborhoods toward downtown. Surge pricing usually happens around 8 AM, so ensure you’re active by then.
- Afternoon Rush Hour Shifts (With Caution): Afternoon rush hour shifts are the opposite of the morning shifts, taking most passengers from downtown to the outer neighborhoods. The downside is when there is surge pricing, it means the traffic going downtown is in complete gridlock and may not be worth your time.
- Weekends: Weekends can be busier for Uber drivers, but the freeways can be just as busy as during weekday rush hour, so be careful. You’ll have less traffic on foggy days versus sunny days when everyone is out.
- Late Night Weekends: If you have a high tolerance for drunk passengers, you can make good money driving late at night when the bars and dance venues close. Only consider this if you have leather seats and concave-shaped rubber mats. Also, keep ziplock bags in front of passengers and have disinfecting tools on hand. This is very important since currently Uber is only reimbursing drivers for cleaning if you provide a receipt from a professional cleaning outfit that many times will charge you above the $150.00 maximum paid by Uber and they mostly operate during business hours.
How Much Do Uber Drivers Make in San Francisco?
Average Uber earnings have steadily diminished in recent years, due to high inflation rates and a surge of drivers and most recently the increase of Waymos. What used to be considered the ‘Golden Era,’ with drivers coming all the way from Sacramento to drive in San Francisco, has dried up considerably as earnings have equalized in the SF Greater Bay Area.
Because the cost of living in San Francisco has increased so much, an experienced driver like myself is lucky to make $30 online hour including tips.
Alternatives To Driving for Uber in San Francisco
Like most major cities, there are other gig alternatives in San Francisco, including:
Is Driving for Uber in San Francisco Worth It?
Like any other gig app, driving for Uber in San Francisco has ups and downs. To me the greatest attraction is the flexibility of creating your own schedule and the very small radius of operation in SF. If you’re an early bird or night owl, you may have a better chance of maximizing your earnings. If not, choose your routes wisely and watch out for traffic.
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