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    Default UBER - Being an Uber Driver?

    Anyone one here done it, doing it?

    I can't believe how popular it is, my step kids all use it in Melbourne, they are 25 and 26, professionals (Lawyer and Engineer) and they use it all the time!
    They prefer it over a Taxi.
    I watched them pre order a Uber ride (for later that night) from the Uber App, it was so easy.
    And you often get a nicer, cleaner car than a Taxi.

    And that seems to be how it all works, or reviews etc.
    I had a read about it a while ago, but it didn't seem that lucrative for the owner/driver, as Uber took a fair percentage of the fair.

    Still, you could pick up a well depreciated European Car for $9000, in mint condition and start your own little business i guess.
    Especially if you lived 100k's plus from an Airport, they are good fairs to get.
    Our local Taxi Driver charges $300 for a ride to Melbourne Airport, if you could offer the same ride for $200, it would only be $25 in fuel there and back.
    Not bad for half a days work for a retired person.
    I believe you can pick the fairs you want and not be available other times etc, so you could even do it after work, before work, if wanted some extra cash.
    Especially if you started to get a few regular clients, you could maybe deal direct

    Anyone considered it?
    Last edited by ol' boy; 01-07-15 at 12:44 PM.
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    You could double dip and do it while going to work yourself!!!!!! Get paid for driving to work.
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    Now you could triple dip porkop
    Although you generally give them a lift for free at work

    I wonder if you can pack in Taxi Zones?
    Last edited by ol' boy; 01-07-15 at 02:28 PM.
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    Quote Originally Posted by oceanboy View Post
    Anyone considered it?
    I think the major concern that would put people off is the legality.

    You could outlay some big money for a decent car only to see the government knock it on the head just like some overseas governments have.

    One things for sure, its given the taxi industry a long overdue reality check.

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    Quote Originally Posted by admin View Post
    I think the major concern that would put people off is the legality.
    Well, not many are put off, thats just the issue, its going off in Melbourne, i hardly know a 30's and under person that doesn't use it.
    Its just become the norm to them, like using Facebook.

    Our local Taxi driver was complaining about it 2 years ago.
    A lot has changed in 2 years.

    I am aware of using your vehicle for a commercial purpose, but i already do that
    Using your vehicle for reward or financial gain, yes, thats questionable... So how come so many are doing it and have been for years now?
    Some compliments i here from people have used UBER drivers is;

    1. Clean Cars
    2. Nice Drivers, that aren't on their phones when driving
    3. They use a GPS a lot of the time, so no bullshit route taking.
    Last edited by ol' boy; 01-07-15 at 04:49 PM.
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    Each State may have its own regulations regarding offering your vehicle for Hire but Insurance is one area I would be concerned with.
    Does your CTP cover a 'third person' if that person is a fare paying passenger?
    Are you required to register a vehicle as 'Commercial' if engaged in 'Business' and if you havent, could your vehicle be considered 'unregistered' when 'On Hire'?
    Would your Comprehensive insurance cover your vehicle if it was damaged during the time your were carrying a fare paying passenger?
    If your vehicle is on HP/lease or a loan of some sort, would the Lender have an 'Interest' because of the terms of the Loan?

    Its not only Governments that want payments or fees if they see a way of getting more from you and by using the vehicle to earn money brings a glint to all their respective eyes.

    I base this on being told if your buying a house on a mortgage and you decide to rent it out, most lenders charge higher repayments on the loan.
    Last edited by gordon_s1942; 01-07-15 at 03:53 PM.
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    Quote Originally Posted by gordon_s1942 View Post
    I base this on being told if your buying a house on a mortgage and you decide to rent it out, most lenders charge higher repayments on the loan.
    Whens the last time you got a loan?, those days are well gone!
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    Insurance is likely to be the killer for these things. Once there is a claim or two, the insurance companies are going to jack up real quick!
    I'm out of my mind, but feel free to leave a message...

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    Quote Originally Posted by lsemmens View Post
    Insurance is likely to be the killer for these things. Once there is a claim or two, the insurance companies are going to jack up real quick!
    I thought this too, there is talk that Uber is different to UberX, in relation to insurance.
    But who knows.

    Interesting bit on "The Weekly With Charlie Pickering" about Uber and UberX
    You can watch it on iview.
    Last edited by ol' boy; 01-07-15 at 09:54 PM.
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    considering that insurance companies use any excuse to get out of paying , i doubt they would approve. maybe Uber cover all insurance , i dont know

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    A friend of mine does it, he loves it, works the hours he wants and pulls in about 6.5K per month.
    Of course he has expenses out of that but he claims he is essentially only working 3.5 days a week.
    As far as I'm aware the only vehicle rule is is your vehicle must be less than 10 years old.
    In hindsight I should have posted my Facebook status as: "I've blown the head gasket on my 1997 XR3i" rather than "I've just buggered a 14 year old escort".
    The police still haven't seen the funny side, my lap top's been confiscated and the wife has gone off to her mum's.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Seymour Butts View Post
    A friend of mine does it, he loves it, works the hours he wants and pulls in about 6.5K per month.
    Of course he has expenses out of that but he claims he is essentially only working 3.5 days a week.
    As far as I'm aware the only vehicle rule is is your vehicle must be less than 10 years old.
    Thanks mate.
    Mmmm thats going to get a few naysayers interested now Seymour.

    I read, the vehicle must be a 2000+ model, some cities around the world require 2002+ models.
    May not be correct, not sure.
    This is straight off the UBER website

    To drive with Uber, you’ll need a car that is either 2000 or newer 2005 or newer, depending on your city. You’ll also need to pass a background check, and have a personal license and registration plus be at least 21 years old. Here are some common requirements you’ll encounter for the following driving opportunities:

    Here is another person's personal account of being an UBER driver.

    I've started driving UberX in Sydney as a personal experiment regarding it's viability for me, and done around 44 hours during peak ( price surge ) times only. These hours can see rates going up by as much as x 1.3 to 2.5 times the normal rates due to demand. In the first month Uber is guaranteeing drivers $30 per hour for covering peak periods.

    The first 44 hours, I have worked, over 2 weeks [ approximately ] on the road has given me approx. $1684 - so that kinda equals $38 per hour. That looks impressive.

    But here are some of the costs, which makes the income look pretty ordinary :

    1. Uber fees are 20% - so that is minus $336
    2. Fuel - $240 [ my car is probably about 30 % less economical than a normal 4 cylinder vehicle ]
    3. Depreciation, cleaning, tyres and maintenance - no real idea here, but say $20 on this figure I earned
    4. Insurance and rego - neutral - no additional cost on having a vehicle, but say if you have a dedicated vehicle $20
    5. Tolls - you don't get paid for tolls when going to meet a job, only when the rider is in the vehicle and it adds up !! Harbour Bridge, M5 , Hills , Eastern distributor, etc etc, say $80 approximately

    $1684 minus $696 costs = $988

    Net pay per hour @ 44hrs is $22.45 [ 1068/44 = 22.45 ]

    As a pizza delivery guy, I net $26 per hour including typical tips in similar hours.

    So the claim by Uber of $30 per hour, isn't the full story. Added to this, is the risk of incurring police fines, the usual demerits caused by additional driving activity, and damage to your personal vehicle, such as passenger damage, drunks vomiting in cars and time and inconvenience rectifying issues.

    Anyone care to dispute my figures, share their experiences or give their analysis as to whether it's a really big incentive to drive UberX for a living based on the numbers ?

    Thoughts ?
    and

    To be an Uber driver the ID is rigorous ; insurance and rego has to be fully verified, the driver has to be named on the insurance and Uber cover up to $5m additional. The amateur nature of the skills argument is countered by the fact that GPS application works well, all passengers in the vehicle can choose alternate routes, they also carry phones with Google maps / gps. My experience is that passengers either know the journey ahead, or monitor the best way against the driver. I've not had a fare or route disputed.

    At the end of the trip, riders rate drivers, and if the score goes low with complaints you can be taken off of the road.

    Also, riders are rated and verified - so no random passengers with bad reputations will getinto a uber vehicle. So I think it's both safer and more reliable than regular cabs.

    Several riders / passengers commented that the drivers were more polite and the cars were cleaner than regular cabs to.

    I just don't like being low paid and carrying most of the risks .... so I'm beginning to question the sanity of it.
    And apparently UBER reps claim they will pay your fines... Although there is nothing on writing.
    Last edited by ol' boy; 01-07-15 at 09:34 PM.
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    who has used this service? Just looking at joining up and you have to hand ovver your credit card details. How does one pay for trips?
    I got a quote and they give you 2 prices. Can you select which service you want to use?

    Leroy
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    Quote Originally Posted by LeroyPatrol View Post
    who has used this service? Just looking at joining up and you have to hand ovver your credit card details. How does one pay for trips?
    I got a quote and they give you 2 prices. Can you select which service you want to use?

    Leroy
    Correct.
    If u want to go on an expedition get a Land Rover, if u want to come home from an expedition get a Landcruiser!

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    Quote Originally Posted by oceanboy View Post
    Correct.
    What's correct? Sometimes I think you just reply for the sake of replying because once again you haven't read what i posted.

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    Quote Originally Posted by LeroyPatrol View Post
    What's correct? Sometimes I think you just reply for the sake of replying because once again you haven't read what i posted.

    Leroy
    Classic, read your own question, i answered it. Maybe a Yes would have been more simple.
    For one, half way through your post, you answered your own question, two, i answered the last question.
    Last edited by ol' boy; 01-07-15 at 10:43 PM.
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    9 years or newer actually.....

    The guy over the road from me has Taxi style (VHB?) plates and does limo (just a late model statesman) work.

    He jumped onto Uber to fill in extra work between jobs.
    Last edited by Godzilla; 01-07-15 at 08:58 PM.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Godzilla View Post
    9 years or newer actually.....

    The guy over the road from me has Taxi style (VHB?) plates and does limo (just a late model statesman) work.

    He jumped onto Uber to fill in extra work between jobs.
    I'd imagine for him it would be quite legal, have no issues with insurance etc, for guys like this would be a great way to earn something extra when he might otherwise be idle and not making money

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    Quote Originally Posted by jok11n View Post
    I'd imagine for him it would be quite legal, have no issues with insurance etc, for guys like this would be a great way to earn something extra when he might otherwise be idle and not making money
    You tick a box when you sign up now if you are an existing Taxi Service.
    I'm not sure if this then allows to be an Uber Black driver, or if you are still UberX

    It's not just Uber either, there are a lot of similar services just waiting in the wings or trying to get noticed.
    Lyft and Moovit are 2 such services.
    If Uber pushes into the Australian Market and gets laws changed, then you can expect a swag of these "Ride Sharing" type solutions to hit the market.

    You only have to look at the explosion in Airport Parking Services that offer shuttle buses to see whats going to happen.

    In KL last year, every young person used MyTeksi (its an App), it was a good way of getting around the very dodgy local Taxi system where they don't want to use the Meter.
    Its been used there for several years now. They also have Uber now too.
    The Local Taxi system in KL is such a scam, everyone is in for a cut, with hidden prices everywhere. A system like Uber at least cleans that up.
    This is not such an issue in Oz, as we have professional Taxi's.

    Melbourne Airport to the City



    KLIA to Sentral



    Interesting Article on Airport pick ups


    Look out for all the other Ride Sharing Services popping up, Richard Branson has tipped $15Million into "Sidecar".

    Uber Black
    UberX
    Lyft
    Sidecar
    BlaBlaCar (non-profit)

    Looks like the next thing to sweep the world.
    So back to the topic, i guess with so much competition, being a driver will not be very lucrative.

    I can see a better solution, is a service where by you log your route (a place you are already going anyway), then people choose to ride with you for a fee.
    Because its mental the amount of wasted assets on our roads, the amount of single person per vehicle, traffic congestion and fuel costs.
    Its a logical market to break into. Drivers recoup some costs, passengers get a discount fair, the environment has a small win.

    The next to get hit will be the "Freight Transportation Sector", look out Man with a Van.... here comes Mum with a SUV.
    Last edited by ol' boy; 02-07-15 at 09:11 AM.
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    I should of added, my mate only works night and early morning shifts from late Thursday through to late Saturday / Early Sunday and takes any job that comes in.
    He drives an Audi, and yes he's had one or two throw up in it and he's also had one or two try and default on him.
    These aren't games you play with a 6' 6" Maori NRL rugby league player (ex - but he's only been a few years out - hasn't gone to seed yet - and he claims my Grandkids keep him on the ball)
    In hindsight I should have posted my Facebook status as: "I've blown the head gasket on my 1997 XR3i" rather than "I've just buggered a 14 year old escort".
    The police still haven't seen the funny side, my lap top's been confiscated and the wife has gone off to her mum's.

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