[AMA] I'm an Uber Driver in Sydney. Ask me anything

che_97 on 12/01/2016 - 22:15
Last edited 23/01/2016 - 12:04 by 3 other users

I've seen that uber deals get posted a lot here on ozbargain and there seems to be a bit of interest for people driving in their spare time: https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/229564

Maybe you have taken an Uber in the past and want to ask a driver something you'd normally be too uncomfortable to ask in person.

Ask me anything.

Edit: I've noticed a lot of people are interested in becoming an Uber driver after reading about the $200 sign up bonus.

Here is how it works: If an existing Uber X driver recommends a new driver, then the existing driver (referrer) gets $200 only (not the new driver).

This payment is made after the new driver has completed 20 jobs (about 1 full day of work)

Mod: Removed referral code. Please do not mention or solicit referral codes anywhere in this post or in comments.

Introduce Yourself

closed Comments

  • [Deactivated] on 13/01/2016 - 17:02
    +2

    Thanks for stopping by

  • windrc on 13/01/2016 - 17:11

    would you show contempt to a customer if the ride distance is less than 1km?

    • che_97 on 13/01/2016 - 17:54
      +3

      Not in the slightest. I think it's great. There is a minimum fee so I'd get it regardless of how short their trip is, even 1 meter.

  • cloudy on 13/01/2016 - 17:15

    What's the policy if a drunk person chucks in the car?

    • che_97 on 13/01/2016 - 17:55
      +1

      Take a picture, send to uber, clean car, send receipt to uber, uber deducts money from customer

      • striker5950 on 13/01/2016 - 21:55

        how do you determine how much it cost to clean when you are cleaning it your self? or do you mean get it cleaned by a professional/carwash? and have them write a receipt and than send a scan of that to uber?

        • che_97 on 13/01/2016 - 22:12
          +1

          If you clean it yourself I suppose you could get reimbursed for the cost of the products used to clean the car.

          What I am referring to is getting it cleaned from a professional. You would send that receipt to uber.

        • striker5950 on 13/01/2016 - 22:21

          @che_97: what if its one of your first customers of the day that puked in ur car, and you would have to stop your shift and drive down to the carwash to get it cleaned, what about all the time that will take which could have been profitable hours if you were still working, is that reimbursed by uber or am i dreaming?

        • che_97 on 13/01/2016 - 23:08

          @striker5950: unfortunately you are dreaming which is why I really really hope no one throws up in my car mid shift as the lost income is gone !

        • tomorrows_angel on 14/01/2016 - 10:27
          +1

          @che_97:

          You can buy vomit bags for a couple of dollars from the chemist… might be worth the investment! I always have one in my car and they have come in handy when my hungover ex tried to open the car door on a busy main road whilst moving to puke.

      • cloudy on 14/01/2016 - 09:26

        That sounds fair as a driver, but as a customer, I would be concerned the uber driver may take advantage of the situation and have the whole car professionally cleaned for what may be a small muck up by a baby not happy with his food, for example.

        • lysp on 14/01/2016 - 17:38

          I guess that's why photo is required. They can match the "damage" with the cost.

        • cloudy on 14/01/2016 - 23:03
          +1

          @lysp:

          Lol, like a photo makes it clear the cost of cleaning is reasonable.

          I've seen arguments over the reasonable cost of minor scratches of cars, etc.

      • olliestyles on 16/01/2016 - 13:29

        what about lost time/fares while getting it cleaned? how do you get vomit out of carpet, fabric seats successfully? no stains and no smells?

  • Gaz1 on 13/01/2016 - 17:42

    che_97: Thanks for the honest & interesting answers!

    • che_97 on 13/01/2016 - 17:55
      +1

      No worries. I'm still here if anyone has any more !

  • [Deactivated] on 13/01/2016 - 17:57

    Can you only work like 4 hours a week? Is there a minimum amount of hours?

    • che_97 on 13/01/2016 - 18:01
      +1

      No minimum or maximum hours per week. You can start and stop as you choose

      • [Deactivated] on 13/01/2016 - 18:18

        Thats pretty cool. If I get bored I can pick up a job here and there.

        Too bad I dont even pay comprehensive insurance

  • 00 on 13/01/2016 - 18:01
    +1

    Will Uber become a global monopoly for private transit and then slowly jack up the price it charges? With a % of all that money being funneled to Uber HQ?

    • che_97 on 13/01/2016 - 18:03
      +3

      I am wary of this. I would like to see other players step up their game and improve the quality of public transport

  • FisSort on 13/01/2016 - 18:42

    As a passenger I prefer to sit diagonally behind the driver on the left.
    Do you have a preference for where your passenger, assuming they're alone sits?
    Do you get nervous when they sit behind you on the right?

    • 00 on 13/01/2016 - 19:08
      +2

      Front passenger seat mate!

    • che_97 on 14/01/2016 - 09:20
      +1

      I prefer them to sit in the front but I don't care where they sit really. No single passenger has sat behind me yet.

  • gimli on 13/01/2016 - 18:46

    You got a fast car…

  • love2buy on 13/01/2016 - 19:06

    What hours do you prefer to drive and why. Also how much available work is there during early hours say 5:00am onwards. (Thats when im free) Thanks. Looking to join. Also are customers rich as no way i will use the service unless subsidised by a voucher. Cheers.

    • che_97 on 14/01/2016 - 09:22

      I don't have set working hours but there is more work at odd hours simply due to less drivers being on the road. There are a lot of wealthy people but also a lot of people who have their rides paid for by work. Ubers invoicing is really clean and nice. They send a receipt by email which can be forwarded to the accounts department so it's been very popular with companies.

      If you drive 5am -9am you should get many people going to work and to the airport

  • cocomelon on 13/01/2016 - 19:15

    Hi @che_97,
    im interested to drive for Uber over the weekend, it will help me recover from a break up as people say time helps you heal,
    can i get a referral code? my car is a BMW X1

  • cardboardbox on 13/01/2016 - 20:03

    For what reasons would an Uber driver rate their passengers below a 4-5 star (aside from vomiting in your car or endangering your life somehow), given that payments are always made?

    And does the passenger rating affect whether a driver would pick a passenger up or not?

    Should passenger ratings be made available to the passenger given that they would be judged on their rating by a driver?

    • gimli on 13/01/2016 - 20:12

      if the passenger makes stinky farts

      • che_97 on 13/01/2016 - 20:23
        +3

        +1 this.

        There are lots of things.

        Being very late to the pick up destination. Although if I have called the customer and confirmed that I'm at the right place, I start the meter. The customer knows how long I'll be when they order the car. If they are not going to be ready in time they shouldn't order the car.

        Any kind of racism in my car loses a star for the passenger automatically no matter how nice they are otherwise.

        Being rude to me.

        Talking down to me.

        Telling me to follow the gps and then getting angry when I don't go the way they wanted in their minds. ( it hasn't happened yet but I can feel this one coming)

        I really don't mind if people don't want to talk. I'm always up for chat but if they aren't then it's their prerogative to not talk and my responsibility to accept this as part of the job.

        • cardboardbox on 13/01/2016 - 22:23

          Thanks for answering.

          So, have you refused or would you refuse a booking on the basis of a passenger rating? A driver has mentioned once that you don't have long to make choice as to whether you take the fare or not so the ratings can't be considered. Are there reasons listed as to why that passenger is a bad passenger?

          Since Uber drivers are given a warning/taken off the road if their rating drops below a threshold, I think it would be fair that the same would apply to bad passengers to protect the drivers.

        • che_97 on 13/01/2016 - 23:07

          @Grosgrain: passengers can certainly be kicked off the system of their rating drops too low.

          You get about 10 seconds to accept a job so there isn't much time but the passenger rating pops up and it's easy to see. There is t a way to decline a job other than to let those 10 seconds lapse.

          I don't refuse anyone at this point but I'm still a bit fresh faced.

  • zed50 on 13/01/2016 - 20:07

    Thanks for the informative AMA. I'm interested to know whether a novated lease car through primary employment could be used for uber to make some extra money after hours.

    • gimli on 13/01/2016 - 20:12

      yes

    • che_97 on 13/01/2016 - 20:24

      You need to be a nominated driver on the insurance. I'm not sure how the registration papers part would go as it would be in the company name.
      If the company you work for allows this then uber wouldn't have a problem.

  • arnold75 on 13/01/2016 - 20:09

    If you buy a new car ( Car Loan ) what are the costs you can claim when submitting TAX eg:- Loan repayments , Lease, Insurance etc..

    • gimli on 13/01/2016 - 20:11

      $342

    • che_97 on 13/01/2016 - 20:25

      Good questions I'm going to ask my accountant !

  • AlienC on 13/01/2016 - 20:50

    can you also do this with a mate or like your dad or uncle/cousin/brother/etc and maybe take turns etc or just accompany him/her until maybe they can make their own uber?

    • che_97 on 13/01/2016 - 22:08

      Unfortunately this is not possible.

  • Lancerx on 13/01/2016 - 20:57

    Can you really replace day job income by driving Uber as some suggested?

    • che_97 on 13/01/2016 - 22:09

      Yes you can. You will probably work less hours but work at less ideal times (Friday,Saturday &Sunday)

      • Lancerx on 13/01/2016 - 22:18

        I'm already working Fri - sun as part of my day job anyway haha

  • Lancerx on 13/01/2016 - 21:03

    How do you know where to pick up potential customers? Do you drive around? or the app let you know when there's potential customer, and just the matter of who get there first? Or do you wait around in popular spot like taxi?

    • che_97 on 13/01/2016 - 22:10

      The app gives the job to the closest driver who accepts the job. That's basically it.

  • missboo on 13/01/2016 - 21:45
    +1

    What happens if you get below the average number of stars?

    • che_97 on 13/01/2016 - 22:10

      Uber say that they call you in yo have a chat. If your rating doesn't improve then they kick you off the system

    • striker5950 on 13/01/2016 - 22:54

      that is the single worst thing about uber, if you rate below (I think 3.8 or 4 stars) correct me of im wrong, you will be expelled from the service.

      • che_97 on 14/01/2016 - 00:04

        Not sure what the exact rating where they kick you off is but I do believe they give you a chance to improve. It is after all in their interest to keep as many drivers on the road as possible

    • missboo on 15/01/2016 - 02:25
      +4

      my friend actually bought a car in hopes of driving for uber long term. Met a customer near the beach, dripping wet. Asked if he could sit on his towel. Got 1 star and a review asking for a refund. Expelled

      He didn't get a call

  • wonderboy on 13/01/2016 - 22:14

    I have been thinking about signing up for the weekends but I hate driving in the city. Where are the main areas you drive and what are the busiest times?

    • che_97 on 14/01/2016 - 00:02

      I avoid the city if i can. The eastern suburbs are very busy pretty much all the time. Busiest times are after work when people want to get home and after dinner when people want to go home

  • missalicia on 13/01/2016 - 22:18
    +1

    I'm a petite woman (5 feet 2) - do you reckon there would be any safety or other issues signing up to be an Uber driver on the weekend? Great thread by the way, very interesting!

    • che_97 on 13/01/2016 - 23:00

      Hey there. I don't imagine there would be any safety concerns more than any other place. You know who your customer is, so should something happen you can immediately report that person. It also means people are less inclined to make fools of themselves as their name is on the line

      • tyler.durden on 13/01/2016 - 23:14
        -1

        I think this changes when they are drunk..
        they might do things that they wouldn't do if they are not drunk..

        Also u are a woman, which means they might try sexual advances when they are drunk.

        Yes, you can report them but it doesn't stop the act from occuring.
        Also it would your word against theirs unless u got some video proof.

        Saw the news about some drunk dude punch an uber driver in the usa.

        • che_97 on 13/01/2016 - 23:15

          This is true. You could encounter drunk people anywhere though. If someone was concerned about this then a inwards facing dash cam would save a lot of time should anything happen. Perhaps I am too trusting of people

        • tyler.durden on 13/01/2016 - 23:29
          -2

          @che_97:

          yes you can encounter drunk ppl anywhere but it is more likely to be at a place serving alcohol..
          and also as an uber driver especially on weekends and u letting them in your car
          while you are driving your pretty defenseless since u got your back turned to them.

          Unfortunately only good thing with dash cam is evidence if an incident occurs can use it in court or to give to police.

          But it won't do much for the trauma u might experience…

          I agree that most ppl are decent ppl, but when they are drunk they can be a-holes.

          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0xjkkBOijk

          You are lucky to not have any traumatic occur to you yet..
          but I think once something like that video occurs it would be very scary to go back to work as uber driver..

          ===

          Just curious but how big/tall are u
          and what is your body type?
          and what is your approximate age?

        • che_97 on 13/01/2016 - 23:55
          +1

          @tyler.durden: I'm 183cm and 100+ Kgs (too much + unfortunately) and 25

  • Azn310 on 13/01/2016 - 22:22
    +1

    Hi,
    Thanks for stopping by, i have some questions, hope to hear from you:
    - Does chatting with the clients distract you while driving?
    - What if because of the distraction, you missed a turn or something? Happened to me a few times when I drive friends.
    - From my experience, GPS doesnt work well in CBD, how do you deal with this?

    • cgb on 13/01/2016 - 22:31

      You wouldn't be using dedicated GPS units. You'd be using a smartphone that uses a combination of assisted GPS & internet based location tracking technology (i.e. your phone communicates visible wireless networks to the mapping provider (google, apple etc), and they can reasonably accurately tell you where you are).

      • Azn310 on 13/01/2016 - 22:43
        +1

        Thats very interesting. So you mean the Google maps app works better than dedicated GPS if 3G, or 4G, is turned on?

        • cgb on 13/01/2016 - 22:45

          Yep, you'll need both 3G/4G enabled, and wifi, as your phone will have to be scanning for available wireless networks to communicate to Google via 3G. Old school GPS without assisted-GPS would take 10's of seconds to get lock on enough satellites. That's just not the case any more with smartphones.

        • tyler.durden on 13/01/2016 - 23:17

          but google maps don't have speed and red light camera alert..

          Can we send the address to other apps like waze?

        • donga100 on 16/01/2016 - 17:21

          @tyler.durden: You wouldn't get a very good rating if you were speeding and running red lights anyway.

        • tyler.durden on 16/01/2016 - 19:27

          @donga100:

          Depends…
          if the client need to get their quickly..

          ===
          Anyways I don't mean u do it on purpose
          It's just that shit happens when u busy look for an address location and also driving at the same time..

    • che_97 on 13/01/2016 - 23:04
      +1

      I always chat with friends when I drive so it's not anything new. Others might find it distracting. I don't have a problem stopping the conversation to ask about directions or other uber related matters and then jumping right back into the conversation.

      If by my own fault I made a turn I could not rectify or added a much longer journey I would estimate the original cost of the journey and then end it before that so that the customer was no worse off. I explain this to the customer. My high rating is a point of pride so I do everything I can to maintain it.

      Gps doesn't work well in the city. But I just need to know where they need to be picked up from. If this is ambiguous at all I call them and sort it out over the phone

  • cgb on 13/01/2016 - 22:36

    Hey there, you mentioned above that the nearest driver that accepts the job gets the job. Is that where the 'must accept 90% of jobs' comes from? Or is the 90% a measure of "you've accepted the job, now you must complete at least 90% of your accepted jobs" (that is, you have 10% to exercise discretion if the job looks dodgy).

    • che_97 on 13/01/2016 - 23:05

      Yeah a little screen pops up with a mini map of where the customer is. This only appears if you are the closest driver to them.
      I don't really see a reason why a driver would not accept a job. Drivers can't know in advance where the customer wants to go so theoretically all jobs have the same probability of being good or bad.

      • tyler.durden on 13/01/2016 - 23:19
        +1

        can you post a screenshot of the what popup looks like?

        does it show their picture? or only name?

        ==

        so if u accept their job, you drive to their location and they look bad/dodgy?
        then what do u do?
        do u then unaccepted it?

        • che_97 on 14/01/2016 - 00:06

          I'll take a screenshot next time I do a job.

          It shows the customers first name, the pick up address, a small map and their current rating.

          No picture of the customer.

          I could cancel the trip if I wanted to and uber gives a list of reasons why you might want to do this. Some of these reasons include: too many passengers, too much luggage, customer no show.

          I wouldn't deny someone based on their looks though.

        • tyler.durden on 14/01/2016 - 00:09

          @che_97:

          What I mean is once u accept a job, you drive to their location

          they look dodgy/extremely intoxicated/seem violent etc..

          then u can cancel it?

          Is there a reason like customer is extremely intoxicated/seem violent

          ==

          also not just looks but they might behaving violent/swearing / really intoxicated/drugged out etc..

        • che_97 on 14/01/2016 - 00:11

          @tyler.durden: you can just cancel the job with the option "don't charge customer" and it will just cancel the job no questions. I'm not sure if this affects the acceptance rate.

        • tyler.durden on 14/01/2016 - 00:15

          @che_97:

          i think it might since u accept then cancel..

          I probably affect your rating if u do it too much

          ===

          hehe imagine the scenario

          u pick up some dude who has just exited some house with blood stain shirt…

          could've just killed/robbed someone and needed a quick exit..

        • Baysew on 16/01/2016 - 17:21

          @tyler.durden: Nothing to worry about. Probably just coming home from Fight Club.

  • tyler.durden on 13/01/2016 - 23:22
    +1

    What hours and days do u normally work between?

    What hr do take break/lunch and how long do u take the lunch brake?

    If u drive in the city, how to do find parking spots rest or to pickup/drop off ? Since I u can't double park.

    ===
    What do u do if u need to go to the toilet while driving a client?

    • che_97 on 14/01/2016 - 00:10

      I don't have a set schedule at all. This is on purpose so that I don't get bored.
      I just stop when I'm hungry and try and think about what I'm going to eat so I don't eat rubbish or so that I can go back home to eat.

      I wouldn't stop in the city. I would go to a nearby suburb with some street parking ( like Surry hills)

      As for toilet breaks this is still something I'm working on as I always feel I need to go when I'm with a client and not when I'm near a toilet !

      But seriously, I am noting where I can go to public toilets as I go past them. I can always go into shopping centres but going into a car park is a pain when you want to quickly get back onto the road. McDonalds usually have pretty decent toilets and a lot of them have parking right outside.

      • tyler.durden on 14/01/2016 - 00:14

        if u need to go to the toilet while driving a client

        what can u do?

        -can u tell them? and how do u suspend the trip while you are going to the toilet.
        -or do u need to just hold it in, which is really bad for your bladder.

        • che_97 on 14/01/2016 - 00:16

          This situation is best avoided with proper management. I.e, if you think you have to go in the next 5 minutes, log off the app and go. You never know how far the next client wants to go.

          You can not suspend trips while driving.

      • tyler.durden on 16/01/2016 - 19:26

        Can you describe your previous week,

        Like hours did u work between?

        Just seeing if u have a preference for certain hours

        ie dayshift, afternoon or night shift..

        Also do u earn more in certain shift hours?

  • Oliver on 13/01/2016 - 23:33
    -5

    what is this, reddit/

    • che_97 on 13/01/2016 - 23:56
      +6

      Nope. Ozbargain forums

  • 50cent on 13/01/2016 - 23:44

    can u do Über?

    • che_97 on 13/01/2016 - 23:56

      Yes I can and I do.

      • 50cent on 14/01/2016 - 00:31

        Can I do Über if i have a criminal record?

        • Azn310 on 14/01/2016 - 02:39
          +4

          I dont think the clients will appreciate you driving them to your candy shop

        • che_97 on 14/01/2016 - 09:24

          Depends on what the crime is. I'm not an expert on this but I don't think so. Best ask this question to uber directly.

        • 50cent on 14/01/2016 - 09:44
          +2

          @che_97: Arrests:
          On June 29, 1994, I was arrested for selling four vials of cocaine to an undercover police officer. I was arrested again three weeks later, when police searched my home and found heroin, ten ounces of crack cocaine and a starter's pistol. Although I was sentenced to three to nine years in prison, I only served six months in a boot camp (where I earned my high-school equivalency diploma).

          I and four members of my entourage were arrested shortly before 2 a.m. on January 1, 2003, when police found a .25-caliber handgun and a .45-caliber pistol in a parked car (which they searched due to its tinted windows) outside a Manhattan nightclub. I was charged with two counts of criminal possession of a weapon.

          I was also sentenced to two years' probation on July 22, 2005 for a May 2004 incident, when I was charged with three counts of assault and battery after jumping into an audience when he was hit by a water bottle.

        • che_97 on 14/01/2016 - 12:15

          @50cent: haha. I was waiting for this. +1

  • striker5950 on 13/01/2016 - 23:53

    how long does it take to become an uber driver?, from the time you visit the site to sign up to the time you are on the road as an uber driver

    • che_97 on 13/01/2016 - 23:57

      The time spent in the service centre is about an hour including the introductory chat they give you and the time it takes for someone to see you and go through your documents. You need to wait until your police check clears which can be up to two weeks ( mine was completed within 2 business days)
      So an hour of your time maybe two and then two days to two weeks depending on how busy the police check service is.

  • tyler.durden on 14/01/2016 - 00:22

    How long do u think it would take to pay off your car cost ($14000)
    since right now technically you are not making a profit since your cost was $14000 (and insurance, rego) and also any ongoing cost e.g. car maintenance, petrol/

    How long do u think u could work as an uber driver?

    How much do u think you could make per year as uber driver vs your old job…
    I know this might be hard to get accurately but some ball park figure would be good (-minus the cost e.g. car purchase, expenses)

    • che_97 on 14/01/2016 - 09:27

      I will eventually sell my old car and I'll get at least 6k for it. So that makes my investment only 8k.

      Eating over 1k a week full time the car would be paid off in less than 3 months. An excellent return on investment in my opinion.

      My old job didn't pay that well so I'm actually making more money from uber.

      I don't have any other plans at the moment but the nice thing about uber is that if I did get some Other job, I'd still be able to uber.

  • striker5950 on 14/01/2016 - 00:29

    i read somewhere that you have to have an abn and register for gst before you start working as an uber driver is that correct?

    i also read that you pay gst no matter what your yearly income is, even if its less that 75 grand. is that correct?

    how would the taxation office know how many hours you have worked? does uber give them a log of your work hours?

    • che_97 on 14/01/2016 - 09:29

      You need to have an Abn but I'm not sure about the Gst. Uber don't communicate to the Ato on your behalf as you are technically a contractor to them.
      Ato don't care about hours for uber drivers. just turnover

      • striker5950 on 14/01/2016 - 12:17

        so hypothetically speaking you can pay as little tax as you want and get a way with it.

        • che_97 on 14/01/2016 - 12:26
          +1

          You will have to pay as much tax as you owe. How much you owe depends on your individual circumstances. Best talk to your accountant about this.

    • Baysew on 14/01/2016 - 10:24

      You must register for GST if:
      you provide taxi or limousine travel for passengers in exchange for a fare as part of your business, regardless of your GST turnover - this applies to both owner drivers and if you lease or rent a taxi

      When you register for GST you'll need an Australian Business Number (ABN).

      https://www.ato.gov.au/business/gst/registering-for-gst/

      See also https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/230038#comment-3377932 https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/230038#comment-3377978

  • Azn310 on 14/01/2016 - 02:41

    Thank you for answering my question above, This one just came to mind. Lets say your car is 9 year old and you applied and get approved. You drive for a year. On the second year, does Uber ask you to purchase a newer car since your car is now turning 11?

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