[otad12]

I hear that HyreCar is shady, & I see that they never have any cars available. Plus, I hear that Uber doesn't accept the insurance.

How can a person on fixed, low income find a car to drive in the New Orleans metro area? What's the best way to go about it? They don't have GM Maven or anything like that. I heard how people can rent from Enterprise or Hertz. Is that true?

 

[Sea_Change]

https://www.uber.com/drive/vehicle-solutions/rental-cars/

This is just my opinion, but renting a car makes Uber not worth it...unless you are planning to drive 60-80 hours per week.
Car rental will cost you at least $250/week. (You'll end up shelling out over $1000/month on a car you'll never own!) Then you need to factor in weekly gasoline and car washes/vaccuums. It adds up quickly.

 

[tohunt4me]

https://www.uber.com/drive/vehicle-solutions/rental-cars/

This is just my opinion, but renting a car makes Uber not worth it...unless you are planning to drive 60-80 hours per week.
Car rental will cost you at least $250/week. (You'll end up shelling out over $1000/month on a car you'll never own!) Then you need to factor in weekly gasoline and car washes/vaccuums. It adds up quickly.

Adds up quickly when you own the car too.

 

[Sea_Change]

It does but it doesn’t feel like it hurts as bad when you own the car as to oppose when you rent the car. Just my opinion.

 

[otad12]

It does but it doesn't feel like it hurts as bad when you own the car as to oppose when you rent the car. Just my opinion.

I guess, paying $200/wk renting to drive for Uber in a new car is better than $400/wk with the raggedy cab & then be penalized for not checking oils & fluids every day.

It does but it doesn't feel like it hurts as bad when you own the car as to oppose when you rent the car. Just my opinion.

I've heard that driving for both Uber & Lyft & maximizing profits, people have quickly developed enough money to go & buy their own car. Not sure how true that is.

 

[Sea_Change]

I guess, paying $200/wk renting to drive for Uber in a new car is better than $400/wk with the raggedy cab & then be penalized for not checking oils & fluids every day.

I've heard that driving for both Uber & Lyft & maximizing profits, people have quickly developed enough money to go & buy their own car. Not sure how true that is.

I think it all depends on location, how many hours you drive, when you drive those hours and where you make your hunting grounds.
There are people who can make Uber/Lyft really work for them (like in the San Francisco, L.A. and NYC markets that pay a greater base/per mile/per minute rate than here) and others who really have to hustle to make it profitable. You need to make sure you are looking at what local drivers are saying (and determine if they are being truthful or not), not drivers from other cities.
To give you an idea, I do this as a side to supplement my real (poor) income. Depending on the week, I may put in 15 hours or 25 hours...I haven't done more as of this time. My lowest gross has been 250/wk, my highest was this past week with New Year's Eve...$750. My highest gross before that was Thanksgiving week, when I grossed $470.
My overall average gross (since I started) is $20/hr.
Note that I am quoting gross, not net. This is what I have made with Uber/Lyft before factoring any expenses, including gasoline.
I wish you luck in your decision, and hope the best for you in 2018.

 

[stevedmc]

I made $2,000 in one weekend once. Boy those were the good old days. Now you are lucky if you can make $200 for a weekend and not get robbed.

My biggest problem with Uber is the lies. Uber basically charges the customer a flat rate based on the worst possible scenario for a route (maximum mileage/time that could be done for a route). Then Uber has the nerve to pay its drivers a percentage of the lowest possible pay based on actual miles/time driven. Upfront pricing is downright fraud.

To make things even worse, years ago a lot of good, honest, hardworking people like you went out and borrowed money to buy cars just to drive for Uber. Then Uber slashed rates from $1.35 a mile to 90 cents a mile. It was a disaster for a lot of people who were depending on income from Uber to pay their car notes. To make matters worse, Uber kept hiring more and more driver (they always do). You do the math. It wasn't a pretty picture.

My advice would be to stick with a job that pays at least $10 an hour. There would be no wear and tear on your vehicle. Use that job to put a little money in the bank and buy a newer car with $200 payments. Then simply do Uber on the side.

Don't depend on Uber to make your car payment. Uber shouldn't be the reason you buy a car.

 

[Yulli Yung]

I guess, paying $200/wk renting to drive for Uber in a new car is better than $400/wk with the raggedy cab & then be penalized for not checking oils & fluids every day.

I've heard that driving for both Uber & Lyft & maximizing profits, people have quickly developed enough money to go & buy their own car. Not sure how true that is.

Whoever told you this was drinking too much fire water. It is about as far from the truth as Hillary getting elected president

 

[otad12]

I made $2,000 in one weekend once. Boy those were the good old days. Now you are lucky if you can make $200 for a weekend and not get robbed.

My biggest problem with Uber is the lies. Uber basically charges the customer a flat rate based on the worst possible scenario for a route (maximum mileage/time that could be done for a route). Then Uber has the nerve to pay its drivers a percentage of the lowest possible pay based on actual miles/time driven. Upfront pricing is downright fraud.

To make things even worse, years ago a lot of good, honest, hardworking people like you went out and borrowed money to buy cars just to drive for Uber. Then Uber slashed rates from $1.35 a mile to 90 cents a mile. It was a disaster for a lot of people who were depending on income from Uber to pay their car notes. To make matters worse, Uber kept hiring more and more driver (they always do). You do the math. It wasn't a pretty picture.

My advice would be to stick with a job that pays at least $10 an hour. There would be no wear and tear on your vehicle. Use that job to put a little money in the bank and buy a newer car with $200 payments. Then simply do Uber on the side.

Don't depend on Uber to make your car payment. Uber shouldn't be the reason you buy a car.

Thanks for the help. I may even do a temp service job, cleaning tables @ the food court in the mall. Or maybe do something working at home.

 

[littlegoodwolf]

if you want to try it out and don't have a car, check into partnering with someone who does have a car and sharing the profits. just be careful of the liability and legal ramifications, but if you have a trusted friend, it wouldn't hurt to see if you like it before you buy the cow - er car.