Uber pays you to drive riders in your own car whenever you choose to go online. Each trip request shows what you’ll earn before you accept it, and you keep 100% of tips. Earnings move to your bank every week, or you can cash out up to six times a day with Instant Pay for a fee.
At a glance
| Type of work | Rideshare: driving passengers in your own vehicle |
| How you earn | Upfront fare per trip, plus surge, promotions and 100% of tips |
| Cost to join | None, but your car must meet Uber’s standards |
| Payout | Weekly to your bank; Instant Pay up to 6 times a day for a fee |
| Requirements | Your city’s minimum age (21+ in most of the US, higher in some places), a valid license with driving history, background and driving record check, an eligible 4-door vehicle with insurance |
| Where it works | Hundreds of cities worldwide |
How Uber works for drivers
You sign up online or in the Driver app, upload your license, insurance and vehicle details, and consent to a screening of your driving record and criminal history. Some cities also require a vehicle inspection or a local permit. Once approved, you go online whenever you like and trip requests start coming in.
Each request shows the pickup area, the destination and the fare before you accept. You can decline trips that don’t suit you. When you finish a trip, the rider can tip in the app, and the tip goes to you in full.
How drivers get paid
Uber shows an upfront fare on each request, built from the expected time and distance, demand in the area and any promotions running. In busy periods, surge adds to fares in hot zones, and weekly Quests pay a bonus for hitting a set number of trips.
Uber keeps a share of what the rider pays, and that share varies from trip to trip. What matters to you is the fare on the request screen, since that is what lands in your account before tips.
Earnings are sent to your bank automatically each week. With Instant Pay, you can cash out up to six times a day for a fee.
Vehicle rules
The basic UberX level needs a 4-door car within Uber’s age limit for your city, in good condition and without commercial branding. Bigger or newer cars qualify for UberXL, Comfort or premium levels, which pay higher fares but come with stricter rules. Your car doesn’t always need to be registered in your name, but you need insurance that covers you. If you don’t own an eligible car, Uber works with rental partners in many cities, though rental costs eat heavily into a side hustle.
What it really costs you
Rideshare puts more miles on your car than almost any other side hustle. Fuel, insurance, maintenance, cleaning and depreciation all come out of your fares, and in the US you are an independent contractor, so nothing is withheld for taxes. A mileage log is your best friend here: it’s usually the biggest deduction you’ll have.
Owen’s take
Uber is still the biggest rideshare app, and on most nights that means the most requests. The upfront fare is a real improvement: you know what a trip pays before you commit. But driving people is different from delivering burritos. You’ll deal with late-night riders, airport queues and the occasional bad passenger, and you’ll put serious wear on your car. If you have a newer, fuel-efficient car and like driving, it can pay well in busy hours. If your car is old or thirsty, deliveries usually make more sense.
Who it suits
It suits drivers with an eligible, economical car who live in or near a busy city and don’t mind the social side of the job. It suits less well people with older cars, anyone uncomfortable driving strangers, or anyone in an area with little demand.
Similar options
- Lyft is the main US alternative, and many drivers run both apps.
- Uber Eats uses the same Driver app for deliveries, by car or bike.
- Bolt and Cabify offer rideshare in Europe, Latin America and other regions.
- Amazon Flex pays by block for package delivery, with no passengers.
More local options are in Gig Work, and US-only platforms are in USA.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Highest rider demand in most markets
- Fare shown before you accept, and 100% of tips
- Instant Pay up to six times a day
Cons
- Heavy wear and running costs on your car
- Strict vehicle and age rules
- Uber’s share of each fare varies
FAQ
How old do you have to be to drive for Uber?
You need to meet your city’s minimum age, which is 21 or older in most of the US and higher in some places. You also need a minimum amount of driving history.
Does my car need to be registered in my name?
Not always. Your vehicle has to meet Uber’s standards and you need insurance that covers you, but in many cities the car can belong to someone else.
How often does Uber pay drivers?
Earnings go to your bank automatically every week. Instant Pay lets you cash out up to six times a day, for a fee.
Can I drive for Uber and Lyft at the same time?
Yes. You’re an independent contractor, and many drivers keep both apps open to cut waiting time between trips.
