I’m a NerdWallet Author and I Tried Uber as a Facet Hustle - NerdWallet

Is driving for Uber definitely worth the cash? I gave Uber a strive in my suburban Maryland city and even made a video about it. Let me take you thru my up-and-down expertise testing Uber as a side hustle. Learn to the top for the main points on what I earned and how one can study from my rookie methods.

Earlier than Uber, I tried DoorDash and located the sign-up course of to be a cinch. Signing as much as change into an Uber driver was extra concerned, however nonetheless simpler than making use of and interviewing for a standard job. I downloaded the Uber Driver app, let it take a photograph of my face and submitted my driver’s license to kick off the background examine. It took two days to finish, together with a legal background examine and evaluation of my motorcar file.

In case you plan to drive your individual automotive, you’ll want a 12-year-old or newer four-door automobile in good situation. In my state of Maryland, I’d must add proof of auto registration and insurance coverage, and my automotive would want to cross a automobile inspection. Automobile necessities fluctuate by state.

I didn’t suppose it will be sensible to drive my private automobile, a gas-guzzling full-size pickup, so I organized to lease a midsize passenger automotive by way of Uber. Uber companions with rental corporations similar to Hertz and Avis to supply entry to designated rideshare automobiles that include insurance coverage and primary upkeep.

Utilizing Uber’s on-line automobile market to order a rental for the week was straightforward, however selecting up the automotive a pair days later was fairly depressing.

The ready room of the native Hertz workplace the place Uber directed me was packed (presumably with different Uber drivers), and the employees was visibly overwhelmed. After a three-hour wait, I obtained my journey, a road-worn Chevrolet Trax subcompact SUV. I had reserved an even bigger automotive, however was keen to take something at that time. Uber advertises rental automotive charges as little as $260 per week.

With an uncool however environment friendly automotive in my possession, it was time to Uber. I did three “shifts” over the course of three days, and was energetic within the Uber Driver app for a complete of 10 hours.

My first shift was on a summer season Friday, beginning at 6 p.m. I figured weekend vibes would make for good cash. After I took an Uber to select up my rental the day earlier than, my driver stated $100 can be an affordable aim for a Friday night.

In idea, I’d keep throughout the confines of Bel Air, my small city about 50 minutes north of Baltimore. In apply, I had simply two journeys that stored me near residence. A kind of journeys concerned cramming 4 folks into the tiny Trax for a white-knuckled journey from a brewery to a bowling alley. I made $6.20, didn’t get a tip, and got here near a panic assault through the eight-minute journey.

Journey fares elevated as I ventured farther from residence, however greater fares got here at the price of time. I made $24.03 on a visit that took greater than 45 minutes to finish, counting the time it took to get to the passenger. After it, I felt like I hit the jackpot with a $30.42 journey provide. I shortly hit settle for within the app and drove quarter-hour to select up the passenger.

My elation turned to exhaustion after I drove the rider south of Baltimore and located myself 40 miles from residence after 9 p.m. I obtained residence round 10 p.m. and known as it an evening with $69.40 in whole earnings, nicely shy of my $100 aim. I had accomplished 4 journeys in about 3½ hours.

I obtained again to Ubering a bit after 10 a.m. the next Tuesday regardless of the “hourly tendencies” data within the Uber Driver app displaying weak demand in my space. I discovered myself getting matched with shorter journeys, however needed to meander by way of a number of neighboring cities to search out every one, losing numerous time between rides (which is an Uber no-no). I drove for 3 hours and 40 minutes that day and earned simply $34.97.

My shift was shorter Wednesday. This time, I adopted the app’s pattern knowledge, which confirmed greater demand round 7 a.m. My first journey match got here shortly, was near residence, and netted me $14.28.

But it surely took practically an hour for the subsequent journey provide to return, which was a $25 journey right down to Baltimore. I accepted the provide, drove 20 minutes to select up a passenger who was heading to work and made the 40 minute drive south. I spent most of that journey transferring slowly by way of traffic-light-laden streets in full silence. It was solely my second journey of the day, however when it was over, I made a decision I’d had sufficient of this aspect hustle. Wednesday’s whole was $39.36 after two rides and three hours energetic within the Uber Driver app.

In all, I made $143.73 over the course of three Uber “shifts” and roughly 10 hours of driving. I put 305 miles on my Uber rental and needed to fill the tank as soon as at a value of $38.80. Complete earnings (minus the price of gasoline) have been $104.93, or $10.49 an hour.

On condition that the minimal wage in Maryland is $15 per hour, I’d say driving for Uber wasn’t definitely worth the cash for me. I don’t describe this check as a failure, although.

I discovered lots from the expertise and can change issues up if I drive for Uber once more. Right here’s what I’d do in another way subsequent time.

I’ll begin in a hotspot. Protecting near residence, as I attempted to do, was a nasty transfer. Demand was low through the day in Bel Air. As you’d count on, demand in and round Baltimore was commonly sturdy. It hit me after I dropped off my final passenger within the metropolis that Wednesday. I used to be instantly prompted with journey provide after journey provide, which I repeatedly declined, as a result of by that point, I had determined to finish the check and return the rental automotive.

Subsequent time, I’ll be extra strategic, and spend time finding out the incomes tendencies within the app (that are conveniently displayed by location if you open the Uber Driver app and scroll down). I’ll drive to the higher-demand a part of my area to begin shifts. Easy as that.

I’ll give airport rides a strive. The Uber Driver app additionally reveals peak flight hours at close by airports. I didn’t really feel snug queueing up within the rideshare ready space at BWI as an Uber beginner, but it surely could be price a strive subsequent time. It’ll most likely be a great way to nab an extended journey with a better fare.

I’ll use my very own automotive as a substitute of a rental. I didn’t think about the price of my rental as a result of I rented only for the needs of this aspect hustle check, however I can’t shake the unfavorable expertise. The wait time was wild, and the automotive I obtained was subpar. I believe it is a gig the place it pays to have your individual dependable, environment friendly automotive, and also you’ll need to preserve it commonly. Potential gig drivers may need to take into account rideshare insurance, too.