Ride sharing has become a new way of life across the United States.  Millions of people use the different ride sharing companies to get to work, go home, go out on the weekends and get home safely after a night of drinking and partying.  Ride sharing is the new NORM.  But what is Ride Sharing for the Driver?

     There are two major companies, here in Chicago, that provide an opportunity for people to make money through becoming ride share drivers.  These drivers go through a process to become drivers.

A driver must submit personal information including their social security number for a background check for any criminal activity.  Sometimes it can take a week or less and sometimes it can take longer.  The background check is not extensive, but it is a basic inquiry.

A ride share driver uses their own personal vehicle.  The vehicle has to be newer, according to the ride share company’s requirement and has to pass an inspection.   This process takes about a couple of hours.  Once the vehicle is inspected, the paperwork is submitted to the company via the app on the drivers phone.

Once approved, by the ride share company, the driver can go out and start accepting ride requests, through the app, and take people where they want to go.

Most drivers are normal people who never thought of being taxi cab drivers.  Most of us have never thought of driving around the city and taking people from here to there.  That’s right!!!   Ride share drivers are glorified taxi cab drivers.

What most people don’t know, is that each ride share driver has to purchase commercial insurance to protect their vehicle while they drive for ride sharing companies.  If for any reason a driver gets into an accident, while driving for a ride sharing company, and doesn’t have this commercial insurance, they risk losing their car or paying for all the repairs on the vehicle out of their own pockets.

This insurance runs about $750.00 per year!  So each driver, if they have this insurance, has to make at least $75 per month just to cover the cost of this insurance.

Ride share companies do not cover maintenance costs for the driver’s vehicle.  Drivers have to maintain the vehicle’s mechanical operation and keep the vehicle running properly.  Oil changes and preventive maintenance is KEY!  Costs money too!

Ride share drivers, according to the ride share companies, must keep their vehicle extremely clean.

Most drivers have their vehicles cleaned on a daily basis which can cost $50+ per week.

Ride share drivers fill their tanks every day before going out to drive.  A tank of gasoline can cost upwards of $30 a day.

Ride share drivers are responsible to report their income and pay their taxes because ride share companies do not take out the taxes for their drivers.

So the truth about ride share drivers is as follows:

Regular people are driving their personal vehicles to take customers, or Clients as I like to call them, to where they want to go.

Regular people who are trying to earn extra money for their families have to earn at least $400.00 per month to break even, so that they are compliant with the laws and insurance requirements, have full tanks and a clean car.

Regular people who are trying to earn this money, have to put aside at least 30% of their earnings for taxes and make sure they don’t spend it.

Next time you use a ride share service, please remember this revelation:

Regular people in their personal vehicles are sharing themselves with you!

If you are interested in becoming a ride share driver, please email me at:  baticua@yahoo.com

#ridesharedriver in the subject line!