ASK A DRIVER: SHOULD I DRIVE FOR UBER OR LYFT?

Author photoBy Joy Littleton

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Life as a rideshare driver comes with a lot of perks: you work your own schedule, you’re not confined to a stuffy office or other crowded workspace, you are your own boss, and you get to meet new, often fascinating people every day that you’re clocked in on the job. Now, that’s all well and good, but chances are that you’re not working this job just to get out of the house. You want to make money, as much as the job can offer. That’s where the platform you decide to work through starts to matter more and more.

 

Uber? Lyft? Which is best? Listen to a few of these drivers’ testimonials and decide for yourself which rideshare app you’d like to utilize when you hit the road on your way to the best pay day possible.

 

Chris is an Uber driver based in Denver, Colorado. He’s been driving for three years after working for UPS for more than a decade.

 

“I hate being told what to do by a boss, that’s why I started driving for Uber. When I’m driving my car, I like to have the chance to choose my passengers, that is a definite bonus. It’s my car, my music – unless they specifically ask me to change it or switch it off – and my rules. To be honest, I didn’t even consider Lyft when I signed up for the job, since I only ever used Uber as a passenger myself. Uber keeps me busy enough that I’ve never regretted my decision, I don’t think there’s a better choice than Uber.”

 

Jennifer is a rideshare driver in Cincinnati, Ohio, where she uses both Uber and Lyft to find her next passenger. She works as a freelance graphic designer part-time for a few companies, but depends on the extra income earned as a rideshare driver.

 

“Uber was my first, but Lyft was easy enough to register for, so I decided to have both in my pocket. If Uber is looking slow I’ll clock in to Lyft to see if things are any better there … I usually start with Uber, though, since that was how I got started, it’s kind of a habit I guess. They’re both really similar, but I’m more used to Uber and like how their app works more than Lyft’s, but I guess that’s more a personal preference that someone else could totally disagree with and it’s not a big deal, the rates are pretty similar, too.”

 

Derrick came to America from Spanish Town, Jamaica several years ago when he was a young man. He found using both Uber and Lyft to be the best way to make a steady income and has driven more than 100,000 miles between both apps. He currently lives in Miami, Florida.

 

“People think drivers all make the same pay. That is not true. Because I work hard, I keep eyes on both Uber and Lyft, and I make more. If I only drive Uber then I miss on what Lyft brings. The job is the same both ways, but the pay stops when my backseat is empty, so eyes are on both. Uber is steady, Lyft is there when Uber simmers down. The money is better with both.”

 

Gavin started to drive for Uber when the COVID-19 pandemic forced his office to furlough him and many of his coworkers. He drives in Louisville, Kentucky, where he’s lived his entire life.

 

“This is still pretty new to me. I’ve driven for Uber for a few months, so it’s not weirdly new anymore, but if you would’ve asked me last year what I’d be doing today I would not have guessed this … It’s different from what I usually do, but I like a lot about being a driver. I know Louisville really well and can usually find a good shortcut to get my passengers home or wherever quicker, which they definitely appreciate. Uber took a little bit of time to get signed up, mostly waiting on my background check to clear, but I’m glad it was so easy to get this job. It saved my butt, big time.”

 

Based on the drivers we talked with today, Uber seems to have a bit of an edge in favor. While it’s interesting to debate which app is best for many different reasons, it’s not a bad idea to get friendly with both companies so you’ll have less of a chance being on the clock with no passengers. No matter whether you drive for Uber or Lyft, it’s important that you keep your vehicle in peak condition every day of the week. RideShare Mechanic is a great service that allows you to quickly, easily pass your vehicle safety check and keep up with all of the essential maintenance required to keep you and your passengers safe on the road. Try it today!