Cars! As an Uber and Lyft driver, your vehicle is your biggest asset, your office, and at the end of the day, your ride home.
Driving the right car can make your ride fares higher, keep your fuel and maintenance costs low, and make your job a lot more enjoyable.
In the collection of posts below, you’ll learn:
- Which cars qualify for Uber and Lyft
- How to access an affordable car if you don’t already have one
- How to handle all of the vehicle-related challenges you’ll face as a driver
Vehicle Requirements for Uber, Lyft & delivery apps
Find out what kind of cars qualify for Uber and Lyft.
- Uber Vehicle Requirements: Can You Drive for Uber with Your Car?
- Lyft Vehicle Requirements
- Vehicle Requirements for Delivery Services
How to rent a far for gig apps
There are many options available if you need a car for Uber, Lyft, and delivery apps. Many drivers choose rentals through Uber and Lyft, or through third-party rental services.
How to apply to drive when you don’t have a car
If you don’t currently have access to a qualifying car, you can still apply to drive.
Visit the driver applications for Uber or Lyft and select “I need a car.” That option will allow you to complete the screening process without having access to a vehicle.
Vehicle inspections
Both Uber and Lyft require that you complete a vehicle inspection. Learn what the inspections cover, how to pass, and what to do if you don’t pass the first time.
Track your miles to lower your tax bill
Did you know that the miles you drive while you work for rideshare and delivery apps are tax deductible?
The standard mileage deduction can significantly reduce your tax bill, but only if you properly track your miles.
Fortunately, there are tons of free mileage tracking apps that can help you track every deductible mile.
Helpful gear to use while you’re driving
Every driver needs a good phone mount, chargers, and accessories. Here are the best.
Guido says
Hello I am thinking of joining uber I have a 2014 bmw 535i black on black. I’d like to know if I qualify for uberblack and I’d like to know what are the rates they give per ride & also is like to know what is the percentage of people that order uberblack in NYc
DougH says
Hi Guido. I can tell you that your BMW qualifies for Uber Black in NYC and that the rates are $3.75/mile. I don’t know what percentage of people order Uber Black, but you can get more info on Uber’s page for NYC. NYC has lots of special requirements for permitting your car.
Mr Matthews says
Hi. I’ve just begin researching into ridesharing as a potential driver & finding your site to “clear the muddy waters”. I have 2 luxury vehicles (2011 BMW 7 series, 2015 Lincoln MKC) and far too much time on my hands. It appears that UberSelect will provide the most “bang for my buck” comparing Uber to Lyft given the price structure & my non-dependency on needing or desiring loads of fares (mainly want to pass some time while earning a few bucks). Have I come to a correct conclusion based upon my objective? Also is there anything within either company’s driver agreement that prevents driving for both?
Thank you, in advance.
DougH says
Hi Mr. Matthews. Neither company forbids you from driving for the other, so you could try both out and see how it goes. With your cars, Select is definitely the way to go, especially if you’re just looking to earn some side money. You’ll get a higher caliber of passengers, fewer rides, and more money for each ride.
Bill says
I currently drive for Uber and I have a Dodge ram 1500 which seats 6 including the driver does this vehicle qualify for UberXL
DougH says
Hi Bill. Uber is not accepting the Ram for XL currently.
Ted says
Hi, I have a Toyota Hi Ace Wheelchair van presently used as a TAXI. I am thinking about joining Uber.
Would this vehicle qualify ?
DougH says
It won’t qualify if it has any taxi markings.
Baydriverguy says
I was wondering if anyone knows if there is a mileage limit on cars that I register with Uber?
DougH says
Nope! Uber only cares how old it is, not how many miles it has.
Sam says
I have been driving for Uber and Lyft for more then one year, I leased Toyota Prius and now I’m over the mileage limit, I don’t make money like before and I’m thinking to buy a car to work as Uber select, I really need advise about this step, I need to ask do the select drivers make money more then Ubex drivers?
Thank you
DougH says
You could try renting an UberSelect car on hyrecar.com or craigslist to see if you’ll make more money. Select fares cost around 2x more than UberX, but the # of requests will be fewer. Check out The Rideshare Guy’s post about it.
Ram says
I would like to drive for Uber and planning to buy a 8 passengers hybrid SUV 2015 , 2016 or 2017 models . I just don’t know which SUV to buy .
Does Toyota Highlander Hybrid 2015 qualify ?
Thank you .
DougH says
A Highlander Hybrid SUV would qualify for UberXL, but not the luxury UberSUV service. Still a great car to do UberXL in!
Leland says
I was thinking of getting a Cadillac Escalade ESV. To drive for uber black what years does it have to be? Also what is the pay difference between them when comes to the uberX? Is it based on mileage, if so what is it?
DougH says
Hi Leland, thanks for writing in. First off, not every market offers Uber SUV, so you should look into that first. The model year requirement is typically 2012 or newer, and it has to be black on black. The pay difference is quite a bit, about 4x as much as UberX. See this page at Uber for the exact mileage rates.