There is legal uncertainty whether Uber drivers will be required to obtain a commercial driver's license in the future. Taxi drivers allege Uber drivers are able to compete at an unfair advantage because they are able to operate without obtaining a license or medallion and provide services for the same clientele.
Why aren't cars used by Uber or Lyft required to have either a livery plate or a commercial plate? The simplest answer is because these cars are NOT owned by Uber or Lyft, but by private individuals who do, from time to time, carry paying passengers.
You'll need a Private Hire Vehicle licence (PHV) to be an Uber driver. It might go without saying but you'll also need your own car if you want to drive for Uber. You can't have an old vehicle – cars must be five years old or less.
TNCs are now required to provide insurance from the moment a driver turns on their app. Drivers are responsible for maintaining primary liability insurance coverage of at least $50,000 per person and $100,000 per occurrence of death and personal injury, as well as $30,000 of coverage for property damage.
Guidance: For CDL purposes, the tow truck and its towed vehicle are treated the same as any other powered unit towing a non-powered unit. If the GCWR of the tow truck is 26,001 pounds or more and the towed vehicle alone exceeds 10,000 pounds GVWR, then the driver needs a Class A CDL.
Taxi medallion systems are used by municipalities to control the entrance of new taxis and limit the supply of taxis on the road. Medallions, or limited licenses, give drivers the right to pick up customers in the municipality where the license is issued, though drivers can take customers anywhere.
Complete (and pass) the commercial driver's license (CDL) written exam. The CDL is affectionately known as a hard card, chauffeur's permit or “hack” license. Submit the CDL application, written exam and required processing fee ($30 in Illinois) to your local DMV and you will be issued a license valid for four years.
If you have an accident as an Uber driver, cover can be provided by the combination of insurance covers you have in place:
- CTP insurance can provide cover for death or injury to a third party.
- Your rideshare car insurance policy can cover damage to another driver's vehicle or property.
automobile liability insurance
Being a driver for Uber or Lyft seems like a great side hustle. However, after the costs of driving strangers around town you might not earn as much as you'd think. We did the research to find out if being a rideshare driver is really worth your time. Some of you may even be considering becoming an Uber or Lyft driver.
Not all insurance policies will have the feature but if yours does, $10 a month is nothing compared to the cost of putting your car back on the road if you're involved in a collision during Period 1 or have turned the app off for any reason. Uber does not inform your insurer that you're driving for them but you should.
Uber Premium
- Model year 2008 or newer.
- 4-door car or SUV Seats and seatbelts for at least 4 passengers, plus the driver.
- Good condition with no cosmetic damage.
- No commercial branding.
General Uber RequirementsVehicle must be at most 15 years old or younger (this means your model year should be 2001 or newer.) Must seat 4 or more passengers excluding the driver. Must be a 4-door car, truck, or minivan.
Uber drivers who work for one of the ride-hailing company's premium services generally find that the Uber Black "town car"-style trips are longer and more pleasant than the standard UberX rides, with a higher profit margin — think daytime business traveler airport pickups as opposed to pub-crawling millennials grabbing
Two insurance companies, Aon and OneBeacon, will provide the Uber insurance policies. The coverage will pay as much as $1 million for medical expenses, up to half an Uber driver's average weekly earnings, and a maximum of $150,000 in survivor benefits, BuzzFeed News says.
UberXL
- 4-door vehicle with independently opening passenger doors.
- Have 7 factory-installed seats and seat belts.
- Working windows and air conditioning.
- No vans, box trucks, or similar vehicles.
- No taxi cabs, government cars, or other marked vehicles.
- No salvaged or rebuilt vehicles.
You cannot be an Uber driver if you have a poor driving record. The company will bar you from joining its driver platform if you have a history of multiple driving violations, DUIs, criminal records, or accidents.
In general, Uber drivers can't have DUIs or major moving violations within the last seven years. They're also not permitted to have more than three minor violations, such as speeding tickets, within the past three years. Many drivers work for both Uber and Lyft.
Nobody other than Uber is able to say whether you'll pass or not, but generally speaking you should pass if your criminal history is clean for the past 10 years or so, and if your driving record is good.
Delivery Apps Hire Younger DriversDoorDash, Postmates, Uber Eats, Instacart, and Shipt Shipt are all delivery services that hire younger drivers. The added legal liability of driving a passenger is likely why Uber, Lyft, and all ridesharing apps require drivers to be 21 or older.
Uber doesn't consistently reach out to rejected drivers directly. Usually if you're accepted, you'll get an email and text that congratulates you. But if you're rejected, you might not hear anything at all. Typically in a text or email, they'll say whether you were accepted or not.
Background Check process overview
- Provide your consent. Click the link below to start the process and consent to National Crime Check (NCC) receiving details from Uber.
- Provide your details, addresses and other names.
- Upload proof-of-identity documents using InstantID.
Generally, Uber is looking for no major driving violations (driving with a suspended license, DUI), and no more than 3 minor violations (speeding tickets, minor moving violations) in the past several years.
So long as you meet the rating and cancellation rate requirements, you can earn Gold status with 1,000 points, Platinum with 1,800 points and Diamond with 2,800 points. All driver-partners qualify for Blue status regardless of how many points they have or what their star rating and cancellation rate are.
Uber Xchange offers short-term car leases from partnering car dealerships. Drivers pay a $250 deposit to start and make weekly payments over three years. Consider Xchange only if you're driving 40-plus hours per week, want a car for personal use and can't get other financing because of your credit.
Here's what the latest report found: Uber drivers typically collect $24.77 per hour in passenger fares. From that, Uber takes $8.33 in commissions and fees, about a third of all passenger fares.
In Alberta, Uber is available in both Calgary and Edmonton, the two major hubs in the province. Lyft has not yet established in Alberta. Driving for Uber in Alberta requires that you are at least 21 years old and have a valid Alberta Class 1,2, or 4 driver's license.
Vehicle Age – 2003 or newer. As with UberX year requirements, there are some exceptions: In Seattle, Portland, Washington D.C., or Minneapolis-St. Paul, local government regulations mean that Lyft year requirements in these areas are stricter – no vehicles over 10 years old.
