Education & Work Any uber drivers out there?

Discussion in 'Living Room' started by bob shovel, 15th Nov, 2015.

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  1. Westminster

    Westminster Tigress at Tiger Developments Business Member

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    @Ed Barton the only downside I've found with Uber is that you can't book a ride for a set time, ie book a 5am ride to airport. Having said that I have always found a driver when I've needed one. Longest wait was 7 mins I think.
     
  2. willair

    willair Well-Known Member Premium Member

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    Just wondering with this type of new low cost transport system,do you change the insurance and rego on the car to cover yourself for any problems you may run into,insurance would be the first question..
     
  3. Westminster

    Westminster Tigress at Tiger Developments Business Member

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    Yes absolutely.
    For tax purposes you should change rego - you can't claim expenses if on private rego

    For insurance YES YES YES. There are some that cover Uber driving
     
  4. MattA

    MattA Well-Known Member

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    Has anybody gone through the process and had a serious crack at this ?

    Specifically, was / is it a profitable exercise or would you make more stacking shelves at Coles...
     
  5. bob shovel

    bob shovel Well-Known Member

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    I know a mate who does it for his trip to work. He lives in Bondi and drives to Willoughby area. He flicks it on before he leaves home, he might drop someone in the city on his his way, then does the same home. Gets about $30 for his troubles. Not to make big money just picking the easy jobs,covers his fuel to work
     
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  6. Chilliblue

    Chilliblue Well-Known Member

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    Not really a grey area when Federal government employees are informed to use Uber as first choice over taxi's and insurers like NRMA are covering them.
     
  7. Blacky

    Blacky Well-Known Member

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    My old man has just signed up as a driver.
    He wanted some flexible hours. He doesnt need to be at work at any set times. He just makes himself available when he wants to.
    He lives close to Subi - so will often just work early evenings on a friday night. Often doing two or 3 runs.
    He probably picks up just a couple of hundred $/week. I think he said that he is making about $30/hr. Out of that he has to pay for his car and fuel - his arguement is that he pays for that in anycase - just pays a bit more fuel.

    It works for him. Im not sure you would want to make it your full time living though.
    Given he already had a new(ish) car there wasnt a huge investment. The downside is that there is nothing to sell at the end either.

    Blacky
     
  8. MattA

    MattA Well-Known Member

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    Thanks @Blacky

    So, after expenses, probably the same wages as night fill at Coles... having said that, the opportunity to log on / log off at your choosing would be a major benefit.

    I think Bob's mate has it worked out !
     
  9. bob shovel

    bob shovel Well-Known Member

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    I did see when googling somewhere that average wage of uber was 19/hr (may have been American, but after running costs with blackys example probably works out.

    The convenience is well worth it, especially for people in the city. It's like doing the environmentally friendly thing and car pooling but making money.
    Even after a night out you could get a fare to cover some of the dinner bill, especially if you just had a dud date!
     
  10. wogitalia

    wogitalia Well-Known Member

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    It depends massively on when you drive, doing Friday/Saturday nights you will hit $35-$45 an hour, doing Tuesday morning it will be more like $25. Uber takes I believe 20% of that as well so knock it back a bit from those raw numbers.

    If you've got a reasonably fuel efficient car (has to be at most 7 years and have 4 doors normally so it's likely most cars fall in that category) you can make good money doing it. In WA you will need to upgrade licensing/rego and pass a police check also I believe, assume it's similar in other states. All up it will cost you about $300 to out on the road which is pretty low startup considering you can make that in a weekend if you're trying hard.

    Do note that you are required to register for GST and complete quarterly BASs as well so there is a bit of extra administrative time that goes into it.

    One of the positives is that with a relatively new car and a good log book result you will be able to make a decent chunk pretty much tax free as well because of the depreciation deduction on the car itself and other expenses that will become deductible.
     
  11. bob shovel

    bob shovel Well-Known Member

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    Does uber pass info on to the ato? I have no interest in doing this and I would assume a lot of people don't declare it
     
  12. Darlinghurst Boy

    Darlinghurst Boy Well-Known Member

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    For your info In NSW its still illegal and if those Transport Officers catch you then you'll be showing why your registration shouldnt be cancelled.

    Someone told me the Transport Officers will be doing a Blitz on Uber drivers in Sydney during the Xmas break so if you are driving public passengers around then you are taking a risk.
     
  13. Blacky

    Blacky Well-Known Member

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    I cant really figure out how anyone would know you are an Uber driver... unless you told them.

    As stated the return varies peak/non peak. My old man likes the 'subi-run' as generally it is occupied by people knocking off work and going in for a couple of pints - however, generally they live fairly locally. So he can pick up a couple of trips/hour and then knock off. Hes not up all night, nor sitting around all day.
    In reality its fairly low paying. Probably the same as stacking shelves. However, he doesnt have to work if he doesnt want. Dinner with the Mrs? dont switch onto work. Something on Tele you want to watch - dont work. Sitting around scratching your nuts? may as well go and make a few $$.

    Blacky
     
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  14. wogitalia

    wogitalia Well-Known Member

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    I would think they're meant to if they ever got asked. I don't think it would be terribly hard though to do the BAS, the Uber reports I've seen are pretty good at detailing everything.

    As far as I know you don't give them an ABN number though so it would have to be name/dob matching.

    That's got to be its biggest positive, you can work whenever you want as opposed to other jobs like stacking shelves where the hours can be pretty awful.
     
  15. bob shovel

    bob shovel Well-Known Member

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    just going thorugh the sign up process. for wa vehicle has to be less than 9 years, i managed to get mine through but perhaps im the only one in the area so they let it slide??
    wha are the start up costs? processing with uber?? i havent seen anything mentioned from them yet
     
  16. Westminster

    Westminster Tigress at Tiger Developments Business Member

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    Bob they have some pretty good FAQs and documents on the website if you search deep. They might be a little more relaxed for the non metro area - hope you can work something out with them.

    I do think you will need to declare this income though.
     
  17. Westminster

    Westminster Tigress at Tiger Developments Business Member

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    I had a driver in Melbourne of similar age. He was doing it to give himself something to do after retiring/selling his business and still wanted to do something. There wasn't too many jobs available for a 65yo and decided Uber was the way to go to get out of the house, out of his wife's hair and get out and meet people.
     
  18. sanj

    sanj Well-Known Member Premium Member

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    Have you asked the uber folk these questions?
     
  19. wogitalia

    wogitalia Well-Known Member

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    The ones I know about are changing your personal license to get the relevant class which is about $30 iirc and then changing the vehicle registration over as well which is about $100 or so but obviously depends on the vehicle. They might be a bit more, it's been a while since I've seen the sign up costs.
     
  20. wombat777

    wombat777 Well-Known Member

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    I looked at Uber for a trip from Sydney Airport to Rouse Hill on Sunday afternoon. Fare estimate was $220 to $230!!!

    My fare in a cab ended up being $163 :-/

    After 7 days of difficult/draining hiking in Victoria I did not have the energy for a 2 hour trip home by public transport.
     

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