Best Rideshare Companies To Drive For In 2020

Do you have a car? Are you interested in joining the rideshare industry as a part time or full time driver? This article will show you the best rideshare companies to drive for and how to get started with them.

Rideshare offers an easy and convenient way to move around. Rideshare drivers are the driving force behind the entire industry. They make the model work and make it possible for rideshare companies to keep moving forward.

If you are interested in joining this elite group of drivers, there are different options open to you. You can find a rideshare company that fits into your plans and works for your needs, whatever they are.

But before talking about some of the best rideshare companies to drive for in 2020…

What Is Rideshare?

Rideshare is a transportation network that allows people to move around using technology. The entire industry works well because of the simplicity of the process. Riders and drivers don’t have to jump through hoops to get rides, and it just works.

The entire process is hinged on the use of technology. The rideshare apps only work on GPS enabled phones. This makes it easy to track both riders and drivers when they are matched. So, you can ride or drive rideshare at the press of a button.

The rideshare business has gotten bigger over the years. Now, if you are interested in driving rideshare, there are several companies that you can join. But each has its own requirements and its own business models. Make sure you choose whichever one fits with your lifestyle and needs.

The best rideshare companies are the ones that run a transparent platform. They take the safety and welfare of their riders and drivers as a priority. Regardless of what you are looking for, you are certainly going to find one that works for you on this list.

Rideshare Companies You Can Drive For In 2020:

Uber

Uber is the biggest name in the rideshare business. You have most likely heard about them in the news or ordered for one of their rides at some point. Uber’s journey started in 2009 in San Francisco, California as UberCab. They have been on a roll ever since.

Their success has not come easy though as the company has had to deal with a lot since its start. Uber’s new take on transportation got threats from traditional taxi organizations. The backlash from drivers and riders have also dogged the rideshare giant. Add to that the internal issues and scandals, and you will wonder how the company got to be so successful.

But successful it is. You can now order an Uber ride in over 80 countries worldwide and over 600 cities. The company has completed more than 10 billion rides and has a global rider population of over 75 million!

Uber started as a black car service where riders can order black cars for personal use. But it quickly expanded its services when the demand got to be much more than the company could handle with a limousine service.

The flagship Uber service was UberX. This became the cheapest option that Uber offered. Uber Pool is a service where riders can share the ride with others. This could be just as cheap or even cheaper than UberX.

UberSelect, UberBlack, and UberLux are more luxurious options in the Uber fleet. You can get recent and classy sedans with leather interiors when you use these services. Uber SUV and Uber XL are for those that need more room but also want to travel in class.

Uber also has a service for disabled riders. When you order an Uber Assist ride, you can get a big vehicle along with a trained driver to pick you up. This service is only available in supported cities though.

Uber also decided a few years ago to diversify their offerings and add more to their services. This birthed several other businesses, one of which is Uber for Business. This is Uber, but for companies and multinationals. It is a way for companies to manage their logistics and transportation, all from a dashboard.

Another Uber portfolio company is Uber Eats. Uber Eats delivers your favorite food to you wherever you are, quickly and safely. There is an app where users order food from their favorite restaurants. Uber Eats then picks it up and delivers. As an Uber driver, you can earn some extra income driving for Uber Eats too!

Uber Freights is another Uber service. This is the Uber portfolio company that is redefining how cargo is being transported. Uber freights connect carriers to shippers in an easy way. It facilitates smoother movement of goods.

If you are thinking of signing up as an Uber driver, you should have an idea of how that works.

Signing Up As An Uber Driver

To sign up as an Uber driver is easy and can be done in a few easy steps. First, you have to be old enough to drive in your city. You must also have a valid US driver’s license, and have one year of driving experience if you are over 23. If you are younger than 23, you will need 3 years of driving experience.

You must also have valid car insurance and your vehicle must be registered. Add to this a neat vehicle that meets the minimum vehicle requirements for Uber and you are good to go. You can click here to get started on your Uber registration.

How Much Can You Earn Driving For Uber?

Earning on Uber varies from city to city. It also depends on some factors such as surge pricing, how many hours you drive every day and the Uber service you drive for. But on an average, you can make about $16 per hour driving for Uber. This varies from place to place of course, but you can be looking at making over $600 dollars for a 40-hour work week.

Lyft

Launched in 2012, Lyft is the second market leader in the U.S. rideshare business. It offers rides in over 350 cities in the US and Canada, including Los Angeles, New York City, and San Francisco.

Like Uber, Lyft started out as a transportation company. It organized carpool rides for riders traveling long distances. Of course, it has morphed into a giant rideshare company with a 39% market share in the United States.

If you have ever seen a car that has a bright pink mustache on its grill or dashboard, then you’ve seen a Lyft car. The rideshare company offers several service options to riders.

You can order the basic Lyft ride that will get you where you need to be quickly and cheaply. There is also the option of Lyft Lux if you need a more luxurious experience. If it is more room that you need, you can order Lyft Plus. Lyft shared is also available if you want to carpool and share the cost of your ride with others.

An interesting service offering from Lyft is the availability of other forms of transportation on the platform. You can order for bicycles, and scooters on Lyft. You can also view public transport schedules on the Lyft platform. This includes buses, ferries, trains, and more. This particular service is known as Lyft Transit.

Lyft also has a few secondary portfolios they are running. These are different from their rideshare business. Lyft Business is their response to Uber for Business. Lyft Business helps big organizations handle their logistics and transportation. All this is done from a central portal. There, you can control all the transport requirements for your company.

Signing Up As a Lyft Driver

Okay, so you have decided to join Lyft as a driver. To start driving and earning on the platform, you have to be at least 21 years old. You must have had a valid driver’s license for a year too. You also need a car with valid registration and current tags.

Your vehicle insurance must also be current and you have to pass a background check. If you meet all the basic requirements, then you are ready to join the Lyft platform as a driver. Click here to get started with your registration.

How Much Can You Earn Driving For Lyft?

Like other rideshare companies, your earnings are determined by several factors. You earn based on the distance you drive, how long you drive and your city. Sometimes there is surge pricing, which earns you more. You can also earn more if your riders tip you.

On average, Lyft drivers earn $17 to $20 an hour. Depending on how many hours you work per week, you can earn about $700 per month for a 40-hour work week.

Via

Via was launched in 2014. For some, it is a viable alternative to the more established Uber or Lyft. Via is taking a different approach to ridesharing. It is tackling the problems in mass transportation. Via is a platform that finds the most efficient way to move large groups from point A to B.

The Via app works the same way the Uber and Lyft apps do. You order a ride, wait for it to arrive, and then you start your trip. You typically only have to wait for 5 minutes or less when you order a ride on Via. The one big difference here is that other riders will be joining you on your ride. Via focuses on shared rides with multiple riders.

Via charges a flat rate for their services. This is also different from other rideshare companies. Via also does pickups and drop offs differently. As the rider, Uber and Lyft drivers come to wherever you are to pick you up. With Via, you get picked up at the closest bus stop or corner to you, the same applies to drop-offs.

So, the business model is like public or mass transportation. This is why riding with Via is much cheaper than Uber or Lyft. Recently, Via partnered with Curb to carpool with others in yellow cabs used in New York. The partnership helps New York’s taxi drivers to move more riders. Via also partnered with Benz in Orange County, California to supply rides in that region.

Via is only available in select cities in the United States. These include New York City, Chicago, Washington DC, Arlington Texas, and West Sacramento, California. If you are in any of these cities and you want to earn some extra income, you can sign up as a Via driver.

Signing Up As A Via Driver

The driver requirements for joining the Via platform varies from city to city. If you intend to drive in NYC, for instance, you will be required to go through the Taxi and Limousine Commission. Via will help you get this license, though, so you can go ahead and apply if you do not have it yet.

This is on top of all the regular requirements:

-You must be at least 21 years old.

-You must have a valid US driver’s license and must have been driving for at least a year.

-You must also have a Social Security Card, Vehicle insurance and registration.

You will need to pass a background test, like Uber and Lyft. Your vehicle will also be inspected in some cities like Chicago. If you do not have a vehicle, Via can help you rent one, but you will be paying the cost for that yourself.

How Much Can You Earn Driving For Via?

The amount that you can earn as a Via driver varies from state to state. The highest earning that has been recorded is by drivers in New York City, with an average of about $21 per hour. In Chicago, riders make about $20+ per hour. This is considerably higher than what Uber and Lyft drivers make. Generally, though, the average Via driver earnings is about $14 an hour.

Another important point here is that you get paid by the hour on the Via platform, not per ride.

Wingz

Wingz is another rideshare company that has evolved over the years. Wingz started as a company that provided transportation to and from airports. Now the rideshare company’s scope has increased to offering around-town rides.

The Wingz app connects riders with local drivers for a personal ride that does not cost too much. The app also connects drivers to people who need airport transportation. You can even book ahead of time on the platform. Your flight information is made available to the driver who comes to pick you up. Unlike other rideshare companies, the Wingz business model does not include surge pricing.

Wingz also has an interesting service known as the Favorite Driver’s List. As a Wingz driver, you have a unique code that can be added to the “Favorite Driver’s List” of a rider. In this case, when that rider requests a ride, you get first dibs on that ride and so on down the list. Pretty cool, right?

Signing Up as A Wingz Driver

If you want to become a Wingz driver, you must be at least 21 years old and have a valid driver’s license and auto insurance. Your car must be a newer mid or full size sedan, van or SUV.

Wingz drivers are vetted (even more so than Uber or Lyft drivers). You must pass a criminal background check, DMV background check and go through Wingz training. Also, each driver and vehicle is provided with up to $1 million liability insurance.

How Much Can You Earn Driving For Wingz?

Wingz fares are guaranteed and are a flat-rate. Once a rider requests a ride, they are presented with a flat rate. This will be charged at the end of the trip, no cash payments.

As a driver, you will receive a greater percentage of the ride than other rideshare companies. You also earn more if you are requested as a “favorite driver.”

To join Wingz as a driver, you can sign up here.

Curb

Curb is determined to bring traditional taxi drivers along in this new rideshare era. The rideshare company brands itself as the “number one taxi app” in the United States. Curb works with existing taxi drivers and for-hire drivers who are insured.

The Curb app works like Lyft and Uber. As a rider, you can open up the app and order rides, and a driver will come to pick you up. You can also schedule rides ahead of time for an extra $2 fee on the Curb platform. Just pick a place and a time, and a Curb driver will be waiting for you there. There is no surge pricing on Curb.

As the taxi driver, you are paid based on how long the meter is running. Curb is available in many major cities in the U.S.