Over the past decade, ridesharing has become both a great way of commuting and a pretty quick way to earn an extra income.
If you’ve decided to become a rideshare driver, you most probably love flexibility and being in charge of your career. Even though this is a more comprehensive process, here are 3 most important tips you should consider before starting out:
Research and organise your documents before signing up with a ridesharing app
Is your PCO licence still valid? Is your car eligible for ridesharing? All these are questions that you need to have an answer for, before signing up with any ridesharing app.
If you prefer Uber, head over to their website and read everything about the sign up process. After that you should know if you have all the documents needed, so you can check their appointment process. Keep in mind that appointments might have changed since the pandemic started, so be prepared to switch to an online one if needed.
Find out the changes Covid-19 brought to the ridesharing industry
It’s safe to say that this pandemic has rocked our entire world and many industries have had to change and adapt to the new normal. As an industry that involves a lot of human interaction, ridesharing went through some changes too.
First and foremost, the health and safety of drivers and riders is vital for the industry to survive. Therefore, masks became mandatory and apps like Uber even handed out free sanitation products for all their drivers. As everyone plays their part in reducing the spread of the virus, drivers need to clean and disinfect their car, as often as possible.
Secondly, make sure you’re always up to date with the latest news. As the situation keeps evolving, the Government might introduce new restrictions or relax some of them. Transport for London is a good resource for official news, as is the Uber website and other official media outlets.
Always have a secondary plan
It’s important to keep an open mind during these challenging times. Which is what many drivers did when demand was lower on ridesharing apps. Many of them decided to diversify their work and signed up with parcel or food delivery apps.
If you don’t know where to start, UK-based PCO car hire company Splend has put together a pretty comprehensive list of the most popular delivery apps in London. You can sign up with anything from Uber Eats to Amazon Flex, so if you’re interested in any of them just do some research and sign up with the ones that best fit your schedule and lifestyle.
No one expected a pandemic in 2020, but the ridesharing industry is one of the best examples of quickly adapting to a different environment. If you’re convinced this is what you want to pursue, it’s important to know that will be exposed to other people. Apart from your schedule, you will also be responsible for your safety and health. In order to keep driving and earning an income, make sure both you and your riders follow the measures imposed by the Government.
