Food for thought

The Rideshare Guy channel just asked the question every new driver asks: is driving for Uber still worth it in 2026? Host Chris’s honest answer is “yes and no, it depends.” That hedge says a lot, so watch it below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWKpAHBQUHU

Chris frames Uber as a possible side income, money for an extra bill or a vacation. Notice that he isn’t pitching it as a full-time living. Then he gets into the traps, and those are what full-timers live with every day.

His first point is the big one: Uber prices rides for what’s good for Uber, not for you. Gas goes up, tires get pricier, and the app doesn’t care. He says some rides don’t even cover what it costs to run your car. From the driver’s seat, that means you, not the company, carry the whole cost of the business.

He also warns about long trips that leave you with no ride back, so you drive those miles home unpaid. In his words, that fare you thought was good should be cut in half. And sitting in the wrong spot can mean waiting a long time for nothing.

His fix is to know your cost per mile, skip bad rides, and study your market. That’s solid advice, but it proves the point of this blog. Making rideshare pay takes constant math, and you take all the risk. When the best answer to “is it worth it?” is “it depends,” you shouldn’t build your whole livelihood on it.

Follow Rideshare Sean on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok (username: Rideshare Sean) for more real talk about driving rideshare.

 

On every Uber or Lyft trip, three parties sit in the deal: the rider, the platform, and you. The rider gets a ride. The platform gets a cut, data, and control. You bring the car, the gas, the insurance risk, the unpaid wait time, and the wear on the odometer. If you are driving full-time for a living, that imbalance is not a quirk of one bad night. It is the job.

This is not a rant about one surge that fell through. It is a clear look at who actually comes out ahead when the trip ends, and why full-time rideshare drivers so often feel like the person who paid for everyone else’s convenience.

What the rider actually gets

The rider taps an app, sees a price, and usually gets door-to-door service without owning a car for that trip. They get GPS tracking, a rating system that pressures you to be polite even when they are late, and a support path that often starts with the company, not with you.

They also get something you do not: a fixed cost for that ride. Yours starts before the ping (fuel, insurance, miles already on the car) and keeps running after the drop-off (dead miles home, cleaning, the next unpaid reposition).

What the platform keeps

Uber and Lyft do not just “match” you to a rider. They set the price the rider sees, the offer you see, and the rules that decide whether you stay online. Under upfront pricing, the fare the passenger pays and the pay you accept are not a simple fixed split. That gap is the platform’s take.

How big is that gap? It depends on the market and the trip. A 2025 Guardian report on University of Oxford research into Uber’s UK pricing found a median take rate of about 29% after dynamic pricing, with some trips above 50%. In the U.S., the National Employment Law Project has described Uber and Lyft take rates as around 40% on average, and much higher on some individual rides. Uber’s own help pages say drivers earn the rider’s base, time, and distance rates minus Uber’s service fee, and that tips go 100% to the driver. The tip line matters; the fee line is where the platform’s real leverage sits.

The platform also keeps something softer than money: control. It can change offers overnight, raise acceptance pressure, or deactivate an account and put the burden on you to prove you should keep working. The rider still gets a car. You may lose the week’s income.

What the driver puts in

You supply the vehicle: depreciation, tires, brakes, oil, and the day a big repair hits after years of high mileage. You supply unpaid minutes waiting for pings, circling an airport queue, or driving empty to the next hot spot. You supply the customer-service face when a rider is drunk, late, rude, or wrong about the pin.

Even the tax code treats your car as a real cost. The IRS business standard mileage rate for 2026 is 72.5 cents per mile from January through June, and 76 cents per mile starting July 1, 2026. That rate is not extra income. It is the government’s rough measure of what it costs to put a business mile on a car. If app earnings look decent before you subtract those miles, you are looking at gross, not take-home.

Then there is risk the rider and the platform do not share the same way: a scratched bumper, a cleanup that never pays enough, an insurance gap between trips, a rating streak that tanks after one bad passenger. Full-time driving stacks those hits week after week. A part-time driver can shrug and go back to a W-2 job. A full-time driver is paying rent with that stack.

A real driver walks through the take rate

You do not have to take my word for how opaque this feels from the seat. Longtime Uber driver Levi Spires (Tip You in the App) recorded a trip where a passenger paid about $20 and he received $8, then broke down why so many people still assume the driver gets “at least half.” Watch it here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MP7oyk4bHGs

His point is not that every trip looks like that one. It is that the mental model most riders (and a lot of new drivers) carry is wrong, and that wrong model keeps people from asking the only question that matters for a living wage: after the platform’s cut and after the car’s cost, what is left?

Why full-time makes the imbalance worse

Part-time rideshare can plug a gap. Full-time rideshare asks the same deal to fund your whole life. That is when the three-party split stops being an annoyance and starts being a trap.

You need more hours to hit the same net because expenses scale with miles. You chase late-night or early-morning demand because the offers look better, and you pay for it in sleep. You stay online longer because the week has a rent number attached to it. The platform still takes its cut on every completed trip. The rider still pays a known price. You are the only one whose true cost rises with every mile and every empty minute.

There is also no career ladder inside the app. Five years of perfect ratings does not turn into a title, a pension, or a skill that reads cleanly on a resume. The work teaches local roads, patience, and hustle. It does not teach a hiring manager why those years should count like a traditional job.

So who comes out worst?

The rider gets the trip they paid for. The platform gets revenue, pricing power, and the right to rewrite the rules. The driver gets what is left after fees, unpaid time, the car’s share, and self-employment taxes.

That does not mean every trip is a loss, or that nobody should ever drive. It means if you treat Uber or Lyft as a full-time living, stop measuring success by the gross number on the weekly summary. Measure the week the way a business owner would: money in, miles out, hours actually worked, and what broke on the car. If that math only works when you ignore depreciation and dead miles, you are not winning the trip. You are subsidizing it.

On every ride, someone is paying more than they think. Too often, that someone is the person behind the wheel.

Follow Rideshare Sean on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok (username: Rideshare Sean) for more real talk about driving rideshare. YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ridesharesean

 

Read More

Now I want you to sit back for a moment and really think about the person in the front seat.

You see for most folks that little icon on their phone is just a digital convenience. You tap a button and a car appears. But for the man behind the wheel that transaction is a heavy burden to carry. It is a lopsided equation where the math just does not seem to add up anymore. Here we are in 2026 and the reality of the rideshare economy has become a quiet mounting struggle. These drivers are taking on professional grade risks for what amounts to amateur level pay.

They are out there navigating a world that moves too fast all while being judged by a rating system that can be turned against them by a single unhappy soul.

The Illusion of the Dollar

You hear the big companies talk about freedom. They talk about being your own boss. They will tell you that you can make twenty dollars or more in an hour. But you see that is a bit of a magician’s trick. It is a sleight of hand.

Because when you are a rideshare driver you are not just a driver. You are a small business owner with a very expensive piece of machinery to maintain. By the time you pour the fuel in the tank rotate the tires and watch the value of your vehicle drop with every mile on the odometer that twenty dollars starts to look awfully thin. When the dust settles and the marketplace fees are taken out many of these hardworking people are taking home less than the minimum wage. It is a hard way to make a living and an even harder way to get ahead.

A Dangerous Office

Now think about where they work. Most of us have an office with a door maybe a security guard in the lobby. But for a driver the office is a piece of glass and steel moving at sixty miles an hour.

It is a place where you are constantly on guard. You have the physical danger of the road of course. But you also have the uncertainty of who is sitting in that back seat. There is no human resources department to call when things go south. There is just the driver the road and a dashcam acting as a silent witness. The stress of that vigilance the constant what if takes a toll on a man’s spirit that a paycheck just cannot cover.

The Rating Trap

But perhaps the most bitter pill to swallow is the Evaluation.

We live in a world where everyone has a scorecard. A driver can provide a clean car a safe trip and a pleasant word only to find their livelihood threatened because a passenger did not like the color of the upholstery or the traffic was moving a little too slow for their liking.

A passenger can make a claim an inaccurate one mind you and just like that the app goes dark. The driver is locked out. No income. No explanation. Just a cold digital silence while they wait for a machine to decide their fate. In this system you are guilty until you can prove otherwise. And let me tell you it is a long lonely road trying to prove your innocence to an algorithm.

The Way Home

The Rideshare Sean way has always been about the truth. It is about transparency. If you are going to be out there on those Florida roads you have to treat it like the business it is. You have to track every cent. You have to document every mile. And most importantly you have to look out for yourself because the apps well they are looking out for the bottom line.

Until the world realizes that these drivers are the lifeblood of our cities the burden remains on the person behind the wheel. So stay safe out there. Keep your eyes on the road and your heart protected. Because at the end of the day your dignity is worth more than any five star rating.

I have to wonder have you ever felt the weight of a judgment that just was not fair?

Completing two long trips for Uber today took me from Sarasota-Bradenton Airport (SRQ) to my favorite spot, Tampa International Airport (TPA). The pay barely reached $65—a stark reminder of the challenges faced by Uber drivers.

Since joining Uber in 2018, I’ve witnessed a steady decline in driver pay, with the company seemingly slashing wages at every turn. It’s a harsh reality that drivers like me have come to accept, but it’s disheartening to see the lack of compassion from a company that relies so heavily on its workforce.

Driving for Uber comes with its own set of risks, yet the compensation fails to reflect the dangers involved. And when issues arise in Uber’s system, such as incorrect toll reimbursements, drivers are left to bear the burden without any form of refund or compensation.

Despite my repeated attempts to address the toll reimbursement discrepancy with Uber, the problem persists. Even as toll rates increase, Uber continues to reimburse at outdated amounts, seemingly turning a blind eye to the financial impact on its drivers.

It’s frustrating to see a company of Uber’s size neglecting the well-being of its workforce in pursuit of profit. As Uber grows, it seems to forget the individuals who contribute to its success, leaving drivers feeling undervalued and exploited.

In the end, it’s a stark reminder of the power dynamics at play in the corporate world. As companies like Uber expand, they often prioritize profits over people, leaving smaller players in the dust. But as drivers, we continue to push for fair treatment and compensation, hoping for change in an industry that seems content with exploitation.

 

 

 

 

As a rideshare driver navigating the bustling streets of Manatee County, Sundays have proven to be a lucrative day for me. While Saturday nights used to dominate when I used to drive in the Pinellas Market at night, Sunday daylight hours have emerged as a hidden gem for drivers in my market. In this blog post, I’ll take you through my Sunday routine, sharing insights into the challenges and rewards of being an Uber driver.

The Sunday Adventure Begins: This Sunday, I have a scheduled trip for a noon pickup to transport a rider to Tampa International Airport (TPA) via I275. TPA holds a special place in my heart, being my favorite airport among others SRQ and PIE. The journey is more than just a drive; it’s an opportunity to explore the diverse routes of Pinellas and Manatee County, aiming to hit the $100.00 mark for the day.

The Economics of Rideshare Driving: The rideshare industry, dominated by giants like Uber, has always been a double-edged sword for drivers. While the flexibility of choosing when to work appeals to many, the financial rewards often fall short. It’s astounding that Uber/Raiser, LLC. pays drivers so little, considering the significant risks drivers take each time they hit the road.

The Uber Attraction: Despite the meager pay and associated risks, Uber remains an attractive platform for drivers. The allure lies in the ability to work on your terms, making it an ideal gig for those who need to drive on their schedules. This flexibility has fueled the abundance of Uber drivers, making them readily available for passengers at any time.

The Never-Ending Cycle: One might wonder why drivers continue to join Uber, knowing the challenges they’ll face. The answer is simple: fresh meat. Uber’s constant influx of new drivers allows them to perpetuate the cycle of low wages. As they attract more drivers, they feel empowered to decrease pay rates, further exploiting the eager individuals looking to make a quick buck.

Risk and Neglect: The risks involved in rideshare driving go beyond the road. Uber’s insurance policies reveal a stark reality. With a $2500.00 deductible for accidents, drivers are left in a vulnerable position, especially considering the minimal pay. The lack of underinsured motorist coverage also raises questions about Uber’s priorities, seemingly valuing passengers over their drivers.

The Autonomous Shift: In 2024, the looming threat of autonomous vehicles is palpable. Uber appears to view drivers as a temporary expense, with plans to replace them entirely. As we navigate the present, drivers are the backbone of Uber’s success, yet the company seems set on minimizing its role in the near future.

Conclusion: Being an Uber driver on a Sunday is a unique experience, filled with challenges and opportunities. While the financial aspects may be discouraging, the flexibility keeps drivers on the road. As we continue to witness the evolution of the rideshare industry, drivers must stay informed and navigate the roads with a clear understanding of the landscape they operate within.

Hey, fellow rideshare enthusiasts and Uber drivers! Today marked another #OilChangeFriday in my routine, and I wanted to share a glimpse into my day as I prioritize the well-being of my trusty companion, Ruby.

As a rideshare driver, it’s crucial to keep our vehicles in top-notch condition to ensure smooth rides and reliable service. My day always kicks off with an oil change – a ritual that sets the tone for a successful day on the road.

Maintaining Ruby is a top priority for me because I rely on her to start without a hitch every time I push that Uber button. To keep things organized, I diligently log all maintenance activities on this website.

One maintenance practice I’ve adopted, thanks to the insights of the rideshare guy and expert, Harry Campbell, is changing both air filters every June and December. The Perolator in-cabin air filter, recommended by Harry, may come at a higher price, but I’ve found it to be worth the investment for a cleaner and more comfortable ride.

During my visits to Valvoline Quick Oil Change, I’ve noticed that they always put the engine air filter on the windshield for drivers to see. This visual cue has become my gauge, signaling when it’s time for a change. I’ve observed over the years that replacing them every 6 months is the sweet spot – around the 5-month mark, they start showing signs of wear and tear.

After wrapping up my #OilChangeFriday routine, it’s time to hit the road for a day of Uber driving. The satisfaction of knowing that Ruby is in peak condition adds an extra layer of confidence to my rides, making each trip a positive experience for both myself and my passengers.

So here’s to staying on top of maintenance, embracing #OilChangeFriday, and keeping our Uber journeys smooth and trouble-free. If you’re a rideshare driver like me, share your maintenance tips in the comments below – let’s keep our rides reliable and our engines purring! 🚗💨 #RideshareLife #UberDriver #CarMaintenance #OilChangeTips

As a rideshare driver, my days are filled with scheduled trips, countless conversations, and the hum of Ruby, my trusty car, ferrying passengers to their destinations. Today was no different, as I completed two scheduled trips for Uber, shuttling passengers to TPA airport at 10 AM and then to PIE airport at 4:15 PM. The seamless rides showcased Rubay’s reliability, which is crucial in this line of work.

Amid the daily grind, I find myself hustling to make ends meet, attempting to earn enough money to invest in SEO for my website. The challenges are real, especially when relying solely on an Uber salary and driving a car that has accumulated a staggering 534,000 miles.

Amidst the busy streets and occasional challenges, a memorable encounter with a rider comes to mind. During one ride, a passenger recommended a documentary that left a lasting impression. The film centered around Bethany Hamilton, the inspirational surfer who, despite losing an arm in a shark attack, continued to pursue her passion. Her resilience and the words she shared struck a chord with me: “I knew re-learning how to surf with 1 arm was going to be hard, but not impossible.” It’s a sentiment that resonates, reminding me of the power of determination in overcoming obstacles.

As I navigate through the bustling city, thoughts of the upcoming month linger. February, a fast-paced month for me, is about to begin. This Thursday night marks the start of a ritual I’ve embraced since 2016—an annual fast that lasts until the same time on Sunday night. It’s a personal challenge, abstaining from solid food for three days. I recall a time when I used to endure 5-day fasts, but in 2020, I found myself dreaming about food and even having nightmares about starvation. It was then that I decided to shorten the fasting duration to three days.

Reflecting on past experiences, I recall a memorable encounter with a passenger during the last stretch of a 5-day fast. As we crossed the Gandy Bridge to Tampa, I made the mistake of mentioning that it had been five days since my last meal. The revelation didn’t sit well with the rider, understandably so, as we traversed a bridge. Fasting for an extended period might sound extreme, but I’ve come to realize the benefits it brings to my overall well-being.

Life behind the wheel as a rideshare driver is an intricate dance of schedules, conversations, and personal challenges. It’s a journey that unfolds with each ride, weaving together the stories of passengers and the unique experiences encountered on the road.

 

 

Today, I completed two trips for Uber. One of the riders worked for the U.S. Department of Defense as a psychologist and was heading back to Germany, where she would live until next year. She was in Florida on vacation to take care of her 92-year-old parents, who were dealing with various health problems (who wouldn’t at that age). The rider shared that she was 62 years old and had two brothers and three sisters. She mentioned that she never had children, which I think is an admirable decision. I picked her up in Manatee County and took her to a hotel in Hillsborough County, Florida. Driving for Uber allows me to meet interesting people from all walks of life and learn about their stories. It’s always fascinating to hear about their experiences and the reasons behind their decisions. As an Uber driver, I’m grateful for the opportunity to connect with people and provide a valuable service

As the digital clock ticks towards midnight, many people eagerly anticipate the festivities of New Year’s Eve. Yet, for me, a seasoned Uber driver, this night comes with a tinge of caution. It’s not about the celebratory atmosphere or the joyous chaos that ensues when the ball drops in New York City. No, my hesitation is rooted in the evolving landscape of earnings—particularly the disheartening decline in driver pay on this once-lucrative occasion.

When I first embarked on my journey as an Uber driver, New Year’s Eve was synonymous with promising opportunities. The surge in demand translated to surges in fares, creating an environment where the financial rewards were as abundant as the confetti raining down on Times Square. The transition from 2018 to 2019 marked my inaugural New Year’s Eve behind the wheel, and the surges skyrocketed to an impressive $60 and even higher. It was, indeed, a night of unparalleled financial success for drivers navigating the city streets.

However, the subsequent New Year’s Eves unfolded a different narrative. In 2019-2020, the surges experienced a notable downturn, settling at a more modest $30 per call. The following year, stationed in Downtown St. Petersburg, I witnessed a perplexing trend—the surges failed to ascend beyond $5 on New Year’s Eve. The financial pendulum had swung, leaving drivers grappling with a stark reality: the diminishing returns on what was once a night of financial abundance.

The underlying issue became apparent—it seemed that the pay for drivers was diminishing while the standard cost to the rider remained relatively stable. This created a scenario where New Year’s Eve became an exceptionally lucrative night for Uber, but at the expense of the hardworking drivers. Conversations with passengers painted a consistent picture—they shared experiences of their apps displaying “no riders available” when drivers like myself were in close proximity, ready and available to serve.

Since the turn of the decade, I made a conscious decision to abstain from driving on New Year’s Eve. The allure of the past, when the night promised significant financial gains, had waned, replaced by a new reality where the scales tipped unfavorably for drivers. The cost-benefit analysis shifted, prompting me to reevaluate the wisdom of working on what was once the most lucrative night of the year.

Yet, as the current New Year’s Eve approaches, I find myself contemplating a single run. The decision, however, comes with a set threshold—$70. If a call comes through at that value or higher, I’ll seize the opportunity. It’s a cautious approach, a compromise between the potential earnings and the acknowledgment that the once-lucrative landscape has changed.

The hesitation stems from a fundamental recognition—the pay for drivers on New Year’s Eve has dwindled, and the glory days of surges reaching unprecedented heights seem to be a distant memory. As I prepare for tonight’s potential single run, the thought lingers: Will the ride be worth the time and effort invested, or will it be a reminder of the stark contrast between the celebratory spirit of the night and the financial reality for drivers?

In the absence of the surges that once made New Year’s Eve a driver’s financial haven, the decision to embark on a single run becomes a delicate balancing act. The anticipation of potential earnings clashes with the sobering awareness of the declining returns on this particular night. The ever-evolving landscape of the gig economy demands adaptability, and tonight’s single run becomes a symbolic test of the current state of affairs.

As the clock ticks closer to midnight, I remain stationed in front of my PC, ready to hit the road if a call comes through at my predetermined threshold. The decision not to drive on New Year’s Eve in recent years reflects the shifting sands of the gig economy, where the financial equation has been rewritten, and drivers are left to navigate a landscape where the once-golden opportunities have lost their luster.+

I am sitting in front of my PC online and I am watching the request as they pour in. It is definitely different in Manatee County
than in Pinellas County. The calls are actually coming in 1 right after the other. A lot of schedule trips for 1AM on January 1st 2024.
I actually saw a surge go up to $5.25 so we will see. The requests are ranging from 1 that I saw that was $3100 to as low as $7.00. I just
decline them 1 after the other. At any other time a picture of myself needs to be taken after 4 requests are declined. Now I just pop right back online
with no picture needed. I remember when the Uber system didn’t kick you offline after ANY declined requests now they do it all the time, nor on New Years Eve though.

It is now 12:28 AM and I have see no requests
Come in over $50.00 so it looks like I won’t be driving tonight.