Dallas Uber & Lyft Driver Guide

Dallas Lyft & Uber Driver Guide

The Dallas-Fort Worth area is the fourth largest metropolitan area in the country, and the city of Dallas itself is the ninth most populous city in the country.

With big city living comes plenty of opportunities for people who are comfortable navigating the Dallas area to make some extra cash as a Lyft or Uber driver.

Whether you’re driving to replace your full-time job or just driving Lyft or Uber as a side gig, you’re going to need to know the ins and outs of the city if you want to maximize your time and earnings. Use the tips below as a starting point for making the most of your rideshare driving experience in Dallas.

Best Places to Drive Lyft & Uber in Dallas

During the weekday, Lyft and Uber drivers will get a lot of commuter and airport requests in the Dallas and North Dallas areas.

Here are some of the Dallas Uber & Lyft hotspots that often have the most rideshare traffic during peak times:

  • Dallas Core — This includes American Airlines Center (ACC), the Arts District, Downtown, Lower Greenville, Oak Lawn, Uptown, and University Park.
  • Addison — There’s often demand from Addison to downtown Dallas and back.
  • Grand Prairie — In the Grand Prairie area, there is a lot of rider demand for the Verizon Theatre and Lone Star Park during events.
  • Plano/Frisco — If you’re driving in the Plano or Frisco areas, you’ll find the most traffic near Dr. Pepper Ballpark, Toyota Stadium, and the Shops at Legacy.
  • Universities — There is also high demand in the University of Texas at Dallas and Southern Methodist University areas.

Many Lyft and Uber drivers in Dallas will often get rides to and from Fort Worth and other mid-sized cities with high weekday rush hour demand.

Weekend nights also have high demand for different popular nightlife spots. Here are some areas with the highest rider traffic:

  • Fort Worth — W 7th Street, Houston Avenue, and Stockyards.
  • Texas Christian University — Near the University and surrounding restaurants, bars, etc.
  • Arlington — AT&T Stadium and UTA area.
  • Denton — Denton Square, Fry Street, and the UNT area.

 

Best Times to Drive Lyft & Uber in Dallas

If you want to maximize your earnings and get the most out of your experience driving for Lyft or Uber, you’ll want to try to drive during the busiest times of the day. The best times to drive Lyft and Uber in Dallas are very similar to other major metropolitan areas:

  • Weekday Morning Rush Hour: From 6:30 a.m. to 9 a.m., many people in Dallas are heading to work from the outlying suburbs. Some Dallas commuters prefer to take an Uber or Lyft to avoid high parking fees, especially in the downtown area.
  • Weekday Afternoon Rush Hour: Commuters are heading home from work between 4 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Again, many people want to avoid the stress of driving in Dallas traffic and the parking fees that come along with working downtown.
  • Busiest Weekend Hours: Typically, the best time to drive during the weekend (Friday and Saturday) is from 8 p.m. to 3 a.m. Most people head to bars and restaurants between 8 and 10 p.m. and return home between 1 and 3 a.m.

Lyft & Uber Airport Pickups & Drop-offs: What You Need to Know

With almost 900 daily flights, the Dallas Fort Worth Airport is the third busiest airport in the world.

Dallas also has Love Field Airport, which is located northwest of downtown and frequently used by those who fly into Dallas often. With these two prominent airports located in the Dallas city limits, there’s a good chance you’ll be dropping off and picking up riders there often.

Dallas Fort Worth Airport (DFW)

The DFW Airport requires that rideshare drivers display an airport vehicle decal when picking up and dropping off passengers.

You can get this free airport decal from the Ground Transportation Office at DFW (2444 East 30th St.). When applying for the decal, choose “Pre-Arranged” for the DFW Decal Type and Operating Authority Type.

Both Lyft and Uber drivers can drop off riders at the departures area of the terminal. For pick-ups, both rideshare apps work on a first-in, first-out basis, meaning those who arrive at the staging lot first will be the first to receive ride requests.

Both the Uber and Lyft staging lots are located at Terminal A. This is where you will wait for a ride request. Once you receive a ride request, you’ll proceed to the correct terminal.

 

Uber has two special features important to know about when picking up and dropping off riders at DFW:

  • Pre-Match — Pre-Match prompts drivers in the staging lot to head toward the airport terminal a few minutes before they get a ride request to help minimize idle time.
  • Rematch — The Rematch feature helps drivers who have just dropped off a rider at the airport quickly get a pick-up request without waiting in the airport queue.

Dallas Love Field Airport (DAL)

As with DFW, riders who are heading to the Dallas Love Field Airport can be dropped off at the departures area of the airport.

If drivers want to be eligible to pick up another rider at the airport, they will need to keep the Lyft or Uber app open and proceed to the DAL staging area, which is located at the Ground Transportation area near the airport entrance. You can wait in any of the areas on Ansley, Hawes, or Aubrey Avenues.

Pickups at the DAL airport are also on a first-in, first-out basis. Drivers who are first in the queue once in the staging area will be the first to receive ride requests. If there are no drivers in the staging lot, then the pick-up requests will go to other drivers in the area.

Dallas Lyft & Uber Driving Tips and Shortcuts

Getting the most of your rideshare driving experience means knowing how to navigate the Dallas area. Most ride requests come in during the busiest traffic times of the day, so it’s important to know your route ahead of time and check traffic before you leave. Not only will you be able to work more efficiently and pick up more riders, but your riders will appreciate your ability to get them to their destinations promptly.

Here are just a few driving tips and shortcuts for Dallas drivers:

  • Avoid gridlock on the Central Expressway and Dallas North Tollway by taking Preston Road.
  • When traveling northeast from downtown, take Live Oak rather than Gaston or Ross, as it has more lanes and generally less traffic.
  • When I-30 is backed up to downtown, take Elm Street if going west or Commerce Street if going east through the canyons and Deep Ellum.
  • If you’re traveling from East Dallas to Oak Cliff, avoid I-30 by taking Columbia Avenue, which will eventually get you to South Houston Street and the North Zang Boulevard Bridge.
  • When trying to get north from Oak Cliff, you can take the Houston/Jefferson viaducts to downtown or Sylvan to I-30 when 35E and the Mixmaster are congested.
  • To get to DFW quicker, take the Northwest Highway heading west until it ends.

Any Lyft or Uber driver can use the tips above to get the most out of their experience by minimizing idle time and maximizing earnings.

The more efficiently you work and more riders you pick up during a shift, the more money you stand to make. And remember, you can work for both Lyft and Uber. In fact, most Dallas rideshare drivers check both apps to take advantage of higher rider demand and fares throughout the week.

 

driving uber on christmas

Driving Lyft Or Uber Around Christmas – What To Expect

Driving around Christmas usually results in decent to good money. This year should be a little better because Christmas falls right after a weekend. Overall, business should be steady most of the time this coming weekend, with some periods of really busy ridership.

In most markets, Friday, Saturday will probably be the busiest days overall, although don’t count on the evenings being busier than a normal weekend evening.

Expect a fair number of airport runs throughout the weekend and even on Christmas Eve.

Christmas itself should be okay, but most of the driving money will be made in the days before and after Christmas

Here’s what you can expect, and how to have a successful Christmas if you choose to drive Uber or Lyft this weekend.

Driving Uber Or Lyft Christmas Week – What To Have In Your Car

This weekend you should have in your car whatever you would normally have with the one exception. On Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day, keep the following items in your car:

  • paper towels
  • plastic bags
  • Clorox wipes

You’ll need these items because on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, people may be transporting food to other peoples houses. If possible, have the passenger put the food in the trunk.

Just in case, you want some paper towels around (and a plastic bag to put them in) to take care of any inadvertent spills that may occur during transport.

Better safe than sorry.

What To Expect – Driving Uber Or Lyft The Weekend Before Christmas

The whole weekend should be steady, with some busy spikes.

You should expect a fair number of airport rides as people start leaving and coming into town throughout Friday.

Saturday should be steady all day and get increasingly busy towards the evening. The morning and early afternoon should see a pretty good brunch crowd, along with a lot of shoppers.

While Friday and Saturday nights should be busy, don’t expect them to busier than an average weekend night. While a lot of people will be going out, they usually do anyways.

And for every person visiting, someone else probably left town.

Shopping areas should also be busy all weekend as people get their last minute Christmas gifts. Many people will have Monday off, so expect a busier Sunday evening than normal.

Another consequence of many people taking Monday off is that the morning commute that day won’t be super busy.

However, a lot of people will still be headed to the airport. Expect things to start getting busier around noon as even more people catch their Christmas eve flights, and people who did have to go to work, go home early.

Monday night should be steady throughout, but not overwhelming. People who stayed in town will likely be going out. People who flew in, and already need a break from their families will also be going out.

Expect A Lot Of Last Minute Shoppers

driving lyft on christmas

 

What To Expect – Christmas Eve

On Christmas Eve, expect to be driving around tons of last-minute shoppers. You may also get a couple of airport runs during the day. Towards the late afternoon and early evening, many of your rights will be taking people to other peoples houses for Christmas Eve get togethers.

Don’t Wait At Grocery Stores

If any passengers want you to wait while they pick up just one thing from the grocery store, politely decline.

Starting Sunday, supermarkets are going to get busy, and going in to get one or two items can wind up taking twenty minutes.

So, end the ride, and move on to the next one.

What To Expect – Christmas Day

In most markets, Christmas Day is steady (but not spectacular) in the morning and early afternoon. Business tends to die down a bit from the late afternoon until later in the evening.

In the morning, don’t be surprised if you get at least one airport run.

More and more people fly home on Christmas day, because it’s usually cheaper than flying the couple of days beforehand.

Other than that, you’ll be taking a steady stream of riders to their friends and families places to celebrate Christmas.

If you drive later in the evening, after 7 PM, you’ll have a steady stream of riders going home. Oh, and if it seems slow out, head to a multiplex.

A lot of people actually go to the movies on Christmas Day.

What To Expect – The Day After Christmas

In most markets, the day after Christmas should be decent, but not super busy. However, traffic will be light, and there will be a lot of people going to the airport.

The morning should be steady, and rush hour traffic will be lighter than normal most places. If you plan on driving the day after Christmas, your best bet is to be on the road by 7 or 8am.

One Final Tip

While you should always drive defensively, it’s even more important this week. Unfortunately, there are likely to be a few people drink, and then get behind the wheel this weekend. So, always be aware of your surroundings, and constantly scan the road ahead.

If you plan on driving for Lyft or Uber this Christmas weekend, hopefully this guide helps you drive profitably.

Best of luck out there and have a merry Christmas.

Looking For The Best Rideshare Company To Sign Up With?

Sign up to drive with Lyft today and get a sign up bonus.

With Lyft, you can sign up to drive even if you don’t have a car!

 

Houston Uber Lyft Driver Guide

Houston Lyft & Uber Guide

As the fourth most populous city in the United States, Houston has a healthy demand for rideshare services.

Whether working full-time or as a side gig, Lyft and Uber drivers in Houston can make some serious cash when driving during the busiest times of the week or picking up and dropping off riders at some of the city’s most popular destinations.

But if you want to maximize your earnings with Lyft or Uber, you need to know the ins and outs of being a rideshare driver in Houston. That’s why we’ve put together a helpful guide to driving Lyft and Uber in Houston. Below, you’ll find information on the best times and areas to pick up riders as well as some insider tips for avoiding traffic and getting to your destination as quickly as possible.

Best Areas to Drive Lyft and Uber in Houston

Some areas are more popular than others when it comes to rider demand. If you want to make the most out of your Lyft or Uber driving experience while maximizing your earnings, focus on the areas of town that will allow you to increase the number of rides and earn higher fares.

Downtown Area

One of the hottest spots in Houston is the downtown area, which boasts both an active business community and vibrant cultural scene. During the week, you have the opportunity to pick up riders traveling to and from work, but during the weekend, you can take advantage of those who are enjoying Houston’s downtown nightlife.

Here are just a few of the busiest venues that have high demand during special events:

  • Toyota Center
  • George R. Brown Convention Center
  • Discovery Green
  • Minute Maid Park

The Heights, Montrose and Rice Village

The charming, upscale Heights neighborhood is a great walking area, with wonderful restaurants, great architecture and nightlife, and the off kilter Art Car Museum.

 

Montrose is an eclectic area where you can find riders who just visited the museum district, an art gallery or one of the areas many antique stores.

Rice Village is a great shopping and dining area just West of Rice University. If you’re looking for a lot of short hops to satisfy a Lyft or Uber bonus requirement, this is a good spot to try.

TDECU Stadium

Texans love their football, and this is never more apparent than on a University of Houston gameday. As thousands of fans gather to tailgate and watch the Cougars play, rideshare drivers have the opportunity to make some serious cash. The designated pickup and drop-off area is located on the west side of Calhoun Road just off of University Drive.

Smart Financial Centre at Sugar Land

Smart Financial Centre at Sugar Land is another popular event venue for those living in Houston. From concerts and cultural events to comedy shows and dance performances, there is something going on every week at this venue. To avoid heavy traffic during special events, both Uber and Lyft drivers should navigate to the designated rideshare pickup zone, which is outside the box office on Lexington Boulevard.

NRG Park

NRG Park includes the NRG Stadium, NRG Center, NRG Arena, and NRG Astrodome. With 5.6 million people visiting NRG Park every year for a variety of different events, this is certainly a hot spot for Uber and Lyft drivers. When traveling to NRG Stadium during Texans games, traffic can be a challenge. Use the designated lots for rideshare drivers to pick up and drop off passengers before and after the game, located on the right side NRG Parkway.

 

Best Times to Drive Lyft and Uber in Houston

The most successful Lyft and Uber drivers focus on driving during the busiest times of the day to take advantage of Uber’s Surge and Lyft’s Prime Time, which allow drivers to earn higher fares during peak rider demand. If you want to maximize your earnings and complete more rides during your shift, focus on these peak hours for Houston:

Morning Rush Hour: Monday – Friday from 6-9 a.m.

Lyft and Uber drivers can expect countless requests during morning rush hour, especially in the downtown and Galleria areas. Many riders would rather rideshare to work then deal with parking costs. This is also when you’ll experience high traffic volumes in Houston, so check traffic and identify alternate routes before you head out.

Afternoon Rush Hour: Monday – Friday from 3-8 p.m.

There is also a high demand for Lyft and Uber drivers during afternoon rush hour in the downtown and Galleria areas as riders are heading home from work. Again, this is also when you can expect to encounter peak traffic times, so plan accordingly by knowing your route ahead of time.

Weekend Late Night: Friday and Saturday from 5 p.m.-3 a.m.

The nightlife rush in Houston can start as early at 5 p.m. on Friday and Saturday afternoon, and rider demand usually continues on through 3 a.m. The highest demand areas include downtown, midtown, and Montrose.

Uber and Lyft Houston Airport Drop-Offs and Pickups

With two major airports in the Houston area, there’s a good chance you’ll be picking up or dropping off riders at George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) or William P. Hobby Airport (HOU). When dropping riders off at IAH or HOU, you can proceed to the arrivals area of their designated terminal.

When picking up riders at IAH or HOU, you will need to proceed to the designated rideshare waiting area. For both Uber and Lyft, there is a first-in-first-out policy when waiting for requests. This means that the first drivers who enter the rideshare lot will be the first drivers to receive a request. Here are the pick-up instructions for each airport:

  • IAH – The rideshare waiting area for both Uber and Lyft is located near Lee Road and Will Clayton Parkway. Once you have received a passenger request, you will proceed to one of the four designated pickup points at the terminal.
  • HOU – The rideshare waiting area for both Uber and Lyft is located off of S. Rent Car Road. Once you have received a passenger request, you will proceed to Pickup Zone 5 at the terminal.

Here are some other important things to keep in mind when picking up passengers:

  • You can lose your place in the queue if you leave the waiting area, turn off your driver app, or cancel multiple rides.
  • If a rider cancels the ride, you will maintain your place in the queue as long as you proceed back to the waiting area.
  • If there are no drivers in the waiting area, the trip requests will be sent to other Uber or Lyft drivers in the area.

Navigating Houston Traffic: Route Tips and Shortcuts for Uber and Lyft Drivers

When it comes to getting from the pickup to drop-off location as quickly as possible, you’ll need to know the most efficient routes and shortcuts in Houston.

Houston Uber driver guide

 

Keep these in mind during your next Houston Uber or Lyft driving shift:

  • To avoid traffic congestion on 610, take Hardy Street to Cavalcade and turn right to get on I-45. Alternatively, you can also take the left access to US-59.
  • To avoid traffic and slow drive times, avoid the West Belt at all costs, and instead take San Felipe when traveling to Galleria or Downtown.
  • To get downtown faster, avoid 610. Instead take Hardy Street, which turns into Elysian and then Crawford. Turn onto La Branch and you’ll end up on the east side of downtown.
  • If you’re trying to get to HOU quickly, bypass the Gulf Freeway or I-45 by taking SH-288 southbound to the 610 south loop eastbound ramp. Then take a right on Telephone and onto Airport Boulevard to get directly to the terminal.

Whether you are driving Uber or Lyft (or even both), there’s never been a better time to be a rideshare driver in the city of Houston. With an abundance of riders both local and visiting, rideshare services are always in demand. Use some of the tips above to get the most out of your rideshare driving experience and maximize your earnings in Houston.

 

Looking For The Best Rideshare Company To Sign Up With?

Sign up to drive with Lyft today and get a sign up bonus.

With Lyft, you can sign up to drive even if you don’t have a car!

 

limebike dockless bikes

Quick Guide To Lime And Lime Scooters

LimeBike made waves with its launch in 2017 as one of the very first bikeshare ventures in the United States. Building on the model of rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft, they offer simpler and more affordable modes of in-city transportation. While their name seems to be everywhere (the company shortened it to Lime in 2018), not many people actually know the specifics of the company or the opportunities it offers. If you fall into this category, here’s everything you need to know about Lime and their services.

What Is Lime (And LimeBikes and Lime Scooters)?

LimeBikes are simply grab-and-go style bike rentals that you use for a small fee. With a dockless system, riders can locate available bikes in their area, unlock them for their journey, and then simply leave them at their destination. This process is convenient as well as affordable. However, Lime’s bikes are being phased out in favor of scooters, which have become far more popular.

For now, there are two styles of LimeBikes available: Smart Bikes and E-Assist.

Smart Bikes are traditional, pedal-powered bikes that are integrated into the company’s smart app system. Lime offers three variations of Smart Bikes: one-speed, three-speed (shown below), and eight-speed.

Limebike rental 3 speed

 

Electric Assist (or Lime-E) bikes, on the other hand, offer a boost of electric power. While you’ll still pedal, the battery increases your power and makes it easier to bike around the city. In fact, the Lime-E bikes can reach speeds of up to 14.8 mph.

If you want to try an actual Limebike, you should do it soon, as the company is phasing out bikes, in favor of scooters.

What Are Lime Scooters?

Known as the Lime-S (shown below), Lime Bike scooters are designed to make it even easier to get around a city with fast travel speeds and affordable costs. Riders can rent the scooters in the same manner as LimeBikes, but since they’re electric, there’s no manual labor involved.

Lime Bike Lime-S Scooter

 

Where Is Lime Available?

Lime is rapidly increasing their service areas. Currently, their main focus is on cities and college campuses. The states they’re operating in include:

  • Arizona
  • California
  • Colorado
  • Florida
  • Illinois
  • Indiana
  • Maryland
  • Massachusetts
  • Missouri
  • New York
  • Nevada
  • New Jersey
  • North Carolina
  • Ohio
  • Texas
  • Washington
  • Washington D.C.

Their biggest operating area is California, and some states only offer the service in one or two major cities. Also, Lime-S isn’t available in all of the cities that currently offer LimeBike. However, the company is working to expand their service area quickly.

How Much Do LimeBike Rentals Cost?

LimeBike rentals are incredibly affordable. There’s a standard rate for each bike and scooter rental, but exact costs for each electric model vary by city. Here’s a breakdown of their pricing model:

  • Smart Bikes: Manual LimeBikes cost $1 for every 30 minutes of use. If you’re a student, professor, or staff member of a college or university, you only have to pay 50 cents for each half hour. To qualify for this discount, you need to set up your Lime rider account with a valid .edu email address.
  • Electric Assist Bikes: Lime’s electric assist bikes charge a $1 base cost with an additional fee for each minute of usage. The per-minute charge varies by location, but on average, it ends up at around 15 cents.
  • Lime-S: For Lime’s electric scooters, you’ll experience a pricing formula similar to the electric LimeBikes. There’s an initial fee of $1 to unlock the scooter, and then you’ll be charged a location-specific rate for every minute of use.

The company offers a special pricing program for frequent riders. LimePrme is a monthly pay tier that allows you to pay $29.95 for around $100 of LimeBike credits. College and university faculty can purchase a LimePrime membership for $14.95. However, this service is only available for traditional, pedal LimeBikes and not their electric counterparts or scooters.

You can use our LimeBike promo code – R2WAI74 – to get $3 in ride credits when you sign up. Click the button below to download the Limebike app and get started with your free Limebike rides.

Join LimeBike

 

How to Rent a LimeBike

Limebike escooter rental start screen

Renting a LimeBike or Lime-S scooter is even easier than requesting an Uber or Lyft. You’ll need to first download the Lime app from the iTunes store or Google Play.  After you open the app, it’ll request that you sign up for the service, and then you’ll be able to enter your payment information.

Limebike Smart Bike Rental - Payment Entry

To rent a LimeBike or scooter, you’ll need to find a bike on the map. Your current position is designated with a little blue dot while rentals in the area are identifiable by the green Lime logo.

Limebike E-Assist Map

Choose a nearby option and walk to it. Once you’ve arrived, you will scan the QR code on the back of the LimeBike seat or on the scooter’s handlebar. This step unlocks the vehicle and you can begin your journey. Here’s a short video that shows how to rent a LimeBike scooter.

The app will track your time, distance, location, and cost in real-time, so you’ll always know what your total expense is. When you’ve reached your destination, you simply park the bike or scooter in a safe location. For bikes, you’ll move the lock lever on the back tire to reset it. For scooters, you’ll click “Lock” on the app screen. You’ll see your total charges and trip summary on the app’s screen, so be sure to double-check that the cost is correct.

Everything You Need to Know About LimeBike Juicers

After launching their electric scooter service, the company needed assistance with recharging their equipment for the next day. This has created a new type of LimeBike job position, known as a “juicer.” Learn more about this side hustle and how you can benefit from it, below.

What Is a LimeBike Juicer?

LimeBike juicers drive around their service area to collect scooters for charging. They then take the scooters home and charge them overnight for a fee. For this particular LimeBike job, you’ll operate as an independent contractor, which means you have more freedom than a conventional position.

How To Be A Limebike Juicer

How Much Do Lime Bike Juicers Make?

Lime pays their juicers for each scooter they charge. This fee varies by area, but you’ll know the total payment available when you click the scooter on your in-app map. On average, you can expect to earn around $5 per charge. Initially, the company will provide you with three chargers, but you can feasibly charge more than three machines per night. They only require the scooters to reach a 95 percent charge before considering the job completed.

The more well-charged machines will take one to two hours to charge, while those with less juice need around five to seven hours. If you pick up six Lime Bike scooters — three that are mostly charged and three with a nearly depleted charge, you could potentially earn $30 or more per night.

How to Become a LimeBike Juicer

To join the LimeBike juicer community, you simply need to sign up on their website. For this process, you’ll provide personal information, contact information, and your vehicle type. The company requires each juicer to have a vehicle available to them to transport the scooters, such as a car, SUV, truck, or minivan. After reviewing your application, a member of the Lime team will contact you over the phone or through email. This conversation provides all of the information you need to know about the charging process and what the company expects from you as a juicer.

Once approved, you’ll be able to turn on “Juicer” mode in your LimeBike app. After 8 p.m., you can begin collecting scooters in your area and start charging them. The app will provide you a general area to drop off each scooter in the morning. All Lime-S equipment must be charged and placed back into the community by 7 a.m. After you’ve dropped off the scooter, you’ll click “Served” on the app and instantly see how much you’ve made.

The Future of LimeBikes and Lime-S Electric Scooters

LimeBikes and scooters make in-city travel convenient and affordable, but they also offer a money-making opportunity for locals. As the company expands, they’ll need more and more LimeBike juicers to keep up with demand. If you’re looking for a quick way to complement your income, scooter rental services, like Lime and Bird, provide a fantastic opportunity to earn money with minimal effort. Have you used LimeBike or Lime-S yet? We want to know how it went!

If Limebike isn’t in your area yet, you can request it here.

Lyft & Uber Passenger Holiday Tips

Lyft & Uber Holiday Rider Tips

Winter is a hectic time to be on the road. Dangerous weather and increased holiday traffic can make an ordinary commute seem like the seventh level of hell at times.

It’s no wonder so many people choose to take a Lyft or Uber during this time of year.

Unfortunately, the increased rider demand around the holidays often leads to more frequent and costly surge pricing.

Don’t worry though — we’ve got the inside scoop on how to ride like a pro and keep a little dough in your pocket for those holiday gifts.

Lyft passenger traveling home for the holidays.

 

Avoiding Surge Pricing on Uber and Lyft

Mention surge pricing in conversations among rideshare passengers and you’ll likely be met with a stream of expletives, or at least a roll of the eyes. Unfortunately, the concept isn’t going away and may show up at your favorite restaurant next year.

Lyft and Uber don’t necessarily impose surge pricing to be evil – they’re just responding to the reality that ride requests often outnumber the number of drivers available and must offer some incentives to keep drivers driving.

That said, we’ve got a few tricks up our sleeves for avoiding surge pricing with Uber and Lyft during the holidays.

1.  Sign up for both Lyft and Uber

In many cases, one platform may have surge pricing, while the other is charging the standard fare for rides. Comparing fares can help you avoid paying a premium for your rides.

Walk a couple blocks — It’s hard to know when or where surge pricing might begin, but if you’re in a particularly congested shopping area, consider walking a couple of blocks to a less busy place to avoid surge pricing.

2. Wait About Ten Minutes

Sometimes, avoiding surge pricing is just a matter of being patient. If you can wait 15-30 minutes, you may find that rates return to normal for your next ride. Go have a drink or a meal and see how things play out.

3. Know The Regular Surge Pricing Times

Again this isn’t always foolproof, but if you can plan your rides outside of normal commute times, you can save time, headaches, and money. Additionally, if you keep up to date on special events like concerts or sporting events, you can avoid those times likely to be subject to surge pricing.

4. Give UberPool Or Lyft Line A Try

If you’re down to meet new people, consider sharing your ride with others. You never know — you could meet the next Mr. or Mrs. Right!

Avoiding surge pricing is just one way to make your holiday rideshare experience a 5-star affair. Keep reading for additional tips.

Consider A Lyft Or Uber Subscription Plan

Both Uber and Lyft offer subscription plans in certain cities, designed to reduce rates and encourage rider loyalty.

If you think you may be taking a few more Lyft or Uber rides this December, this might be a good option.

Lyft Subscription Plans

There are currently two Lyft All-Access Plans. The first one costs $169 per month for 30 rides (up to $8 per ride). The more expensive Lyft plan costs $299 per month for 30 rides (up to $15 per ride).

Overall, Lyft’s subscription plan works out to around a 30% discount on rides, if you take 30 rides in a month, and they’re under the $8 or $15 limit.

For rides over $8 or $15, the rider pays the additional amount.

Uber Cash & Ride Pass

If $299 or $169 are a bit steep, the Uber Ride Pass might be a better option.

Purchasing a pass ($14.99 – $24.99 per month) locks in reduced Uber rates for one month. It’s only available in certain cities, and even in those cities, in limited quantities.

You can sign up through the app. The option will appear in your Uber rider app when passes are available. When the passes for that month are sold out, the option disappears.

 

Uber Ride Pass
  • Monthly fee to lock in reduced rates in the service area
  • $14.99 to $24.99 (varies by city), plus the flat rate of each trip
  • Automatically renews

Uber Cash allows you to purchase Uber ride credits at a discount. You can add Uber Cash to your account from the Uber rider app.

  • 5% discount when you add $100
  • 3% discount when you add $50
  • 2% discount when you add $25

Also, be sure to check out Uber’s Holiday Tips that outline various app features that may come in handy this holiday season.

Be Realistic About Your Car Size Requirements

Everyone wants to save money during the holidays, so it may seem like a good idea to order the smallest, least expensive Uber or Lyft vehicle you can.

However, if you’ve got a Santa-worthy stash of gifts or six roller-bags for your family of four, don’t expect your driver to fit everything in their Prius. Instead, opt for the XL, Plus, or Lux options and enjoy some space.

Communicate With Your Driver

Your Uber or Lyft driver will have enough to contend with during the holidays, so do everyone a favor by:

  • Communicating your location to your driver in advance — try to use recognizable landmarks that a driver is likely to see from the road.
  • Let your driver know what you’re wearing so they can easily identify you.
  • Avoid the most crowded pick-up/drop-off areas for faster, easier access.

Not only will this keep everyone in a better mood, but it can also save you money by avoiding extra fees and cancellations if your driver can’t find you.

Schedule Your Ride in Advance

Both Uber and Lyft offer ride scheduling, so if you know when you’ll need to be picked up, like 20 minutes after your plane lands, schedule that ride in advance. This will ensure a driver is available for you and help you avoid the long holiday rideshare lines at the airport.

 

One caveat — if you do schedule a ride in advance, be sure to be at your agreed pick-up location at the agreed time. If something changes, communicate with your driver.

Be Kind, Ride Safe & Tip

Remember, drivers can rate their passengers, so try to be on your best behavior during the holiday rush. Drivers are people too, and can make mistakes just like the rest of us.

Plus, holidays are more prone to drunk driving incidents (though hopefully not on the part of your driver), so be sure to wear your seatbelt.

Also, be sure to tip your driver. Tips on Uber or Lyft are not included, but always appreciated.

If your driver made you feel particularly safe and welcome, don’t be afraid to spread the holiday cheer and give them a 15 to 20 percent tip and 5-star review at the end of your ride.

If you haven’t sign up with either Lyft or Uber, and want to receive ride credits up to $20 (in most cities, you get $5), click one of the buttons below.

 

Lyft Ride Credits

 

Uber Ride Credits

 

 

Doordash Driver Delivery Tips

Doordash Dasher Tips: How to Maximize Your Income

Being a Doordash dasher and making food deliveries on DoorDash is a great way to make some extra cash in your spare time.

Earning potential depends on your location as well as how much you work and when you work.

If you want to maximize your earning potential, you’ll need to work efficiently and be smart about which deliveries you take on and how you complete your trips.

(Disclosure – We independently research our content to provide free advice for you. We may get compensation if you sign up with services, or purchase products through our affiliate links.)

Doordash Driver Tips For New Dashers

You’ve probably already seen the How To Dash page on Doordash (if not, go check it out). Below, we’ve put together some helpful pro tips for maximizing your Dasher income with DoorDash.

Work as efficiently as possible to maximize your delivery numbers.

At the end of the day, your earning potential rests in the number of food deliveries you take on. That’s why it’s important for you to work as efficiently as possible to maximize your order numbers and improve your potential pay.

As a Doordash dasher, the more that you can compress your delivery times, the more orders you will be able to squeeze into your shift.

One way to work more efficiently is to cut down on your drive time. Here are a few insider tips for getting to the restaurant and delivery destination as quickly as possible:

  • Know where you’re going. Driving in the wrong direction is a big waste of time. Make sure that you take an extra few seconds to review your route before getting in the car.
  • If you can’t find the restaurant, call them. If you have a hard time locating the restaurant, don’t un-claim the order. Call the restaurant and ask for cross streets.
  • Check traffic before you leave. Making sure that you take the fastest possible route to your destination helps you save time so you can take on more orders. Always check the traffic, and choose the less busy route.
  • Read customer instructions before delivery. Customers will often leave additional instructions on their order to help you locate their home faster, such as the location of their building or a gate code. Check these out before you head their way.

Another way to improve efficiency is to keep things like extra napkins, straws, and utensils in your vehicle. That way, if the restaurant does not include these items when you pick up the delivery, you can slip them in before you drop the order off at the customer’s house.

Letting the customer know that you’ve added these items is a great way to earn extra tips.

Be strategic about the orders you pick up

Another way to boost your earning potential on DoorDash is to be more strategic about the orders that you pick up.

Doordash dasher on foot

 

Each time you get a DoorDash order request, the app lets you know where the restaurant is (including the distance from your current location) and what the order value is. You then have 60 seconds to accept or decline the order.

You do not have to accept every order that comes your way.

If you are more strategic about the orders you pick up, then you are able to increase your chances of maximizing earning potential during your shift. Typically, larger orders come with bigger tips and are more likely to be worth driving a further distance for.

Additionally, picking up orders that are closer to one another allows you to take on more deliveries in the same shift.

For example, you may decide that any orders under a certain order-total threshold are not worth your time unless they are in the immediate vicinity. Taking on smaller orders that are further away uses up time that you could be using to focus on larger orders that are likely to pay more.

Similarly, you may decide to only pick up orders that are in a certain mile radius from your current location. That means you won’t have to drive too far to complete the order, which takes time away from the rest of your shift.

That said, it’s important to note that, if you don’t accept an order, there is no guarantee that the next order that comes your way will be bigger or closer. Similarly, not every large order will lead to a big tip. You could end up spending a significant amount of time picking up and delivering a large and difficult food order only to walk away with no tip at all.

 

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Dash during the busiest hours for higher earning potential

Another way to maximize your earning potential is by dashing during the heaviest order times of the day and the most busy delivery days of the week. Though the busiest order days and times will depend on your particular location, there are patterns in nearly every area:

  • Weekend nights tend to be the busiest and most lucrative delivery times.
  • The sweet spot for lunch deliveries is between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. on weekdays.
  • The dinner rush takes place during anywhere from 4:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. during the week.
  • Breakfast time is less busy for DoorDash deliveries and may not be worth your time.

The only way to know for sure when the busy hours and days are for your location is to experiment a little. Try picking deliveries during different times of the day and days of the week to see when the greatest demand is in your area.

doordash driver app schedule dash

 

Not only will there be the potential for more orders (and tips), but you will be able to make more money per hour as you won’t have to wait and waste time between order requests.

In addition to the standard Doordash dasher busy times when people are likely to order, you should also take into account the weather when choosing your DoorDash shifts. People are more likely to order food to be delivered when it’s raining or snowing out.

Picking up deliveries during poor weather periods is a great way to earn big tips since most customers will be happy to have a convenient way to get their food.

Another thing to mention is that DoorDash provides incentives for dashers who make deliveries during the busiest times of the day, typically during the lunch and dinner rushes. Known as “Busy Pay,” this incentive will vary depending on demand in your area. However, you will be able to see the amount before you accept the delivery.

Check to make sure the order is right before you leave the restaurant

The amount of earning potential for DoorDash dashers is not just a matter of how many deliveries they can take on.

Tips also play an important part in how much DoorDash drivers can earn in a typical shift.

For this reason, it’s important to make sure that the order is correct and complete before you make the delivery to the customer. Even though it may technically be the fault of a restaurant that an order is incorrect, the customer may take it out on you by not giving you a tip.

Checking to ensure that the order is correct does take some extra time. However, it’s worth it in the end when you are able to provide a satisfying experience for the customer, especially if they decide to reward you with a larger tip.

To save time in making sure the order is right, you can review the order on the app before you enter the restaurant. That way, you can quickly scan the order in the restaurant to ensure that everything is there.

If you find that something is missing in the order, you can then request it from the restaurant before heading to the delivery location. Veteran dashers know that restaurants often forget to include drinks with the order.

Always check the app to see if any drinks were ordered so that you can ensure that the drinks make it to the customer.

Bonus Tip: Refer other Doordash dashers to earn extra cash

As a bonus tip, another easy way to make money through DoorDash is by referring new drivers. DoorDash makes it easy for drivers to refer others to the company, allowing both the referring Dasher and the referred Dasher to benefit from special bonuses. The DoorDash referral bonus amounts vary by location and tend to change depending on the market in the area. To see the referral rates for your area, check out your local DoorDash city page.

You can refer new Dashers through text message, email, Facebook (and Facebook Messenger), and Twitter. In order to get credit for a referral, you’ll need to make sure that the new Dasher has included your phone number on the sign up page under the “Referrer Phone #” field. These referral bonuses are then added to your weekly pay once the referred Dasher completes a certain number of deliveries within their first 30 days.

 

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Lyft Rider Questions

Answers To Some Common Lyft Rider Questions

Lyft Tipping Etiquette – Do You Tip Your Lyft Driver?

If you haven’t taken a Lyft, you’ve probably got a few questions about how it works. Below we answer some of the most common Lyft rider questions that new passengers have.

Oh, and if you’re looking for a Lyft code good for free ride credits, simply click the button below for between $5 and $20 in free Lyft credits (amount determined by your city).

Free Lyft Credits

 

What’s the tipping etiquette for Lyft?

We’ll open with the million dollar question. Should you tip your Lyft driver? And when you do tip, how much money should you give them?

Lyft offers in-app tipping options, although it can be very easy to forget about your tip, as payments are generally handled automatically. It’s an unfortunate quirk and one that many drivers are less than thrilled about. Factor in that Lyft does not reimburse drivers for maintenance, gas, and other expenses incurred while driving, and it’s easy to see why. Fortunately, Lyft is rolling out a few features to make tipping easier for passengers.

As with servers and bartenders, many Lyft drivers rely on tips for a large portion of their income.

With that in mind, a good rule of thumb for tipping your Lyft driver is to offer them the same amount you would a taxi service. Generally, that will be around fifteen to twenty percent of your total fare.

If your driver provided exceptional service – good conversation, music, amenities, etc. – you might even consider tipping more.

Lyft Rider Questions - Tipping

 

Can my Lyft driver see how much I tip?

Yes. Lyft drivers receive a weekly earnings report every Tuesday summarizing the trips, fees, and tips they made the previous week.

They can also examine  their ride history in the driver app, which shows details such as pickup point, destination, trip time, and tip total for each job. This is one of the reasons tipping is a great way to be a five star passenger.

Should I sit in the front seat or backseat as a Lyft passenger?

You can sit where you feel like sitting. However, if you are by yourself, most Lyft (and Uber) drivers would prefer that you sit in the back, behind the passenger seat.

Does Lyft charge per person?

It does not.

The number of riders on a particular trip generally has no bearing on how much you pay for a trip – provided you aren’t requesting a ride for more than three or four people. For larger groups, you’ll need to order a Lyft XL.

This will connect you to a driver with a larger vehicle capable of fitting up to six people.

Lyft XL rates are slightly higher than the rates for a standard Lyft, owing to the fact that larger vehicles tend to have poorer gas mileage than small or mid-sized ones.

How much does Lyft cost?

The short answer is ‘it depends.’ As with Uber, Lyft prices are different from city to city.

There is also a large variance between the different types of Lyft you can select. We have already mentioned Lyft Plus, which offers larger vehicles – Lyft also features a number of other options that you can select:

Lyft Line costs less than a standard Lyft and works by connecting you with other passengers along the route to your destination. Essentially, it’s an option to carpool and save money doing so.

Lyft Lux provides you with a late model luxury sedan that seats up to four passengers.

Lyft Lux Black is one step down from ordering full limo service – Lyft describes it on its website as being “limited to only the most luxurious makes and models.” It’s also important to note that Lyft Lux Black exclusively features drivers with a high rating.

Lyft Lux Black XL features premium SUVs with space for up to six people. Aside from this, it’s the same as Lyft Lux Black.

 

Your ride type aside, there are a few things that go into your pricing when you call for a Lyft.

The distance between your pickup point and destination. The per-mile rate varies by city, but it’s usually somewhere around $1 for Lyft, and as much as $5 for Lyft Lux Black.

The amount of time it will take to reach your destination, calculated as a per-minute cost. Again, this varies wildly by city and time and may range from $0.10 per minute to $0.50 per minute.

All rides booked through Lyft also have a service fee attached to them. The fee varies by city.

The minimum fare. Generally speaking, this is around $3 for a standard Lyft. Depending on which service you use, it can be as high as $25 or $30.
There is an additional fee if you get picked up at an airport.

Get A Lyft Fare Estimate

To receive a fare estimate for your city based on your pickup location and destination, simply visit Lyft’s Fare Estimator.

Does Lyft have surge pricing like Uber?

Yes. This is known as Lyft Prime Time. During periods of especially high demand, your ride price will be higher. Prime Time price increases are usually done in 25% increments.

As this can get very expensive very quickly, it may be better to wait a few minutes and see if demand goes down before ordering.

Is it possible to use Lyft without a credit card?

Yes. In addition to accepting all major credit cards, Lyft also accepts any debit card tied to a checking account, as well as most prepaid cards.

Passengers can also pay through PayPal, Apple Pay, or Google Pay. Per Lyft’s website, all payments made through the platform are processed through third-party payment service Stripe.

Note that you can also add multiple payment methods to your account, and you can create a business and personal profile. Should you do so, you’ll be able to choose which one to use on a per-ride basis.

Unfortunately, there is no cash payment option for Lyft at this point in time, though some passengers do choose to tip their drivers with cash rather than through the app.

How do I add my debit card to Lyft?

Adding a debit card to your Lyft account follows the same process as adding a credit card. Simply open the Lyft app, tap on your photo, and tap “Payment.”

Enter your debit card number and all other relevant information, and save it. and you’re good to go!

How do I add Google Pay to Lyft?

To add Google Pay to Lyft, you’ll first want to ensure you’ve configured Google Pay on your device. Luckily, this is pretty simple to do. Just launch the Google Pay app, verify the cards associated with your account, and you’re good to go.

From there navigate to the Payment section of your Lyft app and tap to add Google Pay. That’s it.

How do I add Apple Pay to Lyft?

If you have an iPhone or iPhone Plus that’s model 6 or newer, you can configure Lyft to use the new Apple Pay service. This one-touch mobile payment option works similarly to Google Pay, combining your credit cards, debit cards, tickets, reward cards, and other payment options in a single place.

Once you’ve configured it by adding your payment cards, you can then easily add it to your Lyft account through the Payment tab in the Lyft app.

How do I delete my payment info on Lyft?

To delete your payment info from the Lyft app, you basically just need to follow the same process you would to add new payment methods.

First, navigate to the Payment section of the Lyft app. Tap on the payment method you wish to remove, and tap “Delete Card.”

Note that if a payment method is the only one on your account, you cannot delete it.

How do I delete my Lyft account?

Unfortunately, deactivating your Lyft account is a bit of a process. You’ll need to contact customer support, either through the Lyft support page or by emailing support@lyft.com.

Should you choose the former, select “Delete Account or Unsubscribe” in the support page’s drop-down menu.

You are required to explain why you wish to delete your account, though what details you provide in this explanation are up to you.

Once you’ve submitted a support ticket, you may need to wait a few hours to receive a response from Lyft Customer Support.

If they take too long to get back to you, you can send additional emails to support@lyft.com. Once the process is completed, there are a few things to keep in mind.

First, even if your account is deleted, Lyft retains certain information about you as a passenger. This includes your name, email, and phone number; any photos you added to the app, your payment information, reviews and ratings you’ve submitted about Lyft drivers, location information gathered by the app, and records of your communication with customer service.

The idea is that by retaining all this data, they make it easier to return to the service if you wish to reactivate your account in the future.

The second is that you will not automatically be unsubscribed from Lyft’s promotional emails – they may occasionally try to reach out to you with special offers and deals in an effort to convince you to return.

To unsubscribe from these emails, you’ll need to submit another support request. Alternatively, you can simply use the Unsubscribe feature in your email client.

How do I contact Lyft?

You can contact Lyft through the help section of their website. This allows you to report an accident or incident, report an issue with a driver, or report a lost item. You can also contact Lyft support directly through the rider app.

Can you use Lyft without a smartphone?

You can – but you’ll still need at least a cell phone. Visit ride.lyft.com and enter your phone number to authorize a new ride request. You’ll receive a text message containing an authorization code.

Enter that into your browser, and you’ll be able to configure your pickup point and destination. You’ll also want to make sure your payment information on the site is up to date.

Free Lyft Credits

 

How do I check my account for promotions or credit?

To check for any promotions on your account, simply open the app, tap on your profile picture, and then tap ‘Promos.’ Any active promotions will be visible on this page.

Lyft Rider Promo Code Insturctions

 

Can I pay for someone else’s Lyft?

Unless you add your payment information to their account, no. However, what you can do is request a ride for a friend through your own Lyft account. Should you choose to do this, Lyft recommends that you text the driver to let them know they’re picking up a friend instead of you.

You should ensure you enter in both the pickup point and destination for your friend before you request one.

Alternatively, if you and your friend both have Lyft, you can split the payment for your ride while en-route.

Where is Lyft available?

Lyft is currently available in over 300 cities in the U.S., as well as Toronto and Ottawa. Vancouver, Montreal, and other cities in Canada will be added in 2019.

Lyft passenger questions

 

To see if Lyft is available where you live, you can check the directory on Lyft’s website. Note that at the time of writing, Lyft is not yet available outside North America.

What is Lyft Line, and how do I use it?

Lyft Line effectively offers you the option to carpool with other Lyft passengers along the route to your destination. It’s available a discounted rate compared to other Lyft services – anywhere from ten percent to sixty percent. To use Lyft Line, simply tap “Line” when you’re requesting a ride.

From there, simply enter your destination as-normal and you’re good to go. Note that you may find yourself in a Lyft with other passengers at the moment of pick-up, or your Lyft may stop en-route to your destination to pick up additional passengers.

It’s generally a good idea to budget extra time for your Lyft Line, just in case more passengers join the trip.

That said, if there are no other passengers along your chosen route, you’ll still be able to use Lyft Line – you’ll just instantly get from point A to point B.

Lyft Line is only available for trips which include only a single stop.

If you’re using Lyft to run errands or making multiple stops along your route, you’ll have to settle for a standard ride. The same goes if you need to bring luggage or a heavy load with you on the trip.

What’s the cheapest time of day to get a Lyft?

Generally speaking, there are a few times throughout the day where Lyft requests surge into the stratosphere. Although it does tend to vary slightly by city, the busiest times of day for Lyft are usually as follows:

  • Morning rush hour (7 to 9 AM)
  • Evening rush hour (4 to 7 PM)
  • Friday and Saturday evening
  • Holidays

It’s also important to remember that Prime Time surges can happen at any time of day. Weather conditions such as heavy snow or rainfall also tend to both increase fare and increase demand for Lyft drivers.

Does Lyft allow pets such as dogs?

Yes and no.  Both Uber & Lyft drivers are obligated to allow service animals into their vehicles, but otherwise, the decision on whether or not you can travel with your pet depends on the driver.

Some drivers are happy to allow cats and dogs into their vehicle, while others may request that you find another ride.

Generally speaking, if you want to travel with a pet, call ahead – make it clear to your driver that you’re bringing an animal on-board. If possible, keep them in a carrier. If they’re too large for that, bring a towel or blanket to put over the seat, and make sure the animal is clean before getting into the vehicle with it.

If you’re ready to sign up for Lyft, click the button below to get started. If you’re already a Lyft customer, unfortunately, there are no codes that will get you additional free Lyft rides.

However, for ways you can get Lyft credits as an existing customers, check out our Lyft promo code page.

Free Lyft Credits