When you first sign up to drive for Uber, you may be caught off-guard by the number of passengers who are looking for a ride. You might wonder how it’s possible that so many people need to get from place to place, and then you’ll realize that, in today’s world, everyone has somewhere to go.
In this post we’ll look at some of the best apps for Uber drivers in 2018. All of these apps have been selected because they were designed specifically with rideshare drivers in mind, and they all have features that will make your life easier when it comes to driving for Uber.
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best apps for uber drivers 2018
So, you’ve successfully gotten your career as a rideshare driver off the ground, and are bringing in a paycheck every month driving with Uber or Lyft. While a career in ridesharing can be freeing – with its flexibility and the lack of the boring office environment – it also comes with one of the more difficult aspects of self-employment: taxes.
You don’t get automatic tax deductions from your paycheck with Uber and Lyft, but don’t get too comfortable; the IRS still cares about that money you are making. Uber and Lyft drivers are self-employed independent contractors, which means that every expense of the business can be written off come tax season, and one of the primary expenses of ridesharing is mileage.
To make sure you are ready to report your earnings come April, as well as make the most of your potential tax deductions, you’ll want to use a great mileage tracking app to do the hard work for you.
There are a lot of great apps out there, offering everything from mileage tracking to report generation to ride classification. Here are the 14 best apps you can use to track your mileage with Uber and Lyft.
1. Hurdlr
If your main goal in tracking mileage is easier tax return filing, Hurdlr was built with this purpose in mind. Not only does it auto-track mileage and expenses, but it also offers real-time views of earnings and potential tax deductions.
Gain insights to real-time profit and loss reports.
It enables you to always know what taxes you owe, and when you owe them, offering peace of mind about finances with little mental effort, so you can focus on other things, like offering the best Uber or Lyft ride to customers.
For more info on mileage tracking and maximizing profits, check out this article that Hurdlr wrote.
2. Gridwise
Check out our friends at Gridwise, the ultimate rideshare and delivery assistant. It’s a free app for iOS and Android that helps rideshare and food delivery drivers increase their earnings by up to 39% and save thousands on their tax bills.
By downloading Gridwise, you’ll be able to:
- Effortlessly track all of your rideshare and delivery miles to maximize your tax deduction
- Save time by receiving alerts when passengers are arriving at your local airport and check the queue length from anywhere
- See how your earnings break down across rideshare and delivery services so you know where to focus more of your time on the road
- Compare your earnings to other drivers in your area
- Get alerts about local traffic, weather, and large events going on in your city
- Easily switch between rideshare and delivery apps from anywhere on your phone (Android only)
Not too bad for a free app huh?
Click here to download the Gridwise app today.
3. SherpaShare Mileage/Expense Tracker
SherpaShare is one of the highest-rated tracking services out there. It integrates advanced trip-detection technology with secure cloud storage, analytics, and one-click classification.
The tools can be customized for your purposes, and you can track all of your expenses within the app. This gives you a more accurate sense of your actual earnings. When it’s time to file for tax returns, SherpaShare gives you everything you need at the touch of a button.
Another cool mileage tracker app is the Nonda ZUS® Smart Car Charger, which helps you charge two phones with twice the speed, monitor your car battery and locate your parked car. The app also has a mileage log tracker, parking location share feature and parking time alarm to help you prevent tickets. Talk about genius!
4. MileWiz
MileWiz has their own proprietary technology, which they use to automatically detect trips, with up to 95% accuracy.
With it, you can either set the app to auto-categorize trips based on work days/hours or on places you visit. You can also easily manually categorize with the swipe of a finger. Log places and expenses for accurate, personalized information that is always at your fingertips.
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If you want to export your information to a CSV file, you can easily do that, and you can also easily back all of your information up in cloud storage.
MileWiz is free on iOS and Android for up to 20 trips. For unlimited trip coverage, you can upgrade for $4.99 a month.
5. Easy Logbook
Easy Logbook is one of the simplest apps to use for mile tracking, and if you’re not into any of the extra bells and whistles, this is definitely a great option. The interface is simple and clean, without any distractions.
Your screen will show a simple clock with a start and stop button. When you stop your trip you can add a description and then save it. Your reports are generated and sent to you via email.
Easy Logbook is free, but only available on iOS.
6. TrackMyDrive
TrackMyDrive is an online and app tool that runs seamlessly in the background on your mobile device, automatically tracking every time you go for a drive. From there it’s simple to categorize every trip as business or personal, which is a valuable component when driving with Uber or Lyft. You can create custom categories as well.
One of TrackMyDrive’s best features is that it automatically syncs with your account, and you can view all of your trips and reports on your desktop or laptop. They also offer an iPad app, meaning you can use your iPad for mileage tracking (if it is a wifi + cellular model) and for account access as well.
TrackMyDrive is free for up to 10 trips each month on iOS and Android. If you need it for more than that, it’s one of the cheapest options, at only $8.99 for an entire year.
7. MileIQ
Another great option if you want to use an app that syncs between all of your devices is MileIQ. It’s pretty similar to others, offering automatic mileage tracking with your trips, easy classification, data storage and syncing, and report generation.
One thing we like is that for simple categorization between business and personal, you can simply swipe left for personal drives, and right for business drives. This is a bonus, requiring little thought in the moment. You can go back later and organize things differently if needed, using your online account.
MileIQ is free for up to 40 drives each month on iOS and Android. For $5.99/month you get access to unlimited trips and some added features for logging and reporting.
8. TripLog
TripLog’s main concern is helping drivers help themselves by enabling them to make the most of their tax deduction each year. It boasts IRS compliant logs, and even offers a helpful page explaining how you can make the most of your driving expenses when filing your tax return.
TripLog is free, with apps on iOS and Android. As you can see from the pricing page, though, you get significantly more features with the Basic Plan ($15/year) and Professional Plan ($30/year).
9. QuickBooks Self-Employed
Many are familiar with Quickbooks, one of the highest rated and used financial management softwares available. You may not be aware though, that QuickBooks offers an app specifically designed for the driving expenses of the self-employed.
One great feature of Quickbooks Self-Employed is the quarterly taxes, which makes sure you know how much you’ll owe at the end of each quarter, enabling you to set the necessary funds aside and avoid the unpleasant surprise of writing a huge check come April.
QuickBooks Self-Employed is $5/month and is available on iOS and Android.
10. Stride Drive
Stride Drive is an ideal app for rideshare drivers, as it was designed with that profession in mind. It tracks mileage for all of your trips, and produces reports that you can simply print out and give to your accountant when needed.
It also offers categories for all the other expenses you can deduct, including car-washes, goodies for passengers, and tolls.
Stride Drive is free on iOS and Android.
uber driver app
We live in a sharing economy, an economic model that allows individuals to acquire goods and services and provide them to one another. This includes everything from access to capital, data, fashion, employment, and even transportation. The latter is commonly referred to as ride-sharing, but you probably know it better by one of the major players in that industry: Uber Technologies.
According to Uber, some 3.9 million people work as drivers in 63 different countries, completing roughly 14 million trips every day. Those figures date from 2018, though; by some estimates, the number of drivers hit 5 million in 2020, with 18.7 million trips completed each day.
Many people become drivers to make a few extra dollars, while others drive on a full-time basis. Perhaps you have thought of signing up. Here’s what you need to know about what is required to become a successful driver.
To start with, you’ll need a car and access to a smartphone, which allows you to connect with paying passengers. But that’s not all. Keep reading to find out what it takes to become an Uber driver and to learn other important details, such as your earning potential and the tax treatment for your income as a driver.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
All Uber drivers must meet requirements regarding age, driver’s license status, and driving experience.
You’ll need to pass a driver screening, which includes a review of your driving history and criminal record, and provide proof of residency, along with proof of auto insurance and car registration.
Your car will need to meet certain requirements relating to age, size, and condition.
The type of car insurance coverage that you’ll need varies by state. Uber does offer coverage, but it’s limited to only when the driver is logged in to the app and driving customers.
Uber drivers are considered independent contractors, which means that you’ll have to set aside money for income taxes, Social Security, and Medicare.
Minimum Requirements to Become an Uber Driver
Before you get too invested in the Uber process, start by filling out the application on Uber’s website. The requirements for drivers in the United States are listed below. Be aware that different countries and some cities and states within the U.S. may have different qualifications or regulations.
Minimum Requirements
These are the minimum requirements that you must meet before you can drive with Uber:
You must meet the minimum age to drive in your city
You must have at least one year of licensed driving experience in the U.S.—or three years if you are under the age of 23
You must have a valid U.S. driver’s license
You must use an eligible four-door vehicle
Vehicle requirements vary by region. Uber will tell you what is required in your region when you apply.
Documents You Will Need
You will need to share the following documents with Uber:
A valid U.S. driver’s license
Proof of residency in your city, state, or province
Proof of auto insurance and car registration
Driver profile photo, which must be in passport format and cannot be your driver’s license photo
Many localities, such as New York City, also require you to have commercial auto insurance to work for a car hire service.
Information for Driver Screening
Uber will require you to complete an online screening to review your driving record and criminal history. Uber will need your Social Security number (SSN) to perform the screening, as well as for tax purposes.
If you recently moved to a new state, you might be required to submit extra information to verify your driving history. Be sure to have your old state’s driver’s license and insurance on hand.
Steps to Become an Uber Driver
Fill out the driver application form at Uber.com or on the Uber app, uploading all the requested documents when prompted. If you’re having trouble completing this process, call Uber or visit a local Uber office.
Give your consent for background screening and then wait for a response, which can take up to 10 days.
If your application is successful and your driver status is activated, enable driver mode in the Uber app. Now you can accept rider requests and start making money.
Conclusion
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