“Does your auto insurance company know you’re doing this, and if so, what happened to your rates? Some policies specifically prohibit this, so be careful.”
In every state that has insurance restrictions, Uber offers supplemental insurance. I have the supplemental insurance which is actually good. I also have this “AFLAC Sorta” thing provided by them.
In my area in 2013 there was a major taxi protest against Uber. They won. Uber was banned until 2016. Since being reinstated Uber drivers now have to have their cars inspected (Others do not) and Uber has to pay the city $15,000 per year. I don’t know if it’s per person or what.
Which, by the way, Taxi companies DO retaliate. It’s not uncommon that they will throw a handful of rocks at your car. Like I said, Taxi companies are all mafia. They don’t like us being there.
That said, I don’t know why anyone today would EVER call a cab. They are really expensive and they take over an hour to get to you. Uber/Lyft is there within 10 minutes. And it’s way cheaper.
My nephew - a Millennial - drives for Uber up in Boston. He works full-time but does the Uber job on the side because it is such an easy way to make extra money. He rarely does long trips because he's just a few miles outside Boston. So many of his rides are people from the inner suburbs going into the city for concerts, sporting events or just bar-hopping. Also, a lot of airport trips. He clears well over $100 on Friday nights and even more on Saturdays which is not bad for a young man in his 20s already working another full-time job.
Millennials definitely get a bad rap here on Free Republic. My sons, also Millennials, are hard-workers and have been out on their own since they got out of school.
Never would have imagined ride-sharing being a billion dollar industry. Now they are getting into deliveries as well and I think that is the next big area of growth. Amazon wants to get to same day delivery for as much products as possible and they are going to need entrepreneurial-minded drivers to get them there. I know Uber/Lyft are doing food deliveries already for restaurants but I think they will soon be driving up to Amazon Fulfillment centers and taking on deliveries for Amazon.
My children have used Uber and I certainly understand the role it fills well.
As I understand it, your insurance company’s restrictions should be your concern, not the state’s (in terms of coverage). Higher mileage and constantly carrying unrelated passengers are things that insurance companies should know when arriving at your pricing, and you didn’t indicate that your primary car insurance company is aware of this use of the vehicle.
Living a dozen miles west of NYC, I understand the issue taxi drivers have; they pay 6 figures for a medallion, while Uber/Lyft pay nothing (so may charge less). I don’t know how to level that playing field.