Maybe your goal is to finance the small business of your dreams. Maybe you want to save up for your kids’ college. Whatever the reason, it always pays to have a side hustle. And when it comes to side hustles, there are few more popular than driving for a rideshare like Lyft or Uber.
But popular doesn’t mean perfect for everyone. It pays to look at the benefits and drawbacks of driving for a rideshare before jumping on the bandwagon.
Benefits
Easy To Start
There’s a reason that so many people drive for rideshares—it’s incredibly easy to do. If you’re 21 and have a four-door car and a smartphone, you have just about everything you need to drive for Uber. The application process does involve a background check and a car inspection to ensure both you and your car are safe. But once you’ve passed, it’s a quick process to get you on the road.
Flexible Schedule
One of the biggest hurdles to getting a side job is working around one’s schedule. If you don’t live in a city, there are only so many job sites available, and then you have to find one that can work around your primary job. The beauty of rideshares is you can work anywhere you are on your own time schedule. And if something unexpected comes up when you would normally drive, you don’t have to worry about calling off.
Drawbacks
Car Wear and Tear
The nice thing about rideshares is that you can use your own car. However, that means that all the extra miles and gas usage falls back on you and your car. On top of that, if you ever get in an accident or damage your car, it’s up to you to pay for it. And in the meantime, the rideshare won’t supply you with a free car. Although, Uber and Lyft do have deals with car rental companies to rent a vehicle to drive.
Strange Passengers
This is another aspect that some people might consider both a benefit and drawback of driving for a rideshare. Weird customers make a job more interesting, and meeting people different from yourself helps broaden your horizons. But some passengers may cross the line from weird to unpleasant. And although most passengers are perfectly fine, you do run the risk of running into some of the worst uber passengers.
Ultimately, every side hustle comes with its own list of pros and cons. Your goal isn’t to find the perfect job; it’s to find the job that works the best with your schedule and sensibilities. Do you want a job that’s flexible and easy to start? Do you not mind having to maintain your own vehicle or run into some strange folks every now and then? Then rideshares are for you.