Hi all,

I realized that there has been a lot of questions asked around the Kopitiam forum on signing up as a Uber Partner (Driver), with many people keen to sign up as a Partner, be it full time / part time but not getting the answers to their questions.

The purpose of this thread is to share my experience as an Uber Partner after driving full time for the last two months. Hopefully this will answer some of the questions you will have, and I will try my best to answer any questions you may have before you decide to take the plunge and sign up for the Uber Partner programme.

Firstly, some credentials:-

- 609 and counting UberX trips so far in 2 months.
- 4.81 rating
- Full time

I started driving on 23rd November 2015.

First and foremost, there's no short cut to easy money being a Uber Partner. You have to put in the hours if you are intending to drive full time. On a typical day I start driving at 6am, and I leave it online and drive until:-

1) A target net income of RM250 is met everyday, excluding the incentives.

2) When I get tired. It's not a stressful job, and you won't be busy all the time, so typically I clock off at about 10pm at night on the average.

My day usually begins at PJ (where I live), and there are typically certain type of riders depending on the time of the day:-

6am - 7am : 1) Riders who stays far away but working in PJ area. They usually take the LRT from somewhere and they will require a 'last mile' ride, which is from the LRT to their place of work 2) Riders who's catching a flight and needs to go to the airport.

7am - 8am : 1) Riders in PJ who typically takes a LRT to work, so it's usually pick up from home and to send them to the LRT station.

8am onwards: Riders who take Uber all the way to their work place from home. Typically after sending a rider like this, you will end up in KL city centre.

9am to 12pm: 1) Short rides in KL city centre. People going for meetings. 2) Tourist

12pm to 2pm : Lunch crowd

2pm to 5pm : 1) Riders going for meetings 2) Expat wives going / coming from hi-teas / grocery shopping

5pm to 8pm : After work ride, a mixture of 'last mile' rides (to LRT stations), or all the way home.

8pm till late: A mixture of riders who worked late, after happy hour, dinner appointments

The above is just a guide, a typical day. So with the above, you can more or less decide where to drive to in order to maximize the chances of getting a rider.

On the average, driving from 6am to 10pm will yield about 23 riders. This is an average over a week.

This it the first post, and I believe the above answers the first question everyone will have in mind - Is it possible to be an Uber Partner full time?

If you put in the hours (about 15 hours online AND driving a day), and you drive only 5 week days a week, you can easily gross about RM1,500 a week INCLUSIVE of incentive. You can work out the net yourself as that depends on your car's fuel consumption and maintenance cost. My petrol cost to get RM250 net a day is about RM50.

In my next post, I will share on the Incentive Scheme, which in actual fact isn't so much an incentive scheme, more of a safety net.

Any questions I will gladly answer when I have can. If you think that I have been of help to you in taking the first step into signing up to be a Uber Partner, all I can ask is (without obligation) is that you list me as a referral when you sign up. This thread will be maintained as a resource centre and also to answer all FAQ.

Thanks

p/s: If any of the existing Partners attended the Uber Townhall event last week on the reduction of fees at the Partners Support Centre on Monday 18th January 2015, I am the gentleman who voiced out the most during that session. The one with the tattoos.

This post has been edited by ieian81: Jan 26 2016, 09:39 AM

Passengers are usually more during weekends or weekdays? i have a plan to start doing UBER on weekend as i still have a full time job >.<

Incentive scheme

I will now share on the Incentive Scheme.

Uber has an 'Incentive Scheme' for Uber Partners as well to ensure that there are enough cars on the road during peak hours.

I disagree with the term 'Incentive Scheme' and would term if more of a 'Safety Net'

How I approach Uber driving is to always aim for a RM200-RM250 nett-to-driver earnings everyday. Any incentive which gets calculate at the end of the week I will consider it as a bonus.

i.e.

From 6am to 10am weekdays, Uber underwrites RM30 gross fare per hour should you fail to get that within that 4 hours block. There are some terms and conditions to be met in order to qualify for this incentive, which we will go into more details later.

If you gross only RM50 fare within this 4 hours block, Uber will top up the balance RM70 in gross fare (RM30 x 4 hours = RM120). If you exceed the gross fare, then this 'Incentive Scheme' doesn't kick in. This is the reason why I term it as a "Safety Net', instead of calling it an Incentive.

From my experience, if you drive full time and you really drive, you won't stand to gain much from this Incentive Scheme, on the average an extra RM150-RM200 per week. So again, don't depend on this Incentive Scheme, drive until you hit a desired amount you see in your Uber Partner App, and consider this as a bonus.

Any further questions on this I will gladly answer.

There is no absolute answer to this. The kind of riders on weekdays and weekends are different.

Weekdays : More long trip riders.

Weekends: More short trip riders. (Lazy to drive to mall, running errands, etc.)

Again, these are based on my experience.

I have driven on weekends before, and if you put in the hours (start 10am and end at 12am at night), you can nett about RM200 per day.

Weekend night is usually busy with people going out for meals, drinks, etc.

Some Dos and Don'ts for Existing Uber Partners

While I am sure that there are Partners with a higher rating than me out there, I am still pretty proud of my 4.81 ratings after 600+ trips. I am also a frequent Uber Rider as well, and I noticed that there are a lot of Partners with low ratings, (3.5 to 4.5), here are some pointers from my perspective to ensure a consistently high rating.

1) Keep your car clean and uncluttered.

2) There is no need to go that extra mile to provide water (especially for UberX) as the riders won't expect and probably won't 'dare' to drink anyway, but keeping a mint is handy. Either for your own, or to offer to riders who you can see are going for a meeting and especially if they dozed off in the car)

3) Always give a call to the rider to confirm the pick up location and be there on time. Don't keep your system Online if you are having lunch / taking a break

4) After picking up the rider, start the trip and then ask the rider 'Do you have a preferred route or should I follow the Waze navigation which is set to get you there the fastest'. Don't be a smart-alec and try to take your own 'short cut' routes as it will result in riders wondering if you are taking them for a ride.

5) Drive with a positive attitude, but don't engage the riders into a conversation unless they engage you. You do not know the state of mind the rider is in, your duty is to drive them safely to their destination, not make small talk.

6) Drive consistently and not speed. If you ever have to swerve to avoid portholes (Malaysia!), apologize to the rider.

7) Always use a phone holder for navigation. I have taken rides where the Partner drives with one hand and hold the phone on the other for navigation.

8) Don't fiddle with your phone during the ride, it should stay on the phone holder until the ride ends. Replying messages and answering phone calls are a big no-no unless it's absolutely necessary, which you should just inform your rider and get their consent.

9) Don't ask riders for a 5 star rating, it makes it awkward and desperate. If they enjoyed the ride, they will give you a 5 star.

These are some basic guides. Partners are welcomed to share more.

This post has been edited by ieian81: Jan 26 2016, 10:22 AM

Why I started this thread?

1) I realize that there are many people who's thinking to drive for Uber either on a part time / full time basis but no one is answering their queries. Honestly, I'll appreciate it if you list me as a referral if you do find this thread helpful and you decide to join the Uber Partner Programme, rather than what I can see on various social media platform where Partners just keep asking to be introduced as a Referral but yet not providing any value in return to new Partners at all.

2) Yes, I realize that the money in Uber is not as good as when it first started. BUT.... it is still a decent alternative for people who wishes to earn some money part time or if you're stuck in a dead beat full time job with not much career advancement, full time is an option.

3) A platform for existing Partners to share their experience and issues. Presently there's no platform for Partners to voice out their opinions and ideas, this can be the platform and we can approach Uber Malaysia periodically with all the feedbacks.

May I know requirement to become Uber Partners?

Eg.

Insurance ?
Car age ?
License ?

Any idea how to avoid those taxi and authorities?

Seriously, I do agree with you on Point No.1 and 3.

On No.2, driving Uber as part timer to earn extra buck is good idea but I don't see opportunity in long term although the pay is good.
Anyways, it's just my own opinion.

The only thing on my mind is, what happens if my car got confiscated by SPAD or any authorised authorities.

Do you have any real experience/stories?

1. How's Uber compared to GC in term of overall trips number and incentive threshold?
2. What is the eligibility for the incentive to kick in if you're only driving 3-4 hours per day?
3. How's the trip number after working hours nowadays? Can I get RM100 nett per night with driving time as per (2)?

* Note : Drove for Uber in July - Sep 2015.

This post has been edited by cracksys: Jan 26 2016, 11:00 AM

Hi,

For UberX, you are almost good to go if:-

1) You have a valid driving license

2) You have a 4-door car which is not older than 2008

3) Insurance as per your normal insurance is good to go. If you are using someone else car, your name needs to be in the insurance.

Then you just need to go to the Partner Support Centre for their Onboarding process and briefing

Hi,

I'm not painting you a rosy picture, but after 2 months, 600+ trips, numerous road blocks, so far no problem for me.

Uber works on a ride-sharing concept. It's just like you picking up your friend and sending him to wherever, as long as no cash changes hand.

I have had no bad experience so far (touch wood) with relevant authorities, and I choose to believe that Uber Malaysia will keep us abreast on any development.

Hi,

1) I am unsure on the Grabcar incentive as I didn't attend their briefing but I'm ok with Uber because:-

a) No cash changes hand
b) Huge rider market
c) I doubt the profile of Grabcar riders as the registration process is not as stringent and they can opt to remain anonymous and pay cash.

2) Incentive, or Safety Net kicks in if you drive within the stipulated peak hours.

For your timing, there's a guaranteed-hour from 4pm to 8pm, of which RM28 per hour gross is guaranteed IF you don't make RM112 gross within this 4-hour block. Any time you drive within this hours, the guaranteed rates are pro-rated.

3) From my experience, evening/night driving from 6pm to 11pm can generally net you about RM70-80 on the average over a week, without the incentive kicking in. So depending on the hours you drive, with some incentive, you should be able to hit the RM100 per day if you drive consistently over a week. Hard to say if it's not consistent.

Here's a target that I set for myself as a guide:-

6am to 2pm: To net RM100
2pm to 6pm: To net RM50
6pm to 11pm: To net RM100

Over the course of a day and a week, it averages it out, but the above targets are realistic and achievable.

Edited: RM28/hour is only if you hit the Tier 1 incentive, of which the main criteria is grossing RM600 a week. Tier 2 is RM18/hour or RM20/hour I believe, need to double check.

This post has been edited by ieian81: Jan 26 2016, 03:35 PM

What is the effect of the latest reduction in rate (RM4 Midvalley to KL Sentral?!) to your income? Minimal?

In terms of income, no. Cause I always try to hit a certain amount before I call it a day. But yeah definitely have to do more trips with this new reduction.

Part timers will be affected more as it will be harder to reach the RM600 gross weekly to qualify for Tier 1 incentives.

Maybe u can tell us some tips on what and how u handle shitty situations for example?

I don't think you have to worry about SPAD at the moment since news got out saying that even Khazanah chipped in some investment in Uber.

It's the taxis that you have to keep an eye on.

Hi,

Glad to share.

As mentioned, so far no issue with any SPAD or roadblocks. I think it has been generally accepted that Uber is here to stay.

I think most taxi drivers have accepted that Uber is now a viable option for the public, and hopefully this will spur them to improve on areas that have been raised by riders.

How I have avoided conflicts so far:-

1) I don't linger around active taxi areas, i.e. shopping malls, KLIA, KL Sentral. If I get hailed to pick up a rider from these area, I will just go and pick up and go. If I'm dropping a rider at these areas, I will just drop the rider and drive off. Especially at KLIA, I know that a lot of taxi drivers depends on airport trips, so every time I drop off a rider at the airport, I will just go off and not linger around to wait for another rider.

2) When I pick up a rider from public places like shopping malls and hotels, I usually call the rider way in advance to ask if they are ready to go, and will only drive up to the pick up area when they are ready to hop onto the car, instead of waiting around at the drop off area for a long time.

I think the KLCC Taxi Driver - Uber incident is already water under the bridge. Someone from Uber Malaysia told me that the police actually reprimanded that few aggressive taxi drivers, and that they have been warned to not behave like that again.

Hi,

Sorry I don't have friends with such experiences before. Don't read too much into the negative comments you find on the Internet.

Please refer to the post above for some pointers on how to avoid potential conflicts with taxi drivers.

This is true. I think a lot of the issues have been blown out of proportion.

As long as we are courteous and tolerant, I believe Uber can co-exist with taxis. Ultimately, when we are on the road we are not competitors. I can't pick up passengers from the road side. Everywhere I go there's a purpose, either to send a rider to their destination, or to pick up a rider from his pick up location.

The final choice is with the rider, whether to launch the Uber app or the MyTaxi app.