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How to Drive for Uber and Lyft at the Same Time

If you're wondering, "Can you drive for Uber and Lyft at the same time?", you're in the right place. Yes, you can - here's how.

Key Takeaways

  • Yes, you can drive for Uber and Lyft simultaneously as an independent contractor.
  • You can also drive for food delivery services like Uber Eats while ridesharing.
  • Juggling Uber and Lyft can be stressful and requires strategic app management.
  • Use tools like Mystro to automate switching between Uber and Lyft for efficiency.

Can You Drive for Uber and Lyft at the Same Time?

Yes, you can drive for Uber and Lyft at the same time. Since drivers are independent contractors, you’re not legally bound to either company as an employee.

There’s a lot to learn to make this method work for you, though. There are quite a few caveats to be aware of to make it work.

Can I Drive for Food Delivery Services Like Uber Eats at the Same Time I’m Driving For a Rideshare Service?

Yes. Uber encourages this by using the Uber partner app for both Uber Eats and passengers. If you don’t have a paying customer in your car, you can check out Uber Eats requests and pick up an order in your downtime.

You can juggle multiple food delivery apps as you do with ridesharing apps, as long as you can keep up with the demand.

Remember, you need to have happy customers to stay in good standing. If you can pick up and deliver multiple orders while the food’s still hot, you can drive for several services at once.

Are There Downsides to Driving for Uber and Lyft at the Same Time?

It can be stressful to monitor two apps at once. You need to keep your eyes on the road to drive, but you have to monitor the apps to make money.

Be sure to pull over when you need to use your phone so you won’t get tickets or have an accident. If you forget you’re logged into both, you might accidentally miss fares, which affects your rating.

Accepting a ride on one app without logging out of the other can also cause you to reject rides. Both companies might deactivate your account if you miss or reject too many rides.

How to Juggle Uber and Lyft Successfully

Successfully managing to drive for Uber and Lyft at the same time can only work if you implement a solid strategic plan that:

  • Maximizes requests
  • Makes more money
  • Saves time

This includes:

  • Using the right gear (a flagship phone, a fast charger, and a phone mount)
  • Training on both apps separately, then together
  • Knowing the tips and tricks to handle the interface of both apps when you’re on the move

1. Assemble the Right Tools: A Powerful Phone, a Charger, and a Phone Mount

Ideally, any smartphone should work, but when running the two apps, you’ll need a lot of processing power to ensure you can move between the apps seamlessly.

Without a powerful phone, if you get a request from Uber while on the Lyft rideshare app, the phone might crash and cause you to lose the ride.

Newer phones are always a sure bet because they have the best specifications on the market and get frequent updates to improve performance.

iPhone 15 is the latest model on the market, but anything above iPhone 12 should work. Samsung Galaxy S23 is the newest model for Android phones, but anything above S20 going forward should work.

These phone models have decent storage of between 64 GB and 256 GB. They also support 5G, which has better speeds, and the rollout in the US is progressing. Some drivers opt for two phones, but that can prove detrimental because juggling two phones is harder than juggling two apps.

A charger will ensure you don’t lose ride requests because of a dead phone, and a phone mount makes it easier to access the phone and navigate between the two apps. Uber and Lyft drivers have shared in various forums that accidentally accepting a ride while trying to pick up the phone is one of the leading causes of cancellations.

A phone mount will also make it easy to follow directions and increase safety because you don’t have to keep looking down for directions.

2. Learn How to Navigate the Uber and Lyft Apps for Maximum Earnings

Log in to both at the start of your shift, but always have the Uber app on the main screen and let Lyft run in the background. If you keep the Uber partner app running in the background, Uber will consider the app inactive and kick you out.

Alternatively, you can keep both apps on the main screen simultaneously. Some Android phones have a split screen feature that allows you to do so.

As soon as you get a ride request on one app, log out of the other app to avoid getting ride requests while you have a passenger on board. Lyft, in particular, will penalize the driver if they cancel too many ride requests.

Log back in a few minutes before dropping your passenger. It provides enough time for the app to identify a nearby pick-up that’ll give you a new passenger on the way back. Juggling the two apps will only increase your earnings if they ensure you have a passenger in the car as often as possible.

Whenever you get two requests at the same time, choose the trip that has a nearby pick-up. While it’s tempting to pick a ride request that offers a longer trip but is further away, that’s not the best idea. Uber or Lyft will not compensate you for the time and gas it takes to reach the destination.

For similar reasons, avoid chasing Prime Time or Surge. These features on Lyft and Uber identify locations with high demand and, by extension, high prices. The high prices are good, but you lose more if you drive 20 or 30 minutes to the location without a Lyft or Uber passenger. Also, depending on the traffic, the surge might have already ended by the time you get there.

The rule of thumb is to do whatever is possible to always have a passenger in your car while driving. It’ll reduce gas and car maintenance expenses and increase earnings.

Mystro: The App to Help You Drive for Uber and Lyft at the Same Time

Mystro is a convenient app designed to help drivers manage their work on Uber and Lyft simultaneously. It automatically alternates between these two apps, allowing drivers to focus solely on driving. Originally available only on Android, Mystro has now expanded to iOS, offering an iPhone app.

Functionality of Mystro

The app’s primary function is to seamlessly switch between Uber and Lyft, ensuring drivers remain active and easily find passengers. When a ride is accepted on one platform, Mystro automatically logs the driver out of the other, optimizing the work process.

Benefits of Using Mystro

Mystro acts like a digital assistant, offering several advantages:

  • It keeps drivers available on both Uber and Lyft.
  • Automatically logs out from one app upon accepting a ride on the other, preventing penalties for declined rides.
  • Filters ride offers to prioritize higher-paying fares.
  • Allows sorting of passengers by pickup and destination points.

Mystro’s Pricing Plans

Mystro offers a free trial for new users to explore its features. Following the trial, there are various subscription plans:

  • Weekly Plan: $4.95
  • Monthly Plan: $11.95
  • Annual Plan: $99.95

These flexible pricing options cater to different driving frequencies, ensuring drivers don’t pay for the app during inactive periods. This is particularly beneficial for drivers who only work sporadically and don’t need a long-term subscription.

3. Understand How the Uber and Lyft Apps Behave on Different Phones

On an Android phone, the Uber Partner icon doesn’t show on the status bar when using the app. If you shift to another app, the icon shows up. The Lyft app will show up on the status bar the moment you launch the app and will stay on the bar for as long as you’re online.

On an iPhone, a blue bar appears on the status bar when you go online with Lyft and Uber apps. If the blue bar disappears, it means you’re offline.

Understanding this pattern will help you keep track of the rideshare apps to prevent long stretches of inactivity. Also, you’ll quickly identify whenever the Uber or Lyft apps crash or misbehave and react accordingly.

4. Determine the Insurance That Lyft and Uber Offer to Avoid Out of Pocket Losses

Uber and Lyft offer similar insurance coverage when the driver logs in to the app or waits for a passenger.

  • $25,000 property damage per accident
  • $50,000 body injury per person
  • $100,000 body injury per accident

The two companies also offer the same coverage when the app is on and the driver is on their way to pick up a passenger or has a passenger in the vehicle and is heading to the destination.

  • $1 million for third-party liability
  • Coverage for uninsured motorists
  • Collision coverage of up to the actual value of a vehicle

The coverage from Uber and Lyft is decent, but you might need extra insurance to cover what falls through the cracks. For example, ride-sharing companies don’t offer collision coverage when waiting for a request. If you accidentally hit or back up into a post, you’ll have to pay for the damage out of pocket. Rideshare insurance can cover these gaps.

Tips for Driving for Uber and Lyft at the Same Time

The whole point of driving for Uber and Lyft at the same time is to maximize your profits. Make sure you’re following these tips to earn the most money.

1. Don’t Chase Surge or Prime Time Pricing

Surge and prime time pricing are enticing for new drivers because they think they’ll make more money, but that’s not always the case.

Instead of constantly searching for these bonuses, check for bonus pricing when you first start your shift. It’s not worth the time and gas of driving to an area with surge pricing just to pick up one fare and then drive back across town.

Remember, you’re not the only one chasing these surges. Other drivers will see them, so you might not even get one fare because other drivers are getting the rides.

If there are nearby surges, you can take advantage, but don’t go out of your way to find one.

2. Choose the Closest Pickups

If you don’t have a passenger in your car, you’re not making money. Therefore you want to pick up anyone who’s closest to you at the time.

It’s worth picking up a nearby passenger for a short ride rather than waiting for a longer trip and losing out on money in the meantime.

Since you don’t get paid for time spent waiting on fares, it’s better to drive anyone where they need to go, and then see if you can get another passenger at that destination.

3. Stick with the Busier App

When one app is busier than the other, stay active on that one. Prioritize the app with fewer drivers to avoid unnecessary competition

You’ll waste time toggling back and forth between two when you can get consistent fares from one. If it takes a few minutes to find a fare, then you can open the other app to get a passenger.

If Uber has a lot of passengers requesting rides, it’s best to keep that open and not even check Lyft. Otherwise, you could miss an Uber request when you’re on Lyft, which will lower your approval rating.

4. Pay Attention to Bonuses

Both companies are offering bonuses to prevent driver shortages. New drivers can earn bonuses after giving their first ride, but it’s also possible to earn incentives by giving a certain number of rides per week.

Maximize promotions on both apps. If Lyft offers a promotion during a specific period, accept more rides until the promotion is over — do the same with Uber promotions

Additional Tips for Driving for Uber and Lyft at the Same Time

These additional tips will help increase earnings while using Uber and Lyft apps at the same time.

  • Before you use the two apps simultaneously, use Uber for a week, then switch to Lyft the following week. It’ll help you understand the features of each app in depth, making it easier to use them simultaneously
  • If one app is busy, stick with it for a while. Switching between the Uber and Lyft apps is unnecessary if one already provides enough requests
  • Avoid running other apps on the phone because it might slow or crash. Consider getting a separate phone to keep up with family, surf the internet, or watch a show while waiting for a ride request
  • Subscribe to an unlimited data plan because running the two apps together will consume a lot of data. Experiment with a weekly plan and a monthly plan, and choose the one that saves you more money

How Much Can You Make Driving for Uber and Lyft at the Same Time?

How much you make with this side hustle depends on how much you work. If you work smart, you won’t have high gas expenses, so you’ll make more per ride. Running both apps minimizes the time you’re waiting for a new passenger, so your hourly income rises.

Do Uber and Lyft Pay the Same?

Since your pay depends on how many rides you give, your income can vary from week to week.

When it comes down to each ride, Lyft pays more. They give drivers more of the tip and often run driver promotions, so they end up paying more.

Keep in mind that both companies take a cut of the ride fares, so you never get the full amount of each fare.

How Much You Can You Make?

A study found that Uber drivers can make an average of $19 per hour depending on the city and the demand. Lyft drivers reportedly make closer to $16 an hour.

You have to consider your expenses before you get excited about how much money you’ll make.

You have to pay for gas, car washes, insurance, maintenance, and possibly tolls. Since you’re a contract worker, you also have to pay self-employment taxes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is There an App That Combines Uber and Lyft?

Yes, an app called Mystro can aggregate jobs across Uber and Lyft. The rideshare apps give drivers limited time (less than 30 seconds) to assess a ride (Lyft or Uber), check the passenger rating, determine trip length, and evaluate if it’s a nearby pick-up. Mystro automates these tasks.

Are There Any Legal Implications for Driving for Uber and Lyft at the Same Time?

Uber and Lyft drivers are independent contractors, so there are no legal implications for driving for both companies at the same time. An independent contractor can pick and choose who to work for and even work for two competing companies at the same time.

Is There a Penalty for Canceling Ride Requests?

Yes. Multiple cancellations lower ratings or lead to deactivation. Rejecting rides often occurs when you go online with both apps. For example, if you accept an Uber ride and forget to take Lyft offline, you might be slammed with multiple Lyft pings you can’t accept.

Can You Use the Same Insurance for Both Rideshare Services?

Yes, you can use the same personal auto insurance for both rideshare services because you use one vehicle to accept Lyft and Uber requests. Personal auto insurance covers your car anytime you switch off the Uber and Lyft apps.

Do I need a separate Schedule C for Uber and Lyft?

No. Filing taxes as a rideshare driver is different from standard self-employment taxes.

If you have multiple side hustles, like running an Airbnb in addition to driving, then you file a separate Schedule C for the other business.

Since both Uber and Lyft are rideshare services, you can file them on the same Schedule C.

You combine your earnings, expenses, and mileage on the same form, whether the rides were through Uber or Lyft.

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