Providing rides for commuters is an easy way to earn some money on the side.
You can even make it a full-time job until you find something better to do.
You’re probably thinking, “that’s nice, but I don’t have a car.”
Fortunately, you don’t need to own a car to work as a rideshare driver.
So don’t worry; we’ll answer all your questions regarding how you can rent a car for Uber to provide ridesharing services.
Table Of Contents
Does Uber Give You a Car to Drive?
The simple answer is no; Uber doesn’t provide cars to drivers.
Uber tops our list of ridesharing companies, which means it is one of the biggest companies in this space.
But the company doesn’t own any of the cars they use for the services they provide.
This arrangement may be a bit surprising given the size, popularity and reputation of the company.
But it makes sense because Uber doesn’t provide commuting services; it only serves as a platform to connect drivers to commuters.
Uber expects and advocates for drivers to have the cars they intend to use for their services.
Of course, that doesn’t mean that Uber accepts any type of car for its services.
However, in as much as Uber won’t give you a vehicle, they expect that the vehicle you intend to use meet certain requirements.
These requirements serve as the standard to ensure optimal service quality and customer satisfaction.
Uber has a database where they list cars that meet their standards.
The database includes cars that meet a strict requirement on the model, make, year and capacity they allow.
If your car or the car you intend to use is on the list, it automatically qualifies, provided it’s in good condition.
However, they’ll be willing to accept your vehicle if they deem it worthy for the quality of service they intend to provide.
Can I Rent a Car to Drive for Uber?
Uber is not only meant for car owners; if that’s the case, it’ll be unfair to qualified drivers (such as you) with interest but lack resources.
You can rent a car to drive for Uber.
However, the car must meet the basic requirements for Uber to accept it.
Does Uber Rent Cars to Drivers?
Like we mentioned before, Uber provides all their services without owning any of the vehicles drivers use for providing the services.
In other words, Uber won’t rent a car to you to work as a driver.
However, they have a rental program in conjunction with several car rental companies.
Therefore, through Uber’s recommendation, drivers can rent cars for use from any of the companies.
Can Uber Drivers Use Rental Cars?
Uber doesn’t have a very strict policy when it comes to car ownership by their drivers.
Uber not only allows drivers to rent cars, but they also enable it through their rental partners.
So yes, you can rent a car to drive for Uber.
However, the standard requirements remain for every car, rented or owned by the driver.
Things to Know Before You Renting a Car for Uber
While Uber tries to be as flexible as possible regarding their policies on rentals, it doesn’t mean they don’t have regulations regarding rentals.
Below are some points you need to be aware of regarding the use of rental vehicles with Uber.
Can Your Rental Car Be For Uber?
Your rental car may or may not be eligible for use with Uber depending on several factors.
For example, in some states in the U.S, under no condition can you offer Uber services using rental vehicles.
The good news is this is not a very popular practice as it’s only in a few places.
Currently, you can rent a car through one of Uber’s partners in the following cities:
- Chicago
- Houston
- Dallas
- Philadelphia
- Los Angeles
- San Francisco
- Seattle
- Las Vegas
- New Jersey
- Denver
- Atlanta
- San Diego
- Washington
- Boston
- Portland
- Miami
You can check the Uber FAQ page for a complete list of all the cities where Uber has its rental program.
When Renting a Car Does Uber Cover Insurance?
According to the information available on their official page, Uber provides limited insurance coverage while the app is on.
So, whenever there’s an indication that you’re currently working for the company, there’ll be insurance coverage even if you don’t have a passenger yet.
In addition, the insurance coverage increases when the driver is providing services to a passenger.
However, when you’re driving for yourself, i.e., personal use, there’ll be no insurance coverage from Uber.
Read More: The complete guide to Uber insurance
Is it Worth It to Rent a Car for Uber?
There are numerous advantages to providing ridesharing services with Uber.
However, it becomes a bit difficult if you don’t have a car, which leaves you with the option of rent.
But is it worth it?
Let’s consider some of the pros and cons of renting a car for Uber.
Pros of Renting a Car for Uber
1. It’s Easy
Uber makes it very easy to rent a car which you’ll use for their services.
First, you need to undergo the proper registration process.
After that, you have to pass a background check and all necessary examinations, including a credit card and credit worthiness valuation.
Uber will then recommend you to one of its rental partners, who will rent you a car.
2. Car Pays for Itself
Furthermore, renting a car for Uber exempts you from long-term commitment, and the car pays for itself.
By renting a car, you don’t have to splash money on long-term investment in a car.
Also, since you’ll be using the car for work, the rental fees come directly out of your earnings.
3. Roadside Assistance
You also get roadside assistance plus insurance coverage depending on the rental service you use.
Many rental companies provide these services on their vehicles.
4. Broad Options
Lastly, you have a range of car options to pick from.
Again, car rental gives you far more options with lesser financial constraints on the cars you can use.
Cons of Renting a Car for Uber
1. Limited Rental Options
The main disadvantage of using a rental vehicle for Uber is the limited rental options you have.
Uber made it clear that they only accept rental vehicles from approved partners.
In other words, you can only rent vehicles from companies that Uber approves of.
2. Cuts into Profit
Also, most of your profit goes back into payment for the rent if you don’t put in enough work hours.
So to make a significant net profit, you have to put in more work regularly.
Can Renting a Car for Uber be Profitable?
The answer to that question is dependent on the hours of work you’re able to clock in.
Your net profit is the amount you have left after paying all charges, including the rental fee.
Therefore, if you make a lot of money in a day’s work, you’ll still have a reasonable amount left after paying up on your charges.
In that sense, we can say it’s profitable.
Of course, this won’t be a problem if you’re working as a full-time driver.
Where to Rent a Car for Uber
Like we’ve mentioned before, Uber only allows the use of cars rented from car renting companies they approve of.
We’re going to look at some of those companies below.
Uber Rental Car Programs
1. Avis
Avis provides car rental services to Uber drivers for as low as $250 per week.
In addition, they offer a great selection of Uber-approved vehicles you can pick from.
You can sign up for either their 700 miles or the unlimited miles subscription.
Plus, they provide insurance coverage as well as basic maintenance for their vehicles.
2. Hertz
You can also rent a car from Hertz to work as an Uber driver.
Their operations are very similar to Avis as they also operate a weekly rental service.
Their subscription features unlimited mileage.
Plus, they also provide insurance as well as maintenance, and it all goes for a base rate of $214.
Did you know? You can buy a used rental car through the Hertz Rent to Buy program.
This is an affordable way to acquire a used car, potentially saving money in the process.
3. KINTO
Kinto provides a flexible car rental service for Uber as well as other ridesharing companies.
However, unlike most other car rental services approved by Uber, Kinto charges hourly rates.
They also charge additional mileage fees.
Their hourly fee includes all expenses: insurance, maintenance and fuel.
Other Places to Rent a Car for Uber
Aside from the three popular Uber car rental partners, there are other rental companies you can try out.
The rental companies are not exactly partners with Uber.
Nonetheless, Uber allows users to use vehicles rented from the companies for their valet services.
1. Turo
Turo is a framework that allows car owners to rent out their cars to drivers who’d like to use them for commercial purposes.
It’s an interesting setup that allows you to rent another individual’s car to use for Uber.
However, the charges will depend solely on whatever you agree with the owner of the car.
Also, insurance and maintenance may or may not be available depending on the same arrangement.
2. HyreCar
There are claims that Hyrecar was specifically designed for Uber driver car rentals.
There are also no fixed charges for car rentals on HyreCar.
You can find the option that suits you best by searching on the app.
The price and location filters make the search easier.
Not only that, if you already own a car, you can also rent out your car to other Uber or Lyft drivers via the app.
Related Resource
3. Getaround
Getaround is an Uber-only car rental; therefore, you can only rent cars here for use as an Uber driver.
Plus, It simplifies things as you get a car at an hourly rate, and there’s no max or min rental period.
The rental rate is $4; however, there may be some discount for the first 14 hours of the rent.
Finally, it’s worth noting that Getaround is Uber’s preferred partner in the Uber vehicle app.
How to See Rental Options Near You
By now, you already know that Uber-approved rental options are not available in every state/ city in the U.S.
You can follow the listed step to view a list of the rental options available in your city.
- Open the Uber App
- Select Account
- Navigate to the Vehicle Marketplace
- Select Rental Period
- Get Started
Alternative: Leasing a Car for Uber
Uber also allows drivers to lease cars which they’ll use to do their jobs.
Car leasing is a bit different from rental.
You can lease a car for a longer period than you can rent a car.
But, of course, all the same benefits of car rentals attach to car leasing too.
Uber partnered with Fair to facilitate car leasing for their drivers.
This setup enables Uber drivers to lease a car to work with for a longer period.
You can rent a vehicle through this setup for as long as a year.
However, you’ll have to make monthly payments for the lease after an initial upfront deposit.
With this setup, leasing a car with Fair is a bit different from renting a car from rental companies.
Frequently Asked Questions
To make things easier, we’ve answered some of the most frequently asked questions about how to rent a car for Uber below.
Do Uber drivers get discounts on rental cars?
Depending on your location, there are numerous local discounts available to Uber drivers.
But as far as we know, there’s no general discount for rental car drivers.
Nonetheless, there may be some discounts available in your area that may be similar to a rental car discount in effect.
What’s the best car for Uber driving?
Most people will recommend the 2016 Toyota Prius as one of the best cars for Uber.
It’s quite popular among Uber drivers and is one of the best cars for Uber use.
The vehicle may not be the most luxurious ride for passengers, but it’s the best if you intend to save money on day-to-day operating costs.
Final Take
Renting a car for Uber is not a bad idea if you intend to work in a city or area where Uber is popular.
However, the investment may not be worth it if you’re in a rural area where ridesharing is not very popular.
Nonetheless, working as a driver for Uber is one of the best ways to fill your time while earning money on the side.
Aside from that, you also get to meet new interesting people every day.
I think this is a bad idea and risky. My daughter was just involved in a collision which an “UBer driver who rented a vehicle from Hertz ran a red light and hit her as she was driving through a green light in Miami. He pushed her vehicle into another vehicle going 50 in a 30-40 mile zone. Thank God she walked away with minor bruising and injuries. It was a good thing she had the steel bumper added to her Jeep Wrangler or else this guy would of killed my daughter and her passenger. So obviously he was in a “rush” to make that next buck without being mindful.
Yeah I, along with other on Turo subreddit, stopped renting my car out on Turo for this reason. $39 per day and people drive it 300 miles per day. Uber drivers are ruining Turo for everyone.