Key Takeaways
- Veyo provides non-emergency medical rides for Medicare and Medicaid patients.
- It operates in limited areas across three full states and parts of five others, with plans to expand.
- Drivers over 21 with a good record and proper vehicle can work for Veyo, offering schedule flexibility.
- Veyo drivers can make $15 to $25 per hour, helping improve healthcare access.
How Does Veyo Work for Drivers?
Veyo is a unique transportation company specializing in non-emergency medical rides, catering primarily to Medicare and Medicaid patients.
It offers a flexible schedule for drivers, who must meet specific age, driving experience, and vehicle requirements.
Operating in select U.S. locations, Veyo provides an opportunity for drivers to earn between $15 and $25 per hour, contributing positively to their communities by ensuring patients attend their medical appointments.
Where is Veyo Available?
Veyo is currently available in a select number of locations across the United States, primarily serving in three states and certain cities within five additional states.
Specifically, Veyo operates in Arizona, Orange County in California, Connecticut, and Louisiana.
In addition to these states, Veyo also provides services in Detroit, Michigan; Houston, Texas; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; and Richmond, Virginia.
As Veyo continues to grow and form new partnerships, the availability of its services is expected to expand to more areas.
How Much Does Veyo Pay?
Veyo’s pay structure is similar to that of other ridesharing apps. It’s based on a per-trip basis and is influenced by a flat pickup fee and a rate per mile that varies from one region to another.
There’s also a guaranteed minimum rate you receive, regardless of the distance you traveled.
In Arizona, for example, your pickup fee is $1, you’ll earn $1 per mile traveled, and you’re guaranteed to earn at least $5.20 per trip.
In California, the pickup fee is still the same, but you’ll earn $1.15 per mile instead. The minimum rate is only $4.80 there, however.
But in Florida, Ohio, and Missouri (outside of St. Louis County), mileage bands are used to calculate rates for trips up to a certain distance.
In Florida, for example, the rates for trips up to 25 miles are based on the following distances:
- 0.01–5 Miles: $11
- 5.01–10 Miles: $13.75
- 10.01–15 Miles: $20
- 15.01–20 Miles: $26.00
- 20.01–25 Miles: $35
Once you exceed 25 miles, your rate becomes $1.25 for each extra mile you travel.
The company doesn’t take a single cent from your fares—you keep all that you make. However, the caveat is that riders don’t typically offer tips to Veyo drivers, which is a key difference from services like Uber or Lyft.
But the silver lining is that Veyo is generous with its bonuses and promotional offers, offering up to $1,000 through trip milestones in Phoenix, Arizona, for example.
How Does Veyo Differ From Other Ridesharing Apps?
The company operates similarly to a ridesharing service like Uber or Lyft; you can set your schedule, and it doesn’t have its own fleet of vehicles.
Rather, drivers who meet its strict healthcare standards can apply online, undergo several background checks and certifications, and start receiving trips on the Veyo Driver app.
The key differences between Veyo and Uber, for example, lie in Veyo’s application requirements and process, its pay structure, and the customers it caters to.
You’ll be driving people to mental and behavioral health appointments, counseling, treatment services, their doctor, and such. These are non-emergencies, so you don’t need to be a trained EMT.
Who Does Veyo Employ?
Unlike other ridesharing apps, Veyo’s requirements are much more stringent.
The core responsibility Veyo drivers have is safely transporting patients to and from their medical appointments, so both professionalism and knowledge of health protocols and medical needs are essential.
In other words, you must complete the required training programs the company offers to qualify.
These include topics such as first-aid and CPR certification, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability (HIPAA) compliance, patient confidentiality (PHI), customer sensitivity training, and more.
The company provides this training for free, by the way. But certifications aside, here’s a list of other requirements to become a Veyo driver:
- Be at least 21 years old
- Own an iPhone or Android smartphone
- Have a valid driver’s license with a clean driving record
- Pass background checks and drug testing as mandated by the company
- Have a 4-door vehicle that meets Veyo’s standards (2001 or newer, 2006 or newer in Connecticut)
- Maintain valid car insurance that meets Veyo’s minimum coverage requirement for ridesharing or NEMT purposes (check with your insurance company beforehand!)
- Have 3 years of driving history in the U.S.
- Complete the required training programs
How to Become a Veyo Driver
If all of this sounds exciting to you, go ahead and apply to Veyo!
It’s not a hard process and won’t hurt to start the application. After all, if you end up deciding against Veyo, you can drop out at any time.
Pro Tip: If you run into issues during the application process, reach out to Veyo customer service to get your issue sorted out.
Step 1: Start Your Application
First, head to Veyo’s sign-up page to start your application.
You’ll need to enter your personal information: name, email address, phone number, and contact information. If you have a referral or promo code, use it to receive its benefits.
Make sure you have all the necessary documents (vehicle registration and insurance, Social Security number, driver’s license) and your smartphone at hand before you begin.
Step 2: Upload Your Documents
You’ll need to upload your documents to proceed with the application process. These include your driver’s license, vehicle registration, and insurance.
Since the company requires you to provide your Social Security number, your background will be checked to ensure you’re cleared to work in a position of trust.
Note that most companies, Veyo included, are more concerned with serious crimes than minor misdemeanors.
Ideally, you should have a clean record with minimal moving violations in recent years and no DUIs within a specific timeframe.
Step 3: Complete Online Training
Again, the key difference between Veyo and other rideshare companies is that Veyo requires its independent contractors to be well aware of health protocols and trained in a variety of patient care procedures.
Veyo will require you to watch a few simple training videos and attend in-office training courses.
Expect to learn about the Americans with Disabilities Act Standards for Accessible Design (ADA) compliance, how to use the driver app, how to assist passengers with mobility issues, and more.
Everything is free, so don’t worry about spending your hard-earned money on training.
Step 4: Pass a Vehicle Inspection
To ensure your vehicle meets the company’s safety standards and is suitable for transporting patients, it’ll need to pass a vehicle inspection.
The process varies from one region to another, but usually, you’ll either need to complete it virtually, at one of Veyo’s regional offices, or have it inspected by an ASE-certified mechanic.
In some regions, Veyo will reimburse up to $20 for a vehicle inspection once you complete your first trip, if you’ve paid for it out of pocket.
Step 5: Provide Payment Information
Enter your up-to-date bank account information so that Veyo can pay you via deposit once a week for your trips. If you ever need to change your banking information, you can:
- Open the Veyo app and click on “Profile”
- Tap “Personal”
- Tap “Bank Account”
- Select the account you’d like to update
- Enter your new banking information and tap “Submit”
Step 6: Download the Veyo Driver App
Once you’re approved, you’ll be able to log in to the Veyo Driver app, which you can download from Google Play or the Apple App Store, and start receiving trips.
How Long Until I Can Start Driving?
Expect the onboarding process to take anywhere from 3 to 5 days after you’ve signed up. Veyo will keep you up to date about your current application status via email notifications.
Brett’s Take: Thoughts From an Expert
The Veyo driver signup process is fairly simple, working just like most other delivery company onboarding.
Drivers will have to meet specific requirements, get their vehicle inspected, have a background check conducted on them, and pass a drug test.
What separates the service, however, is the training.
Veyo provides drivers with CPR certifications and training during their onboarding process. They also give drivers an ID badge and magnets for their vehicles.
When it comes to pay, however, feelings are a bit mixed.
While the base rate per mile is competitive, especially those with bonuses during peak times, some drivers I’ve talked to are sometimes concerned with the reliability of receiving peak pay for every ride.
However, overall, most drivers agree it is a pretty reliable way to earn while driving.
One consideration before signing up is the clientele and where you’ll be transporting them to.
Most of Veyo’s customers are people going to and from medical appointments. These include methadone clinics, which some drivers find a bit uncomfortable.
It is also worth considering that there isn’t a way to rate passengers. Some drivers report difficult interactions, and not having a way to ensure that you won’t get paired with those riders again can cause frustration.
My Suggestion: Veyo can be very flexible and offer a lot of benefits, but there are caveats with that.
I suggest weighing the pros and cons, while taking into account what you’re comfortable with while driving.
What is a Veyo Driver’s Schedule LIke?
A Veyo driver’s schedule is highly flexible and can be tailored to fit individual needs and commitments.
Whether you have other job commitments that leave you only evenings or weekends free, or you’re a student looking to work between classes, Veyo accommodates your availability.
Drivers set their schedule directly in the Veyo app by downloading it and navigating to the “schedule” section. Here, you can specify your hours of availability, ensuring the app only presents rides that fit within these times.
This system allows for maximum flexibility, enabling drivers to work around their existing schedules.
Is Driving for Veyo Worth it?
Driving for Veyo is considered worthwhile, especially for those looking to make a meaningful impact by transporting individuals to health appointments.
Veyo offers competitive pay, but it’s essential to compare it with other driving platforms to determine the best fit.
- Veyo vs. Uber: Driving for Uber is more widespread and allows drivers to keep 100% of tips, offering potential earnings up to $30 an hour during peak times. Veyo, on the other hand, offers pre-scheduled pickups and a more personal connection with passengers, emphasizing support for those in need.
- Veyo vs. Lyft: Lyft operates widely and offers a diverse passenger base. However, it generally pays less than Veyo and lacks a focus on a specific demographic.
- Veyo vs. HopSkipDrive: HopSkipDrive caters to youth and young adults, providing an alternative for drivers preferring a younger clientele over Veyo’s primarily elderly passengers.
- Veyo vs. Saferide and Roundtrip: Both Saferide and Roundtrip specialize in non-emergency medical transportation for the elderly and sick, partnering with other services for transport. Veyo differentiates itself by directly employing drivers and focusing on personalized care.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Veyo Drivers Employees or Contractors?
Veyo contracts drivers and makes their schedules. Because of this, they are free to break contracts and stop driving at any time.
However, contractors also don’t get benefits past a sign-on bonus at the beginning of their time with Veyo.
Do Veyo Drivers Need Insurance?
Veyo drivers are required to have personal insurance for their vehicles.
However, Veyo also gives their drivers commercial insurance to cover any damage they might incur while working for the company.
For long drives, they might also provide mileage reimbursement.
Can I Use a Rental Car With Veyo?
Yes, but only if you lease your car specifically for commercial purposes and the rental company provides the necessary insurance coverage.
Yes. You’re an independent contractor who’s in control of their schedule. Just make sure you set yourself as “unavailable” on the Veyo Driver app while driving for a different rideshare app.
Final Thoughts
Veyo is a viable alternative to rideshare giants Uber and Lyft if you’d like to change your pace a little and try catering to a different set of clients.
The company’s pay is excellent, its onboarding process is straightforward, its support team is responsive, and you learn a wealth of knowledge about health protocols and patient care.
Most importantly, you make a difference in people’s lives by providing reliable transportation to their health appointments!
