If you live near St. Louis--or if you head into the city for a night on the town on weekends--there's a chance that you've called an Uber or Lyft, or at least shared one with a friend. These people-powered taxi alternatives have grown significantly in STL and St. Charles over the past few years (they were actually banned when Uber first begun) and show no sign of slowing down.
A lot of local drivers have signed up to drive for these apps. It's an easy way to make some fast cash on the side, on your own terms and on your own schedule. You can decide when you want to be available, whether you just want a few hours a week or you want to try to drive full-time.
Riders can rate their drivers--so if you're considering becoming a driver for Uber, Lyft, or any of the other ride-sharing or carpooling services in St. Louis, it's important that you consider the vehicle you're planning to use as transport.
Your rusted-out 1998 Pontiac Grand Am with no A/C and no radio probably isn't going to get you a lot of fares. A Dodge Charger with leather interior, premium audio, and a delicate, subtle air freshener might get you a hefty share of five-star ratings.
You don't get a second chance to make a first impression--so if you're looking for the best cars to buy for Uber or Lyft success, take a look at our list.
Best Cars for Uber
In October of last year, U.S. News Best Cars compiled a list of their top cars for ride-share driving. Not too surprisingly, they chose a lot of hybrid cars, assuming correctly that fuel costs were the number one thing that cut into profits for drivers.
You can't go wrong with a Prius, but here are four great used cars that you can find for under $20,000 that will be comfortable for your passengers, reliable for you, and easy on your wallet:
- Ford Fusion
- Honda Accord
- Chevrolet Malibu
- Mazda6
Getting a car that looks good, feels good, and smells good (detailing is worth the investment) can mean more riders, more money for you.
Best 7+-Passenger Vehicles for Uber
While five-seater vehicles are the norm for ride-sharing apps, there are special opportunities for larger vehicles. Minivans and SUVs can be in high demand for large groups who want to save money on fares and want to ride together.
We've collected four of our favorite vehicles for large-group rides:
- Toyota Sienna
- Honda Pilot
- Ford Explorer
- Dodge Durango
Worst Cars for Uber
We don't just have tips for the cars that will lead to Uber excellence--there are some vehicles that you will want to avoid completely:
- New cars
- 3-year or younger luxury cars
- Cars that are more than 15 years old
- Cars with excessive wear and tear
These may seem like wildly different options, but none of them are very appropriate to buy as a car for Uber if you're looking to make money.
New cars and newer-model-year luxury cars (BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Porsche, etc) look great and will probably catch the eye of a lot of riders in St. Louis. But, these are the type of vehicles that depreciate fast, and lose a lot of value as soon as you take them off the lot. That's not a deal-breaker if you're just buying a car to have a car, but it'll cut into your earnings as an Uber or Lyft driver.
Gas costs, maintenance, and repair costs also eat away at your earnings--and buying a really old, beaten-up, or poorly-cared-for car could mean that a lot of your ride-share wages go toward fixing up a beater, instead of going into your bank account.
All-Credit Financing for Uber and Lyft Drivers
If you have bad or no credit and want to finance a vehicle to drive for Uber, we encourage you to fill out our online car loan application and get approved today.
We offer fair and competitive rates for used car loans in the St. Louis area. We caution drivers against financing with Uber or Lyft, because interest rates could be much higher than what you'd find when you work with our team of financing pros.
See how easy it could be to start driving, in a nicer, newer, more reliable used car at AutoCenters St. Charles.
