The way to Get Extra Ideas Driving for Uber and Lyft

• An Uber and Lyft driver revealed the methods he is used to get extra passengers to tip.
• His ukulele and electrical car have sparked conversations with riders, which might result in suggestions.
• Drivers mentioned inconsistent tipping makes a tough earnings atmosphere even more durable.

Gabe Ets-Hokin was struggling to get his rideshare prospects to go away suggestions. Then he purchased a ukulele.

“It sparks a number of questions, conversations, and connections,” the 56-year-old informed Enterprise Insider, including, “Generally I will play it for individuals, or higher but, I will give it to a passenger to play.”

In January 2023, Ets-Hokin introduced his ukulele when he drove for Uber and Lyft part-time in Oakland, California. That 12 months, his common tip quantity elevated to $1.19 from $1.05 in 2022, per his calculations. And it ticked as much as $1.24 in 2024. Ideas accounted for about 19% of his rideshare earnings in 2024, up from 12% in 2022.

Ets-Hokin mentioned each little enhance to his earnings is effective. And whereas varied elements impression buyer tipping, he mentioned he is assured his ukulele has helped him win over riders.

Over the previous two years, greater than a dozen Uber and Lyft drivers shared the methods they’ve used to safe suggestions — together with specializing in airport journeys and instantly asking for suggestions — typically with out a lot success. In addition they mentioned that inconsistent buyer tipping makes a tough earnings atmosphere even more durable. Knowledge supplied to Enterprise Insider by Gridwise, a knowledge analytics firm that helps gig drivers observe their earnings, confirmed that final 12 months, Individuals had been a lot much less prone to tip their Uber and Lyft drivers than drivers for platforms equivalent to DoorDash, Instacart, UberEats, and Grubhub. Gridwise analyzed 171 million journeys to compile its findings.

Uber didn’t reply to a request for remark from BI. Lyft pointed BI to statements made by CEO David Risher within the firm’s newest earnings name, wherein he mentioned drivers collectively earned almost $9 billion in 2024, greater than any prior 12 months within the firm’s historical past.

Having conversations with riders can result in suggestions

Having a ukulele in his automobile is not the one factor serving to Ets-Hokin. He mentioned having conversations with passengers can even enhance the possibilities a rider will go away a tip.

“If someone will get in your automobile and treats you want a robotic, there’s virtually no probability that they are going to tip you,” he mentioned, including, “The surest method to get larger suggestions is to work together with passengers.”

After shopping for a Tesla in 2021, he mentioned riders started frequently asking him whether or not he likes it and the place he prices the electrical car.

“This continuously results in a ‘connection’ sort of dialog, which frequently leads to a tip,” he mentioned.

After promoting his Tesla in 2022, Ets-Hokin purchased a distinct EV final 12 months — a Hyundai IONIQ 5. Ets-Hokin mentioned this car has sparked much more questions from riders than the Tesla did, which he thinks is as a result of individuals are much less accustomed to one of these EV.

Regardless of his greatest efforts, Ets-Hokin mentioned not each passenger is open to a dialog. And even when an excellent dialog occurs, some riders overlook to tip.

Driving is barely worthwhile throughout sure durations

Ets-Hokin drives for Uber and Lyft about 15 hours per week and, in 2024, earned about $24,000 after accounting for platform commissions and charges — which do not embody driving bills like gasoline and car upkeep. He drives part-time as a result of his spouse has a full-time job and gig driving is barely financially worthwhile throughout sure time durations.

In 2020, California handed Proposition 22, which categorised Uber and Lyft drivers as unbiased contractors slightly than staff and established a wage flooring of 120% of the minimal wage within the areas the place drivers full journeys. For Ets-Hokin, that is about $20 an hour — which is not sufficient to entice him to drive greater than 15 hours per week.

When he does drive, he prefers two particular three-hour stretches on the weekends — between 4 p.m. and seven p.m. and 10 p.m. and 1 a.m. — that he believes are probably the most worthwhile. Per his calculations, he can earn as a lot as $40 an hour throughout these durations, after driving bills.

That is partly as a result of the weekends additionally have a tendency to provide extra conversations — and higher suggestions.

“Sadly, most a.m. or p.m. commuters are bored with interacting with their drivers,” he mentioned, including, “The perfect hourly pay is throughout busy weekend evenings.”

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Correction: March 8, 2025 — An earlier model of this story misspelled Ets-Hokin’s identify in a single occasion. It’s Gabe Ets-Hokin, not Gabe Est-Hokin.