Gridwise blog

If you’re a rideshare driver and take your job very seriously, you deserve to be treated like a professional. The popular companies you’ve always worked with are familiar mainstays, but they don’t always treat you like you’re valued or skilled. But now there’s a new way to work that’s a real upgrade to the rideshare driver experience. In this post we’ll share information about Alto, including

• Alto: a new take on the rideshare driving experience
• how to earn more money as a rideshare driver with Alto
• the Alto difference

Alto: a new take on the rideshare driving experience

Taking rideshare driving up a notch starts with innovative thinking. Entrepreneur Will Coleman demonstrated exactly that when he conceived and developed Alto. He wanted his customers and drivers to have a distinctive experience that set his company apart from popular rideshare apps. The first way he did this was to change the way transactions would be viewed.

With traditional rideshare arrangements, companies such as Uber and Lyft serve merely as technology platforms that facilitate connections between passengers and drivers. The companies collect fees from both sides of the transactions in order to compensate themselves for providing the software which enables their rideshare business to work.  

Alto is quite different. Quoted in this article on the Robb Report, Coleman explains Alto’s approach this way:

“We made the decision very early on to say we’re not a tech company, we’re a service and hospitality company.”

What exactly does this mean? Alto has created consistent, high-quality rideshare experiences for both customers and drivers. The cars are owned and maintained by the company. Alto’s fleet consists of company branded Buick Enclaves, chosen for their practical mix of luxury, comfort, utility, and most of all, safety. 

Customers know that when they call an Alto, they’re going to get a clean and well-maintained vehicle driven by a trained professional. Alto goes beyond the ordinary to create a customer experience that allows riders to be greeted with familiarity, from the recognizable exterior to interior features such as lighting and even a specific Alto scent.

The idea is to make passengers feel as though they are getting into their own car. Riders can even use the Alto app to create the exact environment they desire while in the vehicle or before it arrives. They can select the music or lower the volume, change interior lighting, and if they choose, put the driver on “Do not disturb!”

So far, Alto is available in select cities in Texas and California, as well as Miami and Washington, D.C. The company has plans for expansion, which would be a big boost to the rideshare scene. Alto’s focus on customer service and high quality, plus its innovative membership model, make Alto an attractive upgrade for customers. Now let’s explore what kinds of advantages it offers to rideshare drivers.

How to earn more money as a rideshare driver with Alto

Alto wants to attract serious and highly skilled drivers to work for them, so all drivers who work for Alto are hired as W-2 employees. This means they are provided with

• predictable work hours
• a company owned luxury SUV 
• payment by the hour, not by the ride
• company coverage of expenses such as fuel and auto/liability insurance
• healthcare, dental, and vision insurance
• paid time off and sick leave
• safe driving bonus awards
• 401(k) with company match after 6 months’ working for Alto
• extensive training in hospitality and defensive driving
• repeat customers who subscribe to Alto memberships

Alto’s vehicles provide drivers with

• HEPA air filters that keep the interior air clean and fresh
• leather seats and captain’s chairs
• telemetric tracking for safe driving
• in-vehicle wifi and chargers
• bottled water and umbrellas for passengers
• in-car security cameras
• plexiglass barriers
• 24-hour live support 

If all these aspects of driving for Alto appeal to you, you’ll need to know that the company is very selective about the background and experience of the drivers it brings on board. Drivers for Alto must

• be over the age of 21
• fill out an application and upload a résumé
• successfully complete an interview process
• pass an extensive drug-screening test
• clear a thorough, fingerprint-based background check

If you are a professional driver with a charming, friendly personality that is perfect for the hospitality business, you’re the kind of driver Alto is looking to employ. Apply to be an Alto driver and take a step up to a new level of rideshare driving.

The Alto difference

When you work with the traditional apps as an independent contractor, rideshare driver pay gets eaten away by gas, maintenance, and vehicle depreciation expenses. Most good Uber driver advice or Lyft driver advice will include other things you need to think about, such as mileage deduction for gig drivers and rideshare insurance for your personal auto policy.

With Alto, these expenses and concerns are completely absorbed and handled by the company. Woo-hoo! This is a big change from being an independent contractor, and many full-time drivers would find these, along with the other benefits of being an employee that we’ve mentioned, to be great incentives to drive with Alto.

Drivers who can’t or don’t want to drive full time, or to be obligated to work at certain times of day, might not want to work for a service that hires drivers as full W-2 employees. They would be better off sticking to gigs that let them remain independent contractors. They might also find that a free mileage tracker app such as Gridwise helps them keep tabs on their earnings and deductions, and keep on top of local events, traffic, and weather alerts that affect their driving.

Drivers who live where Alto operates and who want to be full-time professionals, who receive predictable earnings and all the benefits of being employees of this innovative company, now have the perfect place to work. Alto definitely upgrades the rideshare driver experience. If you think Alto is right for you, give it a try. 

Apply to be an Alto driver!

High gas prices!

You hear it at the airport, waiting for spectators to leave events, or at the coffee shops and restaurants where rideshare and food delivery drivers congregate. After hitting record-breaking levels, gasoline prices started inching downward and then went back up. According to the American Automobile Association, the current national average is $3.944 a gallon. In California, expect to pay $6.246. 

Tough times. 

But as a gig driver, these are costs that you have to incur since this is how you make your living. 

You can do things, however, to eke out an extra mile or two at the pump or on the road. In this post, we will cover how to save money on gas. Topics include

• behind the wheel and at the pump
• things you can do behind the wheel to increase mileage
• things you can do at the gas pump to save money
• download the Gridwise app

Behind the wheel and at the pump

There are two areas where you can save money on fuel costs. The first is behind the wheel. Short of buying an electric car, the tips that increase mileage will get you only so far, but everything helps. Changing your driving habits is a significant part of saving fuel. 

The second is changing your habits at the pump. 

Things you can do behind the wheel to increase mileage

1. Slow down

According to MotorBiscuit.com, breaking the habit of sudden acceleration and deceleration can increase mileage by as much as 30%. Don’t be a lead foot. It is also safer for you and your passengers and keeps you from getting bad ratings because folks don’t like your driving. 

Here is another alarming factoid from Motor Biscuit: for every five miles an hour over 50 mph that you drive, it’s like paying an additional $0.20 per gallon of gas. Aerodynamics is your friend to a certain point, but then it starts to work against you. 

2. Check your tire pressure

According to the Department of Energy, for every pound per square inch your car tires are underinflated, you lose 0.2% in mileage. Check those tires regularly. There is also a belief that overinflating your tires by a couple of pounds gets you additional mileage because there is less surface contact between the tires and the road. According to a test conducted by Popular Mechanics, overinflation to improve mileage is a myth. The best thing you can do is keep your tires inflated to factory specifications. You can find those numbers on the tire sidewalls, in the owner’s manual, or on a plate mounted to the side post of most cars. Open the driver’s door from the outside, look down and to the right, and there it is. 

3. Adopt the ten-second rule of idling, or shift to neutral

Okay, fess up. How many of you food delivery drivers let the car idle in park while you drop off an order? Likewise, how many of you rideshare drivers idle your car in gear while waiting for passengers? Too many. According to the Geico insurance website, letting your car idle excessively consumes as much as a quarter to half a gallon per hour. Restarting the engine only consumes about ten seconds' worth of gas. Whenever you can do so, turn the engine off. If you are still in the car, at least put it in park or idle, which consumes less fuel. 

4. Make sure the gas cap is on tight and works properly

Lauren Fix of Car Coach reports, “About 17 percent of the vehicles on the roads have gas caps that are either damaged, loose, or missing altogether, causing 147 million gallons of gas to vaporize every year.” Make sure your gas cap is on tight and in good condition. Most new cars operate on a sealed system, and a loose gas cap is a problem for that system. 

5. Use the right motor oil, and change it on schedule

Friction is the enemy of efficiency in your car’s engine. To combat that friction, automotive designers ensure that all moving parts are well-lubricated. You can do your part by changing the oil regularly and using the correct engine oil. If the manual says 30-weight oil, use 30-weight oil, regardless of what your brother-in-law says. Many newer cars use synthetic oil, which is two or three times more expensive, but that’s what you signed up for when you purchased the car. Besides, synthetic oil is good for your car and good for mileage. 

Changing your oil on schedule is another priority. If you neglect to change your oil, it thickens and turns to sludge, reducing its ability to circulate throughout the engine and provide lubrication. In addition to lubrication, oil redistributes heat in the engine. If the oil is not changed regularly, it is not as efficient at moving that heat. You risk damaging gaskets, warping components from excessive heat, and ruining the engine. 

6. Change the engine air filter on schedule

A gasoline engine operates on the efficient burning of gasoline and oxygen. Your car pulls air (with oxygen) through the under-the-hood air filter and into the engine. A dirty air filter means the engine must work harder to get air into the combustion chamber. The harder your engine works, the less fuel efficient it is, and eventually it will stop running. Check out What Will Happen If I Don’t Change My Car’s Air Filter? on The Newswheel website. 

7. Keep your windows rolled up when you drive

You like the feel of the wind on your face, but open windows in your car mean more wind turbulence and resistance, again causing the engine to work harder. For maximum fuel efficiency, keep the windows rolled up. 

8. Take off the ski or surfboard racks from your car

You have a bumper sticker on your car that reads, “I’d rather be skiing.” Those racks on the roof of your car are a status symbol, letting everyone know that you are a gig driver, so you have the flexibility to bomb the slopes or shred the waves whenever you want. The reality, though, is that those racks cause wind resistance, reducing the aerodynamics of your car and affecting your mileage. Keep those racks in the garage where they belong. 

Things you can do at the gas pump

1. Track your mileage

By tracking your mileage (we mean with an app and a calculator) you see what works and what doesn’t. If you are the obsessive-compulsive type (and today’s gas prices will make you that way), monitoring your mileage transforms you into a mileage maniac, testing new ways to conserve gas. Keep records. 

2. Don’t top off the gas tank

While attempting to pump every ounce possible into your tank, you spill gas. That’s just throwing money away. In some cars, repeated overfilling can damage emissions components, making your car run less efficiently. “Gasoline needs room to expand, your tank needs extra room for that expansion,” explains an article on Automoblog.net. “If you try to top off, the extra gas you’re trying to add may actually evaporate into your vehicle’s vapor collection system. This can ruin the mechanism, making it work improperly, and cause your car to run less efficiently.”

3. Fuel up in the morning

If you really want to ensure that you get all the gas in your tank that you can and do it safely, fuel up in the morning while it is still cool. The liquid expands as it gets warmer in your tank. Besides, many gas stations change their prices mid-morning after they have figured out what the competition is charging. 

4. Fuel up on a schedule

It is best to fuel up before you start your gig activity. We all have a favorite gas station with lower prices than other stations. With a full tank, you won’t get caught up in the heat of accepting passengers or delivering food, only to realize at the last minute that you need to gas up and are forced to stop at the first station you see, which could cost you more. 

Download the Gridwise app

Last, but not least - downloading the Gridwise app might be the best thing you can do to save on gas as a gig driver. Once you've downloaded the app, you can sign up for Gridwise Gas and save up to $50/month on gas.

There's also other ways to minimize gas costs, like using Gridwise to know when and where to drive so you don't waste gas waiting for trips. Gridwise has other features, including information on peak times for arrivals and departures at the airports and special events such as concerts and sporting events. These features mean you can drive with a purpose and a goal in mind rather than just aimlessly waiting for the rideshare or food delivery app to find you a passenger or a meal to be delivered. 

Download Gridwise now to save on gas!

It’s a natural reflex to yawn at the mere mention of insurance, but when you’re a gig driver, you need to pay close attention to this important topic. In this post we’ll analyze the insurance situation for gig drivers, and focus on how you can decide what’s best for you.

Here’s what we’ll look at:

• The basics: minimum coverage for gig drivers
• What policies such as Uber insurance will, and won’t, do for you
• Extras or essentials? Additional coverage you can buy
• Beyond your vehicle: important insurance for gig drivers

The basics: minimum coverage for gig drivers

Insurance requirements are a part of onboarding for virtually every rideshare or delivery service where you are required to use your own vehicle. Without that proof of basic auto coverage, you won’t be accepted onto the gig platforms.

Given that it’s illegal in most places to drive without insurance, even if you’re not on a gig, that’s a no-brainer. But there’s something you might not realize. You will need to notify your insurance carrier that you’re gig driving, and purchase additional coverage.

If you fail to do this, you’re risking a lot. Your primary auto policy probably doesn’t cover you if you’re using your vehicle for commercial purposes, such as gig driving. So if you submit a claim, even if you have an accident while you’re not gig driving, your insurance carrier has the right to reject it.

Although there is an extra expense involved, it’s worth it to get a personal policy that offers additional coverage. In some states you may be required to get a commercial policy, while in others you can add on an endorsement for rideshare or delivery driving, which covers the extra risk you’re taking by using your vehicle for this kind of work.

What policies like Uber/Lyft insurance will do for you

Your rideshare or delivery company will offer you some insurance, it’s true, but it might not be enough to cover the damage to the vehicles involved, or the medical costs you or others who may have incurred injury. You'll want to double check to see if you need additional insurance while you’re driving for a company like DoorDash, Uber, or Instacart. Read the fine print to get all the details.

A look at Uber’s insurance policy, which is like most other companies, reveals how much and when you’ll be covered as a driver. The amount of coverage varies according to where you are in the ride or delivery process. Uber Eats insurance mirrors the terms for rideshare drivers, apart from accidents involving uninsured or underinsured drivers. Also, Uber’s insurance for delivery drivers doesn’t apply to accidents that occur in New York State. In New York, delivery drivers need to purchase separate policies, as stated in this article from New York Motor Insurance.

In stage 1—offline or driving while the driver app is off—Uber does not cover you. You must rely on your personal vehicle insurance policy.

In stage 2—online waiting for a trip or delivery request—Uber provides third-party liability (for those other than yourself and your car) if your personal insurance doesn’t apply, up to

• $50,000 per person for bodily injury
• $100,000 in bodily injury per accident
• $25,000 in property damage per accident

In stage 3—en route to pick up or execute a delivery, or during a rideshare trip—Uber maintains insurance for covered accidents in these amounts:

• $1,000,000 third-party liability
• uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury and/or first-party injury insurance (rates vary by state)
• contingent comprehensive and collision, if you hold a personal policy with these features, up to the actual cash value of your car 

Note that if you place a claim through Uber’s policy, the deductible as of March 1, 2022 is $2,500.

You’ll definitely want to consider that Uber’s driver insurance covers third parties, not the drivers (except in California, or if you’re hit by an uninsured or underinsured motorist in any state). It’s possible to purchase a low-cost policy that would cover any personal injury that might occur, but coverage for you is not available without making that purchase.

Read more about Uber’s insurance and options for additional coverage on the Uber website, and keep checking it to stay up to date on emerging developments. There is also a list of insurance providers that offer rideshare and delivery endorsements that will protect you under any set of circumstances.

Extra or essential? Additional coverage you can buy

It’s obvious that getting a commercial policy or an endorsement on your personal auto policy is essential, even though it will cost extra money, but there’s more. Another type of insurance might not seem so important; but when you need it, you could find yourself in big trouble if you don’t have it.

Gap insurance protects you from having to pay off a loan on a car you can no longer drive. When you have an accident and your car is deemed a total loss, the insurance company will pay you for your car according to its age, mileage, and maintenance history. This amount will most likely be less than the total amount you owe on your loan. 

For example, if you purchased a car that was valued at $25,000, and an accident renders it a total loss, you might get paid $15,000, depending on the factors mentioned above. Your insurance company won’t pay that extra $10,000. That’s why gap insurance is essential, not just an extra layer of protection. 

You would purchase gap insurance, normally, at the time you secure your car loan. While you’re adding up all the costs of your car purchase, it might seem like another gimmick the insurance company is trying to sell you, but it’s wise to take them up on their offer. If you don’t have gap insurance now, it might be a good idea to look for a policy that would cover you, just in case.

There are other types of insurance you might want to consider:

• Collision coverage repairs damage to your own car, if you hit a pole or a mailbox, for instance. This coverage also can be used to pay for damage you incurred if someone else is at fault. Your insurer then chases down the other person’s insurance for reimbursement.
• Comprehensive coverage covers damage that occurs beyond driving, such as weather, natural disasters, acts of nature, and vehicle theft.
• Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage keeps your personal policy strong, providing the same coverage your gig company gives you when you’re actively working on a rideshare trip or delivery. It doesn’t hurt to have this protection on your personal policy for the rest of the time you’re using your vehicle.
• Rental car reimbursement is very useful if you expect you’ll need to get around while your car is being repaired.
• Transportation reimbursement pays for the cost of getting you back home or to a place where you can rent a car after an accident.

These extras can be obtained from your insurance carrier, but they still might not fulfill all your needs. You can’t afford to be set back by a breakdown or problems involving your smartphone.

As a driver you should have

• roadside assistance: towing costs, battery jumps, battery replacements, and tire changes are facts of every driver’s life. Gridwise Benefits provides affordable protection that keeps you covered.
• cell phone protection: a low-cost policy from Gridwise Benefits shields you from the high costs of repairing or replacing your phone, should it be lost or stolen. Your benefits cover up to three phones, which makes the deal even sweeter.
• accident medical insurance: offers small amounts of cash to help cover expenses from minor accidents.

Beyond your vehicle: important insurance for gig drivers

Now that you’re savvy about the insurance you need for your vehicle, it’s time to think about what goes on beyond your car. As a gig driver, you don’t get company benefits such as health insurance, and coverage for accidental death and disability.

Gridwise Benefits is designed to cater to the needs of gig drivers. Once you've downloaded Gridwise and signed up for Gridwise Dollar Benefits, you can get essential benefits for $1/week AND $5k of insurance at no additional cost to you:

• life insurance
• telehealth
• dental and vision insurance
• roadside assistance
• accidental medical and critical illness coverage
• chiropractic and alternative medicine services
• identity theft protection
• on-demand fitness and nutrition programs

Choose from the Gridwise Dollar Benefits menu and purchase only the policies you need. Signing up is easy! Download the Gridwise app, go to the Benefits tab, and tap on any of the policies with a dollar sign icon. You’ll be able to start your coverage right away.

Whether you just need the basics, or want some bells and whistles, Gridwise Dollar Benefits provides coverage that keeps you and your family protected, safe, and healthy.

Get the coverage you need with Gridwise

Unless you’re totally new to rideshare driving, we don’t have to tell you how important it is to keep your driver rating high. Each and every passenger you have gets the opportunity to rate you, and most of them will.

You typically have to keep ratings at a certain minimum, which is a good reason to keep reading so you can discover how to improve your ratings. Here’s what we’ll cover:

• the importance of the driver rating
• basic care and courtesy points
• scoring the five-star drive
• drive at the top of your game

The importance of driver ratings

Ratings for rideshare drivers are more than just a point of pride. Your driver rating determines where you are in the “pecking order.” Highly rated drivers get first priority from their app’s algorithm when it comes to assigning rides. They also get more perks and higher rankings in programs such as Uber Pro and Lyft Rewards for drivers. 

While it’s almost impossible to have a perfect rating, you’re expected to meet minimum requirements. Companies state these rather clearly, and they enforce them quite diligently.

Uber drivers must maintain a rating of 4.6 or higher, while Lyft drivers are encouraged to maintain a rating of 4.8 or better. Low ratings will be flagged by the company, and drivers may be asked to take measures to bring them up—or face deactivation.

The days of passengers being grateful simply because you showed up are over. In 2022 and beyond, you have to hustle if you want to stand out and give your passengers memorable experiences that will yield high driver ratings.

Basic care and courtesy points

Everyone gets low ratings from time to time. Crabby customers, or those with unreasonable demands, tend to give drivers fewer stars than they might deserve. There are some situations you won’t be able to change, but there are also many ways to cover your bases and make it hard for passengers to give you anything less than a Lyft or Uber five-star rating. Here are some basic, common sense issues to consider.

• Cleanliness: Even if you get your vehicle washed every few days and vacuum it regularly, a lot of stuff can accumulate in your backseat over the course of a shift. Make it a point to check for gum wrappers, ticket stubs, store receipts, and lost articles after each ride. Wipe down those muddy shoe marks and greasy handprints, too.
• Car maintenance: No one wants their Lyft or Uber car to have a breakdown or run out of fuel. Keep your car in working order. It’s an investment you can’t afford to skimp on.
• Courtesy: Always greet your passengers warmly, confirming their names and that they’re in the right car. Treat them with respect, even when you have to establish boundaries with those who are impaired or unruly.
• Navigation: As a driver, you know your GPS is going to show you a good route to your destination. However, your passenger might have a different idea about what the “best” way might be. Ask if there’s a route they’d prefer and be willing to take their suggestion if they ask you to do so.
• Safety: Drive like you have your own child (or grandma) in your back seat. Obey traffic laws and speed limits, drive defensively, and do not indulge in road rage. Also, remind riders to wear their safety belts.
• Comfort: Ask your customer if they’d like a temperature change, shift in musical choice, or volume adjustment, and do your best to comply with their wishes.
• Conversation: Let the passenger take the lead on how much, if any, conversation you’ll have. There may be times when you don’t feel like talking, but if you carry on friendly convos with your pax, you’ll make a better impression. If any of your customers would rather have a quiet ride, make sure you give it to them.
• Appearance: No one expects you to be dressed to the nines, but you should be decently clothed in clean, respectable duds, with other signs of good grooming eminently evident.”
• Aroma awareness: Your car will pick up smells from your passengers, from food they’re carrying to their post-workout scent, and whatever they might have been smoking. Carry an effective air freshener, and use it regularly to prevent your car from committing olfactory offenses.
• Proactive measures: If you know you’re going to get a low rating from a customer who has been unreasonable, be proactive. Remember, you can rate your passengers, too. In extreme cases, it pays to contact your company and describe your customer’s unruly behavior before they get a chance to complain about you.

If you stick to these basics, you’ll have a hard time slipping below those company minimums, and you’ll know how to be a good Uber driver or Lyft rideshare hero. But if you’re interested in making your ratings soar, there’s more you can do.

Scoring the five-star drive

Drivers call the overall five-star rating the “Holy Grail” because it’s so difficult to achieve. You may not get all the way to a 5.0, but you can raise your ratings to a 4.95 or higher with some of these extra measures:

• Take a positive attitude: While this sounds so obvious, it might be the hardest thing for a driver to maintain. Your people skills are the key to being a successful Uber driver or Lyft superstar. Develop a thick skin and a big heart, and you’ll give customers great things to say about you.
• Provide amenities: When you’re in the backseat of a rideshare car, isn’t it nice when the driver offers you water, mints, hand sanitizer, or other little essentials? Your passengers will delight in being treated to the little things that make their rides more pleasant.
• Offer basic conveniences: Phone chargers, a flashlight, and recommendations for good places to go should always be available to your riders. You might want to have pen and paper handy for those who want to jot down notes, too. Having these little things on hand can be an effective Uber and Lyft rating driver.
• Open doors for passengers: When you can, it’s always nice to make it easy for your passenger to enter the car. This is especially true for those who might have problems getting around or who need crutches or a walker. Make passengers feel valued from the moment they approach your vehicle, and they will remember you. 
• Help with luggage and shopping bags: Always offer to help people load their extras into your car. Since it’s your vehicle, you have the most experience with effectively stashing things, and your kind and insightful hand is bound to earn you extra rating points.
• Provide entertainment: Consider installing a backseat tablet such as Play Octopus, so your customers have something to do while they’re waiting in traffic after a big event, or want to keep themselves busy on a long-range ride.
• Furnish personal care items: If you’re a nighttime driver that hits the bar scene, sick bags are very important to have on hand. A simple first aid kit could also save the day if a passenger has a minor cut or needs some Neosporin. Avoid doling out meds, though, including the over the counter kind. You never know what someone might accuse you of giving them, even if it was just a baby aspirin. Cough drops are pretty safe, and people appreciate them year round. Just make sure they’re in their original wrappings.
• Gently suggest a good rating: There’s a fine line between encouraging high ratings and sounding as though you’re begging for them, so tread lightly here. It doesn’t hurt to remind your customers how important it is for you to know you did a good job, and to point out how they can do that for you. You can read more about these and other ways to get good ratings, and tips, in this Gridwise blog post.

Drive at the top of your game

Getting and keeping good ratings depends on your ability to be the best driver you can be. You need to know what’s going on in your area and the best ways to get around traffic. Keep yourself equipped with deals and discounts that make your driving gig easier. Make sure you're tracking the miles you drive - including the miles with passengers in the back seat - with Gridwise's free mileage tracker.

Drivers also use Gridwise to:

• see event information, including starting and let-out times
• get airport details, such as the number of flights departing and arriving
• track earnings and expenses
• find deals and discounts on everything from gas to car maintenance, healthcare, and insurance.

Top-rated drivers always drive with Gridwise to keep them at the top of the gig driving game.

Download the Gridwise app now!

Prices on everything are soaring, and auto maintenance is no exception. Running a gig driving business demands that you find out how to reduce maintenance costs and maximize profits—so you have to do all you can to stop maintenance costs from taking a huge bite out of your earnings. 

That’s why we want you to have these 4 ways to reduce your gig driver car maintenance costs. 

They include

1. Know before you go; feel the power of FIXD
2. Get the best discounts for gig drivers
3. Forget about wear and tear—rent!
4. Track depreciation to make every mile count

1. Know before you go; feel the power of FIXD

If you’ve struggled with the crippling costs of car maintenance and haven’t found a mechanic you can fully trust, FIXD is here to bring you rideshare and delivery driver help. The people behind FIXD realize that drivers need to know what care their cars require, rather than leaving it to rogue mechanics to diagnose and fix things that aren’t broken to begin with.

The mission of FIXD, according to its founders, is “to democratize car care by giving every driver access to the transparent and easy-to-understand information they need to confidently fix and maintain their vehicle - without breaking the bank.”Because car care should be stress-free!

FIXD is a comprehensive support system for you and your vehicle. In addition to a free, encyclopedia-like volume of information and resources about car maintenance, FIXD offers a low-cost sensor that communicates directly with your car’s computer to find out what needs to be addressed. Utilizing Bluetooth, the FIXD app on your phone then takes this information and produces descriptions of the diagnostic device’s findings that you can easily understand.

Every driver needs FIXD, if just to run the end-around on greedy mechanics. What you might not realize, though, is how much more FIXD has to offer. The FIXD team has their own upstanding mechanics on call 24/7 to answer your questions, and a built-in system that alerts you when your car needs regular maintenance. 

Now you won’t have to keep checking on, or be asked to believe, overeager dealers and repair shop owners when they insist you need a $90 oil change 2,500 miles before it’s really called for.

The caring, customer-service focused team at FIXD is dedicated to empowering drivers with knowledge and high-quality care. You can buy the FIXD sensor at low cost or subscribe to FIXD for a low monthly fee, and receive the sensor free, as part of the deal. 

Subscribers also receive 

• access to the mechanic hotline
• confirmed description of the fix and estimated cost
• a forecast of future problems related to the issue
• an incident history report
• an emissions compliance precheck

The FIXD car repair sensor is saving drivers $1,000s every day! Click here to find out more about how you can get FIXD for your vehicle, and empower yourself right away.

2. Get the best discounts for gig drivers

Now that you’ve got the key to saving yourself from merciless mechanics, you need to find more deals and discounts that will cut your car maintenance costs. Gridwise provides options that help you save: 

• Gridwise + CarAdvise gives you access to discounts to thousands of auto shops all over the country. Compare prices, consult with experts, and schedule online. As a Gridwise user, you’ll get 10–40% off retail prices.
• Gridwise + ForeverCar lets you save up to 44% on a Vehicle Service Plan. When an unexpected car breakdown happens, this policy will keep you and your wallet covered.
• Gridwise Tires helps you deal with the sad fact of life, namely, your tires will wear out. When you have to purchase a new set, Gridwise Tires gives you a $10 discount per tire, which makes the pain in your pocketbook a little less.
• Gridwise Gas offers discounts for the most important thing you need to buy if you want to maintain your car: fuel! Download the app for discounts offered to free users. Join Gridwise Plus to save up to $50 per month, and get even deeper discounts on other Gridwise Benefits.

3. Forget about wear and tear—rent!

If all this talk about maintenance costs and the thought of the wear and tear you put on your vehicle as a gig driver is giving you pause, rest easy. With Gridwise Rental, you can put your depreciation concerns aside for good! While it’s true that most rental car companies have draconic restrictions when it comes to renting for rideshare or delivery driving, things are much different with Gridwise Rental.

When you sign up for Gridwise Rental, you can search for available cars in your area, apply to drive, then pick up the keys and go! Even better, delivery and rideshare insurance are included in the rental cost.

Where do the cars come from? The Gridwise partnership with HyreCar makes it possible. Drivers like you who want to make money with their cars even when they aren’t driving rent them out! That means, if you’re not so concerned about wear and tear on your vehicle, you can rent it out and put it to work for you. Find out more about both ways to take advantage of Gridwise Rental, and sign up here!

4. Track depreciation to make every mile count

Depreciation is a fact of life for every vehicle owner, but gig drivers have a more pressing need to pay extra attention to it and find ways to track it. Some of the best Lyft driver advice or Uber driver advice you’ll ever get will show you how to deduct miles as a rideshare/delivery driver, so you can recoup the unavoidable costs of depreciation. 

Gridwise features a free mileage tracker, plus a way to record expenses, so you can account for every mile you put onto and every penny you put into your vehicle. Mileage deduction for gig drivers is a huge deal these days, considering how much you have to cough up just to cover fuel costs. Gridwise does this for you seamlessly. All you need to do is log in each time you start a shift.

And once you get hooked up with FIXD and find yourself the best deals on car maintenance through Gridwise, you can record shop expenses and keep track of all the repairs and maintenance your vehicle has on record. FIXD and Gridwise are a winning combination. Scoop up this opportunity to put them to work for you! Download Gridwise and…

Save more with FIXD now!

Halloween can be lots of fun, and it’s also a great time for gig drivers to make more money. With haunting going on for several days at a stretch, parties, parades, and other events will attract lots of business for rideshare and delivery drivers. You can probably go out as usual and still make a little more than you normally do, but why settle for that?

In this post, we’ll tell you how to make Halloween gig driving as rewarding as it is fun. We’ll talk safety, strategy, and how to earn bigger tips. Here’s how we’ll lay it out:

• getting in on the fun with Lyft or Uber on Halloween
• delivery tricks to earn you treats
• knowing where to drive and when
• staying safe and keeping clean

Getting in on the fun with Lyft or Uber on Halloween

You might not be a huge Halloween person, but a whole lot of your customers are. From parents with small ones who want to keep them dry and safe on the way to school events to hardcore party people who dive into the Halloween holiday spirit headfirst, you’re bound to come across a lot of passengers during this super busy week.

Since so many will be super excited about this spooky season, the way you approach your gig could make them extra generous and appreciative. Here are a few pieces of sound Lyft and Uber driver advice:

• Remain professional. Always greet your passengers as you would at any other time, and stay away from getting overly dramatic about acting like a scary zombie, axe murderer, or vampire, especially with young kids in the car.
• Dress up with discernment. If you decide to dress up, keep it to common sense costume choices. Make sure your face is recognizable, and avoid makeup, clothing, or props that make seeing clearly or moving freely while driving difficult. If you don’t want to get too wildly creative, you can always put together a Lyft or Uber driver Halloween costume!  Slap a sign on your chest that says “Scary good driver” and you’re good to go.
• Offer treats. Even jaded business travelers on the way to the airport might enjoy a sweet Halloween treat. Put a smile on passengers’ faces by ensuring your offerings are in their original wrappings, so they can feel safe eating them. You might want to offer bottled water, too. All that sugar can make all goblins, big and small, mighty thirsty.
• Present your Halloween playlist. You’ll want to do this carefully, of course, but a subtly crafted sequence of songs appropriate to the season will make you stand out with your passengers, who’ll just have to tip you for your great musical taste.
• Decorate your car. A temporary Halloween wrap for the exterior or some subtle orange and white lights on the interior could make yours the car they all want to be in when they celebrate their Lyft or Uber Halloween holiday.

Delivery tricks to earn you treats

It would be sad for delivery drivers to be left out of Halloween fun, so here are some things Dashers, Uber Eats, Instacart, Shipt, and Grubhub drivers can do to share in the festive spirit.

• Dress up, but keep it subtle. As a delivery driver, you’re going to have to move fast and be able to see where you’re going, even when you’re not piloting your car. Pay special attention to footwear, and if your company wants you to wear their branded hat or shirt, don’t let your costume cover it up.
• Carry treats for restaurant workers. You might see these people more than once a week, or you might only have one encounter with them ever. In either case, offering them a little something will keep them cheerier, and get you better ratings from the restaurant.
• Follow the Halloween spirit. If the restaurant workers or customers seem to be celebrating, it’s fine to chime in with a spooky comment or funny quip. But if it looks like the people you’re dealing with have no idea there’s anything special about this time of year, just act like you always do, with friendliness, grace, and professionalism.
• Make your delivery bags say “boo!” Customers might get a kick out of the way you put a few lights, some stickers, or spider webbing on the outside of your thermal bag or carrying crate. Just make sure none of that stuff comes close enough to contaminate the food.
• Tread lightly through backyard Halloween displays. So many people get extremely serious about decorating their yards with blow-up ghosts, gravestones, skeletons, and witches. What’s fun the rest of the day can be downright treacherous for delivery drivers. A headlamp or other means of shining light on what’s under foot might be called for, so you don’t hurt yourself or destroy a well-thought-out ghoulish (and garish) display.

Knowing where to drive and when

Keeping track of Halloween events can be tricky. That’s why you’re so lucky to have Gridwise. It’s not just the best mileage tracking app out there. Use the Gridwise events calendar to see where the parades, shows, scare houses, and public parties are. Having this info at your fingertips will make it easy to put together a winning Lyft or Uber driving strategy—but Gridwise has even more to offer.

Gridwise features Where to Drive and When to Drive give you real-time data on where drivers are making the most in your neighborhood. Studying the patterns in these features will tip you off as to when the peak passenger and delivery traffic is humming, and where you can go to find the most business. With Gridwise, you get all this and a free mileage tracker, too!

You may also pay attention to where and when schools are letting out around Halloween. Many parents will hope to see their little superheroes, princesses, and mermaids march at their school parade but be wary about driving with all that glitter, facepaint, and fake blood in their high-end SUVs. That’s when they’ll call you, so you’ll need to take some measures to look out for little ones, stay safe, and protect your own car, both inside and out.

Staying safe and keeping clean

The truth about Halloween is that it can be fun, but there are hidden dangers and inconveniences you’ll want to beware of. Consider these tips for keeping yourself and your passengers safe, and for preventing damage to your vehicle.

• Identify your passengers and delivery customers. Dress some people in a costume, and they can get downright silly, and sometimes. even dangerous. Don’t be shy about asking a passenger who appears somewhat sketchy to remove their mask so you can make sure you’re picking up the right person. Same goes for delivery. The word “trick” is very popular this time of year, and there could be a masked imposter hoping to pilfer that awesome spread of wings, burgers, and fries you’re carrying.
• Use in-app phone safety features. In case someone is acting out a Halloween stalker movie, you won’t want to become their prey. Your app most likely includes features that let a friend or family member follow your trips and know your whereabouts, and will let you contact emergency services with one swipe or tap. Get familiar with these features, and use them. It’s better to be overcautious than to find yourself in some real trouble.
• Demand full visibility. The chowderhead in your backseat dressed up in a giant lobster costume might be cute and creative, but if the oversized claws are blocking your view, you’ll need to ask that they come off till the ride is over.
• Look everywhere. Halloween is a very exciting time, particularly for children. Drive slowly and carefully, looking in as many directions as possible for people who might walk right in front of or behind your car. Make sure your lights are on at all times, even in the daytime. This really does help people notice there’s a car in their vicinity.
• Carry daycare equipment for drunks. For many of the party-prone among us, Halloween is a huge opportunity to tie on more than a costume. Carry sick bags, a roll or two of paper towels, cleaning solution, and plastic garbage bags to take care of any spills or “upheavals” that might occur. Sparkling bottled water could be convenient to have on hand at times like this, too. And remember, if they make a mess, your passengers have to pay to clean it up. Make a claim with your company to cover detailing costs.
• Try a tarp. This sounds somewhat extreme, but if you’re creative, you can turn a protective seat cover into an enticing Halloween decoration for your car. You’ll want this not just for the messes mentioned above. Glitter, face paint, green slime, and other costume components might look fabulous on your customers, but when they get ground into your upholstery, it’s not such a great look.
• Choose parking spots carefully. This one is mainly for delivery drivers, but even rideshare drivers stopping for a quick bevvy or a bio break have to park somewhere. Remember that people still use Halloween as an excuse to soap windows and smash pumpkins. Avoid parking where they might be able to make this mischief with your car.
• Keep your cool. Even if you see a clan of kids TP-ing your pine trees when you come in from a long night, try to remember Halloween is all about the fun of being just a little bit naughty. That thing about everybody being “nice” all the time is for a totally different holiday.

Enjoy your Halloween driving, and may you avoid tricks and get many tips! Be sure to bring Gridwise along for the ride to track your awesome earnings during this spooky holiday time!

Download the Gridwise app now!

Looking for a new company to add to your driving gig, or new to the gig driving game? Shipt is a popular delivery service that offers high earnings, variety, and plenty of business. Is Shipt the right kind of company for you? After you read this post, you’ll have a much better idea. We’ll cover

• the Shipt difference
• what it takes to be a Shipt shopper
• Shipt vs. Instacart: which is better?
• pro tips for Shipt shoppers

The Shipt difference

What makes Shipt so special? It’s a “shop and deliver” service, meaning that drivers gather items ordered by customers, and then deliver them to their doorsteps. If you enjoy shopping and the variety it offers, that could be enough right there to attract you to working for Shipt. Consider these factors as well:

• High pay. Shipt says shoppers can make up to $22 per hour. Gridwise data, as shown in this previous post, reflects a 2022 average hourly pay rate of $18.15 and an average rate of $19.22 per trip. 
• Financial backing. Shipt is a wholly owned subsidiary of Target. This behemoth company won’t be going away anytime soon. That tells you that your Shipt gig will be secured by deep corporate pockets. 
• Company expansion. This same Gridwise post discusses Shipt’s aggressive moves to partner with companies virtually everyone uses, such as Walgreens and 7-Eleven.
• Company image. Shipt depicts its workers as ordinary people going out of their way to do an extraordinary job. This company image can make Shipt shoppers feel as though they’re getting some respect from the company.

What it takes to be a Shipt shopper

Shipt makes it easy to become a Shipt shopper, but they do have standards you need to know about. Here are the requirements, according to the Shipt driver website:

Shipt shoppers must

• be at least 18 years old
• have a valid current mailing address
• hold a valid U.S. driver’s license and auto insurance
• have a reliable vehicle (1997 or newer)
• possess knowledge of produce selection
• be able to lift up 45 pounds
• have a current smartphone, such as an iPhone (iOS 10 or newer) or Android (5.1 or newer)
• pass a comprehensive (criminal and DMV) background check

At first glance, the basics of how to become a Shipt shopper don’t look very challenging, and they’re not. The one some drivers might balk at is “knowledge of produce selection.” There’s a lot to learn for almost anyone there, so if you’re game for getting schooled on how to pick fresh fruits and veggies, this website is a great place to get started.

The other thing you need to have if you want to be a Shipt shopper is patience. Lines in grocery stores can be long and slow, and your customers’ tempers can be short. A professional attitude toward customer service will take you far, keep you sane, and earn you bigger tips.

Shipt vs. Instacart: Which is better?

The biggest advantage Shipt has over Instacart becomes obvious when you ask the question: “How much do Shipt shoppers get paid?”As we stated above, Shipt shopper pay is, on the whole, higher than Instacart pay. Instacart does offer the option to work as an in-store employee, which Shipt does not. The pay for these positions is lower than that for independent contractor shopper/drivers, however.

Shipt shoppers also work on-demand, and not on shift blocks. This means Shipt doesn’t require you to select blocks when you’ll be available to shop. You can choose your own times and work for as long as you like.

Positive Shipt shopper reviews point out the flexibility of being your own boss, the same as other driving gigs, and shoppers agree the Shipt shopper app is easy to use. Many Shipt shoppers express a high degree of satisfaction with the pay they receive and the way the company treats them.They also say that Shipt training is very thorough and helpful.

However, if you live in a small town, away from a large urban area, Shipt may not be able to offer a lot of work for you. While some Shipt shoppers say they can do well working as one of a few shoppers in their areas, if you want to earn enough from Shipt to equate to full-time earnings, you’ll do better if you are located in a large, densely populated region. 

Both companies are expanding their focus from grocery and convenience store deliveries into other types of products. This post from the Gridwise blog provides a side-by-side comparison of Shipt vs. Instacart. You can read more about the distinctions between these two companies and decide which one would best serve your driving gig and lifestyle needs.

Pro tips for Shipt shoppers

If you’ve already got the basics of the Shipt shopper job down, that’s great—but you’ll get more gratuities and make more money if you follow these pro tips:

• Communicate. Your customers’ orders matter to them, and you need to show them that they matter to you as well. Don’t wait until you’re done with the order to text and tell your customers what you couldn’t find. Instead, engage them from the outset, keeping them abreast of where you are in the process.This includes telling them about any delays you might encounter in the store or in traffic.
• Follow up. After your order is complete, let your customer know you appreciate their business. If you drop off the order without seeing the customer, snap a photo and send that along. Point out that they’ll be getting a confirmation email, where they can rate the service and add a tip.
• Reach out to Shipt support. If you need to get a response from a customer and don’t hear back from them, contact Shipt support to let them know what has happened. That way you’ll have documentation to back you up should the customer express disappointment—for example, if they complain about wanting a substitution and not getting through to you in time.
• Equip yourself. Organize and protect your customers’ orders by using the right equipment. Crates for the interior of your storage area, as well as thermal bags and padded containers, will prevent breaks, spills, and other accidents that could cause customer dissatisfaction.
• Create a winning strategy. Use Gridwise to find out the best times and places to shop. When to Drive and Where to Drive show you where Shipt shoppers are making the most money in your area.
• Make friends with store employees. There will be times when you need help, whether it’s to find out which produce is more desirable, or in which section you can find the truffle oil. Building relationships with people who work in the stores will pay dividends that help you do your job more quickly and easily. They will also let you have the kinds of friendly interactions that make your work even more fulfilling.
• Make friends with repeat customers. Depending on the size of your service area, you might encounter the same customers more than once. Even if they don’t remember you, showing that you remember them is sure to add extra ka-ching to your virtual tip jar.
• Run your gig like a business. While lots of people shop for Shipt as a part-time side gig, it’s always wise to remember that it’s still a business. Use Gridwise to track your mileage and earnings, so you can keep account of your income and expenses. Count on Gridwise Benefits for insurance and other services, including telehealth, vision coverage, discounts on gas, roadside assistance, and life insurance policies.

Take advantage of these tips and watch your earnings soar!

Download the free Shipt mileage tracker

In another sign that companies are reverting to pre-pandemic practices, Uber brought back pool rides earlier this past June. They’ve tweaked the program, giving it a new name—UberX Share.

Many drivers groaned when they heard the news that pool rides had returned. Others, admittedly a smaller percentage, welcomed the return. It fits their driving strategy.

This blog post answers questions about the UberX Share program, how it works, and how it might benefit drivers. Here’s what we’ll cover:

• Is Uber Pool back?
• What is UberX Share?
• Driver response to UberX Share.
• UberX Share as part of a driving strategy.
• Lyft has a similar program.
• Tracking your Uber earnings and miles.

Is Uber Pool back?

Yes, but in a different form. Uber Pool was a program originally launched in 2014. Uber and Lyft canceled pool rides during the pandemic, fearing that having too many people in a car would spread COVID. Uber has reactivated the program, but they rebranded it with a new name, UberX Share, and made a few changes to benefit the passenger.

Passengers who selected a pool ride agreed, in exchange for a lower fare, to share the ride with passengers headed in the same general direction. As a driver, this meant that once you picked up the first passenger, you could still receive ride requests from additional passengers traveling in the same direction. With Uber Pool, a driver could have as many as four passengers in their car traveling to a maximum of three destinations in the same general direction. 

Often a pool ride ended with the driver never having to stop for another passenger, as there were no other pool riders in that area. Other times there could be multiple passengers. There were unconfirmed urban legends of passengers that spent as many as two hours in a rideshare pool because the driver kept getting ride requests. 

What is UberX Share?

Is it the same as Uber Pool? Not quite. UberX Share launched in June of this year with a few changes to Uber Pool. Most significantly, the company addressed passenger concerns about rides taking too long. According to an Uber release, the two major changes are:

1. Passengers receive an automatic discount for choosing UberX Share. The discount increases to as much as 20% if the driver picks up another passenger along the way. 
2. The Uber algorithm matches passengers in UberX Shared rides with other passengers only when it is determined that the second passenger adds no more than eight minutes to the ride. 

Additional changes include that UberX Share rides are limited to a maximum of two passengers, and each passenger can reserve only one seat. Uber Pool allowed a passenger to reserve up to two seats. Under the new rules, this still allows for passengers in the back seat to have an empty seat between them, according to Uber.  

According to BGR.com, a website that reports on technology and trends, Uber tested the new UberX Share program in the Miami market early June. The program rolled out to more markets later that month in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, Phoenix, San Diego, Portland, Indianapolis, and Pittsburgh, with plans for future expansions. There is no word on how, when, and where those future expansions will occur. An Uber representative also told Gridwise that UberX Share is available in several international markets, including Argentina, Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Australia. The company has plans to expand UberX Share to even more international cities in the future.

Driver response to UberX

Shared rides have never been a favorite among many rideshare drivers. With Uber Pool, they  complained that they received a single fee for these pool rides, while the rideshare company charged each passenger and got paid up to three times, perhaps even more. Drivers also claimed passengers would occasionally argue about whose destination would be first, and the driver found themselves transformed into a referee. The Uber Pool algorithm determined the order that passengers were picked up and dropped off, the driver having no control over it. The same is true with UberX Share rides. 

Other drivers reported little or no problems with Uber Pool rides and are likely to find little fault with the new version.

“I drove for 15 months before the pandemic,” said one former full-time rideshare driver based in the Los Angeles area. “Unless I went looking for shared rides, they never made up more than 5% of my total ride volume. Out of 5,700 rides in 15 months, I had one shared ride that went in a bad direction. My initial passenger was a young woman. My next passengers were two men who had been drinking. They were aggressive and used bad language. I warned them twice. It was a short ride, though. I got them out before it became a problem, and I made sure the young lady was okay. I immediately reported the incident through the app. I later received a message that Uber contacted the drunken passenger that paid for the ride and banned him from the app for six months.”

Other drivers complain that passengers sometimes used Uber Pool for a trip to the airport or train station, where arriving on time can be critical. Drivers had to be vigilant and remind passengers that the addition of passengers could jeopardize their arrival time. If the new eight-minute factor works out in UberX Share rides, arriving late is less likely to be a problem. Still, drivers should warn passengers. 

Uber Pool and the new UberX Share program also have positive stories. Pocket-lint.com, a website that reports on “tech that matters,” cited stories from Uber about Uber Pool rides that turned into “singalongs, new friends, and other chance encounters.”

Although Uber could not provide hard numbers on the use of the UberX Share program, a company spokesperson did say that Uber was happy with the level of driver and rider engagement. 

UberX Share as part of a strategy

Those drivers who like shared rides report using UberX Share rides as part of their overall driving strategy. If a driver picks up a shared ride, each passenger counts as a ride. This is a boost if a driver is working on an Uber Quest, an incentive which includes drivers getting a bonus for completing a specified number of rides in a given time period.

Drivers report that they are more likely to get shared rides near colleges and universities and other places where younger people using rideshare are looking to save money. 

Other drivers like the shared rides because the dynamics of strangers in a car leads to interesting conversations and encounters—and happy passengers are passengers who tip. 

Lyft has a similar program

Prior to the pandemic, Lyft had a competing program to the Uber Pool ride program. Lyft called it “shared” rides. Like Uber, they shut down the shared ride program when the pandemic started. Lyft reinstated shared rides in July 2021, almost a year earlier than Uber. The rides are limited to two passengers per car, and all passengers plus the driver have to wear masks. There has been no news on whether the mask mandate has been lifted on shared rides, and there is no mention in Uber releases whether Uber passengers must wear masks.

Tracking your Uber earnings and miles

If you're doing UberX Share or other gig services, you need to track your miles and earnings. Thousands of gig drivers are using Gridwise's free mileage tracker to increase their mileage deduction. On top of the free mileage tracker, Gridwise users can take advantage of:

• Additional features like When to Drive and Where to Drive, which direct drivers to the best earning opportunities
• Graphs that show peak arrival and departure times at airports
• Alerts that notify you when people are likely to leave concerts, sporting events, and other large gatherings
• A $50/month gas discount, sponsored by GasBuddy

Start earning and saving more