Clarke Bowman The author, Clarke Bowman, has been driving part-time for Uber and Lyft for a year.
- I started driving for Lyft and Uber to earn extra money at the beginning of this year.
- The job is different from what I expected, and in that time, I've learned a lot about driving and even more about myself.
- These are the 11 things I wish I had known before I started driving strangers in my car for money.
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A long time ago, I thought seriously about becoming an Uber and Lyft driver. It was a big decision to make, and left me with many questions, and hardly any way to find the answers.
Would the people be weird? Is it safe? What is it really like? Would I make a profit? Would it be worth it?
You read outrageous Uber and Lyft headlines where some drivers are harmed by passengers. You also hear about how much money an Uber and Lyft driver can make in a short time. It left me curious, and really wondering what was real, and what was overblown.
Read more: I'm a driver for both Uber and Lyft - here are 7 reasons Uber is the clear winner for me
Needing to make some money for my upcoming wedding, I eventually convinced myself I could do this. The next day, I signed up for Uber and Lyft.
I've learned a lot about driving since then. And through trial and error, I've found out a lot myself, too. While some of the things I've learned are specific for only certain regions, other aspects of the job are universal.
Here are 11 things I wish I knew before starting driving for Lyft and Uber.
