A beginner’s guide to using Uber in the UK

In these difficult financial times, working for a service such as Uber could be a great way to earn a little extra cash. However, it’s not quite as simple as joining the app and getting started right away – there are a few other things that you need to consider first.

Here, we’ll take a look at some things to think about before you start driving for Uber in the UK so that you can protect yourself, your car and your customers and make the most of your new side hustle.

The Basics

Firstly, there are a few initial requirements you’ll need to meet to drive for Uber. You’ll, of course, need a valid UK driving licence, a car which meets the Uber requirements (including having four doors and being a model from 2006 or later) and a good quality smartphone. After that, sign up on Uber’s official UK website.

It’s worth noting that some of these initial requirements are slightly different for those looking to operate in the London area. There are also differences in the amount of driving experience you need to operate under Uber depending on the city you will be driving in.

To drive for Uber, you also need to obtain a Private Hire licence for the council area that you are planning to work in. The steps required for this to happen are different depending on your area, though you can get further advice on this through your council’s website or Uber themselves – they run the Uber Ignition programme to help prospective Uber drivers get the information and advice they need to get a Private Hire licence as quickly as possible.

Submit Your Documents

Once you’ve obtained your Private Hire licence and know that you meet all the initial requirements needed to become an Uber driver within the UK, you’ll need to submit some documents to Uber through their website.

Uber need to see your valid UK driver’s licence, Private Hire licence, proof of age and right to work in the UK, a driver profile photo (for use on the app), a bank statement for the account you wish to be paid through and proof of your Uber Insurance.

Obtaining Private Hire Insurance can be a little complicated at first, as there are several Private Hire Insurance providers and Uber does not offer their own Private Hire Insurance directly to their drivers.

Private Hire Insurance is different to your car insurance, as personal insurance does not cover your vehicle in the event you need to claim on accidents, thefts or other problems about your vehicle that occurred whilst using your car for hire.

Types of private hire insurance

There are three levels of insurance coverage you can obtain for your vehicle before driving for Uber. These are third-party insurance, third-party, fire and theft insurance and fully comprehensive cover.

Third-party insurance covers you for damage or costs to third-party vehicles that may occur whilst working under Uber. Third-party, fire and theft insurance covers damage or costs to third-party vehicles, as well as covering you if your car is stolen or incurs fire damage whilst working under Uber.

Fully comprehensive cover is the most thorough insurance cover that can be obtained by Uber drivers and covers the driver in all of the above events, as well as in further circumstances.

Do you need public liability insurance?

It’s also required that Uber drivers obtain Public Liability Insurance. This is necessary as you are working with the public and need to protect yourself if a member of the public you have picked up is hurt during the journey or if their belongings are damaged whilst using your vehicle for travel.

Claims from members of the public for injury or damage to belongings incurred whilst using a public service – including travelling with an Uber driver – can often amount to thousands of pounds, and those claims cannot be paid by Uber themselves.

Obtaining Public Liability Insurance will protect you if you should find yourself liable for an insurance claim from a member of the public for anything which occurs whilst travelling with you. Further information on these insurance policies and why they are so important can be found on QuoteRadar.

Both Private Hire Insurance and Public Liability Insurance can be obtained from several different vendors, so be sure to collect and compare quotes from different providers first to ensure that you are getting the best deal that you can whilst keeping yourself covered.

Once you have obtained the necessary insurance, submitted the necessary documents and had these documents reviewed and approved by Uber, you can move on to the next step: activating your account and driving with Uber!

Things to Remember

Driving for Uber can be a great way of earning money and has allowed thousands of drivers across the UK to make a lucrative living by working with the company on their own time.

However, it’s important to get money-smart before you start – keep costs low by choosing a high-quality vehicle which meets Uber’s vehicle standards and ensure you have all the necessary insurance policies to protect you in the case of an incident.