LUED

You wouldn't want to pay a premium for Exec over UberX, for a car to arrive covered with adverts. Imagine going on a date, taking a client with you to a meeting, going to a function at a top hotel. You order an Exec car for these occcasions, and the car turns up with a full advert wrap. It's not going to look good.

The ex-Addison Lee Ford Galaxies are a good buy to start off with, and you can do UberXL work in them.

Well the list was published in Dec 2014, and they do update the list every few months, consdering it's now April. They may possibly start deactivating "09" plate cars soon, and only cars 2010 or newer will be allowed on the platform. About the commission, yes it has increased to 25%, starting from next Monday, though passenger fares will also increase to reflect that. The e-mail is only sent to UberExec drivers. They say there shouldn't be much different to driver's pay anyway.

Ok for UberX perhaps, but not for UberExec and UberLux.

No use complaining. Only way to make money is to get yourself an operator's licence, and find the work yourself. You can then charge what you see fit. Use Uber to fill in the quiet gaps you have around your own jobs. Don't rely on Uber to make money, but just see it as a way of earning a little extra when you're quiet with your own work.

Yes, they accept hatchbacks, as certain cars on that list (e.g. Prius) are only sold as hatchbacks. Definitely no estates. Best to e-mail Uber to double check before committing to buying a car.

Was about £80, for a wait and return from SE1 to SW19. That isn't really very high, I'm sure other drivers have made more.

If you don't have a good credit rating, then the only way is to buy a car outright in cash. Dealerships will only be too glad to sell you a car outright, with no need to arrange finance, and you're more likely to get a better deal/discount if you pay by cash.

Yes, at the expense of grip, and the fact that the tyres could wear out faster (in the middle).

Not very professional, and it's certainly a personal question to ask a passenger if they've ever brushed their teeth because you thought they were too yellow.

Plenty of drivers do.

Expect to pay £3,000 to £4,000 or thereabouts, for a clean licence and accident record. The insurance companies will ask how long you've had a private hire driver licence, and if it's less than a year, then the premium will be about that.

Yes, though you need a lot of luck and experience, and prepared to work consistently hard. Buy the right car, and manage your business efficiently.

Uber riders rarely tip anyway.

I do that. I asked my mechanic about this, and said that although it does no harm to change the oil and filter more often than the recommended manufacturer intervals, you will be throwing money down the drain. As I said, all the cars I've had no problems, so far.

Consider someone who has a 9am to 5.30pm office job who commutes there and back everyday, who has to leave 7am in the morning and arrives at 7pm each evenings. That's 12 hours as well. If Haji, leaves home at 2pm, and comes back at 2am, it's the same hours as the office worker.

Depends on how you want to work it out. Insurance is a fixed cost. As you rightly say, it's a cost which you have to pay, whether you drive 1 mile or a 100,000 miles. (you could say it could be a variable cost, as you may have to tell your insurance company your annual mileage, but usually, it's unlimited). Same with MOTs, and PH driver's, and PH vehicle licences. Also consider whether you use your car personally, or you just use it solely for Uber, and have a personal vehicle for your own use.

Mercedes E220, I'm an Exec driver in London.

The weekly billing cycle ends on 4am on Mondays. You'll then get paid on Wednesday or Thursday, depending on your bank. That's the only way Uber pays you. If you want to be paid faster, then it's best to work for a cash only firm.

Only you know how many hours you can work before you get tired. It's going to vary from person to person on a number of factors, diet, age, amount of sleep you had the previous night, physical fitness, your car etc.

Even if you do the hours, you won't get rich, but you won't starve either.

There's a place on Gloucester Road, south of the Cromwell Road. Will need to find a parking spot and pay, unless you park in the Sainsbury's and walk a few minutes to get there.

Lower ratings probably, and increased maintenance cost. Uber don't allow any cars older than 5-6 years on their circuits anyway.

Theoretically, you could cancel your insurance, after you've uploaded your document, but if the police see a stickered PCO car driving around without H&R insurance, and this will be picked up automatically by their ANPR, they will stop you and investigate. I keep a copy of my insurance certificate in the glovebox just to be on the safe side.

Queuing at Heathrow can be hours long. If I drop off there, I never wait there, you don't know how many people are ahead of you in the queue. Best to come back straight into town. At Gatwick, the police are targeting Uber drivers from waiting there for a job, as it's not in the PCO area, you can't wait there to receive a job (though you can if you're in the PCO area). Again, best to head straight back in.