Are you looking to purchase a new vehicle for the purposes of working for Uber or Lyft? The ridesharing industry offers a great way to provide additional income on your schedule. By choosing the right car for your needs, you can have a flexible revenue stream while enjoying a safe, reliable mode of transportation on your days off. Before you decide to tackle this new gig, bmwconsider what kind of vehicle best supports what you want out of the job.

If you need a vehicle for Uber or Lyft but don’t know where to begin, then this is the right place to start. We’ve compiled a comprehensive, thorough buyer’s guide for Uber and Lyft drivers. Here, you’ll learn everything you need to know to get your ridesharing gig off the ground, from car recommendations to insurance requirements, and even the types of vehicles that ridesharing drivers require for each type of service they offer.

Types of Uber and Ridesharing Services

First, let’s start with the Uber and other ridesharing company basics. Uber drivers use their own cars, and the ridesharing service offers several different tiers to customers:

• UberX and POOL are Uber’s lowest cost services. As a result, POOL and UberX drivers make the least per minute and per mile. At the same time, your passenger volume will likely be higher, since you can transport several passengers at once. UberX and POOL vehicles are generally four door sedans. Uber driver car requirements may vary by city and service offered, but generally X and POOL cars should be 10 years old or newer.
• UberXL is the XL version of UberX, meaning that cars must be minivans or SUVs capable of seating up to 6 passengers. Rates for XL are higher than X, commensurate with the value of the vehicle and the room it provides. Like UberX and POOL, SUVs and minivans should be 10 years old or newer.
• UberSELECT is available in some markets and is a lower-end version of UberBLACK. SELECT rates are not as high as Uber BLACK, but are higher than XL and X. An UberSELECT vehicle must seat four passengers.
• UberBLACK is one of the highest end options that the ridesharing company offers. Uber BLACK vehicle requirements include black interiors and exteriors, age requirements dependent on the market, commercial insurance, and a professionally licensed driver.
• UberSUV is the most expensive service available. It pays the highest rates of any other service on the platform, and drivers have the flexibility to ride under any other platform, including X, XL, SELECT, and BLACK. Uber SUV drivers must feature seating for up to six passengers, and the SUV must have black interiors and exteriors. Like Uber Black, drivers must be professionally licensed and commercially insured.

Like Uber, certain Lyft car requirements depend on the tier of service. The two services are very similar and have the same requirements. For example, the UberX requirements are the same as the Lyft requirements, Uber XL is the same as Lyft Plus, UberBLACK is the same as Lyft Lux, and Uber SUV is the same as Lyft SUV. This makes it easy for prospective drivers to make a vehicle choice that allows them to drive successfully for both companies. Arizona’s last ridesharing company, TotalRide, also has insurance requirements and service classes similar to Uber and Lyft but may have additional requirements for medical transportation. Since Uber and Lyft make up the vast majority of ridesharing service in Mesa, we have focused our recommendations on their specific requirements.

Choosing the Best Vehicle for Uber and Lyft Driving

Keep in mind that this is not a general guide for buying a good used car – this is a guide that specifically addresses the best strategy for buying a vehicle for the purposes of running a business via Uber of Lyft. Both Uber and Lyft have lists of approved vehicles, but just because a vehicle is “Uber Approved,” doesn’t mean that it will make a good choice of vehicle. Some cars will provide a better return on investment than others, based on factors like:

• Cost of the vehicle versus the potential income from fares
• Cost of vehicle to insure
• Rate of prospective vehicle depreciation over time (for future vehicle trade-in)
• Common mechanical issues based on make or model
• Amount of flexibility in providing service (i.e. UberX only versus Uber Black and all other services)

For the purposes of this guide, we developed recommendations and buying strategies based on:

• The needs of full-time drivers who want to make a living from Uber and Lyft earnings
• The fact that the average potential income for an Uber of Lyft driver necessitates spending as little on a vehicle as possible. In other words, only used vehicles will provide the best return on investment.
• To ensure there is a lot of productive life left in the car, prospective buyers should consider a vehicle that is around two years old and has less than 40,000 miles. This will make a significant difference in price (compared to buying new) and still be a reliable vehicle for years to come.

There is a significant difference between buying a new car and purchasing a quality used vehicle. For the purposes of working for Uber and/or Lyft full time, it does not make financial sense to buy a new car.

When pricing and researching the best Uber and Lyft used vehicles, use the following spending guidelines:

Rideshare Service	Used Vehicle Price
Uber X / Lyft	Under $20,000
Uber XL / Lyft Plus	Under $25,000
Uber BLACK / Lyft Lux	Under $30,000
Uber SUV / Lyft SUV	Under $39,000

If you spend much more than the recommendations above, you potentially run into the position where it will not be economically viable. The goal is to make enough income to survive on as a full-time driver. If having a more expensive car is important to you and you are just looking to make a little extra income as an Uber driver, then you can adjust the numbers a little bit.

Shopping Strategies for Each Ridesharing Class

When shopping for an Uber of Lyft vehicle, keep the following considerations in mind:

• Uber has a list of approved vehicles for each class, but there are also differences by each market. As a result, you will want to use the approved list as a general guide but also check with Uber or Lyft in the city where you plan on driving so you can make sure your car is compliant with their requirements.
• Age limits for cars may also vary depending on the market. UberX and XL, for example, generally require vehicles that are no more than 10 years old. As always, check with the ridesharing companies in your city to see if there are different rules.

When searching for vehicle, always look to the Uber or Lyft Mesa AZ list of vehicles and note which are most acceptable for each class. For each car that is approved for a class, it is also approved for every class below it. For example, if you purchase a vehicle approved for Uber BLACK, you will also be able to drive for SELECT, XL, X, and POOL.

Finding the Best Cars for Uber X, POOL, and Lyft

Uber X, POOL, and Lyft represent the lowest end of the ridesharing product line. It is the cheapest option for riders, which means it also pays out the lowest fares to drivers. Since it’s the cheapest, however, it’s also the most popular. This means that you won’t have to compete for fares, and you should be able to stay fairly busy.

When driving for UberX or Lyft, the goal is to get the longest fares possible. The nature of these fares might depend on your neighborhood, but the longest fares include:

• Weekday morning fares to the airport
• Weekend night fares from the suburbs to the city for the nightlife
• End of week fares from the airport to the suburbs

UberX and Lyft vehicle requirements in Arizona are pretty flexible. Uber requires that you drive a car that is 15 years old or newer, that also meets the following requirements:

Like all other vehicles, the vehicle must also be able to pass a Lyft or Uber vehicle inspection.

Following is the selection of vehicles approved by Uber X, POOL, and Lyft. For you to form a more complete picture of which vehicle may be best for you, we have included average purchase prices specific to each model. Prices are estimated and based on the average purchase price of a two to three-year-old vehicle with 30,000 to 50,000 miles.

Make	Model	Average Used Price
Acura	ILX RDX TL TLX TSX	$16,000 $17,600 $17,000 $18,000 $17,000
Audi	A3 A4	$22,000 $22,200
Buick	Encore Envision Lucerne Regal Verano (2014 or newer)	$29,075 $28,000 $12,000 $15,500 $13,200
Chevrolet	Captiva Cruze (2014 or newer) Equinox HHR Impala Malibu SS Trailblazer Trax	$12,500 $9,900 $16,000 $7,000 $19,800 $11,500 $33,000 $10,000 $11,500
Chrysler	Sebring	$13,000
Dodge	Avenger Caliber Charger Dart (2014 or newer) Nitro	$10,500 $9,950 $19,500 $8,900 $8,200
Ford	C-Max Hybrid Crown Victoria Edge Escape Escape Hybrid Focus (2014 or newer) Fusion Taurus	$13,895 $16,900 $23,000 $16,000 $18,900 $9,400 $12,700 $17,250
Honda	Accord Hybrid Accord (standard) CR-V Civic (2014 or newer) Crosstour HR-V	$18,283 $15,400 $16,200 $11,500 $18,800 $17,100
Hyundai	Azera Elantra (2014 or newer) Santa Fe Sport Sonata (standard) Sonata Hybrid Tucson	$17,300 $9,700 $16,700 $12,500 $14,995 $15,000
Jeep	Cherokee Compass Grand Cherokee Liberty Patriot Renegade	$17,400 $13,622 $24,000 $14,000 $14,400 $16,900
Kia	Amanti Cadenza Forte (2014 or newer) Optima Rondo Sportage	$6,000 (100K+ miles) $18,400 $9,200 $12,000 $3,000 $16,000
Lexus	NX	$32,800
Lincoln	LS MKC MKS MKZ Town Car	$4,000 $20,000 $21,000 $17,800 $2,000
Mazda	CX-5 CX-7 MAZDA3 MAZDA5 MAZDA6 MAZDASPEED 3 Tribute	$16,000 $8,000 $12,500 $14,000 $14,500 $17,800 $4,500
Mercedes- Benz	C-Class Metris	$24.000 $23,000
Mercury	Grand Marquis Mariner Milan Sable	$10,500 $12,500 $9,200 $5,000
Mitsubishi	Endeavor Galant Lancer (2014 or newer) Outlander Sport	$10,200 $10,000 $15,000 $11,200
Nissan	Altima Maxima Murano Rogue Sentra (2014 or newer) Xterra	$11,200 $20,300 $20,800 $15,500 $10,500 $20,000
Pontiac	G6 G8 Torrent Vibe	$3,000 $19,000 $7,900 $8,000
Saab	9-4X 9-7X	$24,000 $ 7,000
Saturn	Aura Vue	$ 8,000 $ 6,500
Subaru	Forester Impreza (2014 or newer) Legacy Outback WRX XV Crosstrek (2014 or newer)	$19,000 $15,500 $17,000 $20,000 $21,000 $17,800
Suzuki	Grand Vitara Kizashi	$11,000 $ 9,500
Toyota	4Runnner Avalon Camry (standard) Corolla (2014 or newer) Prius Prius V RAV4 Venza	$27,200 $18,000 $13,000 $11,495 $14,303 $18,500 $15,300 $17,900
Volkswagen	CC Golf SportWagen Jetta Passat Tiguan Touareg	$16,500 $16,500 $10,500 $9,985 $15,300 $27,000
Volvo	S60 (2014 or newer) XC60 XC90	$18,000 $28,000 $31,000

 

Finding the Best Cars for Uber XL and Lyft Plus

An UberXL approved vehicle will seat extra passengers and will net higher fares compared to UberX and POOL. UberXL and Lyft Plus vehicles are required to seat up to seven passengers (at least six). They are larger than standard sedans, so they can carry more passengers and their cargo. They are not luxury vehicles, so they do not qualify for other classes such as BLACK, SELECT, SUV, or LyftLux.

When you drive an XL or Lyft Plus vehicle, you stand to make more per mile and minute, but you still must be smart about making the right investment for your money. Examples of good money-making fares for XL and Plus include:

• Trips to and from airports, particularly for family vacations or trips requiring oversized luggage
• Groups of bar hoppers using late night fares

UberXL and Lyft Plus requirements for vehicles include:

When looking for UberXL and Lyft Plus vehicles, look for cars that are around two years old and with 40,000 miles or less for the best return on investment. They will still have plenty of life left in them, will require less maintenance, but will be significantly cheaper than buying a new vehicle.

Following is a selection of vehicles that qualify for UberXL and Lyft Plus. As previously mentioned, all vehicles qualifying for a higher category also qualify for every category beneath but not the category above. Therefore, this list qualifies for UberX, POOL and Lyft as well as Uber XL and LyftPlus but not for Uber BLACK or LyftLux. Included are average prices for a two to three-year-old vehicle with 30,000 to 50,000 miles.

Make	Model	Average Used Price
Chevrolet	Traverse	$18,500
Chrysler	Aspen Pacifica Town & Country	$ 9,900 $25,000 $18,800
Dodge	Caravan Durango Grand Caravan Journey	$ 2,750 $23,160 $15,300 $13,600
Ford	Explorer Flex	$20,600 $20,000
GMC	Acadia	$22,600
Honda	Odyssey Pilot	$20,600 $22,900
Hyundai	Santa Fe Veracruz	$17,500 $16,500
Infiniti	JX QX80	$23,300 $46,700
Jeep	Commander	$ 9,200
Kia	Borrego Sedona Sorento	$ 6,300 $17,200 $15,900
Land Rover	Discovery LR3 LR4 Range Rover Range Rover Sport	$45,000 $11,900 $44,900 $48,700 $54,100
Mazda	CX-9	$27,900
Mercury	Mountaineer (2008)	$11,000
Mitsubishi	Outlander	$21,000
Nissan	NV Passenger Pathfinder Quest	$27,000 $22,000 $18,000
Saturn	Outlook Relay	$ 9,200 $ 4,400
Subaru	Tribeca	$25,000
Suzuki	XL7	$10,800
Toyota	Highlander Sienna	$28,000 $24,000
Volkswagen	Atlas Routan	$29,000 $19,500
Volvo	XC90	$42,000

 

Finding the Best Cars for Uber BLACK and LyftLux

UberBLACK/Lyft Lux vehicles represent the luxury class in the ridesharing market. The vehicles must be black with black interiors. These fares are much more expensive; drivers stand to make more per mile and per minute. In fact, you could make double or triple fares driving UberX/LyftLux compared to the economy rates. This can also be a bad thing, however; fewer people use these types of fares and there are no limits in Arizona as to the number of UberBLACK/LyftLux drivers on the road (translation: competition is fiercer for these fares).

When choosing an UberBLACK or LyftLux vehicle, keep the following in mind:

• Your fares are likely going to be corporate executives who get to put the fares on the company dime. As a result, your fares will likely be very early in the morning and be from the wealthiest suburbs to the airport.
• While you are going to be making 2-3x on UberBLACK or LyftLux fares, you will also be waiting around for them to become available, meaning you will be driving much less. If you plan on making the bulk of your income on UberBLACK or LyftLux fares, you can choose a vehicle with higher mileage to maximize return on investment.

UberBLACK and LyftLux vehicles must adhere to the following requirements:

Keep in mind that any vehicle that qualifies for UberBLACK or LyftLux will also qualify for UberX or Lyft fares. Some UberBLACK/LyftLux vehicles – those that seat up to seven passengers – will qualify for UberXL/Lyft Plus, as well.

All vehicles listed below qualify for UberBlack and LyftLux as long as they meet the previously mentioned requirements. Estimated prices are average for a two to three-year-old vehicle with 30,000 to 50,000 miles.

Make	Model	Average Used Price
Acura	MDX RL RLX	$31,000 $16,000 $24,000
Audi	A6 A7 A8 Allroad Q5 Q7 RS 7 S6 S7 S8 SQ5	$25,000 $39,000 $41,000 $31,000 $26,000 $30,900 $80,000 $49,995 $54,495 $35,500 $38,880
Bentley	Flying Spur Mulsanne	$124,000 $190,000
BMW	3-series GT 5-series 5-series Gran Turismo 6-series 6-series Gran Turismo 7-series ActiveHybrid 5 Alpina B7 M5 M6 Gran Coupe X3 X4 X5 X6	$25,000 $31,000 $32,900 $40,000 $66,000 $39,000 $45,000 $150,000 $59,735 $60,976 $26,901 $31,995 $32,999 $42,981
Buick	Enclave LaCrosse	$23,995 $19,900
Cadillac	CT6 CTS DTS SRX STS XTS XT5	$41,995 $22,050 $15,595 $19,990 $7,994 $23,685 $32,998
Ford	Expedition	$33,895
Genesis	G80 G90	$26,995 $51,500
Hummer	H3	$17,995
Hyundai	Equus Genesis *Veracruz	$27,718 $23,000 $16,495
Infiniti	M Q50 Q70 QX50	$10,495 $26,995 $23,900 $30,955
Jaguar	F-PACE XF XJ	$46,444 $23,990 $35,995
Jeep	Commander	$ 7,950
Kia	K900	$23,980
Land Rover	LR4 Range Rover Range Rover Sport	$47,790 $68,580 $51,650
Lexus	ES GS GX HS LS LX RX	$22,000 $25,995 $36,000 $16,795 $43,900 $55,730 $25,495
Lincoln	Continental MKT MKX	$37,900 $22,690 $22,810
Maserati	Ghibli Quattroporte	$35,000 $52,850
Maybach	57 62	$85,000 $188,800
Mercedes- Benz	CLS-Class E-Class E-Class Wagon G-Class GLC-Class GLE-Class GLK-Class M-Class R-Class S-Class	$37,995 $24,990 $44,350 $48,300 $35,850 $36,980 $23,900 $28,695 $21,000 $47,900
Porsche	Cayenne Macan Panamera	$49,980 $42,980 $48,800
Rolls Royce	Ghost Phantom	$109,995 (2010) $179,000 (2012)
Toyota	Land Cruiser	$51,995
Volvo	S80 XC90	$27,000 $38,000

*The Hyundai Veracruz is the only UberBLACK model that also qualifies as an UberXL vehicle. This gives you the ideal flexibility to be able to leverage the two most lucrative Uber platforms. For this reason, Veracruz is a highly recommended vehicle.

Finding a Vehicle for UberSUV and LyftSUV

In the final category is Uber and Lyft SUV, which may be driven for every other Uber and Lyft Platform, including X/Lyft, XL/Plus, and Black/Lux. An SUV class must be a high-end, luxury sport utility vehicle, so the available options are slimmer.

The beauty of choosing an Uber/Lyft SUV class is not only the highest price fares, but also the total flexibility you have in accepting others. You will likely not receive many Uber or Lyft SUV class trips but accepting them can ensure you net $50 in just a few miles. When you drive for Uber/Lyft SUV, you can pick up any fare that comes in through the app.

Say, for example, you accept an UberBLACK/Lyft Lux trip to the airport in the morning. Once you drop off, you can accept fares as an XL, Black, or SUV, which significantly increases your chances of making money on the return trip. By contrast, if you only have an UberBLACK/LyftLux, you could be stuck waiting around at the airport for another fare or just go home empty handed.

When you choose an SUV, you also stand to pick up a lot of night and weekend work, when people travel in groups enjoying the nightlife.

As you might expect, Uber and Lyft SUV requirements are the most stringent:

In addition, Lyft and Uber drivers offering SUV service in Arizona must have a Vehicle for Hire license number and a Sky Harbor airport permit.

The following vehicles qualify for Uber and Lyft SUV, as well as all other categories for both companies. All estimated prices listed below are average prices for a two to three-year-old vehicle with 30,000 to 50,000 miles.

Make	Model	Average Used Price
Cadillac	Escalade Escalade ESV Escalade EXT	$47,995 $48,500 $48,950
Chevrolet	Suburban Tahoe	$33,200 $26,670
Ford	Expedition	$31,890
GMC	Yukon Yukon Denali Yukon XL Yukon XL Denali	$51,950 $51,700 $36,900 $38,400
Lincoln	Navigator	$35,000
Mercedes- Benz	GL-Class	$44,960
Nissan	Armada	$29,380
Toyota	Sequoia	$34,995

 

Additional Recommendations for Buying a Car for Ridesharing

Now that you have an idea of what you should consider when buying for each service class, keep these general recommendations in mind for all classes:

• Think about your budget. To maximize your return on investment, being practical about the amount you spend on a vehicle is important. Competition is fierce, especially in the higher classes, so take the advantages where you can.
• Think about your potential ratings. Some vehicles will naturally be better crowd pleasers than others. A VW Golf, for example, does not have enough legroom and will lead to consistently lower ratings than a comparable vehicle like a Hyundai Sonata.
• Think about maintenance. It might be tempting to go all in for a Black Landrover, but these are notoriously expensive and difficult to fix. If going all in on Uber SUV, consider a Toyota Sequoia instead.
• Consider a hybrid vehicle, especially if you plan on making your money with lots of UberX/Lyft economy fares. It will be better for your budget, they’re highly reliable, and they can handle a lot of mileage.

What Car Insurance Covers Uber Drivers?

Uber and Lyft require all drivers carry insurance that meets the state minimum requirements. This insurance applies when you are off-duty. When you are logged into the app or actively transporting a passenger, car insurance for uber drivers come from the ridesharing company itself. Uber and Lyft provide insurance with the following coverages:

Auto Inspection Requirements

All ridesharing vehicles must also conform to certain auto inspection requirements. When you first “activate” your Uber driver for service, for example, you must drive your vehicle to a Greenlight Hub. In addition, Arizona law requires that all ridesharing drivers pass an annual inspection. To get inspected, download the inspection form and take to any licensed mechanic. Once you pass, upload your certificate to the appropriate ridesharing website.

Inspections follow a pass/fail format of the following systems:

Financing Your Ridesharing Vehicle

Your ridesharing vehicle is an investment, one that is worthy of careful consideration. Consider factors like the type of service class you want to offer and how it aligns with your budget for a vehicle. When choosing a vehicle, you will also want to consider customer perception and how it may affect your ratings. Ample legroom and storage space, for example, allow you to make the most of your fares.

If you have $500 and insurance, Red Mountain Funding can get you financed for a ridesharing vehicle. We have financing programs that allow you to own your vehicle outright in as little as 18 months. No matter your credit history – bad credit, no credit, repossession – we can work with you to get you financed. We believe a mistake in your past shouldn’t affect your ability to earn an income today.

We have a vast inventory and will get you into the vehicle that matches the types of fares you want to provide. Whether you’re looking to drive LyftLux or be an Uber driver Scottsdale AZ, we do whatever it takes to make it a reality.

Red Mountain Funding works with families and individuals of all different backgrounds to get financing, even when they might not otherwise qualify. We believe in transparency and honesty. We want to get you into a vehicle that is affordable and that can help you make some money of your own.

Our family has been serving the greater Mesa AZ area for more than 20 years. We pride ourselves on our easy loan approval process. If you are looking to find the perfect vehicle for your ridesharing job, look no further than Red Mountain Funding.

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