Rent a Car for Rideshare Drivers: What You Need To Know

Renting a car to drive for Uber or Lyft can be a viable option in the short term, but it could reduce your earnings in the long term. Uber has partnered with Hertz and Avis to provide car rentals for Uber drivers. Currently, Lyft does not have any car rental partnerships in Canada.

You may come across third-party car rental companies that cater to gig drivers, but make sure they can be used for commercial purposes and that they’re approved by Uber.

If you’re a rideshare driver and need a vehicle or you don’t want the hassle of owning your vehicle, then renting a car may be a justifiable option in the short term.

Here you’ll learn about the considerations you should make when choosing to rent or buy a car, a comparison of Hertz and Avis, and how you can get a car rental as a rideshare driver.

Renting vs. buying a car to drive for Uber and Lyft

If you’re debating whether you should rent or own a car to drive with Uber or Lyft, there are pros and cons for each decision. One of the main considerations is that when it comes to filing your taxes, you can claim more vehicle expenses if you own your car.

If you lease a car, you can deduct the lease payments if you only use it for business purposes. However, if you buy instead, you can deduct other expenses, such as fuel, insurance, repairs, parking fees, and capital cost allowances to depreciate your assets.

Also, when it comes to renting through Hertz or Avis, they provide weekly rentals. This means that costs could add up quickly if you’re doing this for the long term. Since Uber has an exclusive car rental agreement with Hertz and Avis, you won’t be able to “multi-app” (driving for multiple ridesharing or delivery apps) if you rent a car through Uber’s car rental program.

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Reasons to rent a car to do gig driving

You’ll need to think about how you’ll be using the car. Will it be for personal use, rideshare driving or both? If you’re solely renting a car to drive for Uber or Lyft, you’ll need to see if you can earn more money on a weekly basis to justify the cost of renting a vehicle.

Testing before you buy

If you want to test out a car you plan to buy, renting a specific model can be a low-risk way to see if it suits your needs.

As a temporary replacement for your own car

If your car needs repairs or is otherwise unavailable for a certain time, renting a car in the interim is a way to continue earning income.

Regardless of your reasons for looking into renting a car, you’ll need to look at the logistics of renting a vehicle weekly and the financial impacts that come with it.

Other factors to consider when renting a car

The type of vehicle you choose can make all the difference in its cost.

• Vehicle type: The car brand and model will vary significantly in rental costs.
• Fuel: A gas, hybrid, or electric vehicle will have different financial and logistical impacts on fueling or charging your car.
• Parking: Depending on where you live, you may need to obtain a parking permit, park your car in a parking lot, or consider street parking.

Hertz vs. Avis car rental program with Uber

Here’s a comparison of Hertz versus Avis:

How to rent a car from Uber to drive

To take advantage of the Hertz and Avis car rental programs with Uber, you’ll need to register as an Uber driver and get approved.

Hertz rental with Uber

As an approved Uber driver, you can rent a car through Hertz. When you view their offers, it will direct you to Uber’s Vehicle Marketplace where you can see which cars are available to rent based on your location.

When you make your reservation, an authorization hold of the estimated car rental charges and a $265 refundable security deposit will be applied to your credit card.

Avis rental with Uber

Once you’re an approved Uber driver, you’ll need to create an Avis profile. When you’ve created your Avis account, you can proceed to make a car reservation.

Renting a car external to Uber’s car rental program

Although other car rental companies may provide you with a car lease, it’s wise to go with Uber’s official partners, Hertz and Avis. This ensures that you, as a rideshare driver, receive the best protection when renting a car for Uber.

It’s best to confirm with your car rental company if they agree to allow you to use the vehicle for business purposes. Otherwise, if you use an unapproved car, your account may be waitlisted. If you have multiple offences, it could lead to being deactivated.

If the above options aren’t viable, you can borrow a car to drive for Uber as long as you’re listed as an insured party on someone else’s auto insurance plan and their car meets Uber’s vehicle requirements.

Lyft’s rental car program is not available in Canada

If you’re a Lyft driver, you may have heard about Lyft’s Express Drive program. It’s a car rental program where they’ve partnered with Flexdrive and Hertz. This gives Lyft drivers the option to rent a car and drive with Lyft. Unfortunately, this program is currently only available in select U.S. cities. So, if you’re planning to drive with Lyft, that means you’ll need to provide your own car in Canada for the time being.

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