Why I Quit Driving for UBER in Canada | Calgary | Toronto | Vancouver | Montreal

Summary

Igor, the YouTuber, explains his decision to stop driving for Uber in Canada. He details the financial challenges, including low pay, higher insurance costs, and the amortization of his car which depreciates faster due to extensive use. He also mentions the unpredictable income and the additional expenses like maintenance and cleaning, especially during the pandemic. Igor emphasizes that his views are personal and plans to remove old Uber-related videos to avoid misleading viewers, as he no longer endorses driving for Uber.

Takeaways

• 🚗 The speaker, Igor, stopped driving for Uber in Canada around 2020-2021 due to various reasons.
• 💰 Uber driving doesn't pay as much as it seems due to the need to account for taxes collected on behalf of Uber.
• 📈 Ride share insurance is significantly more expensive than regular insurance, adding to the driver's expenses.
• ⏱ There are many hours of waiting involved in Uber driving, which can lead to low earnings or even less than minimum wage.
• 🚘 Drivers must consider the amortization of their car, including increased maintenance due to the high mileage driven.
• 📉 The depreciation of the car is accelerated by driving for Uber, which can lead to a loss in the car's value.
• 🛠 Maintenance costs for the car, including cleaning and disinfecting, are additional expenses that Uber drivers must bear.
• 😷 The COVID-19 pandemic adds an extra layer of risk and responsibility for Uber drivers, including the need for masks and cleaning supplies.
• 🏢 Uber drivers are self-employed and thus bear all the liabilities and expenses, unlike regular employees.
• 📉 Uber takes a commission from each ride, but does not fully compensate drivers for the expenses and value lost on their cars.
• 🎥 Igor plans to remove his old Uber-related videos from the internet to prevent misleading new drivers and to reflect his current stance.

Q & A

Why did Igor decide to stop driving for Uber?

Igor stopped driving for Uber because he found that it did not pay much after considering taxes, insurance, car maintenance, and depreciation.

What are some of the financial considerations Igor mentioned regarding Uber driving?

Igor mentioned GST taxes collected on behalf of Uber, more expensive ride-share insurance, car maintenance costs due to high mileage, and the amortization of the car.

How does Uber's insurance cost compare to regular insurance according to Igor?

Igor stated that ride-share insurance is about 30% more expensive than regular insurance.

What is the issue with the income guarantee when driving for Uber as Igor explained?

Igor explained that there is no guarantee on how much money can be made within an hour; it's just an average, and drivers are not even guaranteed to make minimum wage.

What additional costs did Igor mention come with driving for Uber?

Igor mentioned additional costs such as car maintenance, gas, cleaning supplies, and personal protective equipment like masks due to the pandemic.

How does the pandemic factor into Igor's decision to stop driving for Uber?

The pandemic added the difficulty of maintaining social distancing within the car and the increased cost of personal protective equipment like masks, which contributed to Igor's decision to stop driving.

What was Igor's personal realization about the value of his car after driving for Uber?

Igor realized that he was essentially paying Uber with the depreciation of his car's value and that Uber did not compensate adequately for the hours worked and car maintenance.

What is Igor's stance on sharing his personal opinion about Uber driving?

Igor emphasizes that his opinion is personal and he is not trying to discourage or discredit Uber driving; he simply found it not worth it for himself.

Why does Igor plan to remove his old Uber-related videos from the internet?

Igor plans to remove his old videos to prevent people from being misled, as they might think he is still driving for Uber and the videos were posted when it was a better situation.

What is Igor's current status with Uber and his YouTube channel?

Igor has stopped driving for Uber, sold his car, and is no longer registering with Uber. He continues to create content for his YouTube channel.

What advice does Igor give to those who might have joined Uber after watching his old videos?

Igor apologizes for any potential误导 caused by his old videos and informs viewers that he will be taking them down to reflect the current situation and his decision to stop driving for Uber.