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Re:Worker-Owned Apps Are Trying to Fix the Gig Economy by mywittyname on Monday November 25, 2019 @06:06PM (#21633857)
You can be cash-flow positive driving Uber, but still lose money overall. Depreciation can be sneaky because you don't pay it until you switch vehicles, and even when it comes time to pay it, the costs are bundled up into the next vehicle loan you get. Maintenance is the same way.

Uber exploits the fact that people mistakenly believe cash flow is profit.

I also wonder if your father purchased commercial insurance. That stuff is expensive, and not having it is like buying an exploding lottery ticket. If he's ever in an accident (regardless of whether he was getting paid or not) and his insurance discovers that he drove for Uber without the appropriate coverage, the claim could be denied.

Uber also exploits the fact that their drivers can get away with not being adequately insured.

Re:Worker-Owned Apps Are Trying to Fix the Gig Economy by aey on Monday November 25, 2019 @11:21PM (#21635620)
Uber covers insurance. https://www.uber.com/us/en/drive/insurance/

It’s not all hard to extrapolate mileage depreciation based on car prices.

I feel like these laws are coming from well meaning people who don’t actually represent anyone earning money driving for Uber.

Why are we not seeing driver strikes driving these changes?

Re:Worker-Owned Apps Are Trying to Fix the Gig Economy by mywittyname on Tuesday November 26, 2019 @09:43AM (#21638623)
Uber covers you while your driving, that does not prevent insurance companies from denying claims or dropping coverage on former or current Uber drivers because they don't have commercial insurance on their now-commercial vehicle.

If you're ever in an accident while not driving for Uber, the insurance company will ask you if you've ever used this car to drive for a ride-sharing service. This could be grounds to void your policy. And Uber will not cover you in this situation.

https://www.reddit.com/r/uberdrivers/comments/44vuoa/insuran...

Re:Worker-Owned Apps Are Trying to Fix the Gig Economy by aey on Tuesday November 26, 2019 @11:15AM (#21639570)
It’s largely a solved problem. My insurer USAA has a ride-share add-on that costs an additional $10 a month.