How to choose the right car to buy for rideshare

What's the right car to buy for rideshare success?

When you’re choosing a car to buy for rideshare driving, there’s so much more to consider than just the model and the paint job. Not only does your vehicle need to give a ride that your customers will warm to, it needs to work in a way that makes every km you drive a profitable one, thinking about all your ongoing costs of ownership, from fuel costs to rideshare insurance, servicing, registration, maintenance and more.

Read on as we break down a few key things that every rideshare driver should look at to make an informed buying decision – one that’s good for them, their customers and even the planet.

What makes a good rideshare vehicle?

1. Space: One of the first things to consider for passenger comfort and rideshare opportunity is the space in the vehicle. Your car should comfortably seat at least four passengers while leaving lots of space for luggage. If you're planning to offer services like Uber XL or Uber Max, you'll need to make sure your vehicle can fit larger groups too.

2. Clean: Passengers prefer rides that are clean and well-maintained. Opt. for a newer model as it not only looks better but is likely to have more advanced safety features. Keeping your car in top condition is also essential for receiving high ratings. Regular cleaning, both inside and out, and routine maintenance checks will help your vehicle stay reliable and appealing to passengers.

3. Green: Choosing an Electric Vehicle for rideshare not only improves your profitability with no fuel costs to pay for, it also means you can make a difference in lowering tailpipe emissions – and a significant one.

4. Low purchase price: Paying normal RRP for your vehicle purchase price is a missed opportunity if you’re a rideshare driver. As most people don’t have the cash to outlay on purchasing a vehicle outright, it’s important to look at the purchase price of the vehicle - as well as the interest rate charged. As Splend specialises in rideshare, we offer very competitive rates for our vehicles, compared to buying and financing the ordinary way. For example, the vehicle component of our Flexi Own plans for new EV’s are usually priced at an equivalent of 0% APR (Annual Percentage Rate).

5. Low running costs: Fuel efficiency is crucial for rideshare drivers – but it’s far from the only running cost for you to consider as a rideshare drivers. Those who drive for a living typically face higher ongoing costs than everyday owners; their insurance premiums are higher and their maintenance and servicing costs bigger – all of which can cut into their profitability if not carefully managed. The best car for rideshare is one that balances space and quality with running costs that won’t send you broke.

Did you know that EV’s can significantly reduce your running costs compared to petrol cars as they use electricity to run instead of fuel? Plus, today’s rider loves to book Uber Green over Uber X - for their eco-conscience, but also because they know EVs are today’s newest and most modern vehicles. Added to that, if just one rideshare driver swaps out their ICE vehicle for an EV, they prevent 8.7 tonnes of Co2 being emitted every year (based on the average Australian rideshare driver driving 50,000 kms per year). So, not only can an EV add up to a higher number of rides, they are important for the planet – and important for rideshare customers who prefer to ride with a conscience that’s environmentally clear.

Why choose an Electric Vehicle for rideshare?

First up, Electric vehicles (EVs) significantly reduce your running costs compared to petrol cars as they use electricity to run instead of fuel.
Let's compare apples with apples:

• Petrol Car. Assuming a fuel cost of $1.90 per litre, driving 1000km a week would cost approximately $190.

• Electric Car. At 60c per kWh, the same distance would cost around $60.

That's a saving of $130 each week, adding up to $6,760 per year (which is a lot of movies, dinners out or a nice family holiday’s worth, back in your pocket).

The second reason, and a good one, is that today’s rider loves to book Uber Green over Uber X, not just for their eco-conscience, but also because they know EVs are today’s newest and most modern vehicles – which makes for a sweet ride.

Rideshare categories and their impact on earnings

Comfort/Comfort Electric/Premium

These categories offer higher fares but usually require higher-end vehicles. The investment can pay off if you frequently get bookings in these categories.

Uber XL/Uber Max

Vehicles in these categories not only offer higher fares but also higher utilisation due to the limited availability of larger cars. If you're comfortable driving a bigger vehicle, this could be a profitable option.

Uber Green

As mentioned above, riders are increasingly preferring and booking sustainable options as their norm. With Uber Green you’re guaranteeing your customer a newer, eco-friendly car, leading to higher utilisation rates compared to Uber X – just another reason to consider an EV as your rideshare vehicle.

How Splend can help with choosing the right car for rideshare

Splend hubs are different to ordinary car dealerships, in that the entire fleet of vehicles is right for rideshare, including vehicles for all the Uber classes – and all the latest EV models come with a 0% equivalent APR, with additional discounts offered on some vehicles. Splend specialises in rideshare vehicles, and our rideshare specialists don’t just sell you a car – they look at its earning potential and all the other factors that are important to rideshare drivers.

Best of all, where an ordinary dealer will give you finance with a monthly repayment that just pays down the car, with Splend you have a weekly payment that pays down the car, and covers your ongoing running costs like maintenance and servicing, registration and that hefty rideshare insurance – with no scary balloon payment to dread at the end.

It’s smooth driving, with no surprises and the lowest total ownership cost you’ll find – which is how car ownership for rideshare drivers should be.

About Splend

Splend makes car ownership easier, more affordable and more accessible for rideshare drivers by building everything they need to earn more, pay less and stress less into one affordable weekly payment. It’s smooth driving, with no surprises and the lowest total ownership cost you’ll find – which is how car ownership for rideshare drivers should be. Call us at 1800 SPLEND,, request a call back or visit us today at one of our hubs.