Guy DeBorgore posted:

This is exactly the problem with being an Uber driver, you're taking on a lot of risks and hidden costs that would usually be covered by the taxi company/insurance. Even if the company is feeling generous enough to pay for the damage to your backseat when someone vomits in it, or covers your missed rides, you're still running the chance of getting in an accident and being personally liable for a gigantic amount of money. And then there's the self-employment taxes, and the chance of getting a string of lovely customers who tank your rating below 4.7 and get you kicked off the service. But people suck at accounting for low-probability high-cost risks, so they just see their hourly earnings and think they're doing great. After you account for fuel, vehicle maintenance and those risks, you're not much better off than you would be working at Denny's.