How to Become a Five-Star Uber or Lyft Passenger

You probably check the ratings of your Uber and Lyft drivers before getting in your car, but these drivers also look at your rating. A poor rating can make future travel much more difficult. To keep your passenger rating as high as possible, you also need to know what drivers are looking for in passengers.

Make your pickup painless for both of you

You can save yourself and your driver a lot of headaches with just a little forethought before you announce your ride. When you’re ready to provide a pickup location, think about things from the driver’s perspective. They cannot safely stop in the middle of a very busy street, especially during very busy times of the day. Michael Morales, a Lyft driver, explains at The Bold Italic that these are not taxis with their own lanes or pickup stands. Morales invites you to walk around the corner and choose a seat that will avoid a possible accident or tickets. It is easier for the driver and it allows you to get into the vehicle safely. Get up close to where they might get off the road, or take a quick walk down the alley if you can.

It’s also a good idea to wait until you’re ready to go before summoning your attraction. Quartz’s Salvador Rodriguez recommends deferring your request if you think there is a good chance you will cancel it before they get there. If you are assigned a driver and cancel it within a certain time window, you will not be charged, but you can easily skip this window if you are not mindful. Not to mention, you’re wasting this driver’s time, energy and gas when he can pick up people ready to go.

Also, do not keep the driver on the edge of the seat, delaying the destination until they arrive. If you wait until you get into the car, the driver won’t be able to plan the best way to approach your pickup location or know which direction to head in once you get into it. This makes them a bum in a traffic jam, and it costs you money while they try to find the best route to their destination. Daiami Gomez of Dancing Through Detours suggests entering the actual address you are heading to, rather than the name of your destination, to avoid any trouble. At least always double check if you entered correctly. If you’re not careful, you may end up in the wrong place with the same name.

When your driver arrives, be ready to hop on and off. If you don’t think you will be at the pick-up location by the time they arrive, please let your driver know. In both Uber and Lyft, you can text or call your driver with the information in the app. A quick heads-up can prevent your rankings from plummeting and let them know they are wasting their time. Naomi Chrysoulakis of the Creme Lifestyle blog also recommends separating from the crowd if you are around other people. Don’t make your driver say “Where is the price?” When their car pulls up, walk up to them and ask who you are and who you are waiting for. Open the car door or go to the window and say something like, “Hi, I am [your name], are you [expected driver name]?” There have been problems in the past with getting people to Ubers and Lyfts of other people, so drivers will ask for your name anyway.

Choose the right place for your situation

There are no official rules about where and when to sit, but these guidelines can help you choose the best seat for your situation:

• If you want to talk, sit in the front seat: both Uber and Lyft greet passengers who will sit in the front seat next to the driver, but this is not required. If you want to talk and get to know your driver, sit in the front seat . If you prefer to be left alone, have things to take care of, or plan to take a nap while you’re stuck in traffic, jump back.
• Sit in the back if you have a pet: Uber and Lyft allow pets, especially dogs, but the decision is up to your driver. If they say it’s okay, CityLab’s Dena Levitz recommends that you sit in the back seat with your pet so you can keep an eye on him. The last thing you want is for the dog to distract the driver. Also, to avoid any problems when your driver arrives, it is best to call him or write in advance and inform him that you are bringing a pet.
• Stay close to your drunk friend: Trust me, sharing services make drunken nights in the city with friends awesome and safe. That being said, if you are traveling with a friend who has achieved true enlightenment, sit with him and take care of him. Morales, a Lyft driver, explains that you will be held accountable for everything they do. If they rip all over the car, you will be fined. If they beat in drunken glory and break something, it’s on you. Nobody likes babysitting, but you’ll be glad you did.
• Ask Before Sitting In The Backseat With Anyone Else: If you use one of the multi- passenger services like UberPOOL or Lyft Line , GQ’s Allison Davis suggests you consult another rider before you sit back with him. if the front seat is open. They’ll probably love it, but just like at a coffee table, ask politely before jumping into someone’s space.

Don’t worry about where to sit, but keep it in mind the next time you ride Uber or Lyft.

Do not jerk the driver and other passengers

Even if you’re driving alone with UberX or standard Lyft, you’re still in a shared space. The driver uses his own car, which is why Leslie Williams on the Official Uber Blog finds it polite to ask before adjusting the temperature in the car or lowering the windows. Huffington Post’s Alexandra Ma also recommends asking before touching their gadgets, especially the stereo. Most of the time they ask you about music and volume, so keep your hands to yourself. Generally speaking, when traveling with Uber or Lyft, it’s best to keep in mind basic “flying rules,” especially if you’re using a multi-passenger service. It means:

• Don’t eat bad smells (and ask before eating or drinking in the car).
• Don’t smoke (unless they say it’s okay, they can join you).
• Don’t use excessive amounts of cologne or perfume (and definitely don’t spray it in your car).

That being said, don’t be afraid to try to make your trip more comfortable. You are paying for a service, so feel free to ask for an air conditioner, heater, or roll down a window to avoid their own poisonous cloud of excess cologne. If they say no, click on the problem. Don’t sacrifice comfort for the sake of courtesy.

Also, try to keep phone calls to a minimum when you are not alone. We all know how annoying it is when someone next to us yells into the phone about something, especially if it’s personal or they decide to use the speakerphone for some godforsaken reason. If you want to strike up a conversation with your driver or fellow passengers, go for it, but Levitz recommends treating it like a first date. Avoid offensive or offensive topics and keep them stylish. Making new friends is fun, but you don’t have to make someone feel uncomfortable when they are locked in the car with you.

On a personal note, please do not get angry with your driver’s or your driver’s navigation system for following their navigation system. I recently rode with a man who was furious with our route to my destination (I was picked up first, so I got dropped off first on my way to my destination). He was drunk and couldn’t figure out why Waze was taking us onto the freeway, so he made our poor driver – who literally just got here from Taiwan – drive through Los Angeles until he finally realized that the freeway was indeed the best option. He ended up boiling, apologized and turned out to be a pretty cool dude, but being around this was incredibly awkward. You may know the super-secret route to your destination, but your driver follows directions they know will lead you there. No matter which city you are in, there are thousands of streets and route options. If you know the best route, you can suggest it as soon as you get in the car, but don’t get angry. It doesn’t help anyone. Many drivers will ask if you have a preferred route, but even if they don’t, you can check your phone’s GPS to find your preferred route and give them directions if important.

Thank, rate and tip good drivers

If your driver has done a good job, let him know when he will drop you off. Thank them as you get out of your car and don’t forget to rate them on your Uber or Lyft app. The decision on how to rate drivers can be controversial, but consider what a low rating might mean to them. As Rodriguez explains, you might think that three or four stars are enough, but drivers can be turned off if they drop below even 4.6 out of 5 (which is not too little). Personally, if the ride was not terrible, I give the drivers the maximum rating and retain my opinion on the rollover process. Rodriguez does the same , and most drivers usually do the same with their passengers.

Depending on which car sharing service you use, tips can also be confusing and contradictory . Lyft lets you tip in the app, which is great for drivers, but Uber doesn’t recommend you tip drivers at all. However, you can still tip them cash if you want to be kind. At first they may disagree, but they will if you insist. At the very least, you can verbally compliment them and write a few nice things in their comment box that pops up when you rate them in the app. You might think it doesn’t really matter, but people read them.

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