How To Improve Your Uber Driver Rating
If you are new to the world of driving for Uber or you’ve got some experience behind the wheel, there’s one aspect that any Uber taxi driver will want to work on – the Uber driver rating.
If you’ve been putting in the hours and you’re working hard day and night, the last thing you want is for your Uber driving rating to decrease after each shift. If this does happen, you’re going to have to make some changes. Fortunately, these changes are relatively quick and easy. Furthermore, some of these can even help you get cheaper Uber insurance.
Uber’s 5-star rating scale
Uber has a 5-star scale that passengers can rate you on. If your rating drops below 4.6 stars, the company may even threaten to deactivate your account. This is the last thing you want, especially if you’re reliant on Uber for your main source of income. Many taxi drivers may believe that this is unfair, especially when the ride-hailing taxi service doesn’t do quite enough to educate passengers on the importance of the rating system and its effects to begin with.
All things considered, do not panic. You will only need to be concerned once the company sends you a notification that warns you about your account being in danger of deactivation. Uber can sometimes give you a number of rides, usually around 50, to improve your rating. However, no one really wants it to get to this late stage. This makes it more important than ever to provide an excellent customer service to ensure your ratings are constantly high.
At this stage it is important to note that even if you do everything correctly, there will always be someone who will unfairly give you a lower rating than expected, but don’t let this affect you as it won’t have a noticeable impact on your overall Uber driver rating if you’re offering a high level of customer service. If your overall rating does start to fall continuously, then it is highly likely that you’re doing something wrong. The first step to take in correcting this is identifying what the actual problem is. Below we have listed a number of tips to help you improve your Uber driver rating.
Keep your taxi clean at all times
Ensure that your taxi is cleaned on both the inside and outside on a regular basis. No one wants to travel in a dirty car. Each time a passenger exits your vehicle, quickly check to see if any rubbish has been left behind before the next passenger enters the car. A small bin bag in the front of your car can be useful in cleaning away any small bits of rubbish. Access to cleaning supplies are definitely worth keeping on hand. Popular examples include window cleaner, air freshener or even a small portable hoover that can be plugged into your taxi. Both you and the passenger will want to be able to easily see outside the window, so make sure these are also cleaned.
Only talk to passengers if they want conversation
Not every passenger wants to have a conversation with you. If they feel uncomfortable and are giving you one-word answers, this should be taken as a hint that they do not want to talk right now. The passenger may have had a long day, may have other things on his/her mind or simply doesn’t want to engage in a conversation. However, if they do start chatting away, remember to keep the conversation light. Do not give them the A to Z of your whole life story. You could ask questions about how their day is going and only carry on the conversation if they seem engaged.
Do not smoke inside your car
At no point should you smoke inside your car. This is one of the biggest reasons why many passengers will give a low star Uber driver rating. Even if you’re taking a break, step away from the vehicle and do not smoke near or inside it. Not every customer appreciates the smell of cigarettes, especially those with young children. Vaping is also not recommended.
Mount your phone
When you’re driving passengers from one location to the next, safety should always be a top priority. For this reason, you should not be juggling your smartphone. Make sure this is appropriately mounted, not only will it make everyone feel safe, it will make your job significantly easier as your passengers will feel at ease. It’s also important to remember that using a mobile phone whilst driving is an offence and could void your Uber taxi insurance and result in penalty points on your driving license.
Buy the best phone in your budget
We’re not suggesting that you go out and spend £1,000 on a high-end iPhone or Android smartphone. What we are suggesting is that it’s a good idea to have an updated model. This is because older phones can be slow, and this could lead to errors when using the Uber app when picking up and dropping off paying customers. The last thing you want is for your Uber driver rating to be affected just because you’re using a five year old phone.
Maintain your taxi
Keeping your car in tip top condition is something you should do regardless. Ensure your car is well maintained by checking it on a regular basis. After all, you will be travelling a lot more miles compared to the average user so there is a higher likelihood that it will require more tuning from time to time. By making sure it’s in a good state of repair will also help you prevent breakdowns from taking place. This will keep you on the road, meaning less time spent waiting at the garage, and compliant with the terms and conditions of your Uber insurance policy.
Text passengers instead of calling
These days most people prefer to be texted rather than called. This also applies to Uber customers. If you want to notify the passenger that you have arrived, it’s usually better to text them instead of calling as you don’t want to start the journey on the wrong foot. However, if they haven’t responded for a while, it’s okay to give the passenger a quick call if need be.
Have charging cables ready
Having charging cables at the ready is an excellent way to achieve a 5-star Uber driver rating. If a passenger’s mobile device is low on power, you could be saving the day by providing them with a quick charge. This is sure to make customers smile and appreciate the nice gesture. Remember to have multiple types available as not everyone has the same mobile phone. Lightning, USB-C and Micro USB are the most popular charging cable types.
Hopefully the above tips can help you improve or maintain an excellent Uber driver rating. It should not come as a surprise that a high rating is synonymous with providing passengers an exceptional customer service.