8 Must Have Items for Rideshare Drivers - Uber & Lyft
Dash Camera - This is the most important item and a no-brainer! Not only will it cover your butt if a rider makes false allegations against you, but it also comes in handy if you’re in an accident. Plus, a dash camera acts as a deterrent against any unwanted, unruly behavior. I drove around for a few years without a dash camera, and I noticed that as soon as I installed my Vantrue N2S dash camera that the unruly behavior drastically decreased.
I purchased this dash camera from Amazon:
Vantrue N2S 4K Dash Cam with GPS, Front and Inside Dual 2.5k 1440P, IR Night Vision, Supports 256G Memory Card
USB Charger & Cords for Riders - It’s a pain when riders request a phone charging cord when you're in the middle of driving. It’s a huge distraction. And you might even have to unplug your phone to accommodate the rider’s request. So, simple solution: keep a multi-charging cable somewhere in your backseat for the rider to plug into a USB port. And if your vehicle didn’t come equipped with rear USB charging ports, you can purchase universal USB charging ports that fit onto almost any standard headrest.
I purchased this Headrest Car Charger at Autozone:
Road Proof 5 Port USB Car Charger - Attaches to the Headrest of your Car Seat.
I purchased this 3-1 charging cord from Amazon:
USAMA Multi Charger Cable Nylon Braided (4FT) USB Charging Cable Adapter with USB Type C/Micro USB/Apple Lightning connections
Portable Car Vaccuum - It’s no secret that people are messy and once in a while a rider will make a mess in your vehicle. And if you’re in the middle of a busy shift, trying to find a gas station or car wash that has a vacuum will cost you time and money. A portable vacuum that plugs into your 12-volt outlet will quickly get the mess cleaned up and get you back on the road earning.
I purchased this Car Vacuum on Amazon:
ThisWorx Car Vacuum Cleaner 2.0-Upgraded w/ LED Light, Double HEPA Filter, 110W High Suction Power
Interior LED Lighting - Not only will you get a lot of compliments from riders because it looks cool, but it also helps with safety and reduces the number of items left behind by riders. Increased visibility inside the vehicle at nighttime will make both the rider and driver feel safer. And since the floors are completely illuminated and there is increased visibility throughout the backseat, riders will remember to take all of their belongings with them. Only once since I installed these interior LED lights in my vehicle two years ago has a rider left an item behind.
I purchased this LED Lighting kit from Amazon:
OPT7 Aura Double Row 4pc Car LED Interior Lights with Wireless Remote Control, Bluetooth App Control, Multicolor Mode, Footwell Floor Decor
Uber/Lyft LED Decal Sign - Illuminated LED window signs bearing Uber and Lyft logos help distinguish a driver’s vehicle from others when picking up a rider. For example, if a driver is picking up in a busy area at nighttime, the illuminated Uber and Lyft logo will help the rider quickly identify the correct vehicle. However, these signs have now become controversial, as Amazon removed these items for sale on their website to avoid litigation from both Uber and Lyft. And Uber and Lyft are in the process of suing manufacturers of these “counterfeit” signs. So, if you see them still for sale somewhere when you’re reading this, grab them quick before it’s too late!
I purchased this LED Decal from eBay, but it is no longer for sale there. Link below to a different website for the identical LED decal.
LED Light UBER Car Stickers LYFT Driver Car Decoration Stickers
Jump Starter Battery Pack - Even if you pay for roadside assistance, never worry about getting stranded again with the USB charging Jump Starter Batter Pack. You never know when you might run into battery issues and need a jump start. And this very small Jump Pack offers impressive performance and convenience in case there is no one around to give you a jump with conventional cables. I was lucky enough to have this Jump Pack in my trunk when my car battery died delivery Amazon packages in Philly at 4:30am. There was absolutely no one around that early in the morning to help me if I only had jumper cables to rely on.
I purchased this Scosche Jump Pack on Amazon:
SCOSCHE PBJ700-1 PowerUp 700 Amps Portable Car Jump Starter, Battery Booster, Dual 5V USB Ports For Charging Electronic Devices
Air Fresheners - Keeping your vehicle smelling fresh can be the difference between tips or no tips, 5 stars or 3 stars. But make sure you use the right kind of air freshener! So, let me first start out by telling you which ones to avoid: any oiled-based air fresheners, fragrances, or colognes. Your riders will hate these air fresheners as they’re too pungent and very irritating for anyone with allergies.
I’ve developed a two-step approach:
Spray Febreze in between rides for short-term odor defense.
Use odor absorbents for long-term odor defense.
My strategy here is very simple - Febreze covers up temporary odors while odor absorbents neutralize all odors. I’ve had success with this simple strategy, as many of my riders say that my vehicle smells like a “vanilla candle.”
I usually purchase Febreze at Bj’s because it’s the best price:
Febreze Unstopables Touch Fabric Spray and Odor Eliminator
I purchased these Odor Neutralizing Gel Beads at Amazon:
SMELLS BEGONE Odor Eliminator Gel Bead Value Pack - Air Freshener - Eliminates Odors in Bathrooms, Pet Areas, Boats, RVs & Cars - Made with Essential Oils - Lavendar Vanilla Scent
“Anti-Aggression” Repellent - Pepper Spray is a must have to stop any potential physical aggression in your vehicle. It’s better to have this item and never need it, then to need it and never have it. But make sure you keep your pepper spray in an area where you can immediately grab it without reaching and where an attacker cannot reach it.
I purchased this Pepper Spray on Amazon:
SABRE Crossfire Pepper Gel, Belt Clip, Flip Top Safety, Maximum Police Strength OC Spray, 18 Bursts
