Uber is relatively new to the scene in St. Louis. They had to really work hard to enter this market. That’s great for a new potential driver, because St. Louis is not yet saturated with new drivers. There is a lot of money to be made here.
St. Louis is a pretty straight forward market to drive in. There aren’t many regulations on drivers like there is in New York, for instance. The only law that they have that pertains to ride share drivers is they have to pay fees to pick people up from the airport, which has been up in the air for some time.
Uber Driver Requirements in St. Louis
There are no special requirements to drive for Uber in Saint Louis, MO. You do certainly need a car that is insured and registered in your name, but you certainly don’t need something such as a taxi medallion like you would in some other cities.
Here are the main requirements to drive for Uber here:
- A driver must have an insured vehicle.
- They must also be 21 years or older (unless you can prove 3+ years driving experience)
- Have a valid registration for the vehicle in your name.
- You must be able to pass a background check.
If you would like to know more about what it takes to be an Uber driver in detail, this article will help a ton.
Uber Vehicle Requirements St Louis
There are no major considerations for your vehicle when operating in St. Louis. And, the age restriction is very lenient. Because it is still a relatively new market, you may use a vehicle all the way back to the 2002 model year. That will probably change early in 2018. For the latest Uber vehicle age requirements in St. Louis, check this out.
A vehicle must have/be
- 4 Doors
- 2002 or newer model year
- Must be in good condition with no cosmetic damage (verified through photographs)
- No commercial branding
- Insured
On top of the insurance that you bring to the table, Uber also provides liability insurance on top of what you carry.
Where to Go and Where to Avoid Driving for Uber in St. Louis
Lambert International Airport
The St. Louis taxi commission was able to hold both Uber and Lyft off from entering the St. Louis market for a long time. And, as far as I know, they still don’t let you pick up fares from the airport legally. They want to charge ride share users and additional surcharge of $6. Here’s way more about the issue from the St. Louis Post Dispatch.
Night Life Hot Spots
Looking out for night life hot spots can be a great way to make extra money if you are looking to do Uber for extra money after work. There are a number of great locations to pick up fares at night.
St. Charles Main Street– If you take highway 70 over the Missouri river, this area’s night life is exploding. A lot of people tend to come here from West County, so you can get some pretty long rides, which is a great way to make money without having to pick a whole bunch of people up.
Washington Avenue– Washington Avenue has been a hotbed of Urban activity for decades now. While Laclede’s Landing has seen better days, Washington Avenue still is doing well. No one that you pick up is going to live in the city, so expect to drive people an average of 15 miles or more. The St. Louis Convention Center is right down here, as well as City Museum. Add that to the numerous bars and restaurants and you have a good source of fares all night. Also it’s worth noting that bars down here close later than a lot of other places, so you can go some where else and come down here if you feel like putting in a little more work.