Rideshare Drivers Increasingly Seeking Direct Payment Arrangements
A growing number of rideshare drivers are proposing an unconventional approach to passengers: bypassing the official apps and arranging direct payments through cash or digital payment services like Venmo.
## Driver Motivations
This trend appears driven by declining earnings on official platforms:
- Some trips reportedly pay drivers as little as $3
- Drivers often receive less than 50% of what passengers pay
- A documented case showed a Massachusetts driver receiving approximately $74 from a $156 fare after Uber's deductions and taxes
## Common Practices
Drivers are discussing these alternatives through various channels:
- Reddit and Facebook group discussions about the ethics of requesting ride cancellations
- Direct negotiations with passengers for lower cash fares
- Using payment apps like Venmo for transactions
One documented case on TikTok showed a driver offering an $80 Uber ride for $70 in cash, citing insufficient platform compensation.
## Risks and Consequences
This practice carries significant risks for all parties:
- Drivers risk account deactivation if reported
- Passengers face cancellation fees from the platforms
- Both parties lose platform safety features, including:
- Emergency buttons
- Trip sharing with contacts
- Audio recording capabilities
- Insurance coverage
## Platform Responses
- Uber explicitly prohibits off-platform trips, citing safety concerns and regulations
- Violating drivers risk losing platform access
- Lyft has not publicly addressed the issue
## Broader Context
This trend reflects wider issues in the gig economy:
- Platform claims of $30+ hourly earnings contrast with driver reports of as little as $9 per hour
- Increasing competition for profitable rides
- Many passengers are unaware of the revenue split between platforms and drivers
- Some drivers report increased passenger willingness to bypass apps after learning about the platforms' large commission rates