It’s important to take care of your vehicle, no matter what it is you do. With the right care, you can prolong your car’s life, and you can reduce the number and severity of costly repairs.
However, every car requires a different level of care depending on how it is being used. And when your vehicle helps provide you with an income, it’s even more important to take care of it.
There are things you should do to take care of your car if you drive for Uber. That way you can continue picking up passengers without worrying about your car breaking down prematurely.
Make Sure You Have the Right Insurance
Insurance is a must. It’s actually the law to cover your vehicle. But, you have tons of choices when it comes to what your insurance policy actually says.
You can carry the minimum liability insurance on your vehicle, or you can choose full coverage. Gap insurance is an option with some carriers, and those, like Geico that don’t offer this option, offer something comparable.
If you’re driving for a living, even part-time, you have to take a closer look at your policy. Not all policies will cover you if you work for a rideshare app, so look closely at the fine print before you sign up.
Never Miss an Oil Change
If you don’t drive a lot, you may be able to stretch out your oil changes a little bit. If you drive with Uber, you can’t afford to miss an oil change. Especially if you’re driving an older or used vehicle.
Oil keeps the moving parts of your engine functioning smoothly. Irregular oil changes can be extremely hard on an engine, which can cause it to break down faster. Regular oil changes will keep your vehicle running smoothly.
Use the Parking Brake the Right Way
When it’s time to park, what do you do? As it turns out, you could be overworking your transmission if you don’t use the parking brake at all, or if you’re doing it wrong. The right way to use your parking brake includes a few steps:
- Come to a stop
- Push down the brake pedal
- Engage your parking brake
- Put the car in park
- Release the brake pedal
Start a Repair Fund
No matter how good you are to your car, chances are, you’re going to need a repair sooner or later. Unfortunately, most people don’t budget for these surprise repairs. If you drive for Uber, it’s even more important that you fix your car in a timely manner, which means having the money to do it.
One great way to start a car repair fund is to put your monthly car payment amount in a special account. If you can’t afford that, determine what amount you can afford. Anything is better than nothing!
Make sure you take care of your car and your car will take care of you by providing you with the means to make money using Uber.
