The introduction of Uber in South Africa has been a great boon for many. Uber is the ride sharing service that allows us to get around without having to drive ourselves.
One of the main instances where Uber has become helpful is for party goers. Whereas many would usually drive after their nights out, Uber has made it very convenient to go out without having to drive.
The greatest convenience is that Uber is an on demand app and you can order an uber at short notice and the driver will usually reach you within five minutes.
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Download Uber in South Africa
To download Uber you will need to have a smartphone. To download, you will have to go the app store on your phone, search for the app and download it.
You will then have to input your details, which is mainly your address and if you wish to pay by debit card you will load your debit card details onto the app.
The benefit of using a debit card is that you Uber drivers prioritize card users over cash users. This is because with the debit card, Uber drivers run the risk of not being paid and other risks. So in the event of paying with card, you will generally get drivers to you in the quickest time.
Uber Score
Another factor that influences your standing with Uber drivers is your score. After every Uber trip, you and you driver get to rate each other. This is beneficial to both sides because if you have a higher score, you will have more trust and drivers will respond to your call quicker. The scores on the app are completely anonymous so you and the driver can both rate honestly with no fear for reprisal.
So to keep your scores at a high level, you must simply be courteous with the drivers and not do things that could potentially be seen as unseemly such as slamming the door or being rude. If you are jovial you can have chats with your drive and make for a more pleasant trip. Even if you aren’t the talkative type, simple things like a courteous greeting, and a thank you at the end of the trip are usually enough to gain you a score of 5.
Can I cancel an Uber Trip?
You can cancel an uber trip without if you can do so before you are matched with a driver. To do that, just tap the white bar at the bottom of the screen that says “Finding your ride” and tap Cancel.
If you have already matched with a driver, you can cancel but you will be charged a cancellation fee. If the driver is more than 5 minutes later, however, you can cancel a trip without incurring any charges.
Uber Eats Delivers Food
There is also the food delivery service known as Uber Eats. So whether are simply too busy to drive to the store yourself or are having a party and want to order food without driving, Uber eats is supported at a large number of restaurants throughout South African cities
Become An Uber Driver
If you have a car that fits Uber’s requirements, then being an Uber partner is a possible way for you to make money in your spare time.
Driving an uber is another job that does not require experience. All you have to do is be at least 21 years old and have a driver’s license. You can apply to be an Uber driver with your own car. It will have to be a 4-door sedan that is not older than 10 years. If you meet the requirements, you will be given an Uber slot.
Renting out an Uber profile is against Ubers’ Partner Terms and Conditions but it does not seem to be enforced in South Africa and is quite prevalent. So if you don’t have a car, you can look into that option. To apply to be an Uber Partner (Driver) you can do so on the Uber Website.
Tips: How To Make Savings On Uber
Frequent User Discounts
The simplest way to earn discounts on Uber is by riding frequently, You don’t have to sign up for anything and the rewards are automatic. They vary from location to location and every so often Uber will give you notice saying you have a promo on your account.
Split The Costs
Because Uber charges you a standard price for the vehicle that drives out to you, traveling with friends as a large group is a nice way to save some cash, especially when going out for social purposes.
Depending on the size, you can call either a normal Uber X which can seat up to 4 passengers, or a larger UberVan which costs more but can seat up to 6 passengers.
Loyalty Discounts
Another way of making savings if you are a frequent Uber use is with loyalty programs that offer discounts. Sanlam Reality has allows members to save up to 30% on Uber transfers to the airport and on rides during non-peak hours, which is after between 10pm and 5am. How much of a discount you get between 20%, 25% and 30% depends on your Sanlam Reality level. You just need to sign up once through the Sanlam Reality app.
Discovery also has a cash back program that gives members discounts of up to 20% when they pay for Uber using a Discovery card. If you are on Discovery Insure, you can get 25% off your Uber trips, up to a total discount of R250 a month. Newly-registered Uber users also get R50 off their first two rides.
If you have multiple promos on your account, Uber will automatically apply the one that saves you the most on our next ride.
Uber Referral Program
The last way to make some savings is to refer friends to uber. In South Africa, when you refer someone, you get a free ride up to a maximum of R50. To refer someone, they must sign up to Uber using your referral code which you can find on the app under the Free Trips menu.