Everything you need to know about signing up as an Ola driver in Sydney, including where to get your car.
Uber has only become legal across Australia in the last three years, but now Aussies are blessed with the power of choice when it comes to ridesharing. Ola, which launched in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth in January 2018, offers an alternative to the original rideshare Uber and at the time of writing has facilitated 1.5 million rides across Australia. If you're looking to make a bit of extra cash with rideshare and are considering Ola, this guide will tell you everything you need to know.
A bit about Ola
Ola operates in over 110 cities across India and Australia, offering rideshare services in vehicles including taxis, cars and rickshaws. Ola offers unique features for passengers such as SOS alerts, lower peaks and real-time location sharing as well as the convenience you've come to expect from a rideshare service.
Where in Australia is Ola available?
Ola is currently operating in the following locations:
Eligibility criteria to be an Ola driver in Sydney
The eligibility criteria for Ola differs depending on the city you're signing up in. The criteria below applies to Sydney.
| Location | Eligibility | Required documents/information |
|---|---|---|
| Sydney |
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Benefits of driving with Ola in Sydney
Ola offers a number of benefits to rideshare drivers, including:
- Daily payments. All of your outstanding earnings are transferred to your nominated bank account the next working day.
- Safety. Driver safety is paramount, and all drivers have access to an SOS button within the Ola app.
- Introductory commission rate. You can take advantage of Ola's introductory commission, currently 7.5%.
- Standard commission rate. After the initial 30-day period, the standard commission rate will apply. This rate is currently 15%.
- Support. Ola offers round-the-clock support for its driver partners, so you will be able to contact the helpline 24/7.
- Free registration. It doesn't cost anything to sign up as an Ola driver-partner.
- Direction of your trips. Ola will send you ride requests in the direction you want to travel.
Ola vs Uber vs Taxify: Sydney
Not sure which rideshare platform to sign up to? No worries, we've put together a quick comparison to help you decide.
| Feature | Ola | Uber | Taxify |
|---|---|---|---|
| Availability | Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Gold Coast, Canberra and Brisbane | In every state | Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane |
| Vehicle restrictions |
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| Payment | Daily payment | Weekly bank transfer | Weekly bank transfer |
| Commission | 7.5% for first 30 days, increases to 15% | 25% | 15% |
| Signup process | Online | In-person training and vehicle inspection required | In-person training usually required and a vehicle inspection is required |
How do you sign up to be an Ola driver in Sydney?
Head to Ola's website and sign in with your Google account to sign up as a driver. From there you can enter your personal details and agree to the terms and conditions. Verify your mobile number and provide a few details about the vehicle you're using to drive with Ola, including whether you own it. You'll need to enter the information as outlined in the table above as well as upload images of the required documents.
Once you've submitted all the required details, it will be reviewed by Ola and you will be notified whether you are accepted as a driver-partner.
Need a car to drive with Ola?
Compare the following rental services that are suitable for rideshare.
