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The first thing you need to know
There are different types of Uber driving, each of which has different driver and car requirements. You can earn more as one of the more selective Uber drivers, but might need to work your way up to it, and may need a different type of vehicle.
But no matter what kind of Uber driving you do in Adelaide and South Australia, there are also basic driver and vehicle requirements to meet first.
The requirements for all Uber drivers in Adelaide
All applicants must:
- Be at least 21 years old
- Be driving an Uber-approved vehicle
- Hold a full, non-provisional, SA driver's licence
- Have held a full driver's licence least 12 months
- Be driving a vehicle insured for property damage liability. This means having either comprehensive or third party property car insurance. Your name, vehicle make and registration, policy expiration and type of cover must be visible on the document. Note that UberBLACK vehicles in particular must be commercially insured.
- Pass a driving history check.
- Complete a vehicle inspection at a registered Uber inspection site. You will receive details on how to reserve an inspection time when you reach this application stage.
Driver document checklist
Got these documents handy? Apply online to become an Uber driver now.
- A valid, full SA driver's licence
- Your passport or birth certificate
- Proof of vehicle insurance
The vehicle requirements for each type of Uber driving
Before getting started, your car will need to meet some basic requirements. The vehicle requirements are stricter for certain types of Uber driving. It's important to make sure you meet these basic vehicle requirements before you start the application process.
In Adelaide, all Uber cars must:
- Have at least 4 doors
- Have no more than 8 seats, also counting the driver's
- Have current registration and CTP insurance in SA
- Have working windows and air conditioning whenever carrying passengers
- Be free of commercial branding
If your car meets these requirements, and is generally in excellent working condition and free of cosmetic damage, your car will likely pass the vehicle inspection.
| Uber type | Model year | Vehicle type | Seating | Insurance | Special requirements | Eligible models |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UberX | 10 years old or less (from current year) | 4-door | 4-7 passengers | Registered and CTP-insured in South Australia | No former taxis, government-branded or rebuilt vehicles | Check here |
| UberASSIST | 10 years old or less (from current year) | 4-door, easy access | 4-7 passengers | Registered and CTP-insured in South Australia | Accommodate folding wheelchairs, walkers, collapsible scooters, and other assistive devices; Complete a free training course with the Australian Network on Disability | Check here |
| UberBLACK | 6 years old or less (from current year) | 4-door luxury | 4 passengers | Commercial vehicle insurance + MV/TV registration plates | Drive an eligible vehicle | Check here |
| UberEATS (car) | 1990 model or newer | Any | Any | Registered and CTP-insured in South Australia | Right to work in Australia and access to Medicare or private health insurance | Any |
UberX popular vehicles
- Ford. Falcon, Focus, Mondeo
- Holden. Captiva, Commodore, Cruze
- Honda. Accord, Civic, CR-V, Jazz
- Hyundai. Accent, Elantra, i30
- Kia. Cerato, Sportage
- Mazda. CX5, Mazda3
- Mitsubishi. Lancer, Outlander
- Nissan. Dualis, Pulsar, X-Trail
- Toyota. Aurion, Camry, Corolla, Kluger, Prius, Rav4, Yaris
- Volkswagen. Golf
UberSELECT eligible vehicles
- Alfa Romeo. 159, Giulietta (2012 or newer)
- Audi. A4, A5, A6, A7, A8 and respective Avant models, Q3, Q5, Q7, Q9, any RS or S Class
- BMW. 3-series and 5-series (includes Gran Turismo), 7-series, Alpina B7, X3, X5, X6, M3, M5
- Chrysler. 300
- Genesis. G80, G90
- Holden. Caprice, Grange, Statesman
- Hummer. H3
- Hyundai. Genesis
- Infiniti. FX, Q50, QX70 (2012 or newer)
- Jaguar. F-PACE, XE, XF, X-Type
- Jeep. Grand Cherokee
- Land Rover. Discovery, Freelander, Range Rover (includes Evoque and Sport)
- Lexus. ES, GS, GX, IS, LS, NX, RX
- Maserati. Quattroporte
- Mercedes-Benz. B-Class, C-Class (includes CL, CLA, CLK, CLS), E-Class (includes Wagon) G-Class (includes GL, GLA, GLC, GLE, GLS), M-Class (includes ML), R-Class, S-Class, V-Class, Viano
- Porsche. Cayenne, Macan, Panamera
- Skoda. Superb (2012 or newer)
- Subaru. Liberty (2015 or newer)
- Tesla. Model S, Model X
- Toyota. Kluger (2013 or newer), Prado (2012 or newer)
- Volkswagen. Passat, Touareg (2012 or newer)
- Volvo. S60, S80, XC60, XC70, XC90 (2012 or newer)
UberXL popular vehicles
- Dodge. Journey
- Fiat. Freemont
- Ford. Territory
- Holden. Captiva
- Honda. Odyssey
- Hyundai. Santa Fe, iMax
- Isuzu. MU-X
- Kia. Carnival, Sorento, Rondo
- Land Rover. Discovery
- LDV. G10
- Mazda. CX-9
- Mitsubishi. Outlander, Pajero
- Nissan. X-Trail, Pathfinder, Dualis, Patrol
- Toyota. Kluger, Prado, Tarago, Land Cruiser, Prius V
- Volkswagen. Multivan
UberASSIST popular vechicles
- Ford. Falcon, Focus, Mondeo
- Holden. Captiva, Commodore, Cruze
- Honda. Accord, Civic, CR-V, HR-V
- Hyundai. Accent, Elantra, i30, ix35, Sante Fe
- Kia. Cerato, Sportage
- Mazda. CX5, Mazda3
- Mitsubishi. Lancer
- Nissan. Dualis, Pulsar, X-Trail
- Toyota. Aurion, Camry, Corolla,Prius
- Volkswagen. Golf, Jetta, Passat
UberBLACK eligible vehicles
- Audi. A6, A8, Q7
- Bentley. All
- BMW. 5 Series, 7 Series, X5
- Cadillac. Escalade
- Chrysler. 300
- Holden. Caprice, Statesman
- Hyundai. Genesis (must be custom-fitted with the Genesis, not Hyundai, badge above the rear number plate)
- Jaguar. XF, XJ
- Land Rover. ES, GS, LS, RX
- Maserati. Ghibli, Quattroporte
- Mercedes-Benz. E-Class, GL-Class, ML-Class, R-Class, S-Class
- Porsche. Cayenne, Panamera
- Rolls Royce. All
- Tesla. Model S, Model X
UberLUX eligible vehicles
- Audi. A8 (D4/3rd gen)
- Bentley. All
- Cadillac. Escalade
- BMW. 7-Series (F01/F02)
- Jaguar. XF, XJ
- Lexus. LS
- Maserati. Ghibli, Quattroporte
- Mercedes-Benz. S-Class (W221, W222)
UberSUV eligible vehicles
- Audi. Q7
- BMW. X5
- Cadillac. Escalade
- Land Rover. Range Rover Sport
- Mercedes-Benz. GL-Class, R-Class, V-Class
- Tesla. Model X
How to drive for Uber if you don't have your own car yet.
You can rent a car
Uber needs drivers, and has partnered with rental providers to get affordable rental deals. Pay by the week to start earning even if you don't have your own car.
Rent an Uber car in Adelaide
Rent-to-own
If you'e looking for something to rent for keeps, a slightly higher weekly fee can help you rent-to-own a car of your choice, from a range of compact, hybrid, SUV and luxury car models.
Get a car loan
You don't have to go through an Uber rental partner. If you prefer, you can go through a bank, credit union or unaffiliated car lender, as long as your vehicle can pass the basic requirements.
How to pass your Uber vehicle inspection in Adelaide
Before taking your first trip, all Uber vehicles need to pass an inspection. This must be carried out by Uber-approved providers. When you're at the right stage of your application, after your driving history has been assessed, Uber will help you arrange an appointment at an approved inspection centre.
The inspection normally takes about half an hour, after which the inspector will pass the results onto Uber. It's a good idea to make sure your vehicle meets the minimum Uber requirements, as well as South Australian standards, before you take it in for an inspection.
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How much do Uber drivers earn in Adelaide?
Your earnings depend on how many passengers you carry per hour, and what your expenses are.
Consider this example for an almost full-time Uber driver, assuming an average journey of 14-minutes over 4 kilometres, making 24 trips a day by driving 6 hours a day, 5 days a week. We've also put in a 10% reservation from every trip to cover fuel and other costs.
| Uber type | Gross earnings per trip | Fees deducted per trip | Total earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| UberX | $13.90 | Uber fee (25%): $3.47 Fuel and other costs (10%): $1.40 | $9.03 per trip $216.72 per day $1,083.60 per week |
| UberBlack | $35.60 | Uber fee (25%): $8.90 Fuel and other costs (10%): $3.60 | $23.10 per trip $554.40 per day $2,772 per week |
| UberSUV | $42.00 | Uber fee (25%): $10.50 Fuel and other costs (10%): $4.20 | $27.30 per trip $655.20 per day $3,276 per week |
| UberLUX | $52.00 | Uber fee (25%): $13 Fuel and other costs (10%): $5.20 | $33.80 per trip $811.20 per day $4,056 per week |
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The best places to drive for Uber in Adelaide
The best driving is when there are more passengers in less time, which generally means more money for Uber drivers.
According to Uber, these are the Adelaide hotspots.
In the CBD:
- West End (Hindley and Currie Street)
- East End (Rundle Street)
- Adelaide Casino
- Adelaide Entertainment Centre
Certain suburbs:
- Glenelg
- Norwood
- North Adelaide
- Burnside
The best times to drive
According to Uber, the peak hours, when more people are trying to catch an Uber, are:
- Weekdays: 4am to 9am, and 4pm to 7pm
- Fridays and Saturdays: 4pm to 4am
Uber app download
You can download the Uber app for iOS and Android here.
Ask an Expert
is a SUV BMW X3 2020 eligible and if so what category does it fall under.
thanks
Hi Suzi,
Based on Uber’s list of eligible vehicles, it looks like that model is eligible for all categories. A full list is here: https://www.uber.com/global/en/eligible-vehicles/?city=adelaide
It’s worth noting, that list is for convenience only and the vehicle must comply with Uber’s requirements per the area and category. It may be worth getting in touch with Uber to confirm your eligibility.
Hope this helps!
Hi. Thanks, great page in here! Very informative indeed.
Would like to request if you can provide a list of approved/ eligible vehicles (e.g. Toyota – Corolla, Camry, etc; Kia – Cerato, etc….) here in Adelaide?
Thanks in advance!
Hi JP,
Uber accepts all ANCAP 5-Star rated vehicles or vehicles that fall under its exemption policy. If your vehicle is below 5-stars exempted vehicle list.
Hope that helps,
Stephanie
If I buy a new Subaru wrx valued at 55k and I am an Australian citizen with an unrestricted license can I use it to drive for uber and if yes what class ?
Hi Michael,
Uber currently doesn’t have the Suburu car make listed under their approved list of eligible vehicles, but it may be worth contacting them to see what your options are if you wish to go ahead with this purchase.
Hope this helps!
Can I drive Uber with Indian driving license?
Hi Damu,
Thank you for getting in touch with Finder.
If you’re driving Uber in Australia, NO. You must have held a full Australian driver’s licence for least 12 months.
I hope this helps.
Thank you and have a wonderful day!
Cheers,
Jeni
I am holding an Indian License and also taken an international driving permit from India. Can I do ubereats on a scooter?
Hi Pulkit,
Thank you for getting in touch with Finder.
I’m afraid that you may not drive for UberEats since their required driving licence is issued from Australia. You’ll need to hold a valid open Australian driver’s licence for the vehicle type you want to deliver with. The licence must clearly show:
-Your photo
-Your name
-Your address
-The licence expiry date
-The class as open (provisional licences are accepted if delivering only by scooter or motorbike)
I hope this helps.
Thank you and have a wonderful day!
Cheers,
Jeni