Uber and Lyft have become the “go to” solution for those looking to get from place to place without the need and expense of maintaining a vehicle. There’s a lot to recommend Uber, from its rogue startup attitude to the way it provides jobs in the communities it serves, as well as the reliability of the service overall.
As more riders look to these ridesharing services to get around, it’s only natural that people will explore the potential of taking long-distance trips using an Uber. Is this feasible? Is it a good idea? What are the dangers that can be involved? Let’s take a detailed look at taking long Uber trips, how to be sure you’ll be safe and what you can do if you’re involved in an accident on a long-distance rideshare.
Are Long Uber Trips Possible?
Technically, yes, long Uber trips are possible. The company doesn’t put any technical limit on distance. It does, however, put a time limit — drivers can automatically end a trip after 4 hours’ time. If your destination is further than 4 hours, you’ll need to start a new ride. In general, if you’re with the driver when you do this, and they’re willing to continue, they should be able to accept and continue, since the app matches drivers based on how near they are.
In fact, the longest Uber ride on record right now saw a rider take a share for over 2,250 miles, from North Carolina all the way across country to California. It was designed to set a world record, but it did happen.
Are they Cost Effective?
This is the five-thousand dollar question … literally. That longest Uber ride carried a cost of $5,500, which is way more expensive than just catching a flight, a bus or a train. Uber is not an inexpensive service upon which to rely. Traveling long trips can create a serious impact on your wallet — a 4-hour trip of just over 250 miles can cost you almost $600. Even worse, the driver will only see about 44% of that money.
Can the Driver Refuse?
In the past, drivers could refuse a fare, but not after being told where they were going. This was to avoid discrimination against riders looking to go into low-rent neighborhoods. It also meant, however, that a driver could be trapped into a long-distance ride without realizing it until after the rider got into the car.
Uber has been testing a new feature that will notify drivers if the ride is long distance, enabling them to refuse a long trip and thus make things more pleasant for all involved.
Do I Need to Worry About Regulations?
This is a key issue. You may need to worry about differing regulations between different cities and states. Some municipalities require Uber to be licensed as a taxi service, and if they’re not, they are technically in violation of local laws. The company doesn’t restrict where drivers go, but the city to which you’re traveling might. Uber drivers can’t accept rides within the boundaries of these cities if they don’t have a license on file. New York is a primary example of such a city.
Other than that, however, you can take an Uber across state lines, though a driver will not be able to pick up new fares in a state in which they’re not registered. That means the drive home will be long, lonely and won’t make the driver any money.
What If I’m in an Accident?
If you’re in an accident on long Uber trips, you will be bound by the laws in that state, and you’ll need to secure an Uber accident attorney to get the compensation you deserve in that state. In the San Francisco area in California, that means calling the Gruber Law Firm. Get in touch with us for more information today!