It’s easy on the wallet
The one benefit of Uber that is widely publicised is its cheaper pricing for fares. Unlike a taxi, you won’t spend an arm and a leg catching an Uber home from the city, and heading to the airport won’t cost the equivalent of a plane ticket to Sydney (I’m exaggerating, but not by much). Seriously, even at peak hour Uber is a good deal. In addition to being easier on our wallets than taxis, the way payment is handled is much smoother than fumbling for cash at the end of a trip. All payments are resolved automatically, with the application charging the credit card you have saved on file. No tips, no loose change and you get a receipt emailed directly after the fare ends.

Don’t get zapped by the surge
One of the more confusing aspects of Uber’s fare system is the surge pricing. This is essentially when the company raises the price of its service if there is an increase in demand. If there is a festival or sporting match nearby, Uber will often increase its rate for a short period of time in that area. The Uber application notifies you of any current surge pricing in effect, and asks you to approve the increased rate before you order. Most of us would prefer to not catch an Uber for twice the fare, and you don’t have to. Simply wait five minutes and the rate should change back as more Ubers enter the area to cater for increased demand.

You have your say (and so do they)
Another huge drawcard of Uber’s approach to ride sharing is its rating system. Uber allows patrons to rate their driver’s performance with a star rating system – five stars being great, one star being terrible. If your driver is polite, drives safe, keeps things professional and gets you there on time, you can give them a tick of approval on the spot. If their service leaves a lot to be desired, you can also let Uber know by giving them a low score. If an Uber driver’s average rating drops below a certain point, they can no longer pick up passengers – ensuring only the best drivers are on the road at all times. Take note – Uber drivers can also rate their passengers behaviour, so be decent people, people!

It’s easy to share with mates
Splitting a taxi with friends is one way to make things cheaper, but figuring out who owes what can be a pain, especially when your mate doesn’t have cash on them. Uber offers a simple split fare option that allows the person that ordered the Uber the ability to add any number of Uber-using friends onto the bill, dividing it up evenly, while also allowing patrons to update their destination on the go. Uber also offers a maxi service, Uber XL, where people movers can pick up groups of up to six people – meaning the more the merrier!

You can ride in style
If you hadn’t already guessed, Uber drivers use their own cars when they are on shift. This means that you can ride around in all kinds of vehicles from trip to trip. Uber SELECT (known in other cities as Uber Black) is a service where – for a little bit extra on the fare – patrons can opt to ride in style in vehicles at the higher end of the luxury spectrum. Ever been waiting at a taxi rank when a Silver Service cab pulls up right in front of you? #blessed. Uber Select is like that. Think Mercedes, Lexus, BMW and Audi. Also, Uber offers Uber Assist vehicles, which are equipped to suitably transport patrons with disabilities.

A few more quick tips
By now you have all the basics covered, but before you start cruising around town you should know a few more things. Remain wary of tolls, they are still added to your fare automatically – feel free to tell your driver no tolls roads! Certain Ubers will allow you to play your own tunes through Spotify connectivity – be sure to keep your favourite playlists handy. If your Uber is having trouble finding you, just give them a call! That way you can tell them exactly where you are and what you are wearing if that helps. Also, word to the wise, Ubers can’t pick you up from taxi ranks, so make sure you book them in an out of the way spot.