Building a Legitimate Private Driver Business

Carrying paying passengers in your own right is a regulated activity. This playbook describes the legitimate path and, more importantly, the list of things you must confirm for your own city, county, airport and insurer before you carry anyone. Two things this playbook will not help you do: It will not help you move platform passengers off-platform. Soliciting riders you met through Uber or Lyft to book you directly breaches those platforms' terms, and can cost you the account you currently depend on. It will not help you drive commercially without the right licence and insurance. A personal auto policy generally does not cover carrying passengers for money, and driving without appropriate cover can leave you personally exposed after an incident. Requirements vary by jurisdiction and business model. You are responsible for confirming applicable insurance, licensing, airport, local and state requirements before providing commercial passenger transportation. Nothing here encourages taking passengers off a platform in breach of that platform's terms, or driving commercially without the right licence and insurance.