A Toronto reporter went undercover, to see exactly what it’s like to be a driver signed on with the controversial ride-share app Uber.
Justine Lewkowicz, a reporter at Toronto radio station Newstalk 1010, went through the steps to sign up as an UberX driver.
UberX is the most commonly used branch of the ride-hailing company, which lets anyone with a car become a driver. Those wishing to become a driver must have their own vehicle, pass an inspection, be insured and pass a background check, but drivers do not need the standard taxi licence to operate.
"I'm just a regular person out there with a driver's licence and a car and I'm picking people up in my personal vehicle," .
Lewkowicz said she didn't have to do an interview or meet with anyone at Uber for any reason during her application.
"I had no communication with anyone at Uber, other than emails that they send to drivers," she said.
She called her insurance company to let them know she'd be using her car as part of the driving service. She was told her rate would go up, but that it was necessary because she might not be protected by Uber in the event of an accident.
Though Uber claims to cover any claims not picked up by a driver's insurance, she said insurance companies told her "there could be gaps" in coverage.
Once approved, Lewkowicz turned on the app on her phone, and started receiving messages from people in Toronto looking for rides.
"All of the sudden my phone starts beeping," she said. "I panicked a little bit."
Lewkowicz said she was nervous, but her clients were friendly and most of them were regular UberX customers.
"They were telling me that they feel very comfortable using UberX because they feel like the drivers really care," she said.
"I felt as I was driving, because I'm thinking liability, I was very careful."
The app-based service turned 5 years old this week, and has grown to one million drivers in 300 cities.
