Gone are the days when you had to hail at a taxi on the roadside or have a whole directory of taxi drivers. Taxis come with a lot of convenience and this means that even getting a cab should be a tap away. This is why there are hundreds if not thousands of ride-sharing apps. By now you must have used a ride-sharing app like Uber and Lyft.
Ridesharing apps are convenient and the contemporary solution to getting a taxi. The advantages of ride-sharing cannot be ignored. This means the next time you can’t get the wheels after a lot of drinking, just request a taxi through a ride-sharing app.
The downside to taxis is that they are expensive and you probably have felt the pinch. If you want to save money the next time you are using a taxi, here are 4 tips on saving money with rideshare apps.
1. Sign up for multiple apps
To be able to use a ride-sharing taxi, you need to have an app. Today, there are very many apps that provide services across the world. This means there is a lot of competition for customers and most companies will have varying prices.
The first step towards saving money is to download multiple apps. When you want to get a ride, you should then compare the different prices between the apps. Before you request a cab on most apps, there is always a price estimate that is indicated. You will be surprised at the huge differences between the apps.
2. Share your ride
You can even save more by sharing the ride with other commuters. That is right; most ride-sharing apps allow you to make your fare cheaper through sharing the ride. After all, why do you think they are called ride-sharing apps in the first place? It is safe and cheap to share the ride with other passengers.
Uber provides an UberPOOL while Lyft provides Lyft Line. Both services allow the users of the respective apps to get a taxi which they can share with other users who are using the same route. What makes it better is that you don’t have to know the other passenger as you are partnered through the app. By sharing your ride with other passengers, you will be able to save a lot of money on your rides.
3. Be on the lookout for offers and free rides
Ridesharing apps are facing still competition among themselves. As a result of this competition, most apps will always give offers on rides. These offers come in the form of discount vouchers or even free rides.
One of the ways to get a good offer is to refer other passengers to the service. Once the passengers sign up for the app, you will get a free ride or a huge voucher on your next ride. Furthermore, most of the apps allow those you have invited to get a free ride. This works as not everyone has used a ride-sharing app and there are new apps coming every other day. Furthermore, it is reported that ride-sharing has cut down on DUI accidents. This means that if you have friends who are always at the bar, invite them to these ridesharing apps.
Another way to get a better offer is to get a subscription plan. Ther are ride-sharing apps that offer subscription plans which offer lower costs per ride. Once you sign up for a subscription, you will also receive other offers such as free rides and discounts.
4. Avoid Primetime and Surge if possible
Apparently, the prices of ride-sharing apps usually go up during rush hour and primetime. If you can reschedule your ride then it is in your best interest to ride before or after primetime. You could get a drink or something to eat as you wait out for the cost to reduce.
When many people are ordering a ride from a similar location, the ride-sharing apps may tend to increase charge more. Therefore, to deal with this problem, you could order from a different location and you will notice the prices changing.
Final Words
Taxis are a bit expensive and as a result, there is a need to save on every taxi ride. You should consider getting a ride-sharing app if you want to save money on these rides. I have illustrated 4 tips you should consider in order to save money when using these ride-sharing apps.