Uber and P Endorsement on your Driver License

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Linuxluver

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#207399 22-Dec-2016 14:56

I work a couple of weeks / month thanks to a wonderful arrangement with my employer where they doubled my pay and halved my work.

So I have some free time. But it isn't always the same weeks of each month. Any other employment I might seek (self, or otherwise) would have to be very flexible.

So I thought it might be fun to be an Uber driver. I know a couple of other people with Nissan LEAFs who do it and they seem to make a reasonable amount of money. Particularly as they don't buy any petrol at all and the LEAFs are proving to be incredibly, almost unbelievably, reliable. Tires occasionally. Keep with windscreen wiper reservoir full.

But to do it legally you have to have a P endorsement on your drivers license. It seems most Uber drivers don't.

Well....I wanted to be legal.

What's involved?

1. Two unit standards (17579v7 and 24089v2) from an approved training organisation. That took 2 full days and $445, plus $50 to register the NZQA credits = $495.

2. A DL9 Medical Check form completed by your doctor: $65.

3. Apply for a 5 year P Endorsement with a DL20 application form, which seems to include a full Class 1 drivers test: $430.50

5. Though I'm an NZ citizen and have lived here for 34 years, because I grew up in Canada and lived there for more than 12 months after the age of 14 I need a Canadian police check: Fingerprints $50 (NZ Post in Manukau) plus US$250 for the approved 3rd-party ("XL-ID") conversion of the paper fingerprint form into a digital form acceptable to the RCMP in Canada - plus courier charges; $100-ish. I have it fairly easy. Canada is a stable country with a non-corrupt police force who can process these matters reliably. What about someone from a place like Syria or Pakistan? It could take months and cost a mountain of money...if it can be done at all.

So basically, to get the P endorsement on my drivers license it will have cost me about NZ$1450....and I have to do a full drivers test at some point in the next 8 weeks. Yes, I will be claiming all this back against my income.

No wonder most of the Uber drivers just get in their cars and go for it. Uber does a police check (in NZ only).....and only requires a valid full drivers license for more than 2 years.

Anyway....all going well I'll have a P endorsement and an ID card by the beginning of March.....and be a legal provider of small passenger vehicle service. When I feel like it.

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scuwp

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#1693875 22-Dec-2016 15:19

If you can wait until April-ish (maybe middle 2017) the laws are all changing and it will be easier and cheaper to get your P endorsement.

http://www.transport.govt.nz/land/small-passenger-services-review/

Don't forget also your car needs a COF (passenger vehicle standard) and you need a logbook.

Good luck.

Always be yourself, unless you can be Batman, then always be the Batman

Linuxluver

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#1693876 22-Dec-2016 15:22

scuwp:

If you can wait until April-ish (maybe middle 2017) the laws are all changing and it will be easier and cheaper to get your P endorsement.

http://www.transport.govt.nz/land/small-passenger-services-review/

Don't forget also your car needs a COF (passenger vehicle standard) and you need a logbook.

Good luck.

Too late. Already done everything but the driving test and completing the Canadian police check. :-)

The CoF should be easy - brand new car, 2016 model. Thanks for that.

For a logbook I have "Logmate", an NZTA-approved app.

Thanks.

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I've been on Geekzone over 15 years..... Time flies....

scuwp

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#1693892 22-Dec-2016 15:40

Linuxluver:

scuwp:

If you can wait until April-ish (maybe middle 2017) the laws are all changing and it will be easier and cheaper to get your P endorsement.

http://www.transport.govt.nz/land/small-passenger-services-review/

Don't forget also your car needs a COF (passenger vehicle standard) and you need a logbook.

Good luck.

Too late. Already done everything but the driving test and completing the Canadian police check. :-)

The CoF should be easy - brand new car, 2016 model. Thanks for that.

For a logbook I have "Logmate", an NZTA-approved app.

Thanks.

Sounds like your all set then. I don't think the COF has any traps for a normal passenger car, just the rear kiddilocks need to be disabled from recollection.

Always be yourself, unless you can be Batman, then always be the Batman

Linuxluver

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#1693915 22-Dec-2016 15:42

scuwp:

Sounds like your all set then. I don't think the COF has any traps for a normal passenger car, just the rear kiddilocks need to be disabled from recollection.

You don't need to disable them if you put a small mag-sign on the door outside saying they are there. I'd prefer that.....so they are still usable if people want to use them. Pull the signs off when not in use.

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sbiddle

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#1693926 22-Dec-2016 15:50

Linuxluver:

But to do it legally you have to have a P endorsement on your drivers license. It seems most Uber drivers don't.

I think to say most don't is just blatantly wrong.

I've never caught an Uber in NZ that didn't have their P endorsement ID on display. I'm aware of people who have done many months ago so there clearly are/were drivers that simply took Uber's word rather than going through the legally required process. Having said that the NZTA did write letters to every Uber driver reminding of them of their obligations after their string which resulted in some drivers of Uber and taxi's (the Police never disclosed any split between them) being forced off the road for operating illegally.

If there are still Uber drivers operating without P endorsements after the many stings and warning letters it's certainly the minority, and you'd really have to question anybody who's still willingly doing it without a P endorsement.

Yabanize

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#1693970 22-Dec-2016 18:34

The rigmarole described above is exactly why Uber is fighting it. It's simply way more difficult than it should be for new drivers to start.

Thankfully the government recognise this and the new laws will make it easier.

gzt

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#1693985 22-Dec-2016 18:58

Prius has a luggage cabin intrusion protection requirement for COF. I've heard it's a $300 bolt in item. Leaf is also hatch style so maybe the same is required.

Yabanize

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#1693993 22-Dec-2016 19:19

Don't forget the $499 to apply for a TSL, and $106 for it's test and $49 for the handbook

scuwp

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#1694004 22-Dec-2016 20:01

gzt: Prius has a luggage cabin intrusion protection requirement for COF. I've heard it's a $300 bolt in item. Leaf is also hatch style so maybe the same is required.

From recollection the gap between the luggage area and the passenger compartment cant be more than 300mm, but the testing station can confirm. Best to leave the headrests in..it might help.

Always be yourself, unless you can be Batman, then always be the Batman

Linuxluver

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#1694155 23-Dec-2016 08:56

sbiddle:

Linuxluver:

But to do it legally you have to have a P endorsement on your drivers license. It seems most Uber drivers don't.

I think to say most don't is just blatantly wrong.

I've never caught an Uber in NZ that didn't have their P endorsement ID on display. I'm aware of people who have done many months ago so there clearly are/were drivers that simply took Uber's word rather than going through the legally required process. Having said that the NZTA did write letters to every Uber driver reminding of them of their obligations after their string which resulted in some drivers of Uber and taxi's (the Police never disclosed any split between them) being forced off the road for operating illegally.

If there are still Uber drivers operating without P endorsements after the many stings and warning letters it's certainly the minority, and you'd really have to question anybody who's still willingly doing it without a P endorsement.

I was basing my assessment on a recent onboarding session where almost no one had a P endorsement (yet?).

It would be great if you're right.....though the police check from unstable, war-torn countries as a pre-req is an issue for many people.

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Linuxluver

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#1694156 23-Dec-2016 08:57

gzt: Prius has a luggage cabin intrusion protection requirement for COF. I've heard it's a $300 bolt in item. Leaf is also hatch style so maybe the same is required.

Interesting. I know of several unmodified LEAFs doing Uber service. Private hire rules may be different to taxi rules.

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gzt

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#1694208 23-Dec-2016 10:14

Pretty sure it's all the same rules. Probably smaller space in leaf rear does not require the same mod.

trig42

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#1694247 23-Dec-2016 11:18

The last few Ubers I have caught (Wellington was the last couple), the drivers have either been off-duty taxi drivers, or recently converted from-taxi-to-uber drivers. So they all had P endorsements, and the vehicles had COFs.

sbiddle

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#1694251 23-Dec-2016 11:29

trig42:

The last few Ubers I have caught (Wellington was the last couple), the drivers have either been off-duty taxi drivers, or recently converted from-taxi-to-uber drivers. So they all had P endorsements, and the vehicles had COFs.

There are a lot of ex taxi Prius drivers now driving for Uber in Wellington. I actually think the impact of Uber in Wellington is now at a point where taxis are beginning to hurt.

I think the planned changes at the airport for taxis are interesting, expecially with the airport still refusing to allow Uber to operate there (but being told they couldn't trespass drivers as the CEO threatened). The Uber business from Z/Burger King is booming.

wazzageek

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#1696398 29-Dec-2016 23:25

sbiddle:

Linuxluver:

But to do it legally you have to have a P endorsement on your drivers license. It seems most Uber drivers don't.

I think to say most don't is just blatantly wrong.

I've never caught an Uber in NZ that didn't have their P endorsement ID on display. I'm aware of people who have done many months ago so there clearly are/were drivers that simply took Uber's word rather than going through the legally required process. Having said that the NZTA did write letters to every Uber driver reminding of them of their obligations after their string which resulted in some drivers of Uber and taxi's (the Police never disclosed any split between them) being forced off the road for operating illegally.

If there are still Uber drivers operating without P endorsements after the many stings and warning letters it's certainly the minority, and you'd really have to question anybody who's still willingly doing it without a P endorsement.

Work got me an Uber in Auckland a couple of weeks ago (to the Airport) - there was nothing obvious in the vehicle that would suggest the driver had a P endorsement or anything. I could perhaps have asked, although I was already cutting it fine to catch my plane :-/

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