You can share with your mates
Splitting a taxi with friends is great, but figuring out who owes what can be a real 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. While your regular service UberX, Uber SELECT 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. In other cities they also have Uber Black, which are sexy luxury all-black cars, and will hopefully come soon. Also, Uber offers Uber Assist vehicles in case you need it, which are equipped to suitably transport patrons with disabilities.

You can avoid getting zapped by the surge
Uber can sometimes be a bummer when you get a fare-surge notification. If there is a festival or sporting match nearby, or it’s peak hour, Uber will often increase its rate for a short period of time in that area. The Uber app 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)
This one is for those that have never used Uber and are wondering ‘how does Uber work?’ It’s time to get on board people! You’re pretty much guaranteed to get a good driver with Uber, and you can report it straight away if they’re not! 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!

You don’t need cash
Again, if you’ve never used Uber, this one is for you. Honestly, who has cash these days? One of the best parts of Uber – 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.

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.

And no – Uber didn’t pay us for this article. We’re just really excited it’s finally legal!