Is A Minivan Good For Uber? (Pros & Cons)

Uber is a premium transportation network brand that has been operating since 2009 and has evolved into a global company worth billions. With its easy car services, people can request an Uber vehicle of their choice with the tap of a few buttons on their phone. 

Of course the main difference between Uber and other ride services is that individuals can use their own personal vehicles to drive people around and make money while most other services use specific vehicles like taxis. If you are considering driving for Uber you might be wondering if using a minivan is a good option or not. 

Driving a minivan for Uber has its pros and cons. The pros are that it is considered UberXL which means you can make more money per trip. The con however is that you will have to spend considerably more money on fuel than you would in a smaller car. 

Since you have to pay fuel expenses out of your Uber payments you have to do the math and decide if the extra money that you will make from UberXL is worth the extra fuel costs that you will incur with a minivan or if there is even enough demand for UberXL in your area or not. 

Uber is an affordable car service system that lets users book any car of their choice according to their needs. If you are wanting to hire a luxury minivan or SUV and enjoy a spacious ride without costing you too much, Uber XL is the best service for you. While the standard Uber X service is equipped to carry only 4 passengers, with the Uber XL service, you can get a luxury minivan, enough to accommodate 6 to 8 passengers and their luggage. 

What is UberXL?

The Uber XL service is mostly used due to its strict vehicle requirements. It includes two types of vehicle to be precise, minivans and SUVs which can: 

• Accommodate a large group of passengers
  
• Carry a lot of things like groceries
  
• Has enough cargo space to carry passengers luggage
  

Can you book a minivan with Uber? 

As mentioned above, you can request a minivan specifically  as your pickup vehicle if you choose UberXL.. Minivans like the Toyota Sienna and Honda Odyssey have been selected for UberXL services and have been providing satisfactory services to passengers for a long time. 

These minivans qualify as both UberX and UberXL vehicles. 

Over time, minivans have become increasingly popular among Uber drivers because of the increased rates that they can get while using them. Many people choose to use a minivan as their Uber vehicle over an SUV because minivans are typically cheaper to purchase and they will get better gas mileage than SUVs as well. 

Though minivans qualify as standard UberX vehicles too, they can earn more under the UberXL tag. 

Hence, one can usually hire minivans if they opt for UberXL services. So anytime you book an UberXL service, you might see a luxury minivan coming to pick you up! The vehicle can accommodate up to 8 people, but as per Inwr’s rules, drivers aren’t permitted to carry more than 6 people in the vehicle excluding themselves. 

However, in some cities or locations, you cannot specifically hire any of the minivans under UberXL as they can only be requested in cities and countries where Uber van services are available. 

How to request an UberXL minivan? 

If you are planning on getting a ride with Uber for you and a group of friends you will likely want to try out the UberXL service but knowing how to do it can be a bit confusing. 

That is why I made a quick instruction list showing you exactly how to request an UberXL vehicle. 

• Sign in to your Uber account.
  
• At the bottom of the screen, you would get two options, order food and ride. Select the ride section.
• After that’s done, click on the “where to” option and enter your destination address. If the location of your device is on, Uber would automatically locate your pickup address. If not, you have to enter it manually. However, before you confirm your request, you must always check if both the locations are right.
  
• Once you have confirmed both locations, a variety of vehicles should be displayed on the screen.
  
• Swipe left and right to see the various categories of options and vehicles available.
  
• Under “Economy”, you would get affordable vehicle options. “Premium” would offer luxurious cars, minivans, and SUVs. 

• As you scroll through every vehicle, the approximate cost and distance from your pickup location to your destination would be displayed on the screen. Choose the preferred vehicle option.
  
• Now click on” request” at the bottom of the screen.
  

The app would then connect you with an available driver within the vicinity. The driver’s picture, rating, and the vehicle type you have chosen will appear on your screen. You can contact the driver anytime if you have any questions about the ride. 

The Uber app provides a timer app and map, which lets people know where and how far their vehicle is so they know exactly when to expect it. . 

To make travelling an even better experience for passengers, Uber has come up with a variety of advanced options. Nowadays, passengers can even choose their temperature preferences and whether they would like to chat with the driver or not. Once you select these, your Uber driver would be able to see your preferences and act accordingly. 

How much does UberXL minivan cost?

The cost on an UberXL minivan ride depends on several factors like the traffic, distance to be covered, current demand, etc. If demand is high, passengers will have to pay more. In times of high demand, the standard rate of Uber’s fare is doubled to increase the likelihood of more drivers getting on the app. Generally UberXL rides cost about 1.4 times more than that of a standard Uber ride. Accordingly, if your Uber trip costs you $42, hiring an Uber XL minivan would cost you around $59. 

This fare also doesn’t take into account any tip that you wish to give to the driver. 

Every passenger gets an Uber estimator tool with which they can determine the fare of any Uber or UberXL ride in their city. However, you must remember that the fare of an UberXL is more than that of an UberX and a normal Uber ride. 

What kinds of minivans can I ride in with UberXL?

As I already mentioned, UberXL provides minivans and SUVs having at least 6 seats and enough cargo space for luggage. There are several varieties of vehicles that you could get for your ride. For example:

• Dodge Durango
  
• Dodge Grand Caravan
  
• Honda Odyssey
  
• Toyota Sienna
  
• Toyota Highlander
  
• Hyundai Santa Fe
  
• Chrysler Pacifica

What are the UberXL minivan Requirements? 

For any minivan to be qualified as an UberXL vehicle, the following criteria must be met: 

• Must have enough room for 6 passengers
  
• No full-size box trucks or vans
  
• Must be a 2002 model or newer
  
• Must have 4 doors
  
• Equipped with seatbelts and 6 seats for a driver and passengers
  
• No rental vehicles
  

Conclusion 

No matter if you are travelling from the airport or going out with friends, you can always hire an UberXL minivan to ride in quality and comfort while staying together with your group. If you need more leg space than a traditional Uber offers then, UberXL minivans are the right service for you. 

UberXL guarantees quality car service, ensuring quality rides. Besides allowing room for 6 passengers, Uber XL minivans come with a lot of cargo-carrying space. Though an UberXL service costs you more than Uber or UberX service, it is quite affordable compared to renting a minivan or hiring multiple taxis for your group.