Why Drive With Us
Looking to drive for a local company when you want, where you want, on your own terms? A company that’s open and transparent with drivers and where you can earn more per trip?
If the answer to these questions is yes, Apt Rides is for you!
What You Need
Driver & Vehicle Requirements
- Class 1, 2 or 4 BC drivers’ license
- A recent Criminal record check including vulnerable sectors
- A vehicle that is 7 years or newer and not rebuilt or salvage
- A vehicle that has at least 4 doors and 5 seatbelts
- A vehicle that has a valid commercial inspection (CVI)
- A vehicle that is registered in the correct ICBC category (ride hail) and has the correct seating capacity listed
Note: If you are a current Apt Rides driver and are planning to or have changed the vehicle that you use for ride hailing, you must inform Apt Rides immediately so we can update the information on our database. If you use a vehicle not registered with Apt Rides while driving on the app, you can face permanent suspension from operating on the platform.
Your Income
Earnings & Payments
Drivers earn a set amount of the total fare charged to the rider (excluding fees collected on behalf of various government agencies) on the Apt Rides platform. For each service type Apt Rides charge a base rate and a charge per estimated distance and time. Drivers receive the same percentage of each fare regardless of increased prices, time of day or location unlike the policies of other ride hail companies. What this means for drivers is that the amount you make is consistently increasing with increased prices.
You can see how much you currently have available for payout at the top of the main screen on the driver app and can see the history of your earnings off the menu page.
You will receive a notification on the app when you receive a tip from a passenger with the amount they have given. Any tips received will be added to your total earnings available for payout. Apt Rides will provide a breakdown of your tips and earnings in periodic statements or whenever requested.
Drivers will receive payment weekly through direct deposit for the period covering the previous Monday to Sunday.
Driver payment is facilitated through the online payment processing portal Stripe. As a part of the onboarding process of Apt Rides, we will send you an email link to complete registration with Stripe to ensure your ability to receive payment from Apt Rides.
Apt Rides offer many different promotional and referral bonuses which will be paid out as the requirements to achieve them are met. If you have any questions or concerns about the promotions and bonuses offered by the company, you can contact manager@aptrides.com for more information.
Insurance
As a ride hail driver in B.C, you do not need to adjust your vehicle insurance policy. You will continue to pay for and receive the same vehicle insurance coverage as you do today, however you must notify ICBC that you are using your vehicle for ride hail.
Your auto insurance will apply to any incidents that occur while using your vehicle for personal use and while driving on the Apt Rides app but prior to accepting a ride request.
Once you’ve accepted a ride request on the Apt Rides app and you are on your way to pick up a passenger(s) or traveling with a passenger(s), Apt Rides fleet commercial auto insurance will cover you and your passengers. This Apt Rides policy includes $2 million in third-party liability limits, as well as collision coverage (subject to a $2,500 deductible).
Safety
The Apt Driver app features a SOS button that appears once you have accepted a ride and will remain through the completion of the trip. When activated it will notify Apt Rides immediately that you have an emergency with your location and trip details. Apt Rides will attempt to contact you and if we are unable to, we will notify 911 to send you help.
While utilizing the Apt Driver app your personal details will be hidden from riders excluding your first name and vehicle information.
Safety tip: Confirm that the name on your trip booking matches one of your rider names as they enter your vehicle. Also confirm that your rider profile picture matches one of your passengers, so you can ensure that you have the correct person and for your safety.
Drivers have access to 24/7 support through the app from the Help feature on the menu.
To ensure the safety of all those on the road make sure you are abiding with the national safety code hours of service regulations. If you are unsure of the rules surrounding hours of service, please consult the following www.cvse.ca/national_safety_code.
Driving while holding a mobile device is illegal in the province of B.C. For your safety and the safety of those around you ensure that you utilize a Bluetooth device and have your mobile phone secured in your vehicle.
Motor vehicle accidents can occur while you are driving. If you are in an accident while on a trip or enroute to a trip you must fill out an accident report (you can request an accident report template from Apt Rides via email or support). To simplify the accident reporting process with ICBC make sure that you collect as much information as possible from the vehicles involved in the collision, from any passengers in your vehicle and from any witnesses. Important information to collect include contact details of those involved, driver licenses, photos, and vehicle registration. If you or any of your passengers require medical attention, please call 911. If you are unsure of your responsibilities in an accident or require further information or assistance, please contact Apt Rides support.
To ensure your personal safety while driving passengers, always be aware of your surroundings. If you feel unsafe with any of your riders, you have the option to cancel the ride or activate the SOS on your app. Apt Rides will not punish drivers who cancel rides due to safety concerns. Apt Rides provide drivers the option of rating passengers. This allows the company to screen those with lower ratings and those who behave contrary to the community guidelines of Apt Rides for possible deactivation from the application to improve safety for all.
Taking Trips
When you want to earn open the app and tap GO. The app will start looking for requests from riders near you.
When a ride is offered, you will see the pickup and drop off locations, time and distance of the ride and the total fare upfront. You’ll know where you are going and what you are going to earn before you accept a ride. If the trip offer works for you, press accept.
Use navigation to receive the best directions to your pickup location. Navigation will use your phones preferred built in map application. You can communicate with your rider through in-app messaging, for example if you can’t find them. Once you get to your pickup location, press the arrive button to inform your passenger that you have arrived. When your passenger enters the vehicle ask them their first name or their destination and compare with your booking details to ensure you have the correct passenger(s).
Once the passenger(s) are in your vehicle, tap the start trip button. Use navigation to get your guests to their destination the most efficient way or go a different way if your rider has a preferred route. When you reach the drop off point, press complete trip and you will be prompted to rate the passenger.
Features Of The App
Hot Zones are a feature unique to the Apt Rides app which show which neighbourhoods are busier than others through a simple colour system. The colours range from red meaning hot to yellow meaning cool. The hotter the area, the more demand for rides.
Goals show what bonuses are available to you for meeting certain targets. See your progress on the app and receive incentives once the targets are met.
Rate riders. You can rate a rider immediately following the completion of a trip or go back through your completed trips on the app and do it later. Rating passengers help Apt Rides provide drivers with a safer experience and are visible to drivers when being offered a ride.
Apt Rides is currently available in the following areas: West Vancouver, North Vancouver, Vancouver, Burnaby, New Westminster, Richmond, North Delta, White Rock, Surrey, Langley, Port Moody, Coquitlam, and Port Coquitlam. In the short-term there will be regions within these areas which are unavailable for bookings, however as the company expand, we will fill in these gaps and expand over larger portions of the region from Whistler to Hope.
Driving On The App
Required items to keep with you and your vehicle when operating on the Apt platform:
- Apt Rides decals for your front and rear windows
- Your drivers license
- Your vehicle insurance and registration papers
- Your valid commercial vehicle inspection report
- You may also be asked to show your Record Check Certificate, which confirms that you have passed the required safety screening.
Consider the following when operating on the app to improve your experience:
- A phone mount for navigating hands-free
- A Bluetooth headset for taking calls
- A phone charger so you never run out of battery while driving
Want To Earn More Tips?
Consider the cleanliness of the inside and outside of your vehicle. Riders will often show their appreciation for your efforts through tips. Also consider having a diverse array of musical options for your riders, and perhaps ask them their musical and volume preferences as they settle in for their ride.
Found an Item in Your Ride?
After every ride, check the areas where passengers were sitting for anything left behind. If you find any item in your vehicle that may belong to a rider, please press the ‘report’ button on the app. If the item was from the last trip you completed and you still have the option, press ‘report’ after the ‘did you find an item?’ prompt. If the lost item was from a previous ride (or you no longer have the option on the current ride) go through your trips on the app menu and find the one that you believe the item was left from. If you are unsure which ride the item was left from, select the most recent trip in your history. Press the ‘report’ button and provide a photo of the lost item, a description of the lost item, pickup and drop off information of the ride, permission to give the rider your phone number to help facilitate return of the item and any other relevant information that may help us identify the rightful owner. We will contact you as soon as possible with the rider’s information to facilitate the return of the item but in the meantime, please keep the item safe. To help ensure your extra effort is rewarded, we enable a $15 reimbursement from the rider to yourself once an item has been returned and this has been confirmed by the passenger. This total will be charged to the riders’ credit card through the Apt Rides platform and fully reimbursed to you. If we can’t find the rightful owner of the lost item within a reasonable timeframe, we will arrange for you to either drop the lost item to an Apt Rides office or to pickup the item directly from you.
Apt Rides Goals & Promotions
All goals and promotions offered by Apt Rides provide a one-time reward or bonus per driver unless otherwise stated by Apt Rides. Once a driver receives a bonus or reward upon meeting the requirements, they will be ineligible to claim any further bonus or reward for the same goal or promotion unless explicitly stated by Apt Rides.
Driver Tax Responsibilities
GST info for drivers
When driving on the Apt Rides platform, you’re responsible for filing GST returns.
GST is included in the fares your passengers pay, as such you will be collecting this on behalf of the government. When filing your GST return, you can claim credits back for GST that you have paid on work related purchases. Input tax credits are deducted from the total GST owed to the government during the tax year. Be sure to keep receipts of all work-related expenses as proof of purchase.
You require a GST number to file a return. If you already have a GST registration number through working with another ride hail company or from previous self employment you can use this number for filing your GST that you collect while on the Apt Rides platform.
If you don’t have a GST number, see below for further information.
Registering for the GST is mandatory for Ride hail drivers. The CRA requires drivers to apply for registration within 30 days of giving your first ride. Your registration effective date should be on or before your first ride.
All drivers must provide their GST number to Apt Rides upon registration with the company (if you already have one) or once you have received your GST number (if you haven’t had one). To register for GST online, visit the Canada Revenue Agency website and follow the links.
If you have questions on completing GST registration, please contact a tax professional.
Collect the GST
Passengers pay 5% GST as part of their fare. You should keep track of your GST collected; however, Apt Rides will provide this information to you at regular intervals or if requested. Make sure to keep the 5% GST that you collect aside for when remitting your GST return.
Filing your GST return
You’ll need to calculate your net tax before you file a GST return. Your net tax is the difference between the amount of GST you collect and the amount of GST you’ve paid (Input credits).
The amount of GST you collect is 5% of the total earnings you have made excluding tips.
Once you know your net tax, you’re ready to file your GST return. You can file your GST return online with the CRA. You may also be able to file your return on paper. GST returns are due either monthly, quarterly, or annually. The payment deadline depends on your GST filing period.
To register for the GST, you’ll need to prepare the following information:
Your full legal name, Social Insurance Number, telephone number, mailing address, a description of your business activities (ride hailing services), estimated ride earnings (the form will ask you for estimated sales), effective date for your GST registration, and your GST return filing frequency (that is, monthly, quarterly, or annually)
Additional information can also be found on the CRA’s website.
Customer Service
Apt Rides is available to 24/7 to assist with any questions, concerns, or issues. We offer support through the mobile app, or you can contact us at any of the channels listed below.