Uber has opened up a new way for people with a car and some spare time to earn extra money. But how do you become an Uber driver in Spain and most of Europe? What documents and licenses do you need? How many taxes do you have to pay? What are your rights and how much money can you earn by becoming an Uber driver? Here we reveal everything you need to know if you want to sit behind the wheel of a VTC.
How to become an Uber driver
At the moment, in Spain all Uber associates (that's what they prefer to be called, instead of drivers) are self-employed. However, in a recent landmark ruling, a UK employment tribunal ruled that the 40,000 Uber drivers operating in the country are not self-employed and therefore entitled to the country's minimum wage, and paid annual leave. corresponding, sick leave, and other labor benefits enjoyed by salaried workers.
This could lead to massive changes in the gig economy, affecting similar workers such as riders or delivery men, where judges are already setting legal precedents regarding their employment relationship with the companies that exploit them.
Specifically, in the British court ruling, the magistrates concluded that "the false idea that Uber in London is a kind of mosaic of 30,000 small companies linked by a common platform is totally ridiculous, a hoax. VTC drivers do not negotiate or they can negotiate the price with the passengers they transport, they only make trips strictly within the terms of Uber". Of course, in this case, the company appealed the decision, but the Justice did not agree with it.
There are some basic expenses
As the laws settle and become clearer, you still have to think about the fact that becoming an Uber driver comes with some basic expenses. Your rights as a self-employed worker in Spain are quite limited. You do not have the right to take sick or maternity leave, unemployment benefits, or paid vacations... After a review of the agreement at the end of 2017, the Government promised to rethink the labor rights of self-employed workers on platforms VTC, but for now, that initiative remains in the freezer.
Proposals included enforcing paid vacation and sick leave rights enjoyed by other salaried workers, allowing employees to have more flexible and stable contracts, or granting them the right to demand payroll. However, in response to this, Uber announced in May 2018 that it will only offer additional protection to its drivers. So far, it only consists of limited insurance that barely covers sick leave and maternity or paternity leave.
The price of starting
Obviously, being an Uber driver carries costs. To begin with, the cars must be less than five years old. Details about the models accepted by the company can be found on its website. Still, they generally look for sedan or minivan-type cars that can travel between five and eight people, or a Mercedes E class or equivalent.
