"How much can I earn?" is the first question most new drivers ask. The honest answer is: it depends. It depends on when you drive, where you drive, your car and your costs.
What we can do is show you how to work out your real take-home pay. That way you can plan properly.
Step 1: Start with your trip earnings
Your trip earnings are what the app pays you for trips, after the app's fee. On Loop, you see your net payout on every trip before and after you drive. There are no hidden deductions.
Add to that:
- Tips. On Loop, 100% of tips go to you.
- Bonuses. Extra pay on top of your trips.
Step 2: Take away your running costs
This is where many drivers get caught out. Your car costs money every time you drive.
- Fuel. Usually your biggest cost.
- Data for your phone.
- Car services, tyres and repairs.
- Insurance.
- Car payments or rental, if you do not own the car outright.
- Licences and permits: operating licence, PrDP, licence disc and panic button tracking.
Step 3: Do the sum
Here is a simple made-up example for one day. Your numbers will be different.
| Amount | |
|---|---|
| Trip earnings (after app fee) | R1,200 |
| Tips | R60 |
| Fuel | − R380 |
| Data | − R20 |
| Car costs set aside (services, tyres, insurance) | − R150 |
| Take-home for the day | R710 |
The key idea: trip earnings are not take-home pay. Always take away your costs.
How to earn more per hour
The best drivers do not just drive more hours. They waste less time and fuel. A few ideas:
- Drive at busy times. Mornings, evenings and weekends are usually busier.
- Learn where riders are. Busy areas change with the time of day. Loop helps you find them.
- Cut empty kilometres. The drive home is often empty. Plan your last trips so they head your way.
- Look after your rating. Good ratings help you move up from Bronze to Silver to Gold.
- Go for bonuses that fit how you already drive.
We wrote more on this in 9 tips to earn more as an e-hailing driver.
Cash trips and your balance
When a rider pays you cash, you keep the cash. But part of that fare belongs to the app. On Loop, that amount becomes a balance you owe.
- Card trips pay that balance down automatically.
- You can settle the rest online.
- There are no daily cash drop-offs.
Keep an eye on your balance in the app so there are no surprises.
Getting paid
On Loop, you can request a payout any time, and funds arrive within 2 hours. That helps with fuel money and day-to-day costs.
Keep good records
- Note your fuel spend every day.
- Save your payout history.
- Set aside money for services and tyres every week, not only when something breaks.
- Talk to a tax practitioner about what you can claim. (We are not tax advisers.)
The bottom line
Your take-home pay = trip earnings + tips + bonuses − all your costs. Track it for a few weeks and you will know your real hourly rate. Then you can decide when and where driving pays best for you.
Thinking of starting? See what driving with Loop is like, or read how to become an e-hailing driver in South Africa.
Drive with Loop
Clear earnings on every trip, cash-outs in about 2 hours, and a team that helps you earn more with less waiting.
Become a driver