The 10 Things That Actually Work
Keep your car spotlessly clean — inside and out
This is the single biggest factor in your rating. Passengers notice a clean car immediately. Vacuum every single day, wipe down surfaces, and clean your windows weekly. In Montreal winters, salt and slush make cars filthy fast — stay on top of it.
Impact: Very HighHave your car at a comfortable temperature before pickup
In Montreal winters, a cold car when a passenger gets in is an instant bad rating. Start warming your car 5 minutes before pickup. In summer, have the AC running. Passengers remember how comfortable they felt — even if they forget everything else.
Impact: Very HighGreet every passenger with a smile and confirm their name
Say "Hi, are you [name]?" every single time. It makes passengers feel safe and confirms you have the right person. A simple, warm greeting sets the entire tone of the ride. You don't need to be chatty — just genuinely friendly for 5 seconds.
Impact: HighOffer phone charger cables
Keeping USB charging cables for iPhone and Android in your car is one of the cheapest 5-star upgrades you can make. Passengers with a dying phone who get to charge during the ride almost always give 5 stars. A set of cables costs $15 on Amazon.
Impact: HighRead the passenger and match their energy
Some passengers want to chat — engage them. Others put in their earbuds immediately — leave them alone. The biggest mistake drivers make is forcing conversation on quiet passengers or being silent with chatty ones. Read the room within 30 seconds and adjust.
Impact: HighDrive smoothly — no hard braking or fast acceleration
Smooth driving makes passengers feel safe and comfortable. Hard braking and fast acceleration make people anxious and nauseous. In Montreal traffic, leave more space than you think you need — it forces smoother driving automatically.
Impact: Very HighKeep a small amenity kit in the back seat
A small basket with mints, hand sanitizer, and tissues costs under $20 to set up and lasts weeks. Passengers who notice the amenities almost always mention it in reviews. It signals that you care about their experience — and that gets you 5 stars.
Impact: Medium-HighUse a good air freshener — but subtle
Your car must smell fresh and clean. But avoid strong air fresheners — many passengers are sensitive to strong scents. A subtle, clean scent like linen or light vanilla works best. Replace it regularly — you stop noticing smells in your own car long before passengers do.
Impact: MediumHelp with luggage — especially airport runs
Always get out of the car to help passengers with luggage for airport trips. This simple act of courtesy gets you 5 stars almost every time on airport runs, which are your highest-paying trips. Never stay in your seat while a passenger struggles with bags.
Impact: Very High for airport tripsAlways confirm the destination before driving
Say "I see we're going to [destination], does that look right?" It prevents wrong destination errors which are one of the biggest causes of bad ratings. Takes 5 seconds and eliminates a major source of 1-star reviews.
Impact: HighProducts That Help You Get 5 Stars
A multi-port USB charger lets multiple passengers charge at once. Pair it with a short USB-C and Lightning cable in the back seat and you have a professional passenger charging setup for under $25 total. This single upgrade has helped thousands of drivers go from 4.7 to 4.9 ratings.
A portable car vacuum that lives in your trunk lets you do a quick clean between rides. In Montreal winters, passengers track in snow and slush constantly. A 60-second vacuum between rides keeps your car looking brand new all day. This is the most important cleaning tool for maintaining a top rating.
Being late to pickup, talking on your phone during the ride, playing loud music passengers didn't ask for, taking a longer route, and having a dirty or smelly car. Fix these five things first before anything else — they are the most common causes of bad ratings in Canada.
If your rating drops, focus exclusively on airport runs for 2 weeks. Airport passengers are generally more patient, tip more often, and give 5 stars more frequently than short city trips. A week of airport runs can raise your rating by 0.1-0.2 points quickly.
Frequently Asked Questions
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