Owning a car is often considered a rite of passage for being an American. But is it still worth it?

What if you woke up tomorrow and your driveway was empty? No car keys. No gas tank to fill. No monthly payments. Would you feel trapped or free?

I’ve been driving for Uber for five years, and I’ve learned that many people already live this way. Some by choice, others by necessity. And their experiences reveal a great deal about what life without owning a car truly entails.

Most people know me as an Uber driver and content creator. What you might not know is that in 2012, I ran for the New York State Assembly as a Republican.

It wasn’t a career ambition. It started over coffee with a friend who worked in politics. I was giving him unsolicited campaign marketing advice, and he looked me dead in the eye and said:

“Don’t tell me how to do my job. If you think you know all about politics, you should go do it yourself.”

Next thing I knew, he had connected me with the Republican Party. They liked my background, including my military service, accounting experience, graduate degree in economics, and small business experience, and suggested I run.

I believe a lot of Tesla owners bought their cars with the dream of one day putting them on the Robotaxi network to earn extra income. And on paper, it sounds brilliant: you’re at work or relaxing at home while your car is out making money for you.

But as a Tesla owner, Uber driver, accountant, and economist, I’m here to tell you, it’s not going to work the way you think. In fact, I believe most Tesla owners won’t use the Robotaxi network at all. Here’s why.

As a full-time Uber driver with over 13,000 trips completed, I’ve seen autonomous driving technology up close. My Tesla can drive itself for hours. I love it. The technology is impressive and real. However, from my perspective, as someone who does the job on the streets every single day, the idea that Uber drivers will disappear entirely within the next five years seems like hype.

Let’s be honest, Uber and Lyft’s customer service for drivers and passengers is just really not very good at all. And the irony? Customer service is essentially their primary job.

Let's talk about “Omotenashi” and how it has influenced my approach as an Uber driver.

If you’re unfamiliar with the term, it originates from Japanese culture and signifies exceptional customer service. Although I don’t have the technical definition, I learned about it during my time living in Japan, where exemplary customer service is a cornerstone of their culture.

What does Hiroshima have to do with me being an Uber driver?

Not much.

It’s a bizarre question and intro hook, but August 6th, 1945, is the day the bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. And August 6th is also the day I enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. August 6th, 1995. Exactly 30 years ago. And this year, on that anniversary, I found myself not in a uniform but behind the wheel of my Tesla, picking up passengers in upstate New York as a full-time Uber driver.

I was Uber driving in Ithaca, NY, and I got a ride from the private jet terminal. It was a quick trip over to the Cornell Campus. However, what followed was a conversation that shook me a little and changed how I view the future of education, wealth, and technology.

Uber is investing $300 million for 20,000 autonomous cars, in a partnership with Nuro and Lucid Motors over the next six years.

Okay. I'm a little curious. But I quickly didn't see the value, especially as I began looking at the numbers.

We live in a culture where tipping feels optional, random, or worse—exploitative. Some people roll their eyes when they see the iPad flip around at a coffee shop. Others resent being put on the spot when it feels like prices should just include fair wages to begin with.

But here’s the part most people miss: tipping isn’t charity. It’s accountability.

If I won the lottery, I’d still Uber drive.

What I discovered was shocking: the passenger had been charged a hefty $165 for the ride, yet my earnings amounted to a mere $65. According to Uber, an additional $50 was attributed to commercial insurance and operational expenses—a perfectly round figure that struck me as questionable.

This is one of my favorite topics: maximizing your tips. Each trip we take is an opportunity to earn extra cash, whether it's with the highest—or lowest-rated passenger or on the shortest or longest ride. The key to success is having a strategy to increase tip potential.

Mastering your market is more than just knowing the city where you drive. It's about understanding the dynamics of three critical factors: location, time, and people. By breaking your market into these elements, you can develop a targeted approach to earning more efficiently and effectively.

Which rides to accept and which ones to decline. Some days, these decisions feel like they could make or break my day.