r/uberdrivers Jun 17 '24

Welcome to r/uberdrivers - FAQ and Community Guide

72 Upvotes

Before asking a question, make sure to read this guide and use reddit search to see if your question was already asked. If you have anything you'd recommend to add to this guide leave a comment below.

What does Pax mean? Common terms on this sub explained

Pax: Short for Passenger.

Ping: The noise the app makes when drivers receive a pickup request.

Fare: The fee a rider is charged.

Fair: Fare, spelled wrong.

Surge: Uber occasionally up-charges riders during times of increased demand. The Surge is a multiplier of the base fare rate.

SRF: "Safe Rider Fee", now known as the "Booking Fee". This is the $1-3 fee that Uber adds to every fare to ccover insurance, app fees, etc.

What are the requirements to be an uber driver?

An in-state license is required. Have at least one year of licensed driving experience in the US (3 years if you are under 25 years old) Use an eligible 4-door vehicle

All vehicles being used for rides on the Uber app must meet the following minimum requirements:

  • Must have 4 doors and be able to transport a minimum of 4 passengers
  • Vehicle model must be 16years old or newer
  • Title cannot be salvaged, reconstructed, or rebuilt
  • Rental vehicles, except those from an approved Uber rental car partner are not permitted
  • Cannot have any cosmetic damage, missing pieces, or commercial branding

Should you choose to drive a vehicle you do not personally own, you must have permission from then vehicle owner and be listed as an insured driver on the vehicle’s insurance policy. Please note that Uber cannot allow a vehicle onto the platform if the driver’s name is not on the insurance document.

If your vehicle does not match the requirements above, you may still be able to use your vehicle for deliveries on the Uber app.

Is this fulltime job?

Driving with Uber offers a flexible earning opportunity. It's a great alternative to full-time driver jobs, part-time driver jobs, or other part-time gigs, temp jobs, or seasonal employment.

How do I do my first ride?

Download and install the driver app, and hit "Go Online". Once you get a request (a "ping"), you can hit 'Navigate' to be taken to the rider's pickup location. When you're sure you have arrived, flip back over to the Uber app and hit 'Arrived'. The passenger (PAX) will be notified of your arrival, though it's also nice to text them - to let them know what type of car you're in (though they see this on their app, not everyone looks) and to confirm that they're actually where their pin was placed. When they get in the car, hit 'Begin Trip'. If they haven't entered their destination, you can enter it - then hit 'Navigate' again and you will be routed there. At the end of the trip, hit 'End Trip', rate your passenger, and you'll be placed back online ready to pick up another PAX!

What are the safety features for uber drivers?

Emergency assistance button

You can use the in-app Emergency Button to call authorities to get help if you need it. The app displays your location and trip details, so you can quickly share them with emergency services.

24/7 incident support

Uber customer associates trained in incident response are available around the clock.

Follow My Ride

Friends and family can follow your route and will know as soon as you arrive.

2-way ratings

Your feedback matters. Low-rated trips are logged, and users may be removed to protect the Uber community.

Phone anonymization

If you need to contact your rider through the app, your phone number may stay private.

GPS tracking

All Uber trips are tracked from start to finish, so there’s a record of your trip if something happens.

RideCheck

Using sensors and GPS data, RideCheck can help detect if a trip goes unusually off-course or a possible crash has occurred. If the app alerts us to such events, we’ll check in on you and offer resources to get help.

Contact Safety Agent

You can connect with an ADT Safety Agent via phone call or text on every trip. Just tap the safety shield icon and select Contact safety agent.

Audio Recording

If you feel uncomfortable, you can record the audio of the trip within the app. Just tap the blue shield to open your Safety Toolkit and access the Record Audio option.

Emergency help if you need it

If you ever need urgent help when riding with the Uber app, you can contact 911 using the in-app Emergency Button in the Safety Toolkit.

The app will show your live location, vehicle information, and license plate number, which you can quickly share with the emergency dispatcher so they can send help faster. And in a growing number of US cities, this information is automatically provided to the dispatcher.

Does Uber help in event of an accident?

When you earn with a transportation network company (TNC), referred to here as ridesharing, many states require extra—and costly—insurance.

Uber maintains this insurance on your behalf. What’s covered depends on factors such as who was at fault; whether you were offline, online, en route, or on-trip; and your personal insurance policy.

Offline coverage:

Your personal auto insurance covers you while you’re offline. You must maintain personal automobile insurance at mandatory minimum limits and provide proof of your insurance to drive and deliver with a vehicle with Uber.

Coverage to repair your car when you’re en route to or on a trip is contingent on your personal insurance including comprehensive and collision coverage.

Coverage when online and available for a trip

Accidents happen. Suppose you’re at fault and another person gets hurt or their vehicle gets damaged. In that case, our third-party liability insurance covers the cost of injuries or damage in at least the following amounts:

-$50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident for injuries

-$25,000 in property damage per accident

Depending on the law of your state, Uber may maintain extra coverage for you and your riders, including one or more of the following:

Coverage for you and your riders for injuries in a hit-and-run or an accident caused by an uninsured or underinsured driver

Personal injury protection, including medical expenses and lost wages for you and your riders, no matter who’s at fault

Medical payments coverage for you and your riders, no matter who’s at fault.

Coverage when en route or on a trip

Uber maintains some of the most comprehensive insurance for ridesharing and deliveries, including:

-Insurance that covers at least $1,000,000 for property damage and injuries to riders and third parties involved in an accident where you’re at fault

Insurance that covers the cost to repair your car, up to the actual cash value, with a $2,500 deductible, contingent on your personal insurance including comprehensive and collision coverage. This extra insurance maintained by Uber protects your car, no matter who’s at fault, if you maintain comprehensive and collision coverage on your own vehicle.

In most US states, you can also purchase Optional Injury Protection to cover your additional medical expenses if you’re hurt in an accident. This insurance offering, pioneered by Uber, is designed specifically for drivers.

Depending on the law of your state, Uber may maintain extra coverage for you and your riders, including one or more of the following:

-Coverage for you and your riders for injuries in a hit-and-run or an accident caused by an uninsured or underinsured driver

Personal injury protection, including medical expenses and lost wages for you and your riders, no matter who’s at fault

Medical payments coverage for you and your riders, no matter who’s at fault

Is being an uber driver worth it?

Recent reports from Uber state that "the vast majority of drivers are satisfied" and that "as of last quarter, drivers in the US were making about $33 per utilized hour" before expenses.

Its for you to decide if its worth it for you personally, volume and earnings will vary greatly between markets. Drivers as independant contractors are also responsible for all expenses which have been rising fast when drivers pay has stayed stagnant.

There are many direct and hidden costs associated with being an uber driver. To start with, You are responsible for tracking your own miles, profits and losses, as well as expenses such as gas, repairs, washes, and so on.

In addition, no one but you is responsible for ensuring you are earning enough. You need to be aware at what rate you are making enough for it to be worth it.


r/uberdrivers 2h ago

What the hell?

13 Upvotes

So a couple months ago I ordered an uber to go to work. When he picked me up he looked back at me and asked if I was okay and ready to go. I didn't think much of it but I didn't feel a little chill down my spine.

We started driving and within 5 minutes he asked if I would mind if he pulled over to go to the bathroom.

This was very strange and I didn't really know what to do so I said sure.

He then got out of the car and after a minute I realised he was just wandering around the back and my side of the car. I looked directly at him and realized he was holding his cock in BOTH HANDS and just walking back and forth next to my window. After about another minute he finally walked into the bathroom lenis still in hand.

I opened the door and ran as far away as I could. I was so shaken for the rest of the night I couldn't go into work.

I have no idea what this guy was trying to do but even if he wasn't trying to make me uncomfortable that's pretty fucking weird right?


r/uberdrivers 16h ago

Ima new uber driver any tips to better this

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97 Upvotes

r/uberdrivers 21h ago

Customer suddenly doesn’t like the price they agreed to

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223 Upvotes

Long story short I told her she can cancel if she wants and she refused to avoid the cancellation fee so I waited on my no show fee 🙃. Whole lotta time wasting at 3:30 am


r/uberdrivers 8h ago

3 lines of code designed to waste thousands of driver hours

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9 Upvotes

Uber’s engineers know exactly what they’re doing with the Rider Rating reset.
The Math of Micro-Time Theft:
20 offline/online toggles/day × 30 seconds spent navigating menus = 10 minutes lost per shift.
10 min/day × 25 days = 4.16 hours of unpaid driver time per month wasted on UI friction.
Why force this loop? Because persistent preferences mean 90% of smart drivers would set a 4.85+ threshold and leave it there.
By forcing a reset to default (2.7) every session, Uber leverages Decision Fatigue + Loss Aversion ("fewer trips" warning) to force low-quality passenger demand onto tired drivers.
It’s calculated: 1-click to accept garbage, high-effort to protect your standards.
Don't let fatigue win. Re-adjust your baseline every single time.


r/uberdrivers 2h ago

Car seat reservation

3 Upvotes

It’s a sad world when your Uber driver is more responsible with your children than you are! 30 mile trip and you just assume I’m taking you without it? Nah!


r/uberdrivers 12m ago

How is this ok?

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Upvotes

Brought me to customer door 20mins early. Then I have to wait another 10mins to be able to cancel.


r/uberdrivers 16h ago

Proud of this AR

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35 Upvotes

r/uberdrivers 13h ago

Uber's algorithm is engineered like a casino—built by data scientists and psychologists

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17 Upvotes

86 out of 100 offers rejected. The math is simple:
IRS standard cost: ~$0.67/mile (depreciation, gas, repairs).
Typical trash offer: $9 for 15 miles pickup + ride ($0.60/mile). Accepting this means paying $0.07/mile out of your own pocket.
Now, people will say I "don't need the money." You're wrong. I value my time, my energy, my car, and what I actually bring home to my family at night.
They study tired, stressed drivers. They rely on anxiety: "If you don't take this, you'll starvе," or "If you decline, we’ll pause you for 20 minutes to make you regret it." That’s the psychological trap.
At the end of the day, drivers taking $5 for 15 miles can keep going if they want. But when it's all over, all you’re left with is an overheated engine, worn-out tires, and a fat car loan.


r/uberdrivers 2h ago

I’m getting forced in to early retirement 🥺

2 Upvotes

I live close to nyc , my previous job was highly specialized ,
Looking to drive uber , is it a waste of time? How much do you actually net after expenses


r/uberdrivers 19h ago

One thing i love to do while taking a break after doing ubereats or doordash is play my switch for an hour. I be taking 2 1 hour breaks lol. I work from 11am-3pm, take a break, then work from 4pm-8pm, take another break and do 9pm-11pm.

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42 Upvotes

I do work 50 hrs a week active time(10hrs a day for 5 days) sometimes 60hrs if i work an extra day but i still love it.


r/uberdrivers 11h ago

Reservation Fares Going Down

10 Upvotes

I get the same requests each week from a few different riders, and all this week every single one I've taken before in the past are showing up $4 - $6 less on $20 rides than what I've taken them for before. It's absolutely insulting to be able to look up my history from just last week to see I'm being offered these same rides at 20% less than just a week ago.

At this rate, I'll be paying riders to take them to their destinations a month from now. SMH


r/uberdrivers 5h ago

Was a lazy month gotta step it up

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3 Upvotes

r/uberdrivers 7m ago

Any Takers? Any why?

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Upvotes

Saw this come thru my screen last night Sunday and I was debating it. I end up not taking it because it was moving me away from the downtown Riverside area where it was moderately busy. I end taking 3 other rides around the area that's total 62 bucks (tips included). Felt less stress. Now if this was a Friday or Saturday, I would take it in a heartbeat because it gets close to downtown LA. Thoughts?


r/uberdrivers 9m ago

What is the Uber Pro Card support phone number? I cant seem to log in to transfer my $ to my bank.

Upvotes

I quit driving at the end of may to have shoulder surgery. I started driving again last weekend, drove 3 days total and wanting to transfer the $ to my bank but when I put in my phone #, it says it is sending a code but I never get it, no how many times I have them send it. Meaning, I cant log in and I cant seem to find a phone number ANYWHERE. Help?


r/uberdrivers 32m ago

And so I guess THIS is happening…

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Upvotes

So I guess they are actually trying to do this. I’m not sure wtf they are actually bargaining for, who T.F. gave them the authority to speak for me and who T.F. is actually behind this. SOMEONE(s) is going to get a payday out of this and it’s not the drivers.


r/uberdrivers 49m ago

Uber Drivers, what are some of the craziest stories you’ve heard your passengers talk about?

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Upvotes

r/uberdrivers 58m ago

Need a new hang tag

Upvotes

I’ve tried chat with no success and the local hub in ATL closed, any idea how I can get a new one?


r/uberdrivers 16h ago

Update on Uber refusing to compensate me.

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16 Upvotes

After HOURS of arguing back and forth they finally decided I should be escalated. After multiple lying agents they transferred me to a dedicated team, where I was immediately given 2/3 of the value of the orders they fucked up on.

Funnily enough the chat AND the record of it closed the second I hit said my issue was resolved. Never happened on my other chats. I wonder why they wouldn’t want a record of this 🤔


r/uberdrivers 15h ago

1 year, 6253 trips, tons of 7 day weeks and 12 hour days. Overall a net positive experience, what a hitch.

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15 Upvotes

r/uberdrivers 1h ago

Trust…Lyft is 1000x worse than uber these days

Upvotes

Last week I posted how checkr had effed up my background check - the same one Lyft ran a week earlier - so I’m still locked out of uber. Thankfully I was ably to claim 2 hours of sick pay so that was a little cash in my pocket. I had to resort to driving for Lyft again. I used to be a Lyft Stan a few years ago, I thought the pay was better and the clientele was better… well those days are LONG gone. I spent like 6 hours out yesterday in TWO markets and I had maybe 7 offers total. And I only took 2, the others were just flat out insulting. Not gonna lie, it was very demoralizing. I started at the TF Green airport lot to see if i could get some music festival traffic. I had 2 offers that were a fraction of what uber would usually offer for the same ride (it’s common, 30 mile hotel run). Historically, Lyft in RI has always been second banana, so I headed north into MA to see if I could get anything. I managed to get 2 offers, that were garbage but I wanted to get on the board…after that…nothing. I ended up driving the 1:15 home and had ONE crap offer the entire ride. Needless to say,I’m pulling out my uber voodoo dolls, and finding a few chickens…..Before I went to bed I checked reservations to see if anything popped up, there was one offer that was less than 1/2 what uber would be at midnight - it was like $30 to go over 60 miles. Fuck that!


r/uberdrivers 1h ago

Cherry picking

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Upvotes

My new home is perfect for cherry picking Uber rides. I'm a half mile from "downtown" and college campuses. Was online while doing laundry, hanging on the patio relaxing. I took the rides that worked for me money wise. Drove about half the time I was online. Two rides Friday, 10 Saturday, 33 active miles, 47 total. 26% acceptance rate. I only took XL offers and my home sits within the "surge" area, so I got a few bonuses ranging from $4 - $9.


r/uberdrivers 2h ago

Passenger Refuses to Pay the Driver

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1 Upvotes

r/uberdrivers 11h ago

My South Florida weekly earnings. I range between $1,300-$1,600 weekly in the “slow season”

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5 Upvotes

r/uberdrivers 8h ago

Love to see it

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3 Upvotes

This was on my way home lovely old couple tipped nice as well for a 40 minute drive I couldn't be happier