If you’re thinking about driving for Uber, you might find that it’s difficult to get information about the driver requirements. The complete list of requirements is not easy to find on Uber’s website, and not every requirement is easy to understand. There are many extra details you may need to know about the requirements before you can be certain that you qualify to drive.
Do you qualify to drive? This post gives you all of the necessary details about the Uber driver requirements, so you can be more confident that Uber will accept you as a driver.
Uber Driver Requirements
- You must be at least 21 years old
- Licensed to drive in the US for at least one year, or three years if you’re under age 23
- Have access to a 4-door vehicle that is 10 years old or newer (in most cities)
- Many cities allow 15 years old or newer
- Find for your city’s model year requirement: Type in uber.com/drive/*your-city*
- In-state auto insurance with your name on the policy
- In-state driver’s license
- In-state license plates with current registration (commercial plates are acceptable as well)
- You must have a social security number
- Pass a background check and a driving record check
Note: The above requirements cover non-commercial Uber services like UberX, XL, Pool, and Select. UberBlack and SUV have different requirements. Learn the differences between Uber services and the UberBlack requirements
Does your vehicle qualify for Uber?
- Uber vehicle requirements: Does your car qualify?
Need a car to drive for Uber?
- Should you buy, rent, or lease a car to drive for Uber?
- Rent or lease a car with HyreCar. It’s a good way to try Uber without committing to a long term lease or purchase
More about Uber vehicle requirements
Uber generally accepts vehicles that are 10 years old or newer, but many cities have different model year requirements. The vehicle must have 4 doors and seatbelts for at least 4 passengers, not including the driver. 2-door vehicles are never accepted. Vehicles older than the model year requirement are never accepted even if the vehicle is in great condition.
Uber does not accept vehicles with a salvage title or ‘restored’ title.
To find the exact model year requirement for your city, go to “uber.com/drive/*your-city*” For example, uber.com/drive/los-angeles leads to an LA-specific page that lists the vehicle requirements for that city. If that doesn’t work, try googling “drive for uber in *your city*” and look for the best result from Uber.com.
If you don’t currently have access to a vehicle that qualifies for Uber, you can apply to drive first and get access to a car later. To apply without a car, visit the Uber driver application and select the “I need a car” option. That way, you can go through the background screening process, and if you’re approved to drive you can buy, rent, or a lease a car.
HyreCar, a peer-to-peer vehicle rental service, is a good way to try driving for Uber without having to buy a car or commit to a long-term lease.
Need a car to drive for Uber? You can find a car or an auto loan here:
- 1-800 Auto Yes – One-step application process
- myAutoloan.com – Shop for cars and loans
Find the Cheapest Insurance Quotes in Your Area
Your vehicle must pass an Uber vehicle inspection
Before you start driving for Uber you will need to have your vehicle inspected at an Uber activation center or at a state-licensed auto repair facility in your area. The inspection is free if you get it done at an Uber activation center, and it costs around $30 if you have it done at a state-licensed auto repair shop. The inspection looks at mechanical and safety features of your car like the condition of your tires, brakes, lights, and seat belts.
- How to pass the Uber vehicle inspection, and how to find an Uber activation center
- The Uber inspection form (PDF) – See what the inspection covers
- RideShare Mechanic offers Uber & Lyft inspections via video chat. I may receive a commission from them for referring you.
Note: Not every city requires a vehicle inspection before you get started. Some cities give you a grace period (around 30 days) before you need to have your vehicle inspected. Follow instructions from Uber closely during the application process to find out if you need to have your vehicle inspected.
More about vehicle registration and insurance requirements for Uber drivers
The vehicle you use to drive for Uber does not need to be registered to you, but your name must be on the insurance card or insurance policy declaration.
- You must provide a photo of the vehicle’s registration even if the car isn’t registered in your name
- Your name must be listed on the vehicle’s insurance card or insurance declaration page
- Your insurance must be in-state. There are some exceptions for markets near the border of two states
How much insurance coverage does Uber require? Your personal insurance coverage must meet the state minimum. Uber does not require commercial insurance. Most standard personal auto insurance carriers don’t cover rideshare activity, so do a Google search for ‘ridesharing insurance’ in your state to find a policy that covers rideshare. You may find that rideshare add-ons are available for a reasonable extra charge.
Look for a rideshare-friendly policy and a better rate with:
- Liberty Mutual — Policies for rideshare drivers are available in many states!
I am affiliated with Liberty Mutual. I may receive a commission for referring you to them.
Age 21+ with an in-state driver’s license, licensed in the US for at least one year
Uber requires all drivers to age 21 or older. Drivers must be licensed to drive in the US for at least one full year, past or present. If you are under age 23, you need three years of licensing history. Your one year of driving experience does not have to be from the state you currently live in.
For example: You had a Florida license for five years, then moved to California six months ago. You want to drive for Uber in California. You will meet the meet the licensing requirement as long as you have a California license.
Uber does not count international driving experience. Even if you’ve driven internationally for many years, Uber still requires that you have a US license for at least one full year.
You may need to submit proof of licensing history if your license was recently issued. Uber may ask you to send additional documents if they need more info about your licensing history. You can submit a previous driver’s license, previous driver’s liencse number, or a motor vehicle report (MVR) issued by the DMV.
In-state license plates with current registration
Your vehicle must license plates that match the state you drive in, along with up-to-date registration tags. There are some exceptions for cities in markets that lie on the border with another state.
You must pass a background check and driving record check
Uber contracts with a company called Checkr to run a thorough background and driving record check that looks back around 7 years into your history. Have a few speeding tickets over the years? You’ll probably be fine as long as you don’t have any major violations like DUI, DWI, or driving with a suspended license. Uber also screens for criminal activity, so if you have any criminal issues on your record, there’s a chance you’ll be rejected.
Does Uber drug test drivers? No, Uber does not require drivers to take a drug test.
Does Uber do a credit history check? No, Uber does not perform a credit check.
You must agree to Uber’s terms of service and other policies
Uber will send you a terms of service and other documents that you need to read and sign before you can be activated as a driver. The documents you have to sign may be different depending on the state you’re in, so keep an eye on your driver app, email and partners.uber.com to see if there are any documents you need to sign.
An example of some of the documents Uber may require you to read and sign:
- Rasier Technology Services Agreement
- Rasier Tipping Addendum
- Portier Tipping Addendum
- Portier Services Agreement
- Rasier Financial Terms Addendum
Steps to become an Uber driver: The process from beginning to end
The first thing you need to do to drive for Uber is complete the driver application. create an Uber account, and consent to background screening. Next, you will complete your profile by uploading a picture of your driver’s license, and if already you have a vehicle, you will upload your vehicle information.
- Complete the online driver application
- Consent to background screening and wait for Uber’s decision – Takes up to 10 days
- Use partners.uber.com or the Uber Driver app to upload vehicle details: Insurance, registration
- Once activated, you will be able to enable driver mode in the Uber Driver app
- Contact Uber if you get stuck or have questions
The background screening can take up to 10 days to complete. To check the status of your application, sign into the driver app or partners.uber.com and check for an account status. If more than 10 days have gone by since you began the background screening process, contact Uber to ask for an update.
How to send documents to Uber
The best way to send documents to Uber is to take a picture of the document with your smartphone and upload it using the Uber app or partners.uber.com. Make sure the image is clear, with strong lighting and all text in focus. You can also upload a PDF version of the document, which may be useful if you have a PDF copy of your insurance card or registration.
Once Uber activates your driver account, how do you start giving rides?
Once Uber activates your account, you will be able to log into the Uber Driver app and turn on driver mode. You will begin to receive ride requests while driver mode is enabled. Accept a request, then navigate to your passenger’s location to learn their destination.
Uber offers some in-app training that will show you how to accept a ride request, how to navigate to the passenger, and how to correctly perform a ride. There are other details about the Uber driver app you may want to know, so I recommend reading the article linked below.
How much do Uber drivers make?
After accounting for vehicle expenses, you can expect to make around $10 – $20/hour. Income can vary quite a bit based on your location, the day of the week, and the time of day. Most drivers maximize their income by driving on different days and times and seeing what works best.
