Your guide to Uber Pool
With Uber Pool, riders heading in a similar direction can choose to share a ride. The Uber app finds an efficient route to pick up multiple riders along an Uber Pool trip. This means you can spend more time driving and less time waiting for your next trip request.
Why have we launched Uber Pool?
Uber Pool gives riders the option to share their ride for a more affordable price, which means more riders can take Uber more frequently. In areas where Uber Pool is available, we’ve seen more trips and riders, which can mean less downtime for partners.
How Uber Pool works
Taking an Uber Pool trip
Receive an Uber Pool request
When you’re online in an Uber Pool service area, you may receive an Uber Pool request. On the request screen, you’ll see that the rider has selected ‘Pool’. If you’d like to accept, tap the screen to accept the request as you usually would.
Pick up the rider
Drive towards the first pick-up address. When you reach the pick-up location, the app will automatically begin a 2 minute countdown timer. With Uber Pool in Australia, riders walk to the pick-up spot, so we recommend giving them a call after 1 minute waiting. If your riders don’t show up within 2 minutes, you can cancel the trip and select ‘rider no-show’ in the app.
Receive an additional Uber Pool request
En route to your rider’s destination, you may get another request added to your Uber Pool trip. This request may happen before the other rider is picked up or dropped off. The additional rider will be automatically accepted and navigation will be updated automatically, so we recommend using the in-app navigation to reduce back-and-forth between additional apps.
Drop off riders and rate the trip
The order of pick-ups and drop-offs is based on the route and where everyone is heading, so be sure to pick up and drop off riders in the order that the app displays, which may not be in the order they were picked up.
Reminder: Riders may be asked to walk a little bit from the drop-off spot to their final destination, so feel free to remind them of this if they ask.
Once you’ve dropped off all riders, you can assign a rating to each rider who was on the Uber Pool trip.
How fares are calculated
When you accept an Uber Pool request, you’ll see the upfront fare for that trip plus the applicable Uber service fee, in your current trips. You will also see this for every additional Uber Pool rider that is added to the trip.
Like other upfront fares, Uber Pool upfront fares are calculated using factors that typically affect the price of a trip, including the expected time, traffic patterns and distance, as well as surge when demand is high. However, instead of applying the same base fare, time, and distance rates that currently exist in your city for UberX, a reduced rate will be applied for Uber Pool.
Uber Pool fares are a percentage less than UberX fares, and this percentage varies depending on the time of day of day. The aim is to keep Uber Pool earnings comparable with UberX. This means that Uber Pool fares will be lowest at peak hours when you’re most likely to have multiple riders matched on one trip, and the highest at times of day when matches are less likely.
Understanding the details
Earnings opportunities
The goal with Uber Pool is to have multiple riders added to the same trip, which means you could have several riders paying you a fare at the same time. This gives you the opportunity to earn more than what you would have earned on the comparable UberX trip.
Some Uber Pool trips will be able to match multiple riders together better than others. The more time different riders, each on their own unique journey, spend sharing the same trip, the higher your fare will generally be. In some cases, such as an Uber Pool trip that is not matched with any additional riders, the fare you receive could be less than the comparable UberX fare.
Sliding service fee
To help keep your earnings from Uber Pool trips comparable with those from UberX, the service fee for Uber Pool varies for each requesting rider.
The service fee for the first rider will typically be the lowest, and the service fees for additional riders added to the trip will vary based on several factors, such as how many different riders are picked up on the same trip and how much of the overall trip has multiple riders.
Uber Pool cancellations
Situation 1: driver cancels
When a driver-partner arrives at their rider’s pick-up location for an Uber Pool trip, the app will begin a 2 minute countdown timer. Because some riders will be asked to walk to the pick-up spot, we recommend driver-partners wait 1 minute before calling their rider. If their rider doesn’t show up within 2 minutes, a driver-partner can cancel the trip and select ‘rider no-show’ in the app. In this case, the driver-partner will receive a cancellation fee (less Uber’s service fee).
Situation 2: rider cancels
If a rider cancels an Uber Pool trip they’ve requested after the request is accepted and their driver is heading towards them and is near the pick-up point, the driver-partner will receive a cancellation fee (less Uber’s service fee).
Where is Uber Pool available?
Melbourne
The current Uber Pool service area in Melbourne.
Sydney
The current Uber Pool service area in Sydney.
Frequently asked questions
- What if the rider is not at the pick-up location?
Consider waiting one minute before calling the rider. If the rider still hasn’t showed up after two minutes, you can cancel the trip – just select ‘Rider no show’. You will receive a cancellation fee, which you will see in your weekly pay statement.
- What do I do if the rider asks me to come to a different pick-up location?
If the rider asks you to drive to a different pick-up point, explain that with Uber Pool, they have opted to walk to a pick-up spot that cannot be changed. If they want to request a trip from a different location or do not want to walk, they can cancel this trip and re-request an UberX.
- What if a rider wants to change their drop-off location?
All riders must enter both their pick-up and drop-off locations before requesting a trip. For Uber Pool, riders cannot change pick-up/drop-off locations once the Uber Pool trip has started.
Uber Pool drop-off locations are fixed because the Uber app matches riders and drivers based on pick-ups and destinations. Changing the destination can impact other riders on the trip. Also, the original pickup and dropoff points determine the upfront fare, so if a rider changes their destination, the fare may be incorrect.
If a rider asks you to drop them directly at their destination, kindly remind them that they opted to walk when they chose Uber Pool. If they insist, you can offer to end the trip early and suggest they request a new Uber Pool or UberX with their updated destination.
- How are tolls calculated in an Uber Pool trip?
All tolls incurred during trips will be added onto a rider’s fare. Riders will pay for their own tolls if they ride by themselves, or split them equally with every rider who is in the car at the time the toll is incurred.
- Do ratings work differently for Uber Pool trips?
At the end of an Uber Pool trip, you rate each rider separately. Similarly, each rider has the option of providing a rating for each trip they take with Uber Pool. The rating screen will appear in the app once you’ve dropped off all your riders, so you can rate them – there’s no need to rate riders mid-trip.
- Do riders give reasons for their rating?
When a rider gives a rating lower than 5, they are prompted with a list of possible reasons. If the rider selects an option that is out of your control, such as 'Route by Uber' or 'Had to walk', it won’t count toward your overall rating.
In addition, we’ll exclude low ratings from riders who consistently give lower ratings.
- How do upfront fares work with Uber Pool?
Upfront fares are shown to riders who request Uber Pool trips. Like other upfront fares, Uber Pool upfront fares are calculated using factors that typically affect the price of a trip, including the expected time, traffic patterns and distance, as well as surge when demand is high. However, instead of applying the same base fare, time and distance rates that currently exist in your city for UberX, a reduced rate will be applied. One of the main differences with Uber Pool fares is that the service fee for Uber Pool varies. With Uber Pool, riders cannot change pick-up/drop-off locations once the Uber Pool trip has started, nor can they add stops, detours or otherwise significantly change their route. Because of this, in almost all cases, the upfront fare shown with an UberPool trip will apply.
- How does the service fee work with Uber Pool trips?
To help keep your earnings from Uber Pool trips comparable with those from UberX, the service fee for Uber Pool varies for each requesting rider, with the lowest service fee applied being 5%.
The service fee for the first rider will typically be the lowest, and the service fees for additional riders added to the trip will vary based on several factors, such as how many different riders are picked up on the same trip and how much of the overall trip has multiple riders.
Some important points:
- If we increase our service fee above the Uber Pool minimum service fee of 5% for additional riders added to the trip, the net fare you receive will always be equivalent to or higher than the comparable UberX fare.
- We will not increase our service fee above the Uber Pool minimum service fee of 5% if you take an Uber Pool trip and it does not match with an additional Uber Pool request, or it matches poorly and the result is that the fare you receive is less than the comparable UberX fare.
- Can I opt out of Uber Pool?
If you also accept UberXL or Select trips, you can toggle off UberX and Uber Pool in the trip selector, but not just one or the other. Driver-partners cannot opt out of receiving Uber Pool requests while they are receiving UberX trip requests because it is part of the UberX trip type. However, whether you accept a new UberPool trip request is your choice.
- I’ve heard of Uber Pool in other markets, is this the same thing?
Uber Pool is a shared rides product that exists in certain cities around the world and is usually a door-to-door service. The version of Uber Pool in Australia has a few additional features that seek to improve the driver experience. The biggest difference with this version of Uber Pool is that riders agree to walk a short distance at the beginning and end of their ride to help make the driver’s route as efficient and convenient as possible.
- Do I have to use Uber’s navigation?
You may use your preferred navigation app, but the in-app Uber navigation is recommended for Uber Pool trips. This is for two key reasons:
- Notifications: If you’re in a third party navigation app, some notifications do not come through, like when a new rider is added to the trip or if one of the riders cancels.
- Routing: The Uber navigation will automatically update and re-route you as needed, like when a new rider is added to the trip. If you’re in a third party navigation app, the route may not update automatically.
Missing a notification or not seeing the updated route fast enough can impact your trip and other riders. Also, tapping back and forth between apps has the potential to take your eyes/attention away from the road.
Did you know? If you are iPhone user, in your app settings, you can choose to use Uber’s in-app navigation for Uber Pool and another preferred navigation app for trips with UberX.
While you may still use your preferred navigation app, we encourage you try the Uber in-app navigation for trips with Uber Pool!
- How many riders are there per Uber Pool request?
Riders can request an Uber Pool trip for just themselves, or opt to bring a friend. There is a limit of two riders per request.
When you arrive to pick up a rider, you will see a confirmation screen. On this screen, confirm the rider’s name and select whether the rider is alone or with a second rider. Please ensure that you have fully stopped your vehicle in an appropriate pick-up location before you do so.
It’s possible that you might pick up multiple Uber Pool requests at the same spot, so remember to confirm the riders’ names when they get in the car.
- What if the number of people at the pick-up spot does not match the number of people in the request?
If you are only expecting one person but there’s an additional rider, you can adjust the request in-app. You can also do this if a rider has requested for two people and there is only one person.
Riders can request an Uber Pool trip for up to two riders. If a rider tries to bring along additional riders that your car doesn’t have room for, you can cancel the trip and kindly suggest they request an UberX ride instead.
- What do I do if a rider cancels?
Your current Uber Pool trip can still continue. Keep following the in-app navigation to your next pick-up or drop-off location.
- I’m new to Uber, why am I not receiving Uber Pool trips?
New partners will not receive Uber Pool requests until they have completed 20 UberX trips. This allows you to get familiar with the Uber app and taking trips.
- What does Uber Pool look like from the rider side?
When riders request Uber Pool, they are first asked their destination and how many seats they need (1 or 2). Once the rider is matched with a driver, the rider is given in-app walking directions to the designated pick-up point. When they are dropped off, they are again shown in-app walking directions to their nearby final destination.
- Can I turn the auto-accept feature off?
So that you can focus on driving, the auto-accept feature automatically adds additional Uber Pool riders (2nd, 3rd, 4th pick-ups) to your Uber Pool trip. The app will notify you with a sound and banner on your screen.
If you wish to stop receiving additional requests, simply ‘go offline’ and complete your drop-offs. If you do not wish to accept the additional rider for any reason, you may cancel via the app after the request comes through.
- What if my rider wants me to decline an additional passenger pick-up?
You can kindly remind the rider that they have opted to share their ride with other riders for a more affordable fare. If they prefer to have a private ride or are running late, you can offer to end their trip early and suggest they request an UberX.
- What if my rider requests Uber Pool by mistake?
When you pick up a rider, you can ask them if they meant to request a Uber Pool and share their ride with other riders. Additionally, you can confirm that a rider has chosen to walk when you arrive at their drop-off point. If your rider didn’t mean to request Uber Pool or would like a door-to-door ride, kindly ask that they cancel their trip and request UberX instead.
The information provided on this web page is intended for informational purposes only and may not be applicable in your country, region or city. It is subject to change and may be updated without notice.
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