Uber Eats FAQs for couriers in NYC

In 2023, New York City released rules that changed how Uber Eats works locally. Because of these rules, we have to limit the number of couriers who can be online each hour of the day. To help you navigate this experience, we’ve introduced a new feature called Planner.

Planner lets you reserve times to go online during a specific week, starting in one of nine zones. You’re guaranteed the option to go online in the zone you selected during your reserved times.

If you forget to reserve times, you may still be able to go online when you want—as long as demand is high enough.

Planner applies only to the boroughs of New York City. You can still go online at any time in surrounding areas such as New Jersey, Long Island, and Westchester County.

Planner lets you reserve times and zones to go online during a specific week. You’re guaranteed the option to go online during your reserved times and zones. 

As suggested by the City, priority access will be given to couriers who have completed the highest number of trips in the previous 28 days and maintain a high acceptance rate.

If you forget to reserve times, you may still be able to go online when you want—as long as demand is high enough. 

Planner applies only to the boroughs of New York City. You can still go online at any time in surrounding areas such as New Jersey, Long Island, and Westchester County.

You can reserve time in your app by selecting Planner, which can be accessed from the main menu or through the chatbot within your app.

You can reserve available time during the current week. You can also reserve time up to 7 days in advance, depending on your tier: 

Every week, you’ll receive an app inbox message and app notification on the day your access opens to let you know which tier you’re in.

As recommended by the City, your tier will be based on: 

If you would like to reserve one or more time slots, select your preferred zone in the planner to see available times. Then, tap to reserve a time in the zone. Reserving time guarantees go online access in the zone you choose. You can select different zones for different times throughout the day, if you choose. Zone boundaries are available here. 

When you’re ready to go online, you must be inside the zone you reserved to go online. If you would like to reserve one or more time slots, select your preferred zone in the planner to see available times. You can select different zones for different times throughout the day, if you choose. When you’re ready to go online, you’ll be able to take advantage of your reserved time by going online in your reserved zone. 

 There are 9 zones in total for Uber Delivery in New York City. Zone boundaries are available here. 

Deliveries may take you to other zones. Once you’ve gone online during the reserved time in the selected zone, you may move to other zones to accept delivery requests and complete deliveries if you wish. 

The amount of times you can reserve will vary depending on your tier. The number of times available per tier are subject to change.

New York City has implemented a new rule that requires delivery platforms like Uber Eats to choose 1 of 2 approaches to minimum earnings for each pay period.

The City’s Alternative Method is $32.60/hour of trip time. The City’s Standard Method of payment is $19.56/hour of trip time + additional earnings. Additional earnings are calculated based on factors that include the number of trips completed and the number of available couriers in a given pay period. Uber Eats will default to the Standard Method of payment.

Signup bonuses and tips are not included in minimum earnings. Your tips will continue to be passed on to you in full.

The method of payment will not change during a pay period and is determined after the pay period is complete.

If you earn less than the guaranteed minimum rate, you’ll automatically receive the difference by the end of the week. You may receive two payments. The first payment would be any increase needed to achieve the guaranteed minimum rate. The second payment would be for additional earnings.

If there is enough demand in your area after your reserved time, you can continue to keep delivering. If demand is met in your area, the app may take you offline. 

You can still go online at any time in areas like New Jersey, Long Island, and Westchester County. You can also navigate to hot spots nearby where you might be able to go online right away.

If you see a time that is unavailable, this means it has already been fully booked by other couriers or you’ve used all your times for the given week. Times open up on Planner every week, and they are first-come, first-served.

Due to the City’s new rules and fluctuating changes in demand, we unfortunately cannot guarantee that all couriers can reserve time. However, you may be able to go online without reserving time when there’s enough demand.

We understand the frustration with limited flexibility. New regulations have changed how delivery apps like Uber Eats work in New York City. As a result, some couriers may not be able to go online in the 5 boroughs when demand isn’t high enough.

Couriers can deliver without reserving time outside the boroughs of New York City. Additionally, couriers may have a better chance of going online without reserved time in areas where there is high demand.