Washington: Background Check Criteria Disclosure

Last Updated on June 29, 2026

In order to provide rides on the Uber platform, drivers located in Washington State must:

Have no more than three of the following minor driving violations in the past 3 years:

• Non-fatal accidents
• Moving violations (For example: Speeding Tickets, Traffic Light Violations)
• Document related violations (For example: Failure to Show or Misuse of Registration, Title, or Insurance Documents, Police or Accident Report Misuse or Misrepresentation)
• Vehicle related safety violations (For example: Equipment Failures)

Have none of the following major driving violations or pending¹ criminal charges or convictions in the past 3 years:

• Driving while unlicensed, or while license is suspended, revoked or invalid
• Driving while uninsured, or insurance is suspended, revoked or invalid

Have none of the following types of driving violations or pending criminal charges or convictions in the past 7 years (including conspiracy, attempt, solicitation, aiding and abetting, accessory, and accessory before or after the fact):

• Any Felony
• Non-Felony Violent Crimes (For example: Assault, Battery, Terroristic Threats, Robbery, Arson)
• Prostitution-Related Offenses (For example: Sexual Solicitation, Pandering)
• Theft (For example: Burglary, Robbery, Stealing, Fail to Return Rental Property)
• Gun and Weapon Related Violations (For example: Unlawful Possession of a Firearm, Discharging a Firearm)
• Property Damage (For example: Criminal Mischief, Breaking and Entering, Vandalism)
• Harassment (For example: Annoying Telephone Calls, Interfere with Emergency Phone Call)
• Violating Protective Order (For example: Criminal Charges Related to Disobeying Domestic Relations Court Order)
• Fraud (For example: Identity Theft, Forgery, Tax Evasion, Government Program Violations)
• Driving Under the Influence or other drug-related violations or severe infractions (For example: Refusing to Submit to an Evidentiary Test for Driving Under the Influence)
• Evading a Law Enforcement Officer (For example: Fleeing or Attempting to Elude a Law Enforcement Officer, Resisting Arrest)
• Speeding + 100 MPH
• Hit and run (For example: Failure to Stop, Leaving the Scene of an Accident)
• Reckless or Negligent Driving (For example: Street Racing, Speed Contests)
• Habitual Offender Status

Have none of the following types of driving violations or pending criminal charges or convictions (including conspiracy, attempt, solicitation, aiding and abetting, accessory, and accessory before or after the fact):

• Sexual Assault (For example: Rape, Sexual Battery, Sexual Exploitation)
• Sex Crimes Against Children (For example: Indecent Solicitation of a Child, Traveling to Meet a Minor, Grooming – Using a Computer to Seduce/Lure/Entice a Child for Sexual Purposes, Possession/Distribution/Manufacture of Child Pornography)
• Sexual Offenses (For example: Lewd/Lascivious Behavior, Public Indecency, Indecent Exposure, Sexually Violating Human Remains)
• Murder/Manslaughter (For example: Homicide, Assault With Intent to Kill)
• Accident resulting in a fatality
• Felony Violent Crimes (For example: Assault, Battery, Wanton Endangerment, Terroristic/Criminal Threats, Menacing, Robbery, Arson)
• Strangulation (For example: Obstruction of Breathing, Obstruction of Circulation, Choking, Asphyxiation)
• Active Warrant
• Terrorism / Acts of War 
• Kidnapping (For example: Abduction, Child Abduction, False Imprisonment, Human Trafficking)
• Failure to Register as a Sex Offender
• Child/Elder Abuse or Endangerment
• Voyeurism
• Stalking (For example: Cyberstalking)

If you are a driver in Seattle & King County, WA²

The following standards apply (in addition to the Washington State standards above):

Have no driving violations or pending criminal charges or convictions related to driving while unlicensed or while your license is suspended, revoked or invalid in the past 7 years (versus 3 years for the rest of WA state)

If you are a driver in Vancouver, WA

The following standards apply (in addition to the Washington State standards above):

Have no more than one of the following minor driving violations in the past year (12 months):

• Non-fatal accidents
• Moving violations (For example: Speeding Tickets, Traffic Light Violations)
• Document related violations (For example: Failure to Show or Misuse of Registration, Title, or Insurance Documents, Police or Accident Report Misuse or Misrepresentation)
• Vehicle related safety violations (For example: Equipment Failures)

Have none of the following major driving violations or pending criminal charges or criminal convictions in the past 3 years related to:

• Driving-related suspensions or revocations (includes suspensions from not paying fine or failing to show up in court if fine or court appearance related to driving-related offense/violation)
• Revocation of the Portland, OR Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) Private For Hire Transportation driving privileges by PBOT Director

Have no pending felony criminal charges or felony criminal convictions in the past 10 years

Have no pending misdemeanor criminal charges or misdemeanor criminal convictions for drug offenses in the past 5 years

¹A criminal charge is “pending” when there has been no final decision entered, such as a conviction, guilty plea, or dismissal. A “pending” charge includes those subject to conditional or deferred decisions, such as a court ordering payment of fines or completion of probation prior to sentencing. The pending charges listed here are disqualifying, unless and until they are resolved in your favor.

²Note that motor vehicle and criminal records are subject to additional discretionary review and approval by King County and the City of Seattle. Additionally, in King County and the City of Seattle, driving violations and criminal convictions related to negligent driving are considered minor driving violations.