Learn More About Uber Child Seat Trips

We know driver-partners like yourself want to support young Aussie families to move around easily and safely. That’s why Uber is trialling Uber Child Seat, a new ride option connecting driver-partners with a pre-approved child seat and booster child seat for families who need to travel with their child(ren).

Eligible driver-partners have been invited to participate in the Uber Child Seat Trial when it launches in Melbourne in December.

Uber has partnered with Baby Bunting, Australia’s leading child seat retailer, to give you exclusive access to discounted pre-approved child seat models and in-person installation education.

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About the Uber Child Seat Trial

• What is Uber Child Seat?

  A new ride option connecting driver-partners with a pre-approved child seat and booster child seat for riders who need to travel with their child(ren) up to 8 years old.

• How long is the trial for Uber Child Seat?

  The trial will run from 5th December 2022 – 30th April 2023

• Am I eligible for this type of trip?

  The trial is being rolled out in Melbourne, Australia. 

  To be eligible, you must have a specific UberXL vehicle that is large enough to fit two child seats (see eligible vehicles here), have taken at least 100 trips, and have a rider rating of 4.85 stars and above.

  For this trial, all eligible driver-partners have been contacted – if you are interested in taking Uber Child Seat trips, please register your interest by selecting this link: register interest for Uber Child Seat trips. After the trial, we hope to expand Uber Child Seat to other cities. 

Uber Child Seat Onboarding Requirements

• What’s required to take trips?

  Before taking Uber Child Seat trips, driver-partners will need to complete all required Child Seat education, either through Baby Bunting or another installation educator, and obtain pre-approved seat models.

  • Step 1: Complete an online learning module (approx. 30 mins)
  • Step 2: Complete in-person session (approx. 2.5 hours)
    • Recommended: Register via Baby Bunting
    • Alternatively, you can provide evidence of in-person installation education via another provider. Contact Uber support and submit evidence of your education, which will be assessed and approved by Baby Bunting’s certified trainers.
  • Step 3: Obtain two pre-approved seat models. The approved models are Britax Safe’n’Sound Convertible Child Seat and Babylove Ezymove Booster Child Seat. To obtain these seats you may:
    • Obtain the seats from Baby Bunting at the in-person session: Baby Bunting are offering an exclusive discount to driver-partners participating in the trial
    • Purchase the seats from another retailer: after purchasing, book an appointment with Baby Bunting to have the seats assessed at an in-person session to confirm they are suitable for use.
    • Bring your own seats: the seats will need to be assessed by Baby Bunting at an in-person session to confirm they are suitable for use.
• What will happen at the in-person session with Baby Bunting?
  • Learn about the importance of child road safety
  • Obtain your child seat and booster child seat

  • Learn from a certified seat installer how to install/uninstall the child seats in your vehicle, and
  • Practice installing the child seats with the help of an expert.

  To maintain the highest safety standards for children travelling on Uber Child Seat trips, you must demonstrate competency in safely installing the seats during the in-person session.

• What happens if I don’t demonstrate competency in safely installing the seats during the in-person session?

  You may be able to attend another in-person session with Baby Bunting, as long as there are other available sessions. Driver-partners who do not demonstrate competency will not be eligible for Uber Child Seat trips.

Approved Child Seat Models for the Trial

• What are the approved child seat models?

  The approved models for the Uber Child Seat Trial are Britax Safe’n’Sound Convertible Child Seat and Babylove Ezymove Booster Child Seat.

• How do I obtain the approved seats from Baby Bunting?

  Attend the in-person session with Baby Bunting to access an exclusive discount to driver-partners participating in the trial. 

  Baby Bunting is offering a lease arrangement for the approved seats whereby you will be required to pay Baby Bunting a holding deposit of $50 to obtain the 2 approved child seat models (refundable upon return of the seat in good condition).

  If you’d like to keep the seats post-trial, Baby Bunting is offering the opportunity to purchase the seats for a further $250, a discount on the retail price. You can contact Baby Bunting for more information.

• I have a child seat already, can I use my own instead?

  If you have purchased or own one or both of the pre-approved models, you can use your own child seat.

  To be eligible for Uber Child Seat trips, you will need to have both approved child seat models, and have any seats not purchased through Baby Bunting assessed by Baby Bunting prior to taking trips. 

  Book an in-person session so that your child seat can be assessed by Baby Bunting to ensure it is suitable for use, and so that you can learn to safely install it.

  • Book in at Baby Bunting Bentleigh here.

  • Book in at Baby Bunting Maribyrnong here.

Prior Education in Installing the Two Child Seat Models

• If I have already completed education in installing the two child seat models, what documents do I need to provide and how do I provide them?

  If you have already completed education, contact Uber Support and provide documentation that shows:

  • Your full name
  • What organisation ran the education
  • The date the education was completed
  • The child seat models that were included in the education
  • Sign off or certification from the organisation that the education was successfully completed  

  Once the evidence is approved, attend an in-person session to demonstrate your installation with Baby Bunting.

Taking Trips with Uber Child Seat

• How do I know which child seat to use?

  When you accept an Uber Child Seat trip, we recommend contacting your rider via the in-app messaging tool or in a phone call to ask which seat model they require. Riders will also be told to contact you with the seat(s) they require when they request the trip.

• Where should I store the child seats?

  When you are not on an Uber Child Seat trip, you should store the child seat and booster child seat in the boot of your car.

• What else do I need?

  You will also need to maintain the child seats to ensure they remain clean and in good condition so that it is safe for continued use. It is recommended to keep cleaning wipes and spray in your vehicle to wipe down the seat after each use. A mat under the seat will also protect your child seat from any spills or stains.

• Will I be compensated for the extra effort of installing a seat?

  Yes, every Uber Child Seat trip includes a $9.99 surcharge paid by the rider to compensate you for the additional services involved, including to install, uninstall, and maintain the seat.

• Will a service fee be charged on the $9.99 surcharge?

  Yes, a service fee is charged on the child seat surcharge.

• How do I opt-out of these trips?

  You can temporarily opt-out of accepting Uber Child Seat trips (for example if you don’t have the seats in your car) by following the steps below:

  1. Tap the menu icon to find the ‘Trip Planner’ section of the app
  2. On the bottom right corner, tap the preferences icon
  3. Tap the Uber Child Seat icon to toggle off/on the trip type:
     • ON = you’ll receive Uber Child Seat trip requests
     • OFF = you won’t receive Uber Child Seat trip requests
  4. Tap ‘SAVE’

  To opt-out permanently, please contact Uber Support. If you obtained a child seat and/or a booster child seat via Baby Bunting, you will need to return the seat. Refer to the “Want to opt out and return the child seat” section below.

• What is my role and what will the guardian do?

  You are responsible for installing the child seat or booster child seat in your vehicle, and adjusting the seat so that it is appropriately fitted for the child. The child’s parent or guardian is responsible for putting the child in the seat and fastening the buckle. You will also need to visually check to make sure that the child’s buckle is fastened.

• What are my responsibilities and legal obligations when transporting children?

  Under the Victorian Commercial Passenger Vehicle Industry Act, you have statutory duties to ensure, as much as possible, the safe delivery of transport services you offer to your riders. These duties apply to all rideshare trips you take, and also to Uber Child Seat trips. These duties require you to eliminate or reduce safety risks as much as reasonably practicable. For Child Seat trips, that includes:

  • ensuring that each child seat or booster is installed correctly;
  • maintaining the child seat as recommended by the manufacturer;
  • ensuring that each parent secures their child(ren) in the child seat or booster; 
  • having each child seat inspected by Baby Bunting as required; and
  • following instructions from Uber.

  Regulator fines may apply for breaches of these statutory duties.

After the Uber Child Seat Trial

• What happens after the trial?

  The trial is being extended until 30th April 2023 as we work on improving the Uber Child Seat ride option and Child Seat trips will continue to be offered as a ride option in the Uber app.

• Purchasing the Child Seats from Baby Bunting post-trial

  If you leased the Child Seats from Baby Bunting and would like to continue providing Child Seat trips, you can pay the balance of the child seat purchase price ($250) to Baby Bunting any time prior to the trial end date on 30th April 2023. To do this,

  1. Call Baby Bunting on 1300 422 292 to pay over the phone.
  2. Advise that you’re a part of the Uber Child Seat trial and would like to pay the remaining balance of $250 to Baby Bunting for the child seat offer
• Want to opt out and return the child seats?
  1. Inform Uber Support you’d like to opt out of Uber Child Seat trips.

  1. Return the 2 Child Seats to Baby Bunting Bentleigh or Baby Bunting Maribyrnong on the below dates only.
  2. Bring your issued receipt from the in-person session to receive a return from Baby Bunting of your holding deposit of $50 (provided the seats are clean and in good condition).

  Day of Week	Dates you can return the 2 Child Seats (Baby Bunting Bentleigh or Maribyrnong)
  Monday	20th Feb, 27th Feb
  Tuesday	21st Feb, 28th Feb
  Wednesday	22nd Feb, 1st March

• What if the child seat gets damaged or is involved in a car accident?

  If the child seat is damaged or if the child seat is in your car when a car accident occurs (whether it was installed or stored in your boot at the time of the accident), you should contact Uber Support immediately. Uber Support will coordinate with Baby Bunting to book you in for a seat assessment. This is to determine if the seat is safe to continue using on Uber Child Seat trips.