Uber for kids: what you need to know about riding with children

Many families use the Uber app in their daily lives, whether it’s ferrying the kids around to after-school activities or helping an elderly parent come and meet you for dinner.

However, there are some things to consider when it comes to using Uber with kids. Here’s what you need to know about using Uber with your children in the UK.

When it comes to requesting rides, our guidelines state that the Uber age limit is 18, meaning children are not allowed to have Uber accounts. If you’re using your Uber account or the Uber family profile for your children to request a ride, they must still be accompanied by an adult to be allowed to ride. As such, drivers may also ask for ID verification to check a rider’s age if they think it is necessary. If drivers have concerns about an unaccompanied rider, we advise them to contact 101 or if they feel there is immediate danger to call 999. Learn more about how we’re helping to safeguard vulnerable individuals here.

Child and baby seats in vehicles on the Uber app in the UK aren’t common, so it’s always safest to assume you will need to bring one if you’re riding with a child. 

If you are planning on riding with small children, then you should bring a child seat or baby seat for them. If you don’t have the correct child car seat, children can travel without one – but only if they travel on a rear seat, and wear an adult seat belt if they’re 3 or older.

Children under 15 months must ride in a rear-facing baby seat, which must be fitted in the backseat if there is an active airbag in the passenger seat. There are also several different types of seats for children of different ages and weight, which you can find more information on here.

Remember, not all car seats fit all cars, so drivers can still decline the ride if you don’t have the appropriate car seat or if they aren’t comfortable with having you install one in their car.

Are the kids safe and secure? Here are some tips to make the most of taking Uber rides with your children:

You can request an UberXL with room for up to 6 passengers. That means space for you and your partner, the kids and any other family members you’ll be taking on your family outing. Or, you can use the space for extra luggage if you’re bringing the kids for your holiday abroad.

The Uber app has a variety of safety features to give you and your family peace of mind when using Uber, with kids or otherwise. One feature you can use is sharing your trip status to let your partner or anyone else know exactly where you and your child are when you’re riding with us. Tap “Send Status” during a ride to share or pre-select up to 5 Trusted Contacts to receive your trip status whenever you ride.

Make travel easier for you, your partner, your kids, grandparents and anyone else with the Uber family profile. The family profile allows you to connect up to five people to your Uber account, meaning they can request rides using your payment methods, with records being kept on your account. It’s a great way to manage transport for the whole family and take care of the ‘who’s driving who’ conversations.

So, when are you bringing the kids? Follow our rules and tips for using Uber with kids, and you can make transport that much easier for you and the whole family.

Family time is precious, make it count with Uber.