Since 2016, Upfront Pricing has been rolled out to dozens of cities around the world – including Wellington, Christchurch, Hamilton and Tauranga – giving riders control and certainty over the cost of a ride.

We now want riders in Auckland to benefit from knowing the exact fare before they ride.

Upfront fares are calculated using the expected time and distance of the trip and local traffic, as well as how many riders and nearby drivers are using Uber at that moment. And when fares go up due to increased demand, instead of surge lightning bolts and pop-up screens, riders are given the actual fare before they request their ride.  

Richard Menzies, NZ general manager, said: “Upfront, per trip fares are popular with riders as they allow us to calculate the actual fare in advance and show it to riders before they book their trip.

“Just like airlines and hotels, dynamic pricing kicks in during times of high demand, which helps us to ensure riders can request a car usually within minutes. With Upfront Pricing, there’s no complicated math and no surprises: passengers can just sit back and enjoy the ride.”

Showing higher prices than usual in Wellington

A riders fare will be the price presented upon booking, or, if a riders journey changes (including if a rider changes the origin or destination, or in certain cases where you take a detour or make multiple stops), the fare will be based on the rates provided in the Uber app.