Rider price and driver fare
The amount a rider pays for a trip is different from what a driver earns for that trip. Here’s why.
Riders pay
In the United States, riders are given an upfront price for every trip so they can make an informed decision. Upfront rider prices are based on the estimated distance and duration of the trip. This estimate can vary as we predict real-world factors such as traffic.
The upfront price you’re shown may change due to a number of circumstances, which may include adding stops, updating your destination, significant changes to the route or duration of the trip, or if you pass through a toll that was not included in your upfront price. In addition, you may incur wait time fees for the time you take to reach the car at the pick-up or multi-stop fees for time spent at an on-trip stop.
Rider payments may also include:
Base fares
Tolls and additional charges
Tips
UberX Share discounts
Surge pricing
Booking fee¹
Rider promotions and subscriptions
Route-based adjustments
Drivers earn
Drivers' earnings are separate from the price given to riders at the start of the trip.
Driver earnings can also include:
Base fares
Surcharges and reimbursement for tolls¹
Tips
Long pick-up/wait time/UberX Share pick-up fees
Surge pricing
Miscellaneous fees²
Driver promotions
²Such as cancellations and cleaning fees
Uber service fee
The service fee is the fee drivers pay to Uber, and it varies from trip to trip. It’s the difference between what a rider pays and what a driver earns on a trip, excluding tips, tolls, and certain fees, taxes, and surcharges.*
*Uber applies a service fee to certain fees and surcharges, including but not limited to waiting time fees and cancellation fees.
The history of pricing
From the outset, pricing innovations have evolved to make mobility more reliable and affordable for everyone
2010: The beginning
Uber Black offers luxury rides with professional drivers on demand. Riders paid premium prices, and drivers paid a fixed percentage service fee.
2011: Surge pricing
Surge pricing is introduced to balance supply and demand. It encourages riders to wait a little before requesting and encourages drivers to travel to areas of high demand, making Uber more reliable during busy periods.
2012: Lower-cost option
UberX launches, giving more riders access to affordable transport, which also creates more opportunities for drivers to earn.
2014: Shared journeys
UberPool launches, allowing 2 or more riders travelling in the same direction at the same time to share the cost, making transport more affordable. Upfront pricing launches to give riders certainty over the low prices that sharing made possible for them.
2014: Upfront pricing on UberX
Upfront pricing launches on UberX and other products, as its success on Uber Pool shows that riders value the certainty of knowing the price of a journey in advance.
2017: Route-based pricing
Route and time of day become factors in the UberX and Uber Pool prices, as we expand access to affordable transport for more riders at more times in more places.
Learn more about pricing
Take a closer look at the factors that contribute to Uber’s pricing.
Surge pricing is designed to balance the market during our busiest times so that a reliable ride is always within reach.
Upfront pricing gives riders the information they need to choose the ride that best suits their needs and budget.
The price of a trip can vary depending on the route and time of day, which helps make transport more affordable for more riders at more times in more places.
Promotions encourage drivers to meet rider demand at the busiest times and locations.
Uber’s service fee helps fund our platform’s operations and driver promotions. It also supports innovation that enables us to serve more riders and drivers.
Some of the features described on this page do not apply or are not available in all US markets, including California, and in markets outside of the US. As we work to improve the marketplace, we may test functionality and pricing in ways not described on this page.
In August 2021, Uber began piloting a new driver earnings structure in several cities that differs from the way the driver earnings experience is described on this site. In this pilot, drivers earn based on an upfront fare that is based on several factors, including base fare, estimated trip length and duration, pickup distance and destination. As of 17 February 2022, this pilot has been expanded to additional cities. See more details about this pilot here.