The Uber Eats guide to trip requests and smarter earning in New Zealand
At Uber Eats, we’ve worked to create a consistent and fair earnings structure for Delivery People.
Use this page to understand earning opportunities with Uber Eats. Find out when and where it’s best to take a trip, so you feel confident hitting the road.
In-app Offer Cards
Offer types:
There are two types of trip offers; exclusive offers and Trip Radar offers.
Exclusive offers are sent to one delivery person at a time and you have the option to accept or decline these offers. If you accept an exclusive offer, you’ll be directed via the app to the relevant pick-up and drop-off locations.
In some cities, Trip Radar offers are sent to a handful of delivery people at the same time. You can browse through these offers and request a trip that suits your preferences. It’s important to note that requesting a trip does not automatically match you with that trip – if your match is accepted, you’ll be directed via the app to the relevant pick-up and drop-off locations in a specific order, you’ll be notified if not.
Offer card:
When you receive a new delivery request, you’ll be presented with the offer card in-app. This offer card includes the estimated earnings you’ll receive for the successful delivery, the pick-up and drop-off locations, the name and location of the merchant, and the total estimated time and distance from when the delivery request is accepted to when the order is estimated to be dropped off.
Once the delivery is completed, the trip details screen will provide a breakdown of all the fare components. Any tips or tolls will be added or reimbursed after the delivery and shown on the trip details screen.
Batched deliveries:
A batched delivery is when requests are received to pick up multiple orders for the same customer or different customers with drop-off destinations near each other. These orders can be offered at the same time or one after the other.
Fares for batched deliveries are calculated the same as non-batched deliveries.
Often these pick-ups will occur at the same merchant, but it is also possible that requests will be received for orders from different merchants that are close to one another.
These types of deliveries help delivery people spend less time waiting to receive delivery requests, and more time delivering and earning.
How does it work?
- There will be an upfront offer to pick up from one or more merchants
- These offers may be received at the same time or one after the other
- If the offered deliveries are accepted, you’ll be directed via the app to the relevant pick-up and drop-off locations in a specific order
We currently do not support the option to opt-out of receiving batched delivery requests. However, delivery people can decline to accept any delivery request, including batched delivery requests.
How Earnings Work
There are several components involved in the calculation of fares when you deliver with Uber Eats;
- Base Amount
Calculated based on factors such as estimated time to successfully complete a delivery*, estimated delivery distance and whether there are multiple pick-up and/or drop-off points. The fare amount also takes into account areas and periods with limited availability of delivery people and higher than usual demand for delivery.
*Based on the total time from accepting the delivery request to completing the delivery at the drop-off location, and wait time at the merchant.
In certain circumstances, a trip supplement may be included in the fare amount, when there are:
- Busier than usual traffic conditions or higher demand for delivery.
- Higher than usual estimated wait times at the pick-up location
- Areas and periods with limited availability of delivery people and higher than usual demand for delivery
- Additional merchant-specific fees: Earn additional amounts on deliveries from certain stores.
This is why similar deliveries may have different fares at different times of day.
- Promotions & Incentives
Promotions can help Delivery People earn more while online (and are completely optional).
- Some promotions identify busy areas where there’s a high demand for deliveries, meaning there are more opportunities for requests.
- Please always check the relevant terms and conditions to ensure eligibility for promotions and incentives.
- Tolls
Tolls legitimately incurred between pickup and drop off will be reimbursed. Tolls are not included in the upfront estimated earnings amount displayed when a delivery request is received, but will be shown in the trip details screen after the delivery is completed.
- Please Note:
- Reimbursement of tolls applies to motorised vehicles only
- Tolls are only reimbursed when incurred between the pickup and drop off locations
- Please Note:
- Tips
Any tips earned from deliveries are in addition to other payments for the delivery and will be reflected in the receipt. You keep 100% of tips. Note that tips are not subject to GST, however as always, we recommend you speak to a professional accountant to discuss your tax circumstances.
- Example calculation
Here’s an example^ of how your earnings may be calculated:
Fare: $10.84
Tip: $2.84
Tolls: $0.97
$10.84 + $2.84 + $0.97 = $14.65
^Please note, calculations are provided for illustrative purposes only. Actual earnings vary, depending on factors such as the number of deliveries made, time of day and location. Promotional offers are subject to change and may vary from time to time.
Food & Non-Food Deliveries
The Uber Eats app is home to a growing number of options for consumers, getting people what they need when they need it. In addition to delivering meals from restaurants via Uber Eats, Delivery People may also deliver groceries, pet food, toys or even retail clothing.
Items that are available for delivery on the Uber Eats app include:
- Food Delivery
Delivery of food from restaurants
- Alcohol
Delivery of alcohol items from liquor stores and grocery stores with a liquor licence (Delivery People may choose to opt in to alcohol delivery). Alcohol delivery is subject to availability in each State
- Pharmacy
Delivery of general sales medicines and other products from specific pharmacy chains, convenience stores and supermarkets
- Convenience
Delivery of grocery items from dedicated supermarkets
- Grocery
Delivery of grocery items from dedicated supermarkets
- Uber Direct
Business to consumer delivery from dedicated partnership stores
- Uber Connect
Delivery of items from consumer to consumer
Some requests include certain restrictions (e.g. large and heavy items will only be dispatched to motorised vehicles) and some require specific opt-in processes (e.g. alcohol deliveries)
Promotions & Incentives
Promotions are a great way to help you identify busy areas when there’s a high demand for deliveries. This helps you take advantage of areas with higher delivery requests and maximise your earnings.
Please note: All promotions are subject to eligibility and availability in your city and are always completely optional. Promotional offers are subject to change and may vary from time to time. Please check the map and Promotions section in the Uber Driver app for the latest offers. Please always read the terms and conditions for all promotions.
Tolls
Tolls legitimately incurred between pick-up and drop-off will be reimbursed to you. Tolls are not included in the upfront minimum earnings amount displayed when you receive a delivery request, but will be shown in the trip details screen after you complete the delivery.
Please note: Tolls will only be reimbursed for motorised vehicles and only where applicable to the route.
Wait time
When you receive an upfront estimated fare for an order, an estimate for the wait time has already been incorporated based on the average wait times for that merchant. If your trip takes significantly longer than estimated for reasons outside your control, you may automatically receive more than the upfront estimated fare. You can see the total trip time in the receipt post-trip.
Tax
Please note that Uber Eats cannot give tax advice and the following is general information and does not constitute tax advice.
As a Delivery Person you are a self-employed contractor. You are not an employee of Uber. As such, you are responsible for reporting and paying all relevant taxes associated with your earnings producing activities.
- Where can I find my invoices/relevant tax documentation from Uber Eats?
Our Partner Dashboard is your one stop shop for documentation to help you manage your tax affairs. Here you can download your delivery invoices, weekly payment statements, monthly and annual tax summaries. Please note that you are nevertheless responsible for maintaining your own records and we recommend that you consult your tax advisor for specific advice for your circumstances.
You can access your monthly tax statements by signing in to partners.uber.com and clicking "Tax Summary." Once your summaries are available you will be able to access them from your partner dashboard.from your partner dashboard.
Your weekly payment statement on your partner dashboard contains all the information necessary to help you and your accountant to account for GST (if applicable).
- Where can I get help with tax?
Please reach out to the IRD. or a taxation professional directly for advice on your personal circumstances.
Getting Paid
Payments are processed on a weekly cycle, which begins at 4:00am local time on Monday morning and goes to 3:59am local time the following Monday. This means that any delivery taken on Monday after 4:00am local time will appear in the following week's payment statement. Generally, payments are processed and deposited to the bank associated with your profile on Tuesday.
Please note that public holidays and other events can cause a delay to the normal payment processing time. You will typically always receive your payment deposited into your account by the end of day Friday for the previous week.
If you need to update your bank details you can do so by logging in to your Partner Dashboard.
- Next-day cash out
Get your earnings within one business day* when you cash out in the Uber Driver app before 3:00pm local time, Mon-Fri at no charge.
- Cash out twice per day and up to a total of $1700 per week (resets every Monday)
- If you cash out by 3:00pm local time during the week, your money should arrive within one business day
- Eligibility criteria applies.^
- How it works
- Go to the Wallet section in the Uber Driver app menu
- Tap Cash out and select your option
- Swipe to confirm your cash out
^Eligibility requirements: To become eligible for Next-day cash outs, you must meet the following criteria: You’ve made 25+ deliveries on the Uber Driver app; You’ve passed Uber’s daily fraud and security screening. Remember, you are always able to access your earnings through the weekly Scheduled payout or Next-day cash out at no cost. For more details, visit the website here.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What upfront trip information will be displayed on my app before I accept a trip request?
While Delivery People have always been free to cancel a trip request after accepting it, at the moment not all information about the trip is provided upfront. We know accepting a trip can be about more than money, so you’ll now also see the location and name of the merchant, the total estimated time and distance from accepting the trip to drop-off, and your pick-up and drop-off locations. This means you will have more information upfront before deciding whether to accept a trip.
- Is time and distance shown on the trip request screen from when I accept the trip request?
Yes, the time and distance shown on the trip request screen is the estimated total trip time and distance for the whole trip, including the estimated time and distance to travel to the merchant and the estimated wait times at the merchant.
- Does the amount shown upfront on the trip request screen include my tip?
No, tips are not included in the upfront estimated amount that you see on the trip request screen. Any tips you earn are an addition to your other trip earnings and will be reflected in the trip receipt. As a reminder, you can check the Trip Details screen one hour after drop off to see your total trip earnings for each trip. Customers have that time to edit their tip based on your service.
- Does the amount shown upfront on the trip request screen include tolls?
No, tolls are not included in the upfront estimated amount that you see on the trip request screen.
Tolls legitimately incurred between pickup and drop off will be reimbursed to you. Tolls will be shown in the trip details screen after you complete the trip.
- How can I make sure I receive the amount shown on the trip request screen?
Once you complete a trip, you can check the Trip Details screen to see your total earnings for the trip. You’ll see the upfront amount you were shown on the trip request screen as the ‘Estimated earnings for completed trip’, so you can easily match up the numbers.
- Will I always receive the exact fare shown upfront on the offer card?
The upfront fare shown on the offer card is your estimated fare. You will never be paid an amount lower than what is shown on the offer card, provided the trip(s) is completed.
If your trip takes significantly longer than estimated for reasons outside your control, you may automatically receive more than the upfront estimated fare. As always, any tips you earn are in addition to your other trip earnings and tolls legitimately incurred from pickup to drop off will be reimbursed to you.
- Why was I paid less than the amount shown on the offer card?
Certain scenarios could result in a Delivery Person receiving less than the upfront fare e.g., where you were offered a batched trip but only one trip was completed. If you believe this is an error, please contact us via the 'Help' section of the Uber Driver app.
- What are the rates?
You’ll see the estimated amount you’ll earn for a delivery before you accept it. This amount includes your fare and any promotions that apply (if applicable). In certain circumstances, trip fares can be higher than normal, when there are:
- Higher than usual estimated traffic conditions
- Higher than usual estimated wait times at the pick-up location
- Areas with limited availability of delivery people and higher than usual demand for delivery
After the trip you can check the Trip Details screen to see your fare amount and total earnings for the trip. Estimated earnings amounts can be found at the top of this page.
- What promotions are available?
Promotions can help you identify busy areas when there’s a high demand for delivery. You’ll be able to see any upcoming promotions in the Opportunities section of the driver app. You can check the Trip Details screen to see any “promotions” amount and total trip earnings for each delivery.
- What happens if I decline a request?
When you receive a trip request you can choose to accept or ignore the trip request, or select ‘decline’ to reject the request. If you choose to reject the request, you will be able to receive other trip requests, if available. If you accept a trip request, you are free to cancel the request without consequence until you have collected the item(s).
- Why can’t I access Uber Rides and Uber Delivery requests at the same time?
There are different contractual arrangements that apply between Uber Rides requests and Uber Eats Delivery requests that means you have to make a choice which requests you would like to receive.
- What are the factors that can impact fares?
The upfront fare shown on the offer card considers a number of factors, including estimated trip time, estimated distance and whether the trip has multiple stops. Higher than usual traffic conditions at the pick up and drop off location and estimated wait times are also taken into account.
If your trip takes significantly longer than estimated for reasons outside your control, you may automatically receive more than the upfront estimated fare. You can review the fare on your trip receipt once the trip is completed.
- If my GPS has issues, will I still be paid for the delivery?
If you have any tech issues while delivering, you may contact our live chat support for assistance. Our support agents will be able to provide you with the consumer’s address and provide tips on how to best complete the order.
If you are continuing a delivery when a tech issue occurs, please ensure you go offline until the order is successfully delivered or returned to the merchant.
Once the delivery is completed, you can write in via in-app help to have the fare reviewed.
- The customer cancelled after I picked up the order - will I still receive earnings?
If the customer cancels an order after the order has already been picked up, you should contact our live chat support for assistance. Our support agents will contact the customer and determine the next steps for the delivery.
If the customer would like to continue with the delivery, the support agent will provide you with the drop off address and contact number so that the delivery may be completed. If the customer does not want the order, Uber Eats will cancel the customer’s order and direct you on what to do with the delivery items. You’ll still be paid for the full fare of the delivery under your contract with Uber Eats.
If a cancellation is initiated by any other party after pickup you will receive a partial payment for the delivery. If any other party cancels a delivery before pickup, no compensation will be applied. You should reach out to our support team via the 'Help' section of the app after the cancellation to ensure your fare is adjusted correctly.
Please Note: This does not apply to orders cancelled by the Delivery Person
- What happens if I cancel a delivery?
If you need to cancel a delivery after you have already picked it up, please reach out to our support team who will review the delivery on a case by case basis and you may be reimbursed for the cancelled delivery.
Please note, if Delivery People are found to be fraudulently cancelling deliveries, this may be a breach of our Community Guidelines and your access to receive delivery requests may be removed (this does not include deliveries that are cancelled for safety-related reasons).
If you cancel a delivery before pickup, no amount will be paid.
You should reach out to our support team via the 'Help' section of the app during the delivery to ensure your fare is applied correctly.
- The customer asked me to drop off at a location further away from the initial drop location. Will I receive a higher fare than was originally shown?
In situations where a customer updates their destination, the decision to complete the trip to the new address is up to the Delivery Person. If you are happy to continue with the trip to the new location, please complete the trip and then contact our support team via the 'Help' section of the Uber Driver app so we can ensure that you are paid the correct amount.
If you do not wish to complete the trip, please contact our live chat support, who will cancel the trip request.
- Will I receive a higher fare if I encounter road closures on my route?
If your trip takes significantly longer than estimated for reasons outside your control, you may automatically receive more than the upfront estimated fare. To check if additional time has been automatically included, you can review the fare on your trip receipt once the trip is completed.
- I arrived at the merchant but it was closed - will I still be paid?
If you arrive to pick up the order and the merchant is closed, please contact our live chat support team or reach out via the 'Help' section of your app. We will also ensure that we reach out to the merchant to verify their operating hours and avoid the issue reoccurring.
- There was additional wait time at the merchant pickup or customer drop-off. Will I be paid more?
The estimated trip time, including wait time, has already been incorporated into the upfront estimated fare. If your trip takes significantly longer than estimated for reasons outside your control, you may automatically receive more than the upfront estimated fare.
It is up to you to decide how long you are willing to wait at the merchant before cancelling an order, but for most orders, a Delivery Person can expect to wait around 5 minutes. If you are not able to wait at the merchant, you may opt to cancel the trip so that it can get offered to another Delivery Person. However, please note that this action means you will not be paid for the trip.
- I accidentally ended the delivery early - will I still be paid for completing the delivery?
If you accidentally end the delivery early, please go offline and contact our support team. Our agents will help assist with locating the delivery address and contacting the consumer on your behalf.
If it is a batched order, please stay online and contact support as instructed above. Once you've completed the first order, you can proceed to the second delivery address as normal and contact the second consumer to inform them that the Delivery Person is on the way.
You may be paid as normal for the delivery once the order is delivered to the consumer. Please ensure you contact our support team at help.uber.com or via the Uber Driver app for phone or chat support to make sure your fare is adjusted appropriately.
- I picked up/the merchant gave me the wrong order, what do I do? Will I still be paid?
To prevent this from happening, it is helpful to first check the order before leaving the merchant and mark the delivery as complete only when the right order is delivered to the consumer.
If you do happen to collect the wrong order, please contact our live chat support team who will help guide you through the next steps. They will also review the fare for the delivery and make any adjustments necessary.
- Are tolls included in the initial offer card for the delivery? (For motorised vehicles only)
No, tolls are not included in the upfront minimum earnings amount that you or your delegate see on the request screen. Tolls legitimately incurred between pickup and drop off will be reimbursed. Tolls will be shown in the delivery details screen after you complete the delivery.
Please Note: Tolls incurred on the way to the pick up location or after drop off will not be reimbursed. If your delegate completed the trip on your behalf, and your delegate incurs the toll, it is up to you to agree with your delegate whether the toll is reimbursed.
- What happens if a request is declined?
When you receive a delivery request you can choose to accept or ignore the request, or select ‘decline’ to reject the request. If you choose to reject the request or ignore the request and let it lapse, you will be able to receive other delivery requests, if available. If you accept a request, you are free to cancel the request until the item(s) have been collected. You are also free to cancel after the order has been collected if it is unable to be delivered. If you would like to cancel after collecting the item(s), we recommend reaching out to our support team at here or our live chat support via the Uber Driver app.
Please note: Declining delivery requests will not impact your likelihood to receive requests in the future.
- How do fares work for batched orders?
Batched order fares are calculated the same way as individual deliveries, where the base fare is based on estimated time (including wait time) and distance of the order.
- How do I request a fare review?
If you believe you were paid less than you should have been for a trip, you can reach out via help.uber.com to request a fare review. This review is completed by our support teams on a case-by-case basis.
If your trip takes significantly longer than estimated for reasons outside your control, you may automatically receive more than the upfront estimated fare. This process is automatic and you do not need to request a fare review for this.
- Why am I unable to cash out?
You may be unable to cash out if:
- You are attempting to cash out more than the weekly maximum
- Your bank is still processing a previous cash out
- You have completed fewer than 25 trips via the Uber Driver app
- Your account is under review and cash outs are temporarily disabled
- Why am I not eligible?
If you don’t see the option to cash out in the Uber Driver app, it may be because you’re currently ineligible. This could be because:
- You have completed fewer than 25 trips via the Uber Driver app
- Your account is currently under review
- What can I cash out?
If you are eligible, you’ll be able to cash out the balance currently in your account (subject to the maximum set out below). Only the earnings that are shown in your account at the time you elect to cash out will be transferred.
Any earnings from the past week that you don’t cash out by the end of the week will be transferred to your bank account as usual through the automatic weekly payout.
- Can I cash out my earnings on weekends?
Please note that timeframes may vary depending on the processing bank. Cash outs made on a weekend, a public/bank holiday or after the cut-off time will be processed the following business day.
- Are there limits on how much I can cash out?
You will always receive your weekly earnings through the default scheduled payout with no limit. If you choose one our Next-day cash out feature you are able to cash out twice per day and up to a total of $1700 per week (resets every Monday). The minimum amount you can cash out is $5.00
- Is there a fee to use cash outs?
You are always able to access your earnings through the weekly scheduled payout or Next-day cash out at no cost.
- When will my funds arrive?
If you are using the Next-day cash out feature and you cash out on a business day before 3:00pm local time, your funds should arrive within one business day.* Processing times may vary depending on your bank. Uber tries to complete payments as quickly as possible but timing is not guaranteed.
*Please note that there is a weekly maintenance window on weekends, the exact timing of these windows will vary, and will be displayed in the Driver app when you are cashing out. If you cash out during this time, your payment will be queued for processing and you will receive payment after the maintenance is completed.
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