Advancing trust and safety

Our rider verification process involves cross-checking your account information (such as your name and/or phone number) provided during signup against third-party databases. If we can’t validate that information, you can choose to upload your government-issued identification, such as a driver's license, a passport, a national identity card, or other documentation.

This isn’t a guarantee of someone’s identity or good behavior, but it does help us build trust and accountability among users on our platform.

This new verified rider badge builds off of our current verification processes, helps deter fraudulent behavior, and adds another layer of trust, safety, and peace of mind for drivers and all Uber platform users.

Uploading an ID to receive a verified badge is optional.

If you aren’t verified as an Uber rider through your already-provided account details and do not want to provide an ID, you won’t receive the verified rider badge.

However, If you set up a new rider account using an anonymous form of payment (such as Venmo, prepaid debit card, and/or gift card) or we determine that additional verification is needed, you may be required to upload an ID or driver’s license from any state or a passport from any country for verification before you take a trip. We first launched this process in Chicago in 2021 and have expanded it across the US.

At this time, there’s no alternative way to get a verified badge. As we expand, we may consider providing additional ways for users to verify their accounts.

We believe this verification process can help promote safer and more comfortable interactions, help build trust, and help make the platform safer.

Because drivers will see a rider’s verified badge when choosing to accept a trip, not being verified may lead to longer ETAs and pickup times. Riders and drivers can still cancel a trip, in accordance with our Community Guidelines.

Changes to your rider account, such as a new phone number, new email address, or a change to your name, could result in losing a verified badge. You can always re-verify your account by uploading an ID.

If you’re ordering a trip for a friend or loved one, you can order it as a guest ride and input information about the person who’s actually taking the trip. If you have a verified rider badge and you order a trip for a friend or family member, your guest rider will not be considered verified, and we will not show a verified badge.

You’ll receive email and in-app communications from us letting you know about this new verified rider badge. The badge will be in the Account section of your Uber app.

This rider verification pilot is currently live in Atlanta, GA; Baltimore, MD; Charlotte, NC; Chicago, IL; Detroit, MI; Fargo, ND; Lancaster, PA; Miami, FL; Nashville, TN; New Orleans, LA; Peoria, IL; Philadelphia, PA; Phoenix, AZ; Portland, OR; and St. Louis, MO, in the US, with plans to expand to more cities in the coming months.

We’ll compare a rider’s name and phone number from their Uber account against trusted data sources. If we’re unable to verify a rider’s identity by doing that, they’ll have the option to verify their identity by providing an ID document.

We’ll complete a verification of your ID using trusted sources and check that no other account is associated with that document.

All personal data is safeguarded when stored and transmitted, including by using secure encryption.

Yes. Before accepting the trip, drivers will see a verified rider badge if you have a verified account and requested the ride for yourself. Drivers will continue to see the verified badge while on the way to pick you up.

All other trip and rider details currently visible to drivers remain the same: they’ll be able to see only your first name and verified rider badge along with your pickup and dropoff details. You can find out more about what drivers see about riders in Uber’s Privacy Center.

No, drivers will not be able to set a filter to see only verified rider requests. Drivers have previously been able to accept or deny any trip, and they will continue to be able to do so. However, drivers might be more inclined to accept trips from verified riders.

In accordance with our law enforcement guidelines, Uber will disclose account information to US law enforcement where required by legal process in accordance with the Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA) and other legal authorities, or in an emergency situation as outlined in our guidelines.

We delete ID document data after one year and/or upon your request to delete your Uber account, except where longer retention is required for legal reasons. You cannot separately request for your ID document data to be deleted, though we may consider adding this functionality in the future.

If we detect fraud or you’ve been associated with a safety incident, we may retain your ID document data as long as necessary by applicable law and in a manner consistent with our Privacy Notice.