How to Start Driving With Uber (2026): Requirements & Pay

Updated September 12, 2026 · 6 min read · How we research

Compiled with AI-assisted research from the official help pages and sources listed at the end of this guide. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.

Tip: fees and payout rules change often. Check the numbers on the platform's page and work out what you'll keep before you commit.

To drive with Uber you need a valid licence, a background check, an eligible car and approved documents, uploaded online or in the Uber Driver app. In the US that means at least one year of licensed driving (three years if you are under 25) and a 4-door car no more than 15 years old, while countries such as the UK, India, Kenya and Egypt add a professional licence, permit or commercial plate. Earnings are paid weekly, and US drivers can cash out up to 6 times a day with Instant Pay.

Uber driver requirements by country (as of September 2026)

Uber sets its rules city by city, and the sign-up flow shows the exact checklist for the city you choose. These examples come from Uber's own requirement pages.

Country	Age and licence	Vehicle	Extra documents and checks
United States	Your state's minimum driving age, 1 year of licensed US driving (3 years if under 25), an in-state licence in some states	4 doors, 5 factory seats, 15 years old or newer, does not need to be registered in your name	Proof of residency, insurance if you use your own car, profile photo, online screening of your driving record and criminal history
United Kingdom	18 or older on Uber's page, plus a private hire driver licence from a council Uber is licensed by	London: made in 2008 or later, and cars licensed as a London PHV for the first time must be zero emission capable. Elsewhere: 2006 or later	DVLA licence and check code, PHV vehicle licence, private hire insurance, vehicle inspection, logbook, bank statement, Pre-boarding Course
India	Valid driving licence	Yellow-plate commercial car, model year 2010 or newer for uberX, most SUVs from 2013 for uberXL	Registration certificate, insurance, tourist permit
Egypt	21 or older, Egyptian professional driving licence	4-door sedan or hatchback, 2008 model or newer	Criminal record, drug test, vehicle inspection
Kenya	PSV driving licence	4 doors, 2016 or newer for Chapchap, 2018 or newer for Comfort and UberXXL	National ID, KRA PIN certificate, PSV insurance, inspection report, safety screening, certification session
Nigeria	Valid driving licence	4 doors, model year 2000 or newer for uberX in Lagos and Abuja	Vehicle inspection report
Mexico	Over 18, driving licence	Varies, shown at sign-up	RFC tax ID, tax regime, bank account, e.firma or CSD certificate within 30 days of your first trip
Australia	20 or older (21 in NSW, Victoria and Tasmania), 6 to 12 months of licence history depending on the state	Varies, shown at sign-up	Proof of your right to work in Australia, background check

In the UK the council licence has to come first. GOV.UK says you usually need to have held a full driving licence for at least 12 months and must pass a "fit and proper person" check, which can include an enhanced DBS criminal record check, a medical and a knowledge test. In London, Uber's Ignition programme supports applicants who do not hold a private hire licence yet.

Start at uber.com/signup/drive or in the Uber Driver app and enter your city. The document list you see applies to that city.
Choose how you will drive: your own car, a rental through Uber's Vehicle solutions (US rentals start at $260 a week) or a partner's car. In India, a driver who uses a fleet partner's car only uploads a driving licence.
Upload your documents and a profile photo. Photograph each document flat and in good light, with all four corners visible and nothing expired.
Consent to the background check. In the US and Canada the online screening reviews your driving record and criminal history.
Complete the local steps, such as the Pre-boarding Course and private hire insurance in the UK (London drivers must use an insurer integrated with Instadoc), the certification session and safety screening in Kenya, or your tax details in Mexico.
When the app shows your account as active, go online and accept your first trip.

How Uber pay works

Before you accept a trip, Uber shows an upfront fare built from a base fare, the estimated time and distance, pickup distance and any surge. In the US, Uber says it keeps the difference between what the rider pays and what you earn, excluding tips, tolls and certain fees, and that this amount changes with each trip and week. So there is no fixed commission to plan around. For context, Uber reported a mobility take rate of 29.9% for Q4 2025, an average across all trips and markets rather than the cut on any single ride.

Tips: you keep 100%.
Surge: raises fares when demand is high.
Promotions: Quests pay a bonus for completing a set number of trips (Uber's example is $50 for 15 trips), and Boost+ offers add extra earnings.

Payout option	Where	How often	Cost and speed
Weekly deposit	US and UK	Once a week, usually on Thursday in the US	Automatic
Instant Pay	US	Up to 6 times a day	Small fee, usually minutes but up to 2-3 business days depending on your bank
Uber Pro debit card	US	After every trip	No transfer needed, cash back on select purchases such as gas
Flex Pay	UK	Once a day	On top of the weekly deposit

Your gross fares are not your income. Fuel, insurance, maintenance, licensing and tax come out of them, and UK drivers must register for VAT once turnover passes the threshold. Add up a typical week's costs and run the numbers through our hourly rate calculator to see what you really earn per hour.

Common problems and fixes

Documents rejected or stuck in review

Typical causes are blurry or cropped photos, expired documents or a name that does not match your account. Re-upload a clear photo of the physical document, check expiry dates and make sure every document shows your name exactly as it appears on your licence.

Car not eligible

Check the model-year cutoff for your city in the sign-up flow, since it ranges from 2000 or newer for uberX in Lagos to 15 years old or newer in the US. If your car does not qualify, Uber's Vehicle solutions page lists rental and partner options.

UK account will not activate

You cannot go online without a council private hire driver licence, a licensed vehicle and private hire insurance. Uber asks for the paper copy of your private hire licence and your badge at activation, so keep both to hand.

Taken offline or deactivated

Uber's Community Guidelines say drivers who fall below their city's minimum average rating may lose access, and consistently declining consecutive requests can get you toggled offline temporarily. Fraud, such as deliberately stretching a trip's time or distance, account sharing, discrimination, harassment or unsafe driving can mean immediate loss of access. If you believe an error caused a deactivation, contact Uber Support and keep trip records to back up your case.

Instant Pay has not arrived

Check the debit card details saved in the app first. Uber says transfers usually land within minutes but can take 2-3 business days, depending on your bank.

Uber or another app?

Uber runs in around 70 countries, and running a second app can cut idle time between trips. Compare it with Lyft in the US and Canada, Bolt across Europe and Africa, DiDi in Latin America and inDrive, where passengers propose a fare that you accept or counter, in our list of the best ride-hailing apps to drive for. To earn with your car without carrying passengers, see apps to earn with your car.