No, Uber drivers are not required to accept every ride; they are independent contractors and can decline requests, but doing so impacts their Uber Pro status and benefits, as low acceptance rates can lead to fewer requests or penalties, though drivers can customize preferences like trip type to manage offers. Drivers often strategically accept or reject based on factors like upfront fare, trip distance, destination, and passenger rating to maximize earnings, while also trying to avoid low-paying trips or excessive wait times.
You don't "have to" do anything. If you want Uber Pro benefits, then yes. However if those benefits aren't important to you then no.
Drivers are penalized if they cancel the ride. It goes against the acceptance rate. There are some drivers that prefer the passenger to cancel so they can get the cancelation rate but other drivers will try to accommodate you. Its best to let them know ahead of time so they are aware.
Uber's "5-minute rule" refers to the time window for riders and drivers, where drivers can typically cancel a trip and earn a fee after waiting a certain amount of time (often around 5 minutes for standard rides), while riders get charged wait time fees if they aren't ready within a shorter grace period, usually 2 minutes for UberX, before the driver cancels. The exact times vary by location, ride type (e.g., UberX vs. Uber Black), and whether it's a shared ride, but it's designed to compensate drivers for waiting and keep the platform efficient.
Uber delivery requests: accepting and declining
If a delivery order is canceled before you're able to pick up the food, your account will not be negatively affected and you will not lose access to deliveries in the driver app. Any deliveries cancelled by the customer or the store do not affect your cancellation rate.
Managing ride requests
Once you decline the trip it will automatically go to another driver in the area. Cancelling after acceptance: In case you accept a long trip by accident, you can cancel it.
To achieve and maintain higher statuses like Gold, Platinum, and Diamond, you need to maintain a certain acceptance rate. Check the Uber Pro or Uber Eats Pro hub in the Driver app for your city's acceptance rate requirements. Your acceptance rate may also affect your eligibility for other promotions or incentives.
Yes, making $200 a day with Uber is achievable, especially by working peak hours (lunch/dinner rushes, weekends), strategically choosing busy areas (airports, city centers), focusing on high-value rides/orders (long distances, good tips), and potentially multi-apping (Uber + DoorDash/Lyft) to maximize time, but it requires dedication, often 8-12 hours, and can be tough without promotions or in slow markets.
Definition of Rule of 40
Rule of 40 measures a company's combined growth and profit margin. Many venture capital and growth equity investors believe this ratio should exceed 40%, especially for software companies.
We currently have team members ready to receive your requests for a ride 7 days a week, from 4am to 10pm ET. We're working to expand those hours in the future.
Riders and drivers can cancel a trip for any reason consistent with our Community Guidelines. Not following Uber's policies (including Community Guidelines) may result in a driver canceling and a rider being charged a cancellation fee.
Engaging in fraudulent activities, even once, can lead to permanent deactivation from the platform. Normally you will receive up to 2 warnings before this happens, but this depends on the severity of the situation. You will always have the reason for your deactivation laid out in the notice.
Aggressive, confrontational, and harassing behavior is not allowed. Don't use language or make gestures that could be disrespectful, discriminatory, threatening, or inappropriate. If you are the recipient of or witness to any threatening or rude behavior, you can report the situation to Uber.
For a $50 Uber ride, a good tip is generally $10 to $15 (20-30%) for great service, with many suggesting at least $5-$10 as a base, similar to restaurant tipping standards; you can tip more for excellent service, like a comfortable ride or great conversation, and less (or nothing) for poor service, with cash tips often preferred by drivers.
Cancellation fees may be charged to riders for the following scenarios: For most economy ride types (UberX, UberXL, Comfort and Pet) if rider canceled 2 or more minutes after requesting. For most Premium ride types (Uber Black, SUV, and Premier) if rider canceled 5 or more minutes after requesting.
Set a preference: Women riders can set a preference for a woman driver in their app settings. While it's not guaranteed, turning on the Women Preference increases your chances of being matched with a woman driver.
Hourly, Daily, and Weekly Earning Averages
Weekly: $600–$1000, depending on hours worked. Monthly: $2,400–$4,000 (for 20-45 hours/week)
This may be an authorization hold. Authorization holds apply only to those paying with a credit or debit card to better protect against fraud that may result from unauthorised card usage. These are not payment charges.
Profitability reveals a scalable business model
In 2019, it posted an alarming net loss of $8.5 billion. But through the first nine months of 2025, Uber generated profits of $9.8 billion. That's an incredible turnaround. Credit goes to its scalable business model.
Uber driver wages in Australia vary significantly but generally average around $22-$35 per hour after fees, though gross earnings can be higher ($26-$29/hr) before significant costs like fuel, car maintenance, and taxes, with top drivers in peak times potentially earning $40+/hour, while some periods of low demand might see earnings fall below minimum wage, highlighting the gig economy's fluctuating income for drivers.
How to make $100 a day online
Can You Be Penalized For Low Acceptance Rates? That said, the majority of the big food delivery apps will not punish you for low acceptance rates. Uber Eats, for instance, makes it clear in their documentation: Your acceptance rate is no longer displayed in the Uber app.
Acceptance rate does NOT affect driver status. Some drivers believe that acceptance rate affects them. It doesn't. Declining ride requests will not get you deactivated on Uber or Lyft.
Rider feedback is anonymous, and ratings are private. We don't share details about why a rider gave a rating for specific trips to maintain confidentiality. Riders can see their updated rating only after they rate you.