What You Need to Become an Uber Driver (US Requirements)

I wrote the first version of this post in December 2015, when a car under 10 years old, a background check and an Uber-rented iPhone were the whole story. Most of that has changed. This is the “do I qualify, and is it worth it” overview. When you are ready to apply, the step-by-step is on the applying and approval page, and the screening rules have their own post.

Everything below is as of October 2026 and comes from Uber’s US pages. Many details are set city by city, so treat this as the outline and check the Driver app for your market.

The driver

• Age. Uber’s US requirements page says you must meet the minimum driving age in your city. Some cities set it higher. Chicago, for example, requires drivers to be at least 21.
• License. A valid US driver’s license in your name, and at least one year of licensed driving experience in the US. If you are under 25, Uber asks for three years. (In Chicago, drivers aged 21 or 22 need three years.)
• Social Security number. Needed for the background check. You also have to consent to the check before it starts.
• Documents. Expect to upload your license, current registration and proof of insurance, and in many cities proof of residency, a vehicle inspection form and a profile photo.
• Screening. An MVR (driving record) check and a criminal check, both free to you. Uber says there is no credit check. The details are in the background check post.

The car

For the standard UberX-type service, Uber’s city pages describe a 4-door car with independently opening passenger doors and five factory-installed seats with seat belts. Working windows and air conditioning are expected, and vans, box trucks, taxis, and salvage or rebuilt-title vehicles do not qualify. The big variable is vehicle age, and it is set by city. These are examples from Uber’s own city and regional pages:

Area	Vehicle age rule listed by Uber
Los Angeles, Boston, Chicago	16 years old or newer
Virginia	15 years old or newer
Maryland	12 years old or newer
Washington, DC	10 years old or newer
New York City	2006 model year or newer (some models higher), plus an emissions inspection at a NYS DMV facility

These cutoffs roll forward and differ between cities and between ride types (XL, Comfort and Black are stricter), so look up your own city before you buy a car or pay for repairs. In 2015 I told people “under 10 years old”. That was Uber’s rule then in most places; it is not the rule now.

You also need your own registration and a vehicle that is in good cosmetic and working condition. Many cities require a passing inspection form.

Insurance

You carry your own personal auto policy at your state’s minimums. Uber’s coverage sits on top of that and depends on what you are doing:

• Online, waiting for a request: Uber says it may maintain liability coverage where required by law (the limits Uber lists are $50,000 per person, $100,000 per accident and $25,000 property damage). Your personal policy is what you lean on here, so read it.
• From accepting a trip until it ends: Uber’s commercial policy lists at least $1,000,000 of third-party liability.
• Damage to your own car: Uber’s contingent comprehensive and collision coverage only applies if you carry comprehensive and collision on your own policy. Uber’s help center lists a $2,500 deductible. In California, Uber says the $2,500 deductible applies from January 1, 2026.

My 2015 warning still holds in spirit: call your insurer and tell them you drive for a rideshare company. Some personal policies exclude it. Uber’s insurance page has the current table for your state.

The phone

Your own. In 2015 Uber offered a rented iPhone for a weekly fee, and I mentioned it here. I have not found any current US sign-up page that offers one, so plan on installing the Uber Driver app (Android) on your own phone. The App Store listing currently requires iOS 18.0 or later. For Android, Uber’s help pages say 8.0 or 8.1 or later; check the Play Store listing for your phone. Add a mount and a car charger. See required items for drivers.

No car? Rent or lease one

Once you are an approved driver, Uber’s Vehicle Marketplace lists rental partners such as Hertz and Avis (rentals can be daily or weekly, and some include insurance and basic maintenance). People who are not yet approved cannot see the options. Rates I saw advertised started around $240 a week before taxes and fees, with a refundable deposit at some partners. Prices, deposits and eligibility vary by city and car, so get the full weekly cost in writing. Then run it through the vehicle cost per mile calculator and the profit calculator before you commit.

What you pay for, and when you get paid

You cover gas (or charging), maintenance, cleaning, tolls you are not reimbursed for, phone and data. You are an independent contractor, so no taxes are withheld and you set aside your own; the self-employment tax estimator helps.

Uber pays weekly by direct deposit to a bank account you add in the app. The earnings week runs from Monday 4:00 a.m. to the next Monday 3:59 a.m., and the deposit arrives later that week; the exact day depends on your city and bank. Instant Pay lets you cash out sooner: Uber’s US help page lists up to six cash-outs a day, a $1 minimum and a $1.75 fee per cash-out (free in New York City). Check the fee in your app before relying on it.

Uber Pro

Uber Pro is the rewards program. There are four tiers (Blue, Gold, Platinum, Diamond), earned through points per trip plus your rating and cancellation rate, and the perks vary by city. In February 2026 Uber began merging Advantage Mode into a redesigned Uber Pro in select cities, so what you see depends on where you drive. The “How Uber Pro Works” section of the app has your city’s thresholds; Uber’s program terms explain the rules.

Want delivery only?

You do not need to give rides. Uber’s delivery sign-up has separate vehicle options. Uber’s US page lists minimum ages of 18 for bike or on foot, and 19 for scooter or car, with the car minimum at 21 in California and New York State. A car used only for deliveries can have 2 or 4 doors. Delivery uses the same type of screening (Checkr, Samba Safety or HireRight). If you already drive, the Driver app lets you add delivery from Account, then Work Hub, where available in your city.

Losing access

Accounts get deactivated for things like expired documents, failed Real-Time ID checks, serious driving or criminal findings, fraud, or ratings. Uber says the in-app appeal is the way to challenge it, and that you should gather evidence first (dashcam footage, screenshots, police reports). Uber’s page gives a decision window of about 7 business days. Keep your documents current and your dash cam running; see the dash cam post for what to look for.

Lyft

Lyft has its own process; see applying with Lyft. Plenty of drivers run both apps.

Next steps

1. Check your city’s vehicle rule and your insurance.
2. Gather your license, registration, insurance card and Social Security number.
3. Follow the application walk-through.
4. Not sure it pays? Try the hourly earnings calculator with your own costs.