Uber background checks: everything you need to know
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Anyone interested in working as a driver with Uber or UberEats must first pass a background check to be considered. Many questions have been raised about Uber’s policies and this article will help answer a few of them.
Uber has pretty stringent requirements, and a lot of people are concerned about whether or not this will affect their ability to start driving with Uber.
If you’ve been wondering what the deal is with these background checks, and what it will take to pass one, here’s everything you need to know!
What is Uber’s background check?
Everyone who becomes a driver with Uber must undergo a background check. As part of your application with Uber, you’ll fill out a background check consent form. This involves providing your social security number and checking the boxes that agree to their background check.
Checking these boxes confirms that you’ve read the lengthy legal documents that provide details on how the background check works, including Federal Fair Credit Act laws and Uber Disclosure agreements. Once Uber has your consent, they will use a company called Checkr to do an extensive background check.
Now that Postmates and UberEats both operate under the same company, you can easily work with UberEats using your Postmates account. Background check processes may differ depending on if you want to be in the Uber rideshare program or UberEats program and plan to use a bike, for example. If you plan to work with a car, your driving history will also be checked.
Checkr will then take your information and do an extensive check that is compliant with federal and state standards. Your information is safe with them, and is simply used to get the information Uber needs to approve you for work.
Uber conducts yearly background checks on all of their drivers, so you’ll want to maintain your clean driving record to avoid being deactivated. They may also conduct background checks if your area has law changes that necessitate it.
Background checks are a necessity for almost any job, but especially for a career in which a company is trusting you with the safety of other people and goods. The Uber background check, though frustrating to some, is a necessary safety measure for the ridesharing and delivery company.
What do they look at?
Checkr will ask you for personal information (including Social security number and Driver’s license) that will allow them to run checks across all states.
They then run a series of checks through multiple databases (local, state, national) to look for any convictions over the previous seven year period. This includes checking:
- County courthouse records for every county of residence in that seven year period
- Federal courthouse records in that time period
- Multi-state records for that period
- Inter-state criminal databases
- Motor vehicle record
- PACER database (Public Access to County Electronic Records)
- Your social security records
- The national sex offender registry
- The FBI’s terrorist watchlist
As Uber is checking all of these databases, they are looking for the following.
- Must hold a valid U.S. driver’s license and have a minimum of one year of licensed driving experience in the U.S.
- Three years of U.S. driving experience is required to give rides if you are 24 and under, and one year is required if you are 25 or older.
- A motor vehicle report that shows no more than 3 minor violations in the previous 3 year period. Minor violations include:
- Speeding violations
- Moving violations
- Driving without a license
- Driving without insurance
- Traffic light violations
- A motor vehicle report that shows NO major violations in the previous 7-year period. Major violations include:
- Hit-and-run accidents
- Speeding in excess of 100 mph
- DUIs
- Reckless driving convictions
- Street racing
- No criminal convictions in the previous 7-year period. Criminal convictions include:
- Felonies
- Misdemeanors
- Resisting arrest
- Child endangerment or abuse
- Violent crimes
- Driving related convictions
- Sexual offenses
The Uber background check is free, so it won’t cost you. Uber doesn’t perform physicals or credit score checks. This is simply a background check that assesses your driving record and ensures that you have a clean criminal record.
Uber complies with local and state laws concerning background check criteria, and restrictions may vary depending on where you are applying to drive.
According to Uber’s website, “The evaluation of background checks vary from city to city and is based on a combination of criteria specified in local laws and regulations governing rideshare drivers, as well as Uber’s internal safety standards.”
How long does it take?
According to Uber, the background check process should take between 3-5 business days. However, there are many factors that can contribute to this taking more time.
If Uber has a high volume of applicants, it could cause the process to take a little longer, as they can only do so many background checks at once. There are also multiple factors that could cause the process to slow down. For example, if you’ve lived in multiple states in the last seven years, it will take longer for Checkr to gain access to all the information they need.
As you wait for your background check to be processed, you can keep track by checking your status on in your driver profile in the Uber App.
You may receive a copy of the completed report from Checkr while Uber reviews the results, but once your report is reviewed and a decision is made, you will be notified via email.
Once you’ve consented to a background check, one of four statuses will appear here, and will tell you where Uber is in the process:
- Onboarding – means that your documents are being reviewed and Uber is in the process of completing your background check. If it’s been a week and this is still your status, you will want to contact Uber to make sure things are moving forward.
- Waitlisted – it can mean a number of things. It could just mean that Uber needed to run your information through the system again, or that there is some issue with the documentation.
- Consider – your background check has been completed and you should know shortly if you have been accepted. If it remains this way for long, you will likely be rejected.
- Active – this means you are an active Uber driver and can begin accepting rides and driving.
Uber does not typically communicate status changes via email or message, so you will need to check regularly to know if you’ve been activated.
What happens if I’m rejected?
Uber may reject your application if you fail to pass one of the requirements listed above. Unfortunately, Uber does not typically communicate the reason for this rejection, and you must contact Uber directly in order to get an answer.
If you feel you have been rejected without good reason, you can use Uber’s help portal to try and communicate with them directly about your issue. You can reapply with Uber, but you will need to wait 2-4 months, and these applications are reviewed on a case by case basis.
You will also need to do this through support, and not through their online application, as you will already be in their system as a driver from your initial application.
How can I avoid rejection?
If you are concerned that some aspect of your background check could potentially cause you to be rejected, there are a few things you can do.
First, you can request your motor vehicle record and go over it yourself before applying. If there are minor traffic violations that could be removed from your record by taking a traffic safety class, you can pursue this (this is usually only possible for a few months after your violation).
Another reason to request a copy of your records is that you may only need to wait a short time to apply if your violations or charges happened close to three years ago, and you can put off your application until that time.
In some cases, you can apply for expungement of certain violations or convictions if you’ve paid your fine and a certain amount of time has passed. If charges are dismissed, they should not appear on your background check. You’ll want to check your state laws on expungement to find out if this is an option for you.
Conclusion
While it’s true that Uber’s background check is somewhat extensive, it’s necessary to ensure the safety of drivers and riders and protect the company as well. Uber’s background check standards may change, but for now, the background check remains tightly monitored.
After reading this guide, you should have a clear understanding of what all goes into an Uber background check and know what to expect from your application process, as well as what to do if you have concerns about your background check. Once you see that active status, you’re ready to start accepting rides or deliveries and earning money with Uber or UberEats!
