Vehicle eligibility for Uber comes down to three things: a baseline Uber applies everywhere, rules your city adds, and the ride option you want to drive. Uber’s driver page asks for an eligible 4-door vehicle and says each city has its own regulations for vehicles.[1] There is no single national car list, so this guide shows how to read the pages Uber does publish and check a specific car against them.
What does Uber require from a vehicle?
Uber’s minimum requirements for signing up to drive include meeting your state’s minimum age, a year of licensed driving experience in the US (3 years if you are under 25), and using an eligible 4-door vehicle. When you submit documents, Uber asks for copies of your license, registration and proof of insurance. Uber adds that vehicle requirements vary by region, so the sign-up flow shows what is needed where you live. The 4-door rule is the one that does not change from city to city. Everything else, from the oldest model year to extra paperwork, is set locally. The person side is covered in Uber driver requirements for applicants.
How do ride options change the requirements?
Uber’s eligible vehicles page gives examples of how the ride option changes seat and door counts: UberX requires 5 seats and 4 doors, and UberXL requires 7 seats and 4 doors.[2] The page also says all vehicles must comply with the requirements on Uber’s vehicle requirements page for your area and for the ride option listed there.
| Ride option | Seats | Doors |
|---|---|---|
| UberX | 5 | 4 |
| UberXL | 7 | 4 |
A car that fits UberX can therefore miss UberXL on seating alone. Count seats before you assume a larger option is open to you, and do not infer seat counts from a model name, because trims of the same model can differ.
Compare car rental
500+ rental companies. Free cancellation on most bookings.
How does Uber’s eligible vehicles list work?
Uber keeps the list on its eligible vehicles page, organized by make and city. Two lines on that page decide how to use it. First, it says the information is for convenience purposes only. Second, it says the year shown for each vehicle is the minimum model year for eligibility.
So the list answers a narrow question: has Uber accepted this make, model and year in this city? It does not replace the requirements for the ride option. The page states that if a vehicle model appears there but does not comply with the vehicle requirements for ride options in your area, that vehicle is not eligible.
A copy of the list on another website can be out of date or for another city. Use Uber’s own page for the city where you plan to drive, since the minimum year differs by market.
How do you check your car in your city?
To compare models, see best cars for Uber by ride option. Whatever you pick, run the same short routine for any vehicle before you buy it, finance it or rent it for a shift.
- Find the exact make, model and model year on your registration, not from memory.
- Open Uber’s eligible vehicles page and select the city where you will drive.
- Find your make and model and compare the year shown with your car’s year. Remember it is a minimum.
- Confirm the doors and seats match the ride option you want.
- Start the sign-up flow, where Uber shows the vehicle requirements for your region.
If the car is missing from the city list, that is a stop sign for that market. If it is listed, the sign-up flow is the final check, since Uber says that is where regional requirements are shown.
Does the car need an inspection?
In some markets, yes. Uber says inspection requirements vary by city. In some markets all drivers must pass a vehicle inspection before taking the first trip, which Uber says typically takes less than 30 minutes, and an annual inspection may be required after that.[3]
The process Uber describes is simple. Download an inspection form, get the vehicle inspected, then upload the completed form and the receipt to your account. Uber says passed inspection forms from other rideshare companies may also be accepted, and that you can use any certified mechanic in your area, including those not on its list.
Cost is the part drivers forget. Uber states that it does not cover inspection costs when a third-party mechanic performs them, and that it does not cover repairs or maintenance needed to pass. If a part fails, the repair is yours, which is why a pre-check of lights, tires and brakes is worth doing before the appointment. The inspection form itself is covered in a separate guide.
Tip: Book the inspection after you confirm the car is on the city list. Passing an inspection does not make a model eligible, and Uber does not cover the mechanic’s fee.
What about premium options?
Premium tiers have their own vehicle rules on top of the list. For Uber Black, Uber’s driver page says only specific makes and models qualify, the model year must be no older than 5 years ago, and the car needs a black exterior and a black leather or vegan leather interior.[4] Those rules do not apply to standard options, so a car that is fine for UberX may never qualify for Black.
What are common mistakes when checking eligibility?
- Reading the list as a maximum age. The year is the oldest allowed model year, so a newer car is not a problem on that count.
- Checking one city and driving in another. Uber says each city has its own rules.
- Ignoring doors and seats. A listed model with the wrong configuration for the ride option is not eligible.
- Skipping the inspection budget. The mechanic’s fee and any repair are the driver’s cost.
