How to Become an Uber Driver: A Beginner’s Guide

Uber is accessible, but you need to meet specific requirements and learn the basics to sign up and earn.

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Driving for Uber is often presented as an easy way to make money: Sign up, then drive. But there's more to it than that. You need to meet certain age, vehicle and insurance requirements, and pass a background check before you can start earning. There's also the rising cost of fuel to contend with. "With gas prices where they are, taking on a gig like rideshare or delivery just doesn’t math out in the same way," said Elizabeth Renter, NerdWallet's senior economist. Here’s what you need to know before signing up.

Uber driver requirements

You must check at least these boxes to become an Uber driver: Meet the minimum age to drive for Uber in your city. Have a valid U.S. driver’s license. Have at least one year licensed driving experience in the United States (three years if you’re under 25 years old). Pass a screening process, which will include a review of your driving record and possibly a background check. Provide proof of residency in your city or state. Give proof of vehicle insurance, if you’re planning to drive your own car. Note that Uber drivers can also rent their vehicles, which come with insurance. Find details on Uber's website. » MORE: Ways to make money » MORE:

Uber vehicle requirements

In general, Uber vehicles must be in good working condition, have four doors and meet state requirements, such as having up-to-date registration. Other requirements include: Pass inspection requirements, which vary by city and state. Meets vehicle age requirements in your city and state (typically 10 to 15 years old or newer). Not titled as salvage or rebuilt. No commercial branding. Additional requirements may apply to drive for specialized services, such as UberX and UberXL.

Uber insurance requirements

Uber drivers need to have auto insurance coverage. Minimum insurance requirements vary by state, and some places have special requirements for rideshare drivers. Uber also maintains insurance coverage on behalf of its drivers, which kicks in after you’ve accepted a ride request, but may also apply if you’re waiting on a request (if your personal insurance doesn’t cover the incident). Talk with your insurance provider before you start — it could cancel your policy if you don’t disclose your new gig. Your personal policy could also leave you with coverage gaps. In that case, consider purchasing rideshare insurance, if it’s available where you live. A commercial auto policy may be required for certain types of Uber drivers. » MORE: How much does Uber cost? » MORE: » MORE:

How much do Uber drivers make?

Drivers can expect to earn between $15 and $25 per hour with Uber, according to SideHusl.com, a review site for money-making platforms. But earnings can be less when you factor in expenses. In fact, that was the case for one of our writers who wanted to find out how much an Uber driver makes. The amount you make as an Uber driver depends on when, where and how frequently you drive, plus any tips or bonuses you may receive. Drivers must pay for gas and vehicle maintenance, and navigate gig worker taxes on their own. To help ease the burden of record-high gas prices, Uber is offering drivers discounts and promos through May 26.

How to maximize earnings as an Uber driver

Familiarize yourself with the various earning and bonus options. Check for guaranteed-pay promotions in your area, which ensure your weekly or hourly earnings as long as you meet certain requirements. Take advantage of peak hours — when demand for rides is high — through Uber surge pricing. That might mean waiting for rides after a special event or making yourself available to drive during the morning commute. Maintaining a stellar rating can also boost your earnings, so remember to keep your car clean, be friendly and follow the map app closely.

Explore other ways to make money on the road

If Uber isn’t for you, you could look into becoming a Lyft driver. If you’d rather transport food or packages than people, some delivery services, like Uber Eats and DoorDash, have looser requirements. For example, you may be allowed to drive an older car or use a scooter instead. Before signing up for anything, learn more about what it means to work in the gig economy. Explore more on Article sources NerdWallet writers are subject matter authorities who use primary, trustworthy sources to inform their work, including peer-reviewed studies, government websites, academic research and interviews with industry experts. All content is fact-checked for accuracy, timeliness and relevance. You can learn more about NerdWallet's high standards for journalism by reading our editorial guidelines. Uber Newsroom. Gas Savings for U.S. Drivers & Couriers. Accessed May 5, 2026. About the authors McMullen Laura McMullen assigns and edits content related to personal loans and student loans. She previously edited money news content. Before then, Laura was a senior writer at NerdWallet and covered saving, making and budgeting money; she also contributed to the "Millennial Money" column for The Associated Press. Before joining NerdWallet in 2015, Laura worked for U.S. News & World Report, where she wrote and edited content related to careers, wellness and education and also contributed to the company's rankings projects. Before working at U.S. News & World Report, Laura interned at Vice Media and studied journalism, history and Arabic at Ohio University. Laura lives in Washington, D.C. Published in Mulka Lisa Mulka is a freelance writer specializing in personal finance content. With more than 15 years of writing experience, Lisa most recently authored a book on personal financial literacy and served as lead writer on the FDIC’s Money Smart for Young People program. She holds a bachelor’s in creative writing, and master’s degrees in written communication and in educational technology. Lisa lives with her husband and two children in Michigan, where she spends her free time teaching the next generation of writers at Johns Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth. Tindall Tommy Tindall is a lead writer and content strategist covering how to make money — and how to keep it. He’s recorded and written about his experience testing popular gig jobs like driving for Uber, delivering with DoorDash and full-service shopping for Instacart. He loves making an extra buck, but laments the hours of awkward silence he endured as an Uber driver (never again). Cool kids might call him a content creator because he makes YouTube videos for the NerdWallet channel and app, but he himself is no longer very cool. Ask him about budgeting apps — he's tried most of them, but still prefers a good ole Google sheet to track spending. Then be sure to smash that “like” and “subscribe” button. Before NerdWallet, Tommy held decidedly more boring jobs at Fannie Mae and Booz Allen Hamilton. Today, he feels super privileged to write for you, the consumer. Published in How to Make Money as an Instacart Shopper The Gig Economy: Modern Term, Classic Concept Amazon Flex: What It Is and How It Works Amazon Flex: What It Is and How It Works By Kelsey Sheehy, Lisa Mulka, Tommy Tindall How to Make Money as an Instacart Shopper By Tommy Tindall, Kelsey Sheehy Taskrabbit Jobs: What Real Taskers Say By Tommy Tindall How Does DoorDash Work? Making Money as a Dasher By Lauren Schwahn, Taryn Phaneuf