Ubers and other rideshare services have become a common luxury in many of our lives. Whether you’re getting a ride to the airport or calling a car home after having a few drinks, rideshares are an incredibly convenient, quick, and safe way to get from place to place. These services have become so commonplace, however, that people may forget that they are, in fact, a luxury and that the drivers who keep these services going deserve a fair amount of respect and appreciation. (That goes beyond just paying and tipping for your ride.) If you don’t want to be that rude or obnoxious passenger that drivers complain about to their friends—and if you don’t want your rider rating going down—then there are a number of faux pas to avoid the next time you call a car.
We scoured Reddit threads and subreddits (primarily r/uberdrivers) for driver input on the passenger habits that annoy them the most. Here are the top things you should never do in an Uber (or any other rideshare service).
Don’t Make the Driver Wait
Proper Uber etiquette starts before you even enter the car. A common complaint from drivers on Reddit was that riders too often will make them wait once they’ve arrived to pick them up. Remember, time is money for Uber drivers, so not only is making them wait an annoyance, but it can also prevent them from accepting as many rides as they may want to during their shift.
Making your driver wait can also cost you money as the rider. For a typical UberX ride, riders are charged a per-minute wait time fee if they don’t board the vehicle within 2 minutes of the driver’s arrival. If you make a driver wait too long, they may also decide to cancel the ride and you may be charged a cancellation or no-show fee. So, for both your sake and the driver’s, try to be outside and ready when your Uber ride arrives.
Don’t Use Uber as a Moving Service
As someone who lives in New York City without a car and does a lot of shopping on Facebook Marketplace, I’ve certainly called an UberXL to transport a piece of furniture a number of times—so, I’ve failed the etiquette test on this one. On a Reddit post in the r/uberdrivers subreddit, a user asked if it was poor etiquette to call an UberXL to move a mattress in a box. Some drivers replied simply saying, yes, it’s poor etiquette and that anyone transporting large items should use a moving service or a U-Haul instead.
Other drivers said that it’s sometimes alright to call an Uber to move a large item, as long as you send a message upon booking the ride to let them know in advance about the item you’re transporting and tip generously for the additional service. “In my opinion as a driver, it’s a bit abusive of the driver and the service,” one Reddit user wrote. “[It’s] not outrageous, but inconsiderate enough to warrant a $20 tip. If I had no text, no call, and no indication I’d be hauling something bigger than a suitcase, I’d cancel upon arrival.”
While transporting something like a coffee table in an UberXL may not seem much different to you than loading in your large suitcases from the airport, there are some key things to keep in mind. For starters, the drivers likely won’t have their vehicle prepared for furniture transport, which means they can’t fully protect against damages to both their car or the furniture itself. And while you may intend to do all the heavy lifting yourself, some drivers note they prefer to do it themselves to avoid any nicks or scratches to their vehicles, so that requires extra labor on their part.
Don’t Sit Behind the Driver
The preferences of where riders should sit in an Uber wasn’t quite as unanimous as you may think. Some drivers (responding to a question about where riders should sit) actually said they didn’t mind at all whether a rider sat in the front or the back seats of the car, as they care more about the rider being both comfortable and respectful than where the rider sits. However, many drivers did say they prefer when riders sit in the back seat and often have the front passenger seat pushed up to allow more leg room in the back seat and/or discourage riders from sitting in the front. (Of course, if you’re calling a ride for four people and the car only seats four, one person will naturally have to sit in the front.)
While many drivers didn’t have super strong preferences about where riders should sit, the strongest opinions shared were about the seat directly behind the driver. “Sit where you want, so long as it’s not directly behind me when you are a rider of one,” one driver replied. “That makes me suspicious.” So, keep that in mind before you mindlessly sit behind the driver’s seat next time you get in an Uber by yourself.
Don’t Make Eye Contact in the Rearview Mirror
Both drivers and riders alike have varying preferences for how much they want to socialize and engage during an Uber trip. However, no one likes awkward eye contact, so try not meet your driver’s eyes in the rearview mirror. One driver wrote that this is pretty low down on the list of unwritten Uber rules, but that it’s just “highly uncomfortable” for both the driver and rider alike.
Don’t Add Stops Mid-Ride
Before accepting a ride, drivers are able to see the pickup location and the destination, so they can decide if they want to take it. With that in mind, it’s not very considerate to add a stop mid-ride (even though you can), because the ride is then no longer the same ride the driver agreed to take. That said, sometimes you may end up in a situation where you realize you need to add another stop once your ride has already started. In that case, it’s best to ask the driver before doing so if it’s alright for you to add the stop, since this is more considerate to their time and the service they’re providing.
Don’t Eat or Drink in the Car
Just like everyone has different preferences about whether they allow food or drink in certain rooms of their house, people have different rules for their car, too. So, treat an Uber vehicle like an acquaintance’s home you’re entering for the first time. In that context, you probably wouldn’t just open up a bag of chips and start snacking away if they didn’t say it was okay first. So, use that same etiquette in an Uber. If you’re desperate for the granola bar in your bag or a sip of the soda you brought with you, it’s best to ask the driver first if they mind you eating or drinking in their vehicle.
Don’t Leave Trash in the Car
On that same note, if you do end up enjoying a snack or a beverage during your Uber ride, be sure to clean up after yourself and not leave any crumbs or trash behind. The same goes for leaving used tissues or any other garbage. Unless the driver has a designated bin in the car, you should take your trash with you when you leave.
Don’t Slam the Doors
It’s the same thing your parents likely have told you over and over: Don’t slam the doors. While you may be trying to ensure the car door shuts properly, try to be careful not to slam the doors aggressively when you exit. Not only can slamming the doors damage the car, but it’s also just kind of rude. Instead, thank your driver and shut the door just the amount that’s needed.
