Your First Ride with Uber Driver App: Step-by-Step for Total Beginners

Getting Started with the Uber Driver App

After waiting for verification and getting your documents approved, your Uber driver account is finally active. Now it's time to hit the road and start earning! But before you rush to tap that “Online” button, take a moment to get familiar with the Uber Driver app—this is your everyday work partner.

The moment you launch the app, you’ll be taken to the main dashboard—think of it as your driving HQ. In this space, you’ll handle all your driving essentials—from setting yourself available for trips to monitoring how much you’ve earned and how riders are rating you. You’ll find everything at your fingertips—from switching your availability on and off, to reviewing your income, checking your ratings, and adjusting your account preferences.

The key now is understanding the flow. Know when to go online, how to spot incoming trip requests, and how to complete them smoothly. Make sure you’re fully prepped before going active—location services should be enabled, your data connection steady, and your phone battery topped up so nothing interrupts your shift. Because once you tap “Online,” you're officially stepping into the driver’s seat—ready to experience the real hustle of being an Uber driver.

1. Open the App & Sign In to Your Account

Once the Uber Driver app is installed on your phone:

• Open the app.
• Sign in using the email address or phone number you used during registration.
• After logging in, you’ll typically land on the Home screen—this is your main dashboard as an Uber driver partner, where everything begins.

2. Get Familiar with the Main Dashboard

Once you’re logged in, the app’s home interface will display several key tabs at the bottom of your screen:

• Home: This is where you activate your “Online” status to start receiving trip requests.The screen may display a real-time map, highlighted high-demand zones, and an estimate of ride request trends in your area.

• Earnings: A detailed summary of your income—including daily and weekly earnings, tips, and bonuses from promotions or incentives—can be found here.

• Account: This section lets you manage your personal details, upload documents, add or change vehicle info, and select your payment method.

• Ratings: View feedback from riders here, including your average star rating and compliments. This can help you improve your service over time.

3. Set Your Status to “Online”

Ready to hit the road? Follow these steps:

• Tap the “GO” or “Online” button on your Home screen.

• After going online, the system will start matching you with nearby riders, using your current GPS location as a guide.

• Helpful Tip: Keep both your location services and mobile data turned on at all times to ensure you never miss a ride opportunity.

4. Customize Trip Preferences (Optional)

Need more flexibility in choosing the rides you take? Feel free to adjust these options so they match your preferred driving habits and income targets.

• Types of trips you want to accept—like standard UberX rides or Comfort requests if your vehicle is eligible.

• Maximum pickup distance so you’re not traveling too far for a rider

• Route-based filters like Destination Mode, which helps you stay aligned with your preferred travel route or direction.

To adjust your trip preferences, head to the settings tab or use the quick-access options available on your main screen while you're online.

5. Check Important Notifications

Uber will occasionally send updates through the app.Don’t forget to check your notifications frequently to stay updated on:

• Bonus and incentive updates.
• Weekly or monthly promotional offers.
• Alerts for busy zones (hotspots).
• Document expiration notices or required updates

Notifications can be accessed by tapping the bell icon at the top right, or through alerts shown directly on your home screen.

Service Options You Can Toggle

With Uber, your schedule isn’t set in stone—you decide what kind of trips you take and when you want to hit the road. You can stick to rides, focus on food deliveries, or handle both—it’s all up to how you want to work today.

• Rideshare (Passenger Trips)

 Pick up riders at their chosen location and drop them off at their destination—your classic ride‑hailing job.

• Delivery (Uber Eats / Food Drop‑off)

Collect restaurant orders and deliver them to hungry customers.

• Hybrid (Rideshare + Eats)

Keep both switches on to widen your order pool and stay busier throughout a shift.

Managing Your Service Preferences in the Uber Driver App Want to switch between rides or deliveries? Here’s how you can fine-tune your service setup right inside the Uber Driver app—quick and hassle-free.

• Open the Uber Driver app.
• Tap Account.
• Select Work Hub (sometimes labeled Job Center).

Inside Work Hub, flip the toggles for the services you want:

• Delivery → On: you’ll see Uber Eats requests.

• Rideshare → On: you’ll receive passenger trip requests.

• Turn on both to accept whatever hits first.

Feel like mixing things up? You can update your service choices anytime—whether you’re shifting your schedule or trying to land more trip requests.

How to Accept, Pick Up, and Drop Off Riders

When you switch your status to Online, the app immediately starts scanning the area to match you with people requesting rides nearby. It’s a good idea to understand how the process works—starting from when you get a ride request all the way to dropping the passenger off smoothly at their destination.

Here's a step-by-step guide to walk you through it.

1. Accepting a Ride Request

When a rider nearby requests a trip, a notification will appear on your screen showing details such as:

• The rider’s name (or initials).
• The rider’s rating.
• Estimated distance and time to the pickup location.
• The destination (sometimes shown only after accepting)

To accept the trip:

• Tap the Accept button before the countdown expires (usually within 10 seconds).

• If you don’t respond, the request will automatically be passed to another driver. To avoid missing trips, you can enable auto-accept in your app settings.

Keep in mind: Turning down too many ride requests in a short period may lower your driver stats and affect how often you receive future trips.Think carefully before rejecting an offer.

2. Navigating to the Pickup Point

Once you accept the trip:

• The app will immediately display a map to guide you to the pickup location. Feel free to choose your preferred navigation app—whether it’s Google Maps, Waze, or another—by setting it up directly in your Uber Driver preferences.

• Always follow the GPS route unless you’re already familiar with the area and prefer a better path. Pay close attention to the exact pickup pin so you don’t drive past it.

3. Contacting the Rider (If Needed)

If the pickup location is unclear or you can’t find the rider:

• Send a chat message through the app.
• If quick clarification is needed, just tap the phone icon to talk to the rider directly and coordinate efficiently.

Always keep your tone courteous and clear—good communication helps both you and the rider feel more at ease throughout the trip.

4. Confirming the Pickup

Once the rider enters your vehicle:

• Kindly confirm the rider’s name before beginning the trip to make sure you're picking up the right person.
• Once the rider is confirmed, press the ‘Start Trip’ option to begin tracking the journey in the app.

Pro tip: Always greet riders by name—something like “Hi, are you Anna?” helps confirm the right match and sets a friendly tone.

5. Driving to the Destination

During the ride:

• Follow the GPS route unless the rider asks for an alternate way and you're comfortable with it.

• The app will automatically track distance and time.

If a rider suggests a preferred route, feel free to follow it as long as it’s safe and reasonable.

6. Ending the Trip

Once you arrive at the destination: Tap End Trip in the app. The fare will be calculated automatically, and Uber’s service fee will be deducted

In most U.S. In most cities, riders pay through the app, so you usually won’t need to deal with cash unless the trip specifically requires it. If the trip is marked as cash payment (less common), instructions will appear on your screen.

7. Rating the Rider

After the trip ends:

• Once the ride is complete, you'll be asked to rate the passenger from 1 to 5 stars, depending on how the trip went for you.

• You can also leave a compliment or feedback, especially if the rider was pleasant and respectful

Riders will also rate you—so stay courteous and professional to keep your driver rating high.

8. After finishing a trip, you can either remain available for new ride requests or go offline for a short rest whenever you need it.

Once the ride is complete, you can:

• Stay online to accept another trip.
• Or switch to offline mode if you want to take a break

You’re in control of your schedule. That’s one of the best perks of driving with Uber—you choose when to work and when to rest.

Getting Started with the Uber Driver App: A Guide to Making Food Deliveries via Uber Eats

If you’ve enabled the Delivery option in your Uber Driver app, the system will automatically look for food delivery requests nearby—from restaurants to hungry customers.

Here’s a step-by-step guide to getting started:

1. Go Online

Just like with ride requests:

• Open the Uber Driver app.
• Tap the "GO" or "Online" button.
• The app will start searching for nearby delivery requests from restaurants

If Delivery is turned on in your settings, Uber Eats orders will be included automatically.

2. Accept Incoming Orders

When a delivery request comes in:

• You’ll see the restaurant’s name and the estimated delivery time.
• Select “Accept” to confirm the delivery, or choose “Decline” if you’re currently unable to fulfill it.

If you don’t respond within a few seconds, the order will be passed to another driver. To avoid missing requests, consider turning on Auto-Accept in your app settings.

3. Pick Up the Food at the Restaurant

Once you’ve accepted an order:

• Use the navigation button in the app to get directions to the restaurant.

• When you arrive, show the staff the order number or customer’s name

• Wait for the food to be prepared — sometimes you may need to wait in line

• Before leaving the restaurant: Double-check that all items are included

Make sure you confirm the order is yours, especially if there are multiple drivers waiting

4. Deliver to the Customer

When you're ready to head out:

• Tap “Start Delivery” in the app.
• Use the app’s built-in map to guide you straight to the customer’s delivery address.
• Once you’ve delivered the food, tap “Complete Delivery” in the app

Most deliveries today are contactless, so you may just need to place the food at the door and mark it as delivered in the app.

5. Finish and Wait for the Next Order

Once the delivery is complete:

• Once the delivery is complete, your screen will automatically return to the home page of the app.

• Need a break? You can pause your availability by going offline. Ready to keep going? Stay active and the next delivery offer will come through shortly.

Any tip from the customer (if given) will appear shortly, along with your total earnings for that trip

Extra Tips for Uber Eats Drivers

1. Use an insulated food bag to keep meals warm and organized.
2. To avoid wrong turns or delays, make sure your phone’s location feature is turned on and working properly throughout the trip.
3. Take a moment to carefully review the order before leaving the restaurant—this helps prevent any items from being forgotten.
4. Handle food with care to ensure high customer satisfaction and better ratings

Note:

The way you use the Uber Driver app for Uber Eats is generally the same across all vehicle types—whether you’re using a bike, scooter, or car. The process stays consistent; only your mode of transportation changes.

If You Run Into Problems While Driving or Delivering Food

• Rider Doesn’t Show Up:

1. Wait at the pickup location for up to 5 minutes.
2. If the rider doesn’t arrive after waiting, you can cancel the trip and choose “Rider didn’t arrive” as the cancellation reason.

You may still receive a cancellation fee (as long as the conditions are met).

• Can’t Reach the Rider or Customer:

1. Use the in-app chat or call feature to get in touch.
2. If there’s no response, just follow the app’s instructions (sometimes it will cancel automatically).

• Unclear or Incorrect Address:

1. Try contacting the rider or customer directly.
2. If the problem continues, tap on “Problem with the address” and follow the instructions shown in the app.

• Rude or Inappropriate Rider/Customer:

1. Finish the trip safely first.
2. Then report the behavior through the “Help” section in the app.
3. You can also leave a low rating or block them from future trips.

How Uber Drivers Can Easily Monitor Earnings, Bonuses, and Payouts Using the App

After each completed order, it’s only natural to want to know how much you’ve earned. Tracking your earnings is one of the most important habits for Uber drivers—it helps you stay on top of your daily trips, tips, and weekly bonuses. Fortunately, the Uber Driver app makes this super easy.

1. View Your Daily or Weekly Earnings

To get started:

• Open your Uber Driver app.
• Tap the “Earnings” tab at the bottom of your screen.

Once inside, you’ll be able to see:

• The total number of trips you've completed.
• Your total online time.
• The tips you’ve received
• Any bonuses or weekly incentives added to your account

Tip: You can tap on each trip under your earnings history to view a detailed breakdown of the payout for that individual trip.

2. Types of Bonuses and Incentives You Can Earn

Uber offers extra earnings opportunities to reward active drivers. Here's a breakdown of some of the most common incentive types you might see:

• Quest

Finish a required number of trips within a set period—like completing 30 deliveries in 3 days—and you’ll receive a reward added to your earnings.

• Boost

Earn more per trip by accepting rides in high-demand zones.You’ll often see these high-demand areas highlighted on your map, especially during busy times like rush hours.

• Time-Based Promotions

Trips completed during busy hours—like morning commutes or weekend nights—often come with higher-than-usual payouts.

• Referral Bonuses

Invite friends to drive with Uber. If they sign up using your referral code and complete a certain number of trips, you both get a cash reward.

To view all available promotions, go to Earnings > Promotions in the Uber Driver app.

3. Check Your Balance and Set Up Payouts

To see how much you've earned or to make changes to where your payouts go:

Go to Account > Wallet

Inside the Wallet section, you can:

• See your current balance (pending and available).
• Check your transfer history.
• Add or update your bank account details

Uber also gives you access to Instant Pay (sometimes called "Cash Out"). This feature allows you to instantly transfer your available balance without having to wait for your regular weekly deposit—perfect when you need funds on short notice.

Closing Thoughts

Starting out as a new Uber driver takes a bit of time to get used to, but the more trips you complete, the easier everything becomes. Whether it’s navigating the app, switching between ride requests or food deliveries with Uber Eats, or tracking your daily earnings—it all starts to feel second nature pretty quickly.

Remember, success as an Uber driver isn’t just about staying online. It’s also about working smart: choosing the right hours, knowing where the demand is, and understanding how the system works. Most importantly—stay patient, be friendly, and protect your rating.

Stick with it, and before long, your earnings could go well above average. Now get out there, start driving, and may your ride requests keep rolling in!