Do New Uber Drivers Get a Signup Bonus?

Uber used to give new drivers a bonus when they signed up (e.g., an additional $300 that you’d get after completing a certain number of rides or sticking with Uber for a certain number of days).

Unfortunately, Uber has discontinued that bonus, and you can’t get it anymore.

The good news is that you can still get something when you sign up as a new driver: an earnings guarantee. This means that if you complete a set number of rides, Uber promises that you’ll earn a minimum amount for it, regardless of how much the rides actually pay.

How does Uber’s earnings guarantee for new drivers work?

It’s easiest to illustrate Uber’s new “signup bonus” (i.e., its earnings guarantee) with an example.

Imagine that in your city, Uber guarantees that new drivers will make at least $500 if they complete 50 rides in their first month.

Let’s say you complete 50 rides, but because they’re all fairly short and poorly paid, you only make $400. Uber will pay the difference, bringing your total earnings up to $500.

This usually isn’t as lucrative as the old type of bonus, but it does come with the advantage that it frees you up to take shorter trips and to worry less about how much each one pays (normally, being strategic about the rides you accept is key to maximizing your earnings on apps like Uber and Lyft).

This will make your first month less stressful and give you some room to think about whether you’re enjoying the work enough to continue driving for Uber in the long run.

How much will you earn?

The exact amount you’ll be entitled to as a new driver depends on several factors, including where you’re driving.

However, based on anecdotal online reports, you may receive anywhere from $500–$1,000 for completing 50–200 rides.

Uber’s earnings guarantee is targeted at new drivers, so if you already drive with Uber or are returning after taking time away, you aren’t eligible for it.

You also need a referral code to get the bonus. This isn’t as much of a barrier as it sounds like; if you don’t have any friends or family who drive for Uber, you can easily find a referral code online.

Lastly, to get the bonus, you’ll obviously need to complete the required number of rides. Canceled trips or deliveries won’t be included in your total.

If you’re a new Uber driver, getting your earnings guarantee is easy, provided you’re able and willing to complete the required number of rides. Here’s how you do it:

1. Get a referral code

First, as mentioned, you’ll need a referral code from a current Uber driver.

If you know any, you can ask them to provide you with their code. They’ll have an incentive to do so, since Uber’s bonus goes both ways—if you use their code to sign up, they’ll get money, too.

If you don’t know anyone, you’ll need to hunt for a code online. You’ll almost certainly be able to find one by searching “uber referral code” on Google, or by browsing one of these communities on Reddit:

• r/referralcodes
• r/UberDrivers

2. Register for Uber using your code

Next, you’ll need to confirm that you meet Uber’s requirements and register as a driver. To sign up and get your bonus, you must:

• Have a government-issued ID
• Be at least 18
• Have a valid driver’s license and an eligible vehicle with auto insurance (unless you plan on delivering for Uber Eats on foot or via bike)
• Provide proof of residency in the city and state you want to drive in
• Pass Uber’s background check

Note that those are Uber’s absolute minimum requirements, but depending on how and where you plan on driving, you may need to meet significantly more stringent criteria. It’s much easier to sign up to deliver for Uber Eats than to provide rideshare services for Uber itself (to do that, you might need to be at least 25 years old, although that depends on your state).

Familiarize yourself with Uber’s local requirements for the type of work you want to do before you go through the trouble of registering.

How and where to sign up

You can register in Uber’s app or by visiting Uber’s website, clicking “Sign up,” and then clicking “Sign up to drive & deliver.” You’ll be prompted to enter a referral code if you have one.

Alternatively, if you asked a friend to issue you a code instead of searching for one online, Uber will have given them a signup link. You can ask them to send it to you; just click that link and it will enter their referral code automatically, saving you the trouble of making sure you’ve entered it correctly.

After this, go through the remainder of Uber’s signup process. This will involve providing a fair amount of personal info, including your Social Security number, and waiting for Uber to conduct a background check on you, which may take a few days.

3. Complete the required number of rides

Once your account is approved, you can start accepting gigs. Just complete the required number of rides to qualify for the bonus.

Again, the number that Uber requires varies from time to time and place to place, but you’ll almost certainly have to complete at least 20. 50–200 rides seems to be a fairly common requirement.

Once you’ve completed enough rides within the given timeframe, Uber will verify them and credit the bonus to your account.

Uber’s earnings guarantee is a one-off, but Uber regularly offers other promotions and incentives. We’ve listed them below:

Referrals for other drivers

Not only do new drivers get an earnings guarantee, but if you refer a friend, you’ll get a bonus once they complete their set number of rides.

How much you’ll get depends on your location, but anecdotal reports suggest that Uber often pays out $100–$200. (Again, your referral will have to complete 50–200 rides for you to get this.)

To get your referral code or link, click “Refer friends” in the Uber app’s dashboard.

Quests and Boosts

Uber regularly offers special promotions as an incentive to complete more trips. There are two types you might see:

• Quests: Uber will pay you extra money if you complete a certain number of trips in a set timeframe (e.g., an extra $100 for completing 30 trips over 3 days).
• Boosts: Uber’s “Boost+” feature will pay you extra for completing rides that start in a specific area within a particular period. You can look on the map for the blue zones that indicate qualifying regions and sign up to participate in Boost+ one hour before the session starts.

Surge pricing

During periods of high demand, Uber implements another promotion called Surge pricing. You’ll earn more than normal if you complete rides during these peak periods (which often coincide with rush hours or mealtimes).

Tips

Tips aren’t exactly promotions, but they certainly boost your earnings. Tipping is optional and there’s no guarantee you’ll receive them, but drivers who provide great service (especially during peak hours) are more likely to get decent tips.

Taking steps to boost your tip rate (and being strategic about going after other bonuses) is a big part of making your time as an Uber driver worth it.