Uber Ride Types - The Difference Between UberX, Uber Green, Uber Comfort, Uber Exec cars

A guide to Uber ride types

Uber offers a wide range of ride options designed to meet the diverse needs of its customers. As a driver, understanding these ride types is an important step towards maximising your earning potential.

In London, Uber has specific requirements for vehicles, with age, size, and condition standards dependent on the category of Uber service offered.

Qualifying for multiple ride types can help drivers increase their earnings. For example, combining UberX, Uber Comfort, and Uber Green services allows you to cater to a wider range of customers, leading to more ride requests and higher overall income.

Here's a breakdown of the various Uber services and their vehicle requirements, so you can identify which categories your vehicle qualifies for to help you increase your earning potential.

Economy rides: Affordable and popular choices

UberX

UberX is the most popular and widely used of Uber’s services. It’s an affordable option for everyday riders, making it a high-demand service. There are currently around 45,000 Uber drivers in London, serving a population of around 9.7 million.

The car requirements are minimal, making it accessible to most drivers. Typically, vehicles must be a 4-door sedan or hatchback, and in London, they must be no older than 15 years.

UberX vehicle requirements:

·         PHVL licence from an accepted council

·         Model year in line with local licensing authority requirements. Check with your local authority for the rules specific to your area.

·         Four-door vehicle

·         Good condition with no cosmetic damage e.g., dents and/or scratches

·         No commercial branding

·         Licensed to carry a minimum of 4 passengers

UberXL

For larger groups, UberXL is the ideal choice. Vehicles must be minivans or SUVs that can comfortably seat six or more passengers. Commonly chosen by families or groups heading to or from the airport, UberXL offers the opportunity to earn higher fares than UberX due to the vehicle’s larger capacity.

UberXL vehicle requirements:

·         PHVL licence from an accepted council

·         Must seat at least 6 riders in addition to the driver

·         Model year in line with local licensing authority requirements

·         Four-door vehicle

·         Good condition with no cosmetic damage

·         No commercial branding

Uber Comfort

Comfort increases earning potential on the Uber platform for drivers who have mid-sized vehicles with increased legroom, but there are more conditions to qualify for this category than simply the type of car you drive.

With Uber Comfort, riders will pay a little extra to be matched with more experienced drivers who have newer, mid-sized cars and a minimum 4.85 driver rating, for an elevated rider experience.

To be eligible to receive trip requests with Uber Comfort, you’ll need to meet the following criteria:

·         Have completed at least 500 trips

·         Maintain a minimum rating of 4.85. If your rating drops below 4.85, you will receive a notice and will have the next 80 rides evaluated by users to bring your rating back to the minimum required for Uber Comfort. If you recover your rating, you will remain eligible to receive requests. If you do not recover your rating, you will not receive further requests for Uber Comfort until you reach the minimum required for the rating of Uber Comfort.

·         Drive a mid-sized vehicle with more passenger legroom

·         A vehicle manufactured within the last 7 years.

·         Good condition with no cosmetic damage.

Uber Comfort vehicle requirements:

·         PHVL licence from an accepted council.

·         Vehicle model maximum of 7 years old for London and 10 years old for the rest of the UK.

·         All vehicles eligible for Uber Exec are also eligible for Comfort.

Uber Green

As the world shifts towards a greener, more sustainable world, Uber Green is becoming an increasingly popular option. This service exclusively uses fully electric vehicles. Not only does Uber Green cater to eco-conscious riders, but it also offers lower operating costs for drivers, who earn an additional 10% on Uber Green fares compared to UberX. In London, drivers using EVs may also benefit from reduced congestion charges, further increasing profitability.

This category is set to explode, with Uber having set the ambitious target of making every car on the Uber app in London fully electric by 2025. To this end, Uber has created a Clean Air Assistance Fund, which offers incentives to eligible drivers to transition into an EV by November 2024.  Drivers switching to an EV can receive £5,000 towards a new or used EV under the program.

Uber Green vehicle requirements:

·         PHVL licence from an accepted council

·         Fully electric vehicles

·         Hybrids are not included

·         Seats at least 4 passengers in addition to the driver

All of Splend’s vehicles in London are eligible for Uber Green, as all of our cars in London are EVs. These include the Toyota bZ4X, an all-electric SUV, which is a great choice for UberX drivers who want to stand out while maintaining low operating costs.

Premium rides: Elevated experience with higher earnings

Uber Exec

Uber Exec is a premium service targeting business professionals and riders who seek a luxurious experience without the price tag of Uber Lux. Vehicles must be high-end models, typically mid-sized luxury cars. Offering this service can significantly boost your earnings, especially in business districts and during peak hours, as Uber Exec fares can be up to three times the cost of a corresponding UberX journey.

Uber Exec vehicle requirements:

·         PHVL licence from an accepted council

·         Drivers who have completed over 1000 trips

·         Maintained a rating of 4.85 or above

·         Model year in line with local licensing authority requirements

·         Four-door vehicle

·         Good condition with no cosmetic damage

·         No commercial branding

Uber Lux

For the most exclusive rides, Uber Lux is the top tier. This service requires high-end luxury vehicles, such as a Mercedes-Benz S-Class or BMW 7 Series. Uber Lux rides operate on a base fare plus a per-minute and per-mile rate, leading to significantly higher prices than standard Uber rides. However, keep in mind that like all Uber services, Lux pricing can be subject to surge charges during peak times. Additionally, cancelling a Lux booking after 5 minutes incurs a hefty cancellation fee, so riders are more incentivised to commit once the ride has been booked.

Uber Lux vehicle and driver requirements:

·         PHVL licence from an accepted council

·         Drivers who have completed over 1000 trips

·         Maintained a rating of 4.9 or above

·         Model year in line with local licensing authority requirements

·         Four-door vehicle

·         Good condition with no cosmetic damage

·         No commercial branding

·         Lux vehicles must seat at least 4 riders in addition to the driver.

Uber Exec XXL

Newly introduced, Uber Exec XXL caters to larger groups requiring extra space and luxury. The vehicle requirements for Uber Exec XXL include premium SUVs or luxury vans with higher seating capacities, providing an elevated experience for larger parties.

How does XXL differ from XL?

Vehicles eligible for Exec XXL trips are ‘people carrier’ vehicles with up to 7 passenger seats and a high-end interior, while vehicles eligible for UberXL trips are those with up to 6 passenger seats and includes vehicles which are not necessarily premium or have as much space for luggage.

Accessibility and specialty rides: Meeting diverse needs

Uber Assist

This option is designed for riders living with disability, older adults, or those who need an extra helping hand when getting from place to place. Assist vehicles can accommodate folding wheelchairs, walkers and collapsible scooters.

Uber Assist vehicle requirements:

·         Be able to accommodate folding wheelchairs, walkers, collapsible scooters and other assistive devices

·         Model year in line with local licensing authority requirements

·         Four-door vehicle

·         Good condition with no cosmetic damage

·         No commercial branding

·         All vehicles must be licensed to carry a minimum of 4 passengers

For drivers to be eligible for Assist, they must have:

·         PHVL licence from an accepted council

·         A 4.7-minimum rating; and

·         Have completed over 500 trips (London) or 150 trips (rest of UK)

·         If you meet the criteria set out above, you need complete the online disability equality training. Once you have successfully completed this, you should start receiving Uber Assist trip requests within 48 hours. You can access the training via this link.

Uber Access

These are wheelchair accessible vehicles that allow wheelchair users to remain in their wheelchairs as they ride.

Uber Access vehicle requirements:

·         PHVL licence from an accepted council

·         Vehicles be able to accommodate non-foldable wheelchairs

·         Equipped with a ramp or lift

·         Must complete a certified accessibility training course

For drivers to be eligible for Access, they must have:

·         A 4.7-minimum rating; and

·         Have completed over 500 trips (London) or 150 trips (rest of UK)

As with Uber Assist, to become an Uber Access driver, you must complete the relevant Uber training module. Upon successful completion of the training, you should start receiving Uber Assist trip requests within 48 hours. You can access the training via this link.

Uber Pet

For riders travelling with their pets, Uber Pet offers a convenient option. Drivers who opt into this service must be comfortable with animals in their vehicle. This can be an easy way to diversify your ride offerings and cater to pet owners.

Drivers with vehicles that qualify for any Uber category can opt in or out of Uber Pet.

Knowledge is (earning) power

Understanding Uber's various ride types and their respective vehicle requirements is a key element in maximising your earning potential as a driver. By offering multiple services, you can attract a broader range of customers, increase ride frequency, and ultimately boost your income. You can also better understand the vehicles in each category to align with your preferences and your aspirations as an Uber driver.