You can finally see what your Uber drivers really think of you
Quick summary
Have you always wanted to know what your Uber driver really thinks of you? Do they prefer passengers who sit quietly in the backseat with their headphones in (and face masks on) or do they actually enjoy engaging in conversation?
Today is your lucky day, because riders finally have a bit of insight as to what goes into a rating and additional data regarding your ride history.
To access your rating breakdown in the Uber app, follow the three steps as illustrated below:
- In the settings menu, tap privacy and then Privacy Center.
- In the Privacy Center, swipe to the right and click on the "would you like to see a summary of how you use Uber" tile.
- Scroll down to the "browse your data" section and tap on "View my ratings" to see the breakdown.
"Uber believes that users should have more control and visibility over their data, so we're making it easier to access, view and change your privacy settings by putting them in a single location for rides and delivery," a spokesperson for the company told TPG. "The Privacy Center also includes transparency features that explain how your data powers your trip and delivery experiences."
The above process is welcome to some, although not as simple as it seems, at least according to TPG senior reporter David Slotnick.
"Good, because I like to think that I'm an incredibly conscientious passenger and for some reason only have a 4.7," he told me. "But could they make this any harder to navigate to?"
On the opposite end of the spectrum, some of us simply cannot be bothered with these ratings.
"I just don't care if I have a high or low rating. I'm a perfectly normally behaved passenger but I don't understand why anyone would be bothered what the driver thinks of them," said TPG senior writer Benjamin Smithson. "I'm paying someone for a service. Imagine if you disembarked a plane and the crew held up score cards for each passenger?"
Related: Uber rolls out new airport services, including reserve pickup
He makes a point, however, if your Uber rating is a point of pride, the company shares a few tips for getting five stars:
- "Pack it in, pack it out: Drivers shouldn't have to clean up after you. Always make sure to take your trash and any other belongings with you. Don't leave a mess behind.
- Buckle Up: Studies show that unbuckled passengers in the back seat can put the driver at greater risk of injury in a crash. So always remember to buckle up for your and the driver's safety.
- Be ready: Remember that drivers' time is valuable and they shouldn't have to wait for you. A smooth pickup is better for everyone so be ready to go when the driver arrives.
- Treat everyone and everything with respect: As outlined in our Community Guidelines, we want riders and drivers to feel safe, respectful, and positive. Always treat your driver and their vehicle as you would want to be treated.
- Don't slam the door! It is easy to accidentally slam a door if you aren't thinking about it, and drivers have consistently cited door slams as a reason why they deduct stars."
TPG executive editor Scott Mayerowitz would also add a few reasons to that list, noting that "car seats are a big drag" and that "drivers hate you spending time to click in/out." Even so, Mayerowitz, an NYC resident and father, has 4.76 stars.
Among U.S. riders, San Antonio riders boost the highest average ratings:
- San Antonio
- St. Louis
- Nashville
- Salt Lake City
- Kansas City
- Sacramento
- Tampa Bay
- Charlotte
- Las Vegas
- Portland
Perhaps unsurprisingly, New York City residents have the lowest average rider rating among the top 10:
- New York City
- Seattle
- Washington, DC
- Boston
- Minneapolis-St. Paul
- San Francisco
- Philadelphia
- Los Angeles
- Baltimore
- Chicago
Related: Unsung Heroes: An Uber driver talks how to get the VIP treatment and be a better traveler