Uber drivers receive a small fee to compensate for any waiting time they experience while picking up a rider or between stops. This additional fee will be added to the fare total.
As an Uber driver, it’s important to be on the road driving and maximising your earnings but sometimes we have to wait or stop in-between for riders.
Waiting Times:
How long does a driver have to wait?
When an Uber ride is requested by a rider, there is a small window of time to arrive at the ride without incurring any charges. This window varies between 3-6 minutes, depending on the type of ride selected.
After the initial free wait time, the driver is compensated for each additional minute waited for the rider. However, it is important to note that if the maximum waiting time is exceeded, the ride can be cancelled by the driver, the rider will be notified, and a cancellation fee will be added to the driver’s account.
The cancellation was automatic before and now Uber drivers will have to manually cancel rides if the waiting time is exceeded.
Waiting Times and Fees
The information provided in the table below illustrates the time frame for automatic cancellation of a ride in London, UK.
You can find the wait time thresholds here.
For example, if you’re driving an UberX and the rider doesn’t show up within 3 minutes, you’ll be able to wait an additional 5 minutes which is a total of 8 minutes, before the ride is automatically cancelled. You’ll also be compensated with a cancellation fare of £4.75.
If the rider shows up within a total of 8 minutes, you’ll be compensated 35p for each additional minute. So, say the rider comes after 5 minutes, the first 3 minutes will be free and the remaining 2 minutes will cost the rider 70p (2 minutes x 35p), which will be added to the total fare.
Trip Cancellation Fees
The table below shows the cancellation fees for London, UK. The driver-initiated or auto-cancellation fee is the fee the driver gets after waiting the maximum amount of time.
| Ride Type | Rider-initiated Cancellation Fees | Driver-initiated Cancellation Fees |
| UberX & Pet | £4.50 | £4.75 |
| Uber Access, Assist & Green | £5.18 | £5.46 |
| Comfort | £5.25 | £6.75 |
| UberXL | £6.00 | £6.75 |
| Exec | £7.50 | £9.00 |
| Lux | £10.50 | £11.75 |
You can find cancellation fee details of other cities in the UK: Click here
Uber Driver App Timer for Waiting
The Uber driver app begins tracking time as soon as the driver arrives at or near the pickup location. The initial timer counts down the free wait time, after which it will change to a green-coloured timer which begins counting the paid wait time. For example, in London, UK, a 4-minute countdown timer will begin for Comfort rides, followed by an additional 8-minute timer (see image below). This feature helps drivers to estimate additional fares and keep track of how long they are waiting for riders.
Waiting Between Stops:
If a driver has to wait for more than 3 minutes for UberX, XL, and Pet, or 4 minutes for Comfort, then they may be compensated for their wait time. The exact calculation for this compensation may vary depending on the city in which the driver is operating, as well as factors such as surge pricing. It is important to note that this compensation is only applicable for UberX, XL, Pet, and Comfort rides and that riders are required to input any stops in the app.
How does it work?
- Check the trip details to see if the trip includes multiple stops.
- If the rider has not yet added a stop, ask them to input the destination within the Uber app.
- Once you arrive at a stop, the Uber driver app will display a countdown timer for 3 or 4 minutes, depending on the type of ride.
- When you are ready to continue the trip, select the “Go to Next Stop” option within the app.
- You may communicate with the rider during the stop if needed.
To ensure fair compensation, it is important to ask the rider to enter any additional stops on the Uber app. Explain to the rider that adding the stop in the app will aid in navigation and reaching their destination efficiently. If the rider declines, contact support to review the trip payment.
Riders can follow these steps to add multiple stops:
- Open the Uber app and view the details of the ongoing trip
- Swipe up on the screen
- Select ‘Add or change’ next to the destination
- Use the ‘+’ symbol to add multiple stops
Please note that, the upfront price will be updated as soon as the changes are made.
Tips for Drivers:
Waiting Safely for Riders
It is essential to comply with the highway code, particularly those related to stopping and parking. In cities like London, where traffic can be congested, it can be challenging to find a suitable spot to pick up or drop off riders. Fortunately, Transport for London (TfL) offers extra leeway when it comes to stopping to pick up or drop off riders. Remember to be considerate of other road users while waiting for your rider.
I once received a penalty charge of £60 for parking slightly on the pavement on a busy street in Shoreditch. Although I intended to let traffic pass through, I still received the fine.
Communicating with Riders
By proactively communicating with riders, you can minimise wait times and efficiently begin the trip. As soon as you arrive at the pickup location, send a message to the rider saying “I’ve arrived”. Additionally, if the pickup location is particularly challenging, such as a busy junction or a one-way street without parking options, it can be helpful to message or call the rider to suggest an alternative pickup location