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Driving & delivery · Checked November 2026

Uber (rides) requirements

Rideshare driving. New drivers must be 25 in California and some other cities, 23 in others, with 1 year of US driving experience (3 if under 25).

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At a glance

Source: Gridwise 2025, gross, excludes wait time. Gas and wear typically cut this 25–40%.

Minimum age
23–25 by city
Background check
Background check
Vehicle
Car required
Payout
Instant
Reported pay
$23.88/active hr
Worker type
Contractor

Minimum age varies by city. New drivers must be 25 in California and Seattle and 23 in Phoenix, with at least one year of US driving experience (three years if under 25). Seattle drivers also need a King County for-hire permit. See the Seattle guide.

Where rideshare pay floors apply. Washington, Minnesota, Massachusetts ($34.48 per engaged hour), New York City, and California (Prop 22) all set minimum pay for rideshare drivers. See the Washington, Minnesota, Massachusetts, New York City, and California guides.

Uber (rides) questions

How old do you have to be to work for Uber (rides)?
23–25 by city.
Does Uber (rides) require a background check?
Yes. Uber (rides) runs a background check before you can start.
How fast does Uber (rides) pay?
Uber (rides) pays with an instant or same-day cashout option.
How much does Uber (rides) pay?
$23.88/active hr (source: Gridwise 2025, gross, excludes wait time). Vehicle costs like gas and wear typically cut that by 25–40%.
Do you need a car for Uber (rides)?
Yes. Uber (rides) requires a car.
Is Uber (rides) a W-2 job or independent contractor work?
No. Uber (rides) workers are independent contractors, so you cover your own expenses and set aside money for self-employment taxes.

Similar driving & delivery

DoorDash$12.43/hr avgUber Eats$18.06/hr avgLyft$22.45/active hrInstacart$10–30/hr reportedShipt$15–25/hr reportedWalmart Spark$23/hr avgAll platforms44 listed

Sources

  1. Uber: Los Angeles driver requirements
  2. Uber: Phoenix driver requirements
  3. Gridwise: is driving for Uber worth it in 2026

Last checked November 2026. Requirements change often, so confirm with Uber (rides) before you rely on them.