Wait Time Fees Explained
Getting paid for waiting? Yes, it’s possible with Uber! When you reach a pickup location for your rider, you can earn extra for the time you wait.
How It Works:
- Fee Starts: Riders have a grace period after you arrive before they start having to pay a wait time fee. You start earning a Wait Time fee once that grace period ends.
- Early Arrival: If you arrive before the Estimated Time of Arrival (ETA) provided to the rider, the grace period will begin at the original ETA.
- Charging Method: We charge the rider a per-minute rate for your waiting time.
- Cancellation: If the rider cancels (or doesn’t show up) and incurs a fee, they aren’t also charged for the wait. For more information, see our article about cancellation fees.
Grace Period Length:
The grace period is different depending on the type of trip.
- UberX, UberXL, Uber Pet, Share: 2 minutes
- Uber Comfort: 2 minutes
- Uber Black, Uber Premier, Uber SUV, Uber Elite: 5 minutes
- Uber Reserve for X, XL, Comfort: 5 minutes
- Uber Reserve for Black, Premier, SUV: 15 minutes
Wait Time Fee Waivers and Exemptions
- Riders with disabilities may be exempt from wait time fees if they require extra time to enter the vehicle. Drivers will still receive a wait time fee even if we waive the fee for the rider.
Important Details:
- Grace Period: The grace period begins the moment you get to the pickup spot or at the original Estimated Time of Arrival (ETA), whichever is later.
- No-Show Policy: When the grace period ends, another timer starts tracking how late the rider is and the rider starts being charged a wait time fee. The time you need to wait to be eligible for a cancellation fee depends on the type of trip. If you continue to wait and the rider doesn’t show up, the timer will eventually turn red and you’ll be eligible to cancel the trip and request a cancellation fee instead of a wait time fee. For more information, see our article about cancellation fees.