When you request a ride, Uber drivers primarily see limited, approximate information to protect your privacy while enabling them to efficiently complete your trip. What they see changes depending on the stage of the ride: before, during, and after the trip.
Before Accepting Your Ride
Before an Uber driver accepts your ride request, they receive minimal details crucial for their decision-making. This ensures that drivers can decide whether to accept a trip based on its general characteristics without revealing too much personal information about you upfront.
- Your Approximate Pickup Location: Drivers see a general area on the map where you are located. This is typically a street name or a cross-street, rather than your exact address. This helps them understand the starting point of the potential trip.
- Your Destination (Optional for them to see initially): In many markets, drivers are shown your destination before accepting, allowing them to assess the length and direction of the trip. However, this feature can vary by region and Uber's internal policies.
- Estimated Fare Range: Drivers can often see the estimated earnings for the trip.
- Your Rider Rating: Your average star rating (out of 5) is visible to drivers, which gives them an idea of your past reliability as a passenger.
After Accepting and During the Trip
Once a driver accepts your request, more specific details are revealed to facilitate the pickup and journey.
- Your Exact Pickup Location: The driver receives your precise pickup address or pin location, allowing them to navigate directly to you.
- Your Name: Your first name is displayed, enabling the driver to confirm they are picking up the correct rider.
- Your Photo (Optional): If you've uploaded a profile picture, it may be visible to the driver.
- Your Destination: Your exact drop-off address becomes visible, allowing the driver to plan the route.
- Live Location Tracking: Both you and the driver can see each other's real-time location on the map, helping with coordination.
- Contact Information (Anonymized): Uber uses an anonymized number system, allowing drivers and riders to call or text each other through the app without revealing personal phone numbers.
After the Trip Ends
Uber is designed to protect your privacy even after the ride is completed. Once a trip concludes, most specific address details are removed from the driver's view.
- Approximate Pickup and Drop-off Locations: Drivers can only see the general, approximate locations where the trip started and ended, not the precise addresses. This helps maintain a record of the trip without compromising your privacy.
- Trip Summary: Drivers can view a summary of the trip, including the fare, duration, and distance.
- Rating and Feedback: Drivers can rate you as a rider and leave feedback, just as you can rate them.
What Uber Drivers DO NOT See
Uber's privacy measures are robust, ensuring that drivers do not have access to sensitive personal information.
- Your Last Name: Only your first name is typically displayed.
- Your Phone Number: All communication is routed through anonymized in-app numbers.
- Your Personal Contact Information (Email, Home Address): Beyond the current pickup/drop-off for an active trip, no other personal address data is shared.
- Your Payment Information: Drivers never see your credit card details or other payment methods.
- Your Trip History (Beyond their own trips with you): Drivers cannot access your past ride history with other drivers.
Summary Table: Information Visibility at Different Stages
| Information Type | Before Acceptance | After Acceptance / During Trip | After Trip Ends |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your Approximate Pickup | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Your Exact Pickup | ✓ | ||
| Your Destination (approx) | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Your Destination (exact) | ✓ | ||
| Your First Name | ✓ | ||
| Your Rider Rating | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Your Profile Photo | ✓ (if uploaded) | ✓ (if uploaded) | |
| Estimated Fare | ✓ | ||
| Real-time Location Tracking | ✓ | ||
| Anonymized Contact | ✓ | ||
| Exact Addresses (removed) | ✓ (converted to approximate) |
Uber's system is designed to provide drivers with just enough information to perform their service effectively, while rigorously protecting rider privacy.
