Cash is becoming less and less popular nowadays, but that doesn’t make it obsolete. In fact, a lot of apps accept cash!
But what about Uber? Does Uber take cash?
Can You Pay Cash For An Uber Ride?
Using cash (as in paper currency) for your Uber ride is only available in a few select markets, with India one of the first countries where Uber allowed payments in paper currency. Wherever country you’re in, it’s best to check that this feature is available before assuming you can use this option.
This article takes a look at the Uber ride payment options: what they are, the difference between (paper) cash and Uber Cash, and how you set up your payment Wallet to pay for the services you use.
How Do You Pay Cash For An Uber Ride?
If the option to use cash to pay for your ride is available, you simply go to the Payment section in the app and select cash before requesting your trip. At the end of your trip, pay cash directly to your driver. This is only available in a few selected markets.
Uber is now designed to be a completely cashless system, which is accessed and completed through a mobile digital app. All payments are process via the app, as are rider receipts and the resolution of all issues.
Riders lodge questions, reports, and complaints through the app (or website) and most Uber responses are delivered the same way.
If your location doesn’t support cash payment (and most no longer do) don’t force the issue. You’ll have to pay the driver via the available methods – these are accessed via the app, which you will have set up when you opened your account.
It’s important not to confuse cash with Uber Cash, which is a digital currency and an alternative payment method to credit and debit cards saved in your Uber Wallet.
You can use Uber Cash to pay for any Uber services, including Uber Eats. Usually, the term Cash (as an accepted form of payment for Uber services) is referring to Uber Cash rather than to paper and coin cash.
Read: How Reliable Is Uber Schedule A Ride?
What Is Uber Cash?
Uber Cash is a method for prepaying for your upcoming Uber trips – and you can use it across all Uber products. Uber Cash is not available in every market. To find out if this payment method is available in your region, check the Payments section of your app.
Uber Cash helps you plan ahead and not have to worry about funds when you’re looking for and booking your ride: your money is already in your Uber account. Your Uber Cash never expires, but you can only use your Uber Cash balance in the country where it was purchased.
To add funds to Uber Cash through the app:
- Open the Uber app menu and choose Wallet
- Tap Add Funds and select an amount to add to your Uber Cash balance (you can choose any amount)
- You can use any saved payment method to add funds, including credit and debit cards, PayPal, Venmo, vouchers and promo codes, credits and gift cards, and Uber promotional credits
- Select your payment method, then tap Purchase
You can add funds at any time and your Uber Cash will be applied automatically to your next ride or Uber Eats order.
You can also turn off the Uber Cash feature by tapping your payment method after entering your destination and turning off the uber cash toggle.
By selecting the auto-refill option, you can use your cards to top up your Uber Cash with a preselected amount whenever your balance drops below a threshold you select. This means you’ll never be short of funds.
To pay an Uber driver or Uber Eats product using your Uber Cash:
- Open the app and tap Payment
- Select Uber Cash on the Payment Options screen
- Add funds if necessary
- You should now be able to pay via Uber Cash.
If you don’t have enough Uber cash to pay for the ride you’ve just taken, you’ll be given the option to add more Uber Cash (via any of your saved payment methods) to your balance. Alternatively, you can pay for the rest of the fare using your default payment method.
Where Is It Ok To Pay Cash For Uber?
Uber is designed to be an entirely cashless experience in most cities, and this includes tipping drivers as well. If the option to pay with paper currency is not available in your app, then you won’t be able to do it.
If your app supports Uber Cash, then this is referring to the digital account balance in your Uber Rider app, and not to paper cash.
When a trip ends, the payment method selected for your trip is immediately charged. A receipt is emailed to you, and your account’s trip history is updated with details about the route and fare.
This means that if you do choose to pay (and/or tip) a driver in cash regardless of other payment options, there may not be a digital receipt to support the transaction.
Uber Cash is a more secure payment feature. And if you delete your account, you’ll be emailed a PIN to access your Uber Cash account balance.
What Payment Methods Does Uber Accept?
Uber accepts a range of payment methods, and you will need to add one of these to your Uber Wallet. To add a payment method, simply open the app and select Wallet, then Payment, and then scan a card (or enter the details manually) and add any other payment type.
You can pay for your Uber services with:
- A range of credit and debit cards
- PayPal
- Venmo
- Apple Pay
- Google Pay
- Gift card
- Uber credits and promotions
- Uber Cash
Summary
Generally speaking, the option to pay cash for an Uber ride is referring to the use of Uber Cash, which is a digital wallet option in the Uber rider app.
Users simply add ‘cash’ to their Uber wallet and use this to pay for future ride services and/or Uber Eats products.
There are a limited number of locations which will accept paper cash for Uber rides, and you need to check that this option is actually available in your app.