What is an Uber pet? (how to do it, is it expensive + more)
Pet owners know how important the option of letting their pets ride with them on rides is, and how hard it can be.
If you’re that kind of person and you’ve heard of Uber Pet, it’s probably caught your eye and you want to learn more about it. You can do this with the information we collect below!
What will be the Uber pet in 2022?
As the name suggests, Uber Pet is a ride option designed to cater to people who ride with pets. Uber Pet is available to any driver operating in the region where it’s launched, and can be opened from the driver’s app. If you’re riding a service animal, you don’t need to go through an Uber Pet.
Read on to find out everything you need to know about the Uber Pet, including how it works, whether it’s worth it, and more!
How to Uber with a Pet
For Uber with pets, you need to follow these general guidelines:
- Ideally, you should keep your pet in a carrier
- If not, keep them on a leash and bring a blanket or towel to lie down where they sit
- Learn that drivers can refuse service if they determine that your pet is unsafe or uncontrollable
- Keep an eye on animals throughout the ride
- Ask the driver if you prefer where your pet should sit
How many people can use an Uber pet?
Uber Pet allows two people and one pet to ride at the same time. You can bring more than one pet, but you need to inform the driver in advance and ask if it is possible.
Is Uber Pet a separate app?
Uber Pet is not a separate app; it is available as one of the ride options in the main Uber app.
In some regions, it’s available when you expand the options under UberX and specify that you want a pet-friendly ride.
Where are Uber Pets available?
Uber Pet is currently only available in a few cities, but it’s still expanding, so you should check within the app to see if it’s available in your area.
Internationally, it has been launched in Switzerland, Australia, New Zealand, Turkey, Czech Republic and the United Kingdom.
Uber has also pushed for more pet-friendly rides elsewhere, including South Africa and Ghana.
Are Uber pets expensive?
Uber Pet costs slightly more than UberX because it is considered a more specialized service.
The driver may also charge you a cleaning fee if your pet leaves a mess in the car, such as vomit or urine, making the overall cost even higher.
Drivers who use Uber Pets also earn more to incentivize them to provide such rides.
According to our research, the surcharge Uber Pet pays drivers can be as high as $3.20, depending on their location.
Can I use Uber Pet without my pet?
You can use an Uber Pet without a pet, but that doesn’t make sense since you’ll just pay more to ride a regular UberX.
Why aren’t Uber pets available?
If Uber Pet isn’t available, it may be because it isn’t available in your area, or because drivers in your area turned off the option at the time.
How do I turn off Uber pets?
You can turn off Uber Pet in the app through the driver preferences section. When you do this, you won’t receive Uber Pet ride requests, but some people may still try to ride with their pets.
Unless it is a service animal, you have the right to refuse their request without giving any reason.
Can I Uber Just My Dog?
You can’t just Uber for your dog or any other pet, as company policy dictates that the animal must be accompanied at all times.
Even if you drop them yourself and have someone you trust pick them up at the end of the ride, the driver will be instructed to decline the request.
Are Uber Pets Worth It?
For riders, we’d say the Uber Pet is worth it because you’re less likely to be turned down because you have an animal by your side.
Some drivers may be allergic to animals, but when you use Uber Pet, you know there is no such risk.
Paying a small premium for each ride may be worth avoiding the hassle of trying to get Uber to accept your pet.
You should keep in mind that you need to be extra careful so that your pet doesn’t leave a mess in the car that could affect the driver’s rating for you.
Is Uber Pet Worth It For Drivers?
Whether or not Uber Pet is worth it for you as a driver depends on your priorities and how you deal with the issues that come with it.
Acceptance of the program appears to be mixed, but according to several reports we’ve collected, many drivers say Uber Pet isn’t worth it for them.
One of the biggest reasons for this is that pets can cause damage to the vehicle from items such as urine, vomit, and fur.
Even with the cleaning fee, it will take a long time to get rid of these effects, which drivers cannot bear.
Uber Pet rides are also not as frequent as other rides, so drivers still need to provide regular rides for those who may not know they also offer pet-friendly rides.
Their description of the problem is that people notice strong odors when they get in a car, which affects their quality of experience and driver ratings.
Since pet rides are less common, a slightly higher fare ultimately doesn’t make much sense and hassle.
Uber also told these drivers that they couldn’t charge a cleaning fee for pets that left smells in their cars, as that would be normal if they offered those rides.
To learn more, you can also read our posts on What is Uber Freight, What is My Uber Rating, and What is Uber Premier.
in conclusion
Uber Pet is a type of ride available in the regular Uber app for people to ride with animals. If your pet is a service animal, then you can use any ride type and you don’t need an Uber Pet. Uber Pet is currently available in some regions, but is currently expanding.
Drivers who use Uber Pet can earn more money per trip and have the option to charge more for cleaning if a pet makes a mess in their car. Passengers will have to pay more and take extra steps to ensure their pets don’t spoil the driver’s experience, such as putting down towels.
