Pregnancy and Uber: Your Legal Rights

Uber cannot legally deny you a ride because you are pregnant, whether you are a passenger or a driver. Federal law under the Pregnancy Discrimination Act and state laws in most places treat pregnancy as a protected status — the same way they protect against discrimination based on race or disability. If Uber or an Uber driver refuses you service solely because of pregnancy, that refusal violates those laws.

The reality is more complicated than the rule, though. Uber does not employ drivers directly; drivers are independent contractors. That means Uber's responsibility to enforce anti-discrimination policy differs depending on whether the problem is with the company itself or with an individual driver. What you can do about it also depends on which one caused the problem.

Key Takeaways

  • Federal law prohibits discrimination based on pregnancy for both passengers and drivers, and Uber's own policies state that drivers cannot refuse rides based on pregnancy.
  • If Uber itself denies you a ride or deactivates your driver account because of pregnancy, you can file a complaint with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) if you are a driver, or contact your state's attorney general if you are a passenger.
  • If an individual Uber driver refuses you a ride, you can report them through the Uber app and request a refund; Uber is required to investigate driver discrimination complaints.
  • Pregnancy-related accommodations — such as allowing frequent bathroom breaks or modified routes for drivers — are legally required under the Pregnancy Discrimination Act, though Uber's track record on providing them varies.
  • Documentation matters: save screenshots of cancellations, note the date and time, and keep any messages from Uber support, because you will need this record if you file a formal complaint.

Uber's Policy on Pregnancy Discrimination

Uber's Community Guidelines state that drivers cannot refuse rides based on a passenger's pregnancy, and passengers cannot refuse drivers based on pregnancy. The policy also says Uber will not tolerate harassment or discrimination related to pregnancy. On paper, this is clear.

Enforcement is where the gap appears. Uber has faced multiple lawsuits and complaints from pregnant drivers who say the company deactivated their accounts, reduced their access to rides, or failed to investigate complaints about drivers who refused pregnant passengers. Some of these cases settled; others are ongoing. The company has also been criticized for not providing clear guidance to drivers about what pregnancy-related accommodations they must offer.

What Happens If a Driver Refuses You

If an Uber driver cancels on you after learning you are pregnant, or refuses to pick you up, report it through the Uber app when ready. Open the trip details, select "Report a safety issue," and describe what happened. Include the date, time, and the driver's name or vehicle details if you have them. Uber will investigate and may deactivate the driver if the complaint is substantiated.

You can also request a refund for the cancelled ride through the app. Uber typically refunds cancellation fees when a driver cancels without a legitimate reason, and pregnancy-based refusal qualifies as illegitimate under company policy.

Keep screenshots of the cancellation and any messages from the driver. If you file a formal complaint later — with your state's attorney general, a civil rights agency, or in court — you will need this documentation to show a pattern or to prove the refusal happened.

If Uber Itself Denies You Service

If Uber deactivates your driver account because of pregnancy, or if the company refuses to process your passenger account because you disclosed pregnancy, that is discrimination by Uber itself, not by an individual driver. The legal path is different.

As a driver, you can file a charge of discrimination with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). You do not need a lawyer to file. The EEOC accepts charges related to pregnancy discrimination under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. You have 180 to 300 days to file, depending on your state — check your state's important date because it varies. File online at eeoc.gov or visit your local EEOC office.

As a passenger, contact your state's attorney general office or your state's human rights commission. These agencies investigate discrimination complaints and can take action against companies that violate state law. You can also consult a civil rights attorney about filing a private lawsuit, though many attorneys will not take a case unless there is a pattern of discrimination or significant damages.

Pregnancy Accommodations Uber Drivers Can Request

Under the Pregnancy Discrimination Act, employers — and by extension, platforms that control working conditions — must provide reasonable accommodations for pregnancy-related conditions. For Uber drivers, this can include allowing more frequent breaks, permitting modified routes to avoid long stretches without bathroom access, or temporarily reducing the number of rides assigned.

Uber does not have a formal pregnancy accommodation process the way a traditional employer does. If you are a pregnant driver and need accommodations, contact Uber support through the app and document your request in writing. Explain what you need and why. Keep copies of all correspondence. If Uber denies the request or ignores it, that denial can be part of a discrimination complaint to the EEOC.

Some pregnant drivers have reported success requesting accommodations through Uber's support team, while others say requests were ignored or resulted in reduced access to rides. The company's handling of these requests is inconsistent, which is why documentation is critical.

State Laws That Add Protections

Many states have their own pregnancy discrimination laws that are stricter than federal law. California, New York, Illinois, and several others explicitly require reasonable accommodations for pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions. Some states also require companies to provide paid leave for pregnancy-related disability.

If you live in a state with strong pregnancy protections, you may have additional remedies beyond federal law. For example, California's Fair Employment and Housing Act requires employers to treat pregnancy the same as any other temporary disability. New York requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations unless doing so causes undue hardship. Check your state's labor department website or attorney general office for the specific protections in your state.

What to Do If You Experience Discrimination

Document everything. When a driver cancels or refuses, note the date, time, driver name, vehicle details, and what happened. Take screenshots of the cancellation in the app. If you receive a message from the driver, screenshot it. If Uber support responds, save that too.

Report through Uber's app first. This creates an official record with the company. Then, depending on the situation, file a complaint with the appropriate agency: the EEOC for driver discrimination, your state's attorney general or human rights commission for passenger discrimination, or both.

You can also contact a civil rights attorney. Many offer free consultations and will take cases on contingency if they believe you have a strong claim. Organizations like the National Women's Law Center or your state's legal aid office can refer you to attorneys who handle pregnancy discrimination cases.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Uber deactivate me as a driver just because I am pregnant?

No. Deactivating a driver account based solely on pregnancy violates federal law and Uber's own policy. If this happens, file a charge with the EEOC within 180 to 300 days (depending on your state). You will need documentation showing the deactivation was pregnancy-related — emails, messages, or notes about what Uber said when they deactivated you.

What if a driver says they refused me because I looked uncomfortable or unsafe?

A driver cannot use pregnancy as a proxy for safety concerns. If a driver claims you looked unsafe but the real reason was pregnancy, that is still discrimination. Report it to Uber and describe what the driver said. If you have witnesses or messages from the driver, include those in your report.

Can I sue Uber directly for a driver's discrimination?

You can, but Uber will likely argue that drivers are independent contractors and not Uber's employees, so Uber is not directly liable for their actions. However, you can still sue the driver personally, and you can sue Uber for failing to investigate or enforce its anti-discrimination policy if you can show a pattern of discrimination. Consult an attorney about whether you have a viable claim.

Do I have to disclose my pregnancy to Uber or to drivers?

No. You do not have to tell Uber or any driver that you are pregnant. If you choose to disclose it and then face discrimination, that disclosure does not weaken your case — it actually strengthens it because it shows the discrimination was based on pregnancy.

What if I am a passenger and the driver makes comments about my pregnancy but still gives me the ride?

That is harassment, which Uber's policy also prohibits. Report it through the app and describe the comments. Uber can deactivate drivers for harassment even if they completed the ride. You can also file a complaint with your state's attorney general if the harassment was severe or part of a pattern.