What Uber Reserve is and who can use it
Uber Reserve is an upfront booking service that lets you reserve a ride up to 30 days in advance. Instead of requesting a ride when you need it, you pick a specific date, time, and pickup location ahead of time. Uber shows you the price before you book, and that price is locked in — it will not change even if surge pricing happens at that time.
You can use Uber Reserve if you have the Uber app installed and an active account with a valid payment method. The service is available in select cities, and availability varies by location. Not every city where Uber operates offers Reserve yet, so you will need to check your app to see if it is available where you are.
Reserve works for UberX, Uber Comfort, and Uber XL in most markets where it is offered. You cannot use it for Uber Eats, Uber Green, or premium services like Uber Black or Uber Lux.
Key Takeaways
- Uber Reserve lets you book a ride up to 30 days ahead at a price shown and locked in before you confirm.
- The service is only available in certain cities, and you check your app to see if it works in your area.
- You pay a small upfront fee to reserve the ride, separate from the ride fare itself.
- If you cancel more than one hour before your scheduled pickup, you get the reservation fee back; cancellations within one hour forfeit the fee.
- The driver is matched to your ride closer to your scheduled time, not when you make the reservation.
How much the reservation fee costs
Uber Reserve charges a separate reservation fee on top of your ride fare. This fee is not the same as your ride cost — it is what you pay to hold the ride at that specific time and price. The reservation fee amount varies by city and by the type of service you book (UberX, Comfort, or XL).
Uber shows you the total cost before you confirm: the estimated ride fare plus the reservation fee. You see both numbers on the screen, so you know exactly what you will pay. The ride fare itself is calculated the same way Uber normally calculates fares — based on distance, time, and demand at the time of your trip.
Because you are booking ahead, the ride fare is an estimate, not a may provide. If traffic conditions or route options change significantly between when you book and when you ride, the final fare could differ slightly. However, the reservation fee you paid upfront does not change.
When the driver is assigned and how pickup works
When you make a Uber Reserve booking, a driver is not assigned when ready. Instead, Uber matches you with a driver closer to your scheduled pickup time — typically 5 to 15 minutes before your reservation. This is different from a regular Uber request, where a driver is matched as soon as you request.
Once a driver is assigned, you receive a notification with their name, vehicle details, and real-time location tracking, just as you would with a regular Uber ride. You can contact the driver through the app if you need to. The driver will pick you up at the location you specified when you made the reservation.
If a driver cancels after being matched to your Reserve ride, Uber will attempt to find you another driver. If no driver accepts the ride, you will be notified and can cancel the reservation to recover your reservation fee.
Cancellation and refund rules
You can cancel your Uber Reserve booking at any time through the app. The refund you receive depends on when you cancel relative to your scheduled pickup time.
If you cancel more than one hour before your scheduled pickup, you receive a full refund of both the reservation fee and the ride fare. If you cancel one hour or less before your scheduled pickup, you lose the reservation fee but the ride fare is refunded. If you cancel after the driver has been matched to your ride, the same one-hour rule applies — you forfeit the reservation fee if you are within one hour of pickup.
If the driver cancels after being matched to you, you keep your reservation fee and can rebook for a different time at no additional charge, or you can request a refund of the full reservation fee through the app.
When Uber Reserve makes sense to use
Uber Reserve is most useful when you know your travel time and want to avoid surge pricing. If you have an early morning flight, a scheduled appointment, or a planned night out, booking ahead locks in your price and guarantees a ride will be available. This removes the uncertainty of whether a driver will accept your request during a busy time.
Reserve also works well if you live in or are traveling to a city where ride availability is unpredictable during certain hours. Booking ahead ensures you have transportation secured rather than hoping a driver will accept your request when you need one.
The trade-off is the reservation fee. If you are flexible about when you travel and comfortable requesting a ride on the spot, a regular Uber request may cost less because you avoid the fee. Reserve is worth the fee if price certainty and may provide availability matter more to you than saving a few dollars.
How Uber Reserve differs from regular Uber requests
| Feature | Uber Reserve | Regular Uber Request |
|---|---|---|
| When you book | Up to 30 days in advance | When you need a ride |
| Price shown before booking | Yes, locked in | Yes, but can change with surge |
| Reservation fee | Yes, charged upfront | No |
| Driver matched when | 5–15 minutes before pickup | when ready after request |
| Cancellation refund (1+ hour before) | Full refund of fee and fare | Full refund |
| Cancellation refund (within 1 hour) | Lose reservation fee only | Lose ride fare |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change my pickup time or location after I book a Reserve ride?
You can cancel and rebook at a different time or location, but this counts as a new reservation with a new reservation fee. If you cancel more than one hour before your original pickup time, you get the original fee back, so you would only pay the new fee. If you are within one hour of your original pickup, you lose the original reservation fee and must pay a new one for the rebooked time.
What happens if I miss my scheduled pickup?
If you do not show up at your pickup location by the scheduled time, the driver may wait a few minutes and then cancel. Once the driver cancels, you lose the reservation fee. You can request a regular Uber ride after that, but you will not recover the reservation fee from the missed Reserve booking.
Is Uber Reserve available everywhere Uber operates?
No. Uber Reserve is only available in select cities. Open your Uber app and look for the Reserve option in the ride request screen to see if it is available in your location. If you do not see it, the service is not yet offered in your area.
Can I use Uber Reserve for airport rides?
Yes, you can book a Reserve ride to or from an airport. This is one of the most common uses because airport trips happen at scheduled times and you want to may provide a ride. Book your return trip from the airport before you leave home to lock in the price and may support a driver is available when you land.
Do I tip the driver on top of the fare and reservation fee?
Tipping is separate from both the ride fare and the reservation fee. You can add a tip through the app before or after your ride, just as you would with a regular Uber request. The tip is not included in the upfront price you see when you book.