How does the Uber ride-hailing service work?

Since its founding in San Francisco in 2009, Uber has now conquered 70 other cities around the world, opening up new opportunities for people to get around better and faster. They don't actually provide passenger transportation themselves, but merely act as an intermediary between drivers and passengers.

Uber offers its own vehicle group based on your financial means (base price, cost per minute, and kilometer or mile). The cheapest option, with so-called "everyday cars," is uberX. More expensive but also somewhat more exclusive are uberBLACK, uberSUV, or uberSELECT.

Our experiences with Uber

We first tried Uber in 2015 during our stay in Chicago. Using the smartphone app, you set your pickup location using a PIN or your current location. Then you enter your desired destination. This is incredibly easy using a search similar to Google Maps, so you don't necessarily have to enter an exact address. Before we confirmed the ride, we were shown the approximate fare.

Our request is now offered to all drivers in the immediate vicinity. After just a few seconds, we received a response on our iPhone telling us when we would be picked up. The overview also shows a picture of the driver and their car with license plate number. It's important to check this before getting into the vehicle. Just a few minutes after our booking, Takima arrived in the parking lot at the pick-up point in her Toyota Rav4. Thanks to our input in the app, our destination was already clear, and we didn't have to explain anything else. This is a great option for travelers who aren't very fluent in English.

Our first ride was safe and speedy. All traffic rules were observed, and after nine minutes, we reached our destination. We said goodbye to Takima and gave a rating (1 to 5 stars) via the app. That was it! The fare is charged to the credit card on file. Tips are generally not included. We paid USD 7.20 for the nine-minute ride.

The fare paid consists of a base fare (USD 1.70), a mileage charge (USD 0.90 per mile), and a travel time charge (USD 0.20 per minute). Finally, there is a driver safety fee of USD 1.20.

We think Uber is a great solution for getting around quickly, easily, and affordably. A definite recommendation!

Get a free Uber ride!

Would you like to try it out for yourself? Then simply register via the Link and receive a discount of 5 EUR for your first three rides.