Uber Vehicle Requirements | Which Car Can I Drive for Uber?
Uber Vehicle Requirements | Which Car Can I Drive for Uber?
Want to drive for Uber but not sure if your car qualifies? You’re not alone!
Uber’s vehicle requirements can seem a bit confusing at first, especially since they vary significantly by city and what type of Uber service you’re going to do, but the good news is that they are generally more flexible than you might expect.
Here’s what you need to know.
Related: Uber Eats Driver Requirements | How to Drive for Uber Eats
Uber Vehicle Requirements Explained
Uber’s vehicle age requirements can vary significantly by market, which may explain why you might see conflicting information online. You might even find conflicting information Uber’s official website!
For instance, if you visit their sign up help page and click into their Uber vehicle requirements page, it says that your model year must be 10 years old or newer. We couldn’t find any corroborative evidence that suggests any sort of blanket 10 years old or newer requirement, so this may be outdated information (we estimate that page hasn’t been updated since around 2020).
Other pages on Uber’s site extend that to 10, 12, 15, or 16 years depending on your city you plan to work in, with 16 years being the most common.
How Old Can My Car Be to Drive for Uber?
The age requirement for your car to drive for Uber will ultimately vary by your state or jurisdiction (and which Uber service you plan on driving for - more on that later). Try this link to see what the requirement is in your city:
https://www.uber.com/us/en/drive/requirements/vehicle-requirements/?city=seattle
Change out the city at the end (currently “Seattle”) to see what the specific driver requirement is in your city. According to that link, the age of your car can vary depending on which city you will be working in.
For example, if you plan to do Uber in Seattle, your car will need to be 15-years-old or newer. If you want to work in Phoenix or Sacramento, the requirement is 16 years. For Baltimore, 12 years.
Ultimately, we recommend checking here on Uber’s website. Adjust your location at the top, find your car’s make and model, and you’ll see the minimum age requirement for your car to be eligible for Uber driving.
Related: How Much Do Uber Drivers Make? | Uber Driver Earnings Explained
Major City Uber Car Age Requirements
Here are some major American cities’ requirements for your car’s age to drive for Uber:
- Albuquerque: 16+ years
- Atlanta: 16+ years
- Baltimore: 12+ years
- Boston: 16+ years
- Charlotte: 16+ years
- Chicago: 16+ years
- Cincinnati: 16+ years
- Dallas-Fort Worth: 16+ years
- Denver: 16+ years
- Detroit: 16+ years
- Houston: 16+ years
- Indianapolis: 16+ years
- Kansas City: 16+ years
- Las Vegas: 16+ years
- Los Angeles: 16+ years
- Miami: 16+ years
- Minneapolis: 15+ years
- Nashville: 16+ years
- New York City: 16+ years
- Orlando: 16+ years
- Philadelphia: 15+ years
- Phoenix: 16+ years
- Portland: 15+ years
- Salt Lake City: 16+ years
- San Diego: 16+ years
- San Francisco: 16+ years
- Seattle: 15+ years
- St. Louis: 16+ years
- Washington, DC: 10+ years
Be mindful that some cities and regions may have additional requirements. For instance, Detroit requires you to be 21 years old and have proof of Michigan-specific No-Fault Auto Insurance, whereas Boston does not have such requirements.
Related: Uber Pro Explained: Everything Drivers Need to Know
Other Uber Car Requirements
Beyond age limits, all Uber vehicles must meet basic safety and appearance standards. Your car needs four doors and must seat at least four passengers plus you, the driver.
The vehicle can’t be salvaged, reconstructed, or rebuilt, and it must have a clean title. It can’t have cosmetic damage, missing parts, commercial branding, or taxi paint jobs.
All windows and air conditioning must work as well. Keep in mind that Uber will inspect your vehicle to verify compliance before approving you to drive.
If you’re driving someone else’s car, you must be listed as an insured driver on their policy, and your name must appear on the insurance documentation for Uber approval. You can’t work in a rental car straight from a traditional rental company, but Uber does have a program where they work with rental car companies that you can take advantage of.
Related: Best Times to Deliver For Uber Eats
Uber Car Requirements by Service Type
Not all Uber services have the same vehicle standards. If you’re reading this, you’re more than likely going to start with UberX.
UberX represents Uber’s standard service and has the most accessible requirements. As long as your car meets the basic standards we discussed earlier and isn’t a commercial truck, van, or marked vehicle, you’ll likely qualify for UberX.
Since almost any four-door car in decent condition can participate, UberX is most new drivers’ entry point, and is the most widely available service across all markets.
Related: Make More Money With Uber: 9 Must-Know Tips
Uber Premium Service Vehicle Requirements
In addition to UberX, Uber offers premium services like UberXL, Uber Black, and Uber Premier, which have stricter requirements but offer higher earning potential.
UberXL simply requires a vehicle that seats at least seven people (driver + six passengers). The age requirements and others like no commercial branding, etc. will still apply.
UberXXL requires you to have greater than 27 cubic feet of trunk space behind the third row of seats. Only very few cars are eligible for UberXXL. You can learn more about UberXL and UberXXL’s requirements here.
Uber Black is Uber’s luxury tier and requires cars no more than five years old with a black exterior and black leather interior. You’ll also need a 4.85 rating or above to qualify for Uber Black.
Keep in mind that even that requirement can be flexible depending on your location. For example, Uber Black in New York City allows for a six year old car, rather than a five year old car in most other markets.
Uber is also testing Uber Premier and Premier SUV as a middle ground between UberX and Uber Black, requiring luxury vehicles no more than 5 years old with a leather interior, but without the color requirement of Uber Black. You’ll still need a rating of 4.85 or higher and to have taken more than 250 trips.
There’s also Uber Green, which requires a zero-emission vehicle, and Uber WAV, which requires a wheelchair-accessible vehicle. You may only find these in certain markets, but they can also provide additional earning opportunities.
Related: 7 Ways Uber Drivers Can Save on Gas in 2025
Uber Vehicle Requirements FAQ
Q: What’s the oldest car Uber will accept?
A: This can vary by city, but the oldest jurisdiction in the US seems to be 16 years old, though far more common is the 15 year old requirement. Check Uber’s vehicle requirements page for your specific city.
Q: Can I drive for Uber with a two-door car?
A: No, Uber requires all vehicles to have four doors and seat at least four passengers plus the driver.
Q: Do I need a luxury car to make good money with Uber?
A: Not necessarily. While their premium services may pay more per ride, UberX has more consistent demand. Your earning potential depends more on when and where you drive than your specific vehicle. Plus, you’ll have to factor in the extra costs for the more expensive vehicle, and the fact that some drivers don’t see much extra pay in those premium services anyway.
Q: Can I use a rental car for Uber?
A: Only if you rent through Uber’s approved vehicle partners. Going to a traditional rental car place yourself and using that car to drive for Uber is not allowed.
Related: Does Uber Track Your Mileage? | How to Track Your Mileage for Uber
Uber Vehicle Requirements - Conclusion
Uber’s vehicle requirements are more flexible than you might expect, certainly more than they were in years past. Most reliable cars from the last 12-16 years will qualify for UberX, giving you access to Uber’s largest customer base.
If you’re serious about maximizing your Uber earnings, you should also invest in a proper mileage and expense tracking tool from day 1. You can start tracking unlimited miles for free with TripLog on iOS or Android today!