Uber Dangles Hundreds of Dollars in Bonuses to Lure Drivers Back

Uber is offering some drivers hundreds of dollars in extra cash as it prepares for the busy holiday season, a perk many drivers haven’t seen in years. According to a Business Insider report, the ride-hailing giant is rewarding drivers who complete a set number of trips within a limited period.

In one offer reviewed by the publication, a driver was promised $525 for finishing 45 trips within a few days. Other offers paired smaller bonuses with fewer required rides, but still worked out to an extra $10 to $12 per trip. For drivers who sometimes earn just a few dollars a ride, that boost could noticeably lift their overall earnings.

Referral Payments Reach $1,225

Uber has also offered some drivers up to $1,225 for recruiting new drivers or persuading inactive ones, who haven’t driven in years, to return to the app. Together, the incentives suggest the company is pushing to expand its fleet.

Sergio Avedian, a driver and senior contributor to The Rideshare Guy, said the offers may indicate Uber needs more drivers available for Halloween and the holiday travel rush. An Uber spokesperson did not explain to Business Insider why the payments were being offered.

A Familiar Playbook

This isn’t the first time Uber has used targeted incentives to fill a supply gap. In 2021, as ride demand rebounded after the pandemic, the company faced a major driver shortage. In April of that year, it announced a $250 million “driver stimulus” to bring back existing drivers and recruit new ones. Offers at the time included $1,100 for 115 trips in Austin and $1,775 for 200 trips in Phoenix.

The spending worked. Uber’s CEO later said active drivers on the platform grew 65% between January and November 2021. The company eventually scaled back those incentives and stopped the extra pay.