Uber lets its customers request rides whenever they want them and from wherever they are for convenience.
However, this convenience would be improved with the ability to book Uber rides in advance, so we looked into whether that’s an option. If you’d like to learn the answer, keep reading!
Can Uber Be Booked in Advance In 2024?
Uber rides can be booked in advance via a service called Uber Reserve that’s available within the main app in 2024. You can book Uber rides as early as 30 days and as late as 2 hours in advance. When scheduling an Uber ride, you can choose from premium and economy options that are available in your area.
To find out all you need to know about booking Uber rides in advance, including how to do it, how the service handles cancellations, and more, read on!
How to Schedule an Uber in Advance
To schedule an Uber ride in advance through Uber Reserve, follow these steps:
- In the “Where to?” section, enter your destination
- Go through the ride options and select one
- Tap the clock icon next to the option to request a vehicle
- Enter the date and time for pickup
Note that you can have multiple rides scheduled at once and manage them from the “Reserve” tab on your home screen.
Is Uber Reserve More Expensive?
Uber Reserve is more expensive because you’ll have to pay a higher booking fee when you schedule the ride.
Does Reserving Uber Avoid Surge?
Unfortunately, reserving an Uber does not avoid surges. When Uber Reserve first launched, the company said it wouldn’t be affected by dynamic pricing (surges), but this was later changed.
Now, when you reserve an Uber, you’ll get an estimated fare that’s calculated based on the pricing model at the time. However, it might change if a surge is in effect when you take the ride.
How Reliable Is Scheduling an Uber in Advance?
Scheduling an Uber in advance is reliable, but there are some rare instances where you might not get the ride.
When you book an Uber in advance, the offer goes out to drivers, and the one that accepts it receives a reminder when it’s close to the pickup time.
However, if the driver isn’t online soon after they receive the reminder, the system looks for other drivers and gives them the offer.
At that point, you’re open to the factors that make it harder to get a regular Uber ride, including:
- A tip that the driver deems too low and not worth accepting the job for
- You’re in an area with few drivers already
- It’s late so there are few drivers available
- Your pickup location or destination is considered unsafe
- Harsh weather makes it difficult or more dangerous for drivers to be on the road
However, note that if Uber can’t find a driver for your scheduled ride, you’ll be notified when the pickup window closes.
Can You Cancel a Scheduled Uber?
You can cancel a scheduled Uber for free before you’ve been matched with a driver through these steps:
- Tap the white bar at the bottom of the screen that says “Finding your ride”
- Tap “Cancel”
- Confirm by tapping “Yes, cancel”
You can also cancel after you’ve been matched with a driver for a fee by following these steps:
- Tap the bar at the bottom of the screen that contains the driver’s details
- Tap “Cancel trip”
- Confirm and accept the cancellation fee by tapping “Yes, cancel”
Depending on where you are, you might get charged if you cancel a scheduled Uber ride less than one hour before you’re supposed to be picked up.
Can You Book an Uber Ride With Multiple Stops?
You can book an Uber ride with multiple stops through a different service called Uber Rentals.
This service, which is different from Uber Rent, is available only in select markets like India and can be accessed through the main Uber app.
This app allows you to request a ride by the hour, with the option to have the car and driver between 1 and 12 hours.
As well, you can add multiple stops to the ride, with up to 5 at a time and the ability to add or remove them as you go.
You’ll also be responsible for secondary charges related to the trip such as tolls, taxes, and parking fees.
Is Uber Paid in Advance?
When you schedule an Uber ride, you don’t pay in advance. It’s treated like a normal ride in that you have the option to pay when it’s time for the ride.
Overall, this means that the payment will be deducted from your account when you get to your destination, allowing for adjustments such as surge pricing and cancellations.
Why Can’t I Schedule a Ride in Advance With Uber?
If you can’t schedule a ride in advance with Uber, it might be because you’re in a market where the service is yet to launch.
This might also be because you’re trying to schedule your ride using a location that Uber Reserve doesn’t support.
For example, you can schedule a ride to the airport, but you can’t book an Uber to pick you up from the airport in advance.
To learn more, you can also read our posts on Uber One, Uber Comfort, and Uber X.
Conclusion
You can book an Uber in advance through Uber Reserve between 30 days to 2 hours ahead. This service is currently available only in select markets.
You can also cancel an Uber you booked in advance, but you might get charged a cancellation fee depending on how far along the process has gone at that point.
