The last thing you want to happen during your Uber ride is to encounter unscrupulous drivers. Let’s face it, no matter how Uber leads in the industry, these things happen. It cannot always monitor all their drivers from time to time, so Uber thinks of ways to prevent these issues.
Each rideshare with Uber starts with trust, trust that your driver has been vetted, their identity verified, and that there are tools available to keep passengers the safest.
Background checks for Uber drivers are not a brand-new thing. These drivers undergo a rigorous, multi-layer background check, as the app continuously tracks records to flag offenses, and it has been said that their safety features are stronger than any other ridesharing app. It has to be, since Uber is the world’s number one ridesharing app.
“Because real safety isn’t a box you check once. It requires ongoing investment, constant innovation, and humility – including how we respond when concerns are raised. Since 2017, this approach has prevented 3.5 million people from joining or remaining on the platform, most before they ever completed a first trip,” Uber told Ridesharingforum.com.
What are these safety measures?
How Uber’s background checks work
First and foremost, these are three things that the Uber screening process focuses on:
- Identity verification
- Driving safety
- Criminal history
Before drivers can start taking passengers to their destinations, they must provide the following information:
- Social Security Number that is validated by the IRS
- Full name
- Date of birth
- Valid form of government-issued ID
- Live profile image
- Other car documents
A Motor Vehicle Record check will be done, and remember that there are chances you might get disapproved or rejected here. If the driver passes this check, confirming their driving history and license validity, a criminal background check will ensue.
These background check partners are nationally accredited by the Professional Background Screening Association and regulated under federal and state law to ensure completeness and accuracy.
If a driver gets rejected, it might be due to the following:
- Sexual assault
- Sex crimes involving minors
- Murder or homicide
- Kidnapping
- Terrorism
Preventing identity fraud
In some instances, since some of these driver-applicants know their applications will be rejected, they resort to stealing the identity of other drivers.
Uber also has measures to prevent fraud.
“Fraud prevention is a constant focus for our teams,” stated Uber. “Every driver must verify their identity through multiple steps, including IRS-verified Social Security numbers, live photo verification, and document authentication.”
The ridesharing app continued they also perform random real-time ID checks, prompting drivers to capture selfies during trips and compare their image together with their profile image. Passengers may also write to Uber if their driver does not match the image on the app, leading to an immediate ban. To learn more about Uber’s safety measures, head over to this link. Thank you for reading!