How to Use Uber Rewards and Referrals

One way to keep the cost of Uber rides down is to make use of Uber's rewards programs: Uber Rewards, the Uber referral code system, and Uber VIP. Uber Rewards and the app's referral code system are available to all Uber riders as long as it's available in their city. Uber VIP, however, is only available to riders who are also customers of certain credit card companies.

Learn what each rewards program has to offer, how to sign up for Uber Rewards, and how to use Uber referral codes.

Uber Rewards and Uber Credits

Uber Rewards is a loyalty program based on a points system. Uber Rewards members earn points for every dollar spent on Uber car rides and Uber Eats meals. Uber gives one point for every dollar spent on rides with UberPool and ExpressPool, and with meals purchased from Uber Eats.

Members also earn double points for dollars spent on rides from UberX, UberXL, and Select. Members earn triple points for dollars spent on rides from Black and Black SUV.

Uber Rewards points can be redeemed in $5 Uber Cash increments, every 500 points. Each $5 Uber Cash reward can be used to pay for Uber rides or Uber Eats meals.

Uber Rewards Membership Levels

There are different membership levels that Uber Rewards members can earn. Each level has different perks. From lowest to highest, these levels include Blue, Gold, Platinum, and Diamond.

If you've earned less than 500 points, you're a Blue member. Blue members don't have any other perks apart from earning points and redeeming points for $5 in Uber Cash.

Gold members have earned at least 500 points. Perks include Priority tech support from Uber and Flexible Cancellations, which entitles them to refunds if they cancel a ride and rebook within 15 minutes.

Uber Rewards members reach Platinum status when they earn 2,500 points. Platinum status members get all the perks that Blue and Gold members get, plus price protection on UberX between the two destinations they ride the most and priority airport pickups. Price protection provides protection from higher prices during busy hours.

Diamond level members get all of the above perks plus four additional perks after earning the 7,500 points necessary to become a Diamond level member. Diamond-only level perks include premium support, highly rated drivers, complimentary upgrades, and free delivery on three Uber Eats meals every six months. The complimentary upgrades are surprise upgrades to premium Uber rides (such as Uber Black) when reserving an UberX ride.

How to Sign Up for Uber Rewards

To join the Uber Rewards program:

1. Open the Uber app on your mobile device.

2. On the main map screen, select the Hamburger menu icon located in the upper-left corner of the screen.

3. Select Uber Rewards.

4. A screen with basic information about the rewards program appears. At the bottom of this screen, select Join for free.

5. The next screen shows the Uber Rewards program terms and conditions. Review the information, then select Accept.

   

What Are Uber Referrals?

Using Uber referral codes is a way to earn discounts on Uber rides by inviting your friends to sign up for the Uber app.

Every Uber user is given a special invite code they can share with their friends. If you share your special invite code with a friend and that friend signs up for Uber using your code, Uber rewards both of you with discounts on Uber rides.

According to the app, friends who use your code to sign up for Uber get a $2 discount on their first three rides. The person who shared their code gets a $5 discount on their next ride after the newly signed up friend takes their first Uber ride.

How to Use Uber Referral Codes

To take advantage of the Uber Referral code discounts, access and share your special invite code with your friends. This can be done from the Uber mobile app.

1. Select the Hamburger menu icon in the upper-left corner of the main map screen.

2. Select Free Rides.

3. Your special invite code appears at the bottom of the screen in a white text box. You can share your code in one of two ways:

   • Select Invite Friends at the bottom of the screen, then choose a contact from the list to share the code with.
   • Select the Share icon (the three connected dots in the special code text box), then choose one of the messaging app options. There's a pre-made message containing your special code. From here, send your code as you would any other message from your desired app.

   

Uber VIP: A Special Rewards Program for Certain Credit Card Holders

Uber VIP is an exclusive rewards program for American Express cardholders. Uber VIP was available to a limited number of loyal Uber customers regardless of whether they were Amex cardholders. However, with the rise of the Uber Rewards program, Uber excluded non-Amex cardholders from using Uber VIP.

There aren't many perks that come with being an Uber VIP member. Still, the few perks it has are useful. The smaller, lesser-known perks of being an Uber VIP member include only being matched with Uber drivers who have a 4.8-star rating or higher and with high-quality cars driven by Uber VIP drivers.

The biggest perk of Uber VIP is the annual $200 Uber Cash bonus that VIP members receive for being a member with an American Express Consumer Platinum card or Centurion card. According to Uber, these cardholders are eligible to be Uber VIP members and receive a $200 Uber Cash (credits) bonus. The bonus is $200 in Uber credits, paid in monthly increments every year that you're an Amex cardmember.

Every month, Uber VIP members are given $15 in Uber Cash. This Uber Cash is awarded every month, except December, when Uber VIP members receive a $20 bonus in addition to the $15 in Uber Cash that they normally get.

Uber considers the Uber VIP program and the Uber Rewards program to be completely separate from each other. So, Uber users can claim rewards from both rewards programs.