What are Uber's pet policy?

Lindani Mgoduka
Aug 26, 2022
4 min read

1 Introduction

Owning a dog, bird, snake, rabbit, spider, or maybe a snake. Whatever pet you own, I’m sure you love your pet. But how do you transport your pet to see a doctor or maybe in case of an emergency, while Uber has become the most convenient mode of transportation? But do they even have a pet policy? I mean do they even allow pets in their cars? This article will explore these two questions and give an appropriate response but also respond to a few FAQs.

2 Does Uber have a pet policy?

Yes, yes Uber allows pets in their vehicles and importantly rides are to note that is not just all pet allowed in their cars hence they have terms and conditions. Before going further into what are these pet policies set out by Uber. Following U.S state and federal laws but also those policies placed by Uber, service animals are allowed to tag along with their riders at all times. On their website, Uber clearly states that pet-friendly rides allow you to bring your pet to any destination, without any extra charges, and regardless of whether it is a ‘pet-friendly trip’ or not by federal and local laws you are allowed to have your service animals accompany you to your Uber trip (https://help.uber.com). In short, in accord with federal and local authorities, Uber has formulated a package that allows riders to bring along their friends or service pet on their Uber rides without suffering any extra cost. Don’t be alarmed by all these terms such as laws, authority, or policies. Briefly, policies set rules or instructions as to how you should carry your pet for the safety of both you and the driver.

2.1 Uber pet policy

As explained above, through the program their Uber App riders can request the 'pet-friendly trip' or the normal Uber rides for the service animal and bring along their pet to their next ride to the hospital or going to run track at the park. Of course, there are set policies for these rides, and passengers need to adhere to them. For example, riders are always encouraged to always bring a towel with their pet as means to protect the seats of the vehicle (www.uber.com/en-CH/blog/rides-for-you-and-your-pets/). Below I have listed all Uber pet policies to help you know what is expected and make your next Uber ride more convenient.

A. Riders are only allowed to bring one pet on their trip, exception might be made by the driver. Riders need to contact the driver beforehand.

B. All riders are responsible for their pet, and they should always travel with friends from point A to point B.

C. Rides must have their pet on leash easing the process of in and out of the car safely.

D. The Uber pet policy makes no exceptions due to allergies, religious objections, or a generalized fear of animals.

E. Uber pet-friendly rides or normal Uber rides are in line with States and federal laws Uber’s policy also prohibits drivers subscribed to their Uber driver App from denying service to a ride due to their service animal.

F. Drivers who discriminate against service animals are in defilement of Uber’s policy and may lose their Uber driver App privileges.

G. A service animal is regarded to be an animal trained to work or perform tasks for an individual with a disability, and in line with state and federal legal requirements, riders with service animals are exempted from providing documentation to the drivers.

H. If not a service animal, riders must make sure that their pet/animals are that classified as domestic pets.

I. If the rider faces any challenges between them and the drive, they need to file a report from the Uber Rider App by navigating to the “I want to report a service animal issue” page (https://www.uber.com/legal/en/document).

J. Riders riding with a service animal are not obligated to pay cleaning fees for hair or shedding from a rider's service animal.

K. Uber drivers are prohibited from refusing to help a rider with a disability in packing their assistive devices like a wheelchair, crutches, canes, and walkers.

3 How does the 'Uber Pet-Friendly Rides' work?

It is said that the pet-friendly rides work similarly to what is known as the UberX rides only with the presence of an animal. Riders also could earn what is called an extra pet-friendly rides fee for just accepting pet-friendly rides. Whenever traveling with a pet, rides are advised to alert the driver to know in advance and always be precise on your type of animal size and breed. But also they should bring a blanket or a crate to reduce the risk of damage or messing the vehicle.

Conclusion

Knowing how caring and cautious we are of our pets when we travel with them, this article gave detailed dos and don'ts when traveling on Uber rides. It expressed what are Uber's pet policy and how travelers can make their journey trouble-free for both them and the driver. The article briefly explained why and how Uber incorporated their pet policy for the convenience of both the driver and their ride. These policies are pet friendly and allow riders to travel easily with their furry friends and riders.

Frequently Asked Questions

1) How do I request the Uber pet-friendly ride? Pet-friendly rides are directly requested via the UberX, tap on customizing UberX and add pet-friendly rides.

2) What types of pets can I travel with? Primary for dogs and cats however, some types of animals deemed domestical and services animals are allowed.