Are you allowed to bring a pet into an Uber? The answer is yes—if Uber Pet is in your area, or if your driver is pet friendly.
These are your options if you want your pet to join you for an Uber ride:
- If your animal is a service animal, all Uber drivers for every Uber ride type are required to accommodate your pet
- The Uber Pet ride type is available in many cities and will accommodate one animal for a small surcharge
- If Uber Pet isn’t in your area, you can contact your driver after matching to ask if they are ok with your pet
Read on to learn more about Uber Pet, Uber’s service animal policy, and what you can do if Uber Pet isn’t in your city yet.
Uber Drivers: Skip to the section about Uber Pet for drivers. Learn how much rides pay, and how to disable or enable Pet requests.
What is Uber Pet? A ride for you and your pet
Uber Pet is an Uber ride type that matches you with pet-friendly drivers.
Uber Pet can accommodate one animal, such as a cat or dog. There are no restrictions on the breed or size of the animal.
Uber Pet costs around $3–$5 more than a regular UberX.
Uber Pet isn’t available in every city. To see if you can choose Uber Pet for your ride, enter your destination and scroll through the ride options to find Uber Pet.
Bring along your pet for a few dollars more
Other rules and tips for Uber Pet: Your animal should be under control in a leash or harness, or in a crate. Bring a towel or blanket to cover the seat and prevent shedding.
Even though Uber Pet is designed to accommodate animals, you can still be charged a cleaning fee if your animal leaves a mess or excessive hair.
If Uber Pet isn’t in your city, there are still ways to get a ride with your animal!
Uber Pet not in your area? You can still try to bring your pet along
Even if Uber Pet isn’t in your area, many drivers don’t mind if you bring a well-behaved animal into their car as long as you’re courteous about it.
If your animal is a service animal, all drivers must accommodate you and your animal at no extra charge.
Message your driver after matching: After you request your ride, message the driver and ask them if it’s ok if you bring a dog.
If they say no, cancel the ride immediately to avoid being charged the cancellation fee. Wait a few minutes and try requesting another ride.
Prepare for your animal: Bring a clean blanket or towel to lay down on the seat. Cats should be in carriers. Larger dogs belong in an UberXL.
Don’t use a shared ride: If you have an animal, don’t use UberX Share unless it’s a service animal.
Cleaning fees are possible: You will be charged a cleaning fee if your pet leaves a mess or damages the car. That includes excessive hair!
Remember: Just ask! Most drivers allow dogs in their car as long as you give them a heads-up. You are riding in their car, so be considerate.
How pets work for Uber drivers: Do you have to allow animals?
Uber drivers are required to accommodate passengers with service animals, but are not required to accommodate non-service animals.
Drivers can also opt into Uber Pet to indicate that they are pet friendly.
Uber service animal policy for drivers
The Americans with Disabilities Act requires that Uber drivers accept passengers with service animals. Here are the rules:
- Drivers must accommodate passengers with service animals
- Service animals don’t need to have an identifying collar or vest
- Drivers can ask only two questions: “Is the animal required because of a disability? And, “What work or task has the animal been trained to perform?”
- Drivers can’t ask passengers to prove a disability or show service animal ‘papers’
- Drivers can’t use allergies, fear, or religious objection as a reason to deny a service animal
- Service animal passengers will not be charged a cleaning fee for shedding hair
If you violate the service animal policy, you can be permanently deactivated by Uber.
Uber is very strict about the service animal policy, and for good reason: Uber had to pay a $1.1 million judgment to a passenger with a service animal who was declined service.
Here’s the policy that drivers have to agree to:
All drivers have to agree to Uber’s service animal policy
What about ’emotional support animals?’
Drivers only have to accommodate service animals. You can decline the ride if a rider says the animal is an emotional support animal and not a service animal.
Remember, you can only ask two questions: “Is the animal required because of a disability? And, “What work or task has the animal been trained to perform?”
Practically speaking, many riders with an emotional support animal may answer yes to the first question or give an unclear answer. It’s probably best to accept the ride and avoid any service animal complaints, which can lead to permanent deactivation.
Uber Pet for drivers
If you are pet friendly and want to start accepting Uber Pet requests, you can opt in via the Work Hub.
To opt into Uber Pet, go to Menu > Account > Work Hub > Select Uber Pet.
Uber says that Uber Pet rides can pay an additional ~$3, but some drivers report that Pet rides don’t seem to pay more than UberX.
The opt-in for Uber Pet
After you opt into Uber Pet, you can go back and deselect it from your ride preferences if you no longer want to do it.
How to disable Uber Pet requests
To turn off Uber Pet requests, open your Preferences on the home screen and tap on the Uber Pet checkbox.
Open Preferences to enable or disable Uber Pet
Getting Uber Pet requests from passengers without pets? Here’s what’s happening
Some drivers get Uber Pet requests from passengers that don’t have a pet with them. It happens when Uber Pet is cheaper than other Uber ride types, so the passenger simply selects the most inexpensive ride even though they don’t have an animal.
Is Uber pet worth it? Drivers react
Every Uber Pet ride I have given the riders have been super respectful and every dog has been super friendly
Honestly, every Uber Pet I’ve done has been crap. There isn’t a difference in pay and they never ever, ever, ever tip
I’ve only done 2. Both were very pleasant small dogs, well behaved
I’ve only had pets like 3 times out of 500 + rides now
I’m still cleaning hair from a dog that shedded all over my backseat 6 months ago
Ain’t no animals getting in my car, period
Can drivers have their own pets in the car?
As independent contractors, drivers can bring animals in the vehicle, but the animal should not cause a safety issue or disruption.
If your animal is a service animal, it’s a good idea to contact Uber and let them know you have a service dog to potentially prevent issues in the future.
One of our readers confirmed this: “My wife has a service dog and signed up for Uber as a driver last year. She is allowed to take her service dog with her. Mind you, the dog is a SERVICE DOG, it is very, very well-trained. It sits upfront with her and does not interact with the riders.”
More information for Uber passengers:
Luis Daniel Valentin diaz says
I came accros a problem, today i took my service dog she is a German Shepard sits upright on the seat like a person and stays quiet well my rider asked me to pull over because she didn’t feel comfortable with another person i said shes my service dog she said i dont care, well later i received a text from Uber support that i had a nother non uber passanger like a human person i told them its my service dog they said that the report was for a person not a dog and nowi cant get anymore rides, what can i do in my case? The passanger obviously lied and almost cost me my job do i have rights u?
DougH says
Keep up the pressure with Uber. Continue to contact them and explain your situation.
Christine B says
I also had an issue with an Uber driver. I have a mini service dog. She is 4.5 pounds but she is very real. She gets discriminated based on size. She is trained in scent detection and warns me is I’m not ok. He called me a crazy lady that was self entitled trying to bring her fake service dog with her. I presented him my doctors letter as well as her vaccines and training certificates. She doesn’t even sit on the seat but rides in my arms. I filed a complaint and I was sent another driver. I feared having to use another Uber. I have use the service 4 times since with zero issues.
Inez Clarke says
I will be traveling with a cat in a carrier for approximately 7 miles … to the vet. I understand the need to ask the driver in advance, but what about the return trip and possibly another/ different driver who may refuse to transport me and my cat?
DougH says
Most areas have plenty of drivers who are willing to take pets. It’s unlikely you’ll be refused by one, and if you do, the next one will most likely take you.