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Home » Delivery Gigs » Uber promotions: How Quest, Boost & new driver bonuses work, & how to get more!

Uber promotions: How Quest, Boost & new driver bonuses work, & how to get more!

Updated August 29, 2023 By Doug H15 Comments

For Uber and Uber Eats drivers, Quest, Boost, and Surge bonuses can help your earnings climb into the upper tier—$25+ per hour.

But without bonus promotions, a day of driving passengers or delivering orders might not be as profitable as you want it to be.

Targeting promotions is an important strategy to maximize your earnings! Read on to learn how promotions work for Uber and Uber Eats drivers and what you can do to get more.

What you need to know

  • The promotions for Uber and Uber Eats drivers are Surge, Quest, and Boost promotions
    • Uber is beginning to remove Boost from some markets
  • You can also get a new driver bonus if you sign up to drive with a referral code
  • Check the Opportunities section of the app to see available promos
  • Not getting Quests or other promos? There is no way to control the number of promos you receive

Become a driver! Apply to drive for Uber

Article contents

  • Not getting promotions? Reasons why
  • Sign-up bonuses: New-driver promotions
  • Quest
  • Surge
  • Boost
  • Boost and Quest Strategies

Uber logo with text that says 'uber driver bonuses'

How to see which promotions are available to you

There are several ways to find promotions in the Uber driver app: In the Opportunities menu, the Earnings area, the home screen of the app, and your messages inbox.

To see every available promotion: Tap Menu (☰) > Opportunities, then tap different days of the week to see promotions available on future days.

The Opportunities page in the uber driver app showing a Quest, and the inbox showing several quest offers

Check Opportunities or your Inbox for promotions

Not getting promotions on Uber? Here’s why

Promotions are unpredictable. You might get great Quests one week, then none the next week. What’s the reason?

Uber app Promotions area showing no available promotions

No promotions this week? Bummer

If you aren’t getting any promotions, the most likely reason is that Uber doesn’t need to incentivize more drivers to get out on the road.

Uber doesn’t say precisely how the promotions system works or how the system decides to distribute promotions to drivers.

All Uber says about promotion offers is, “Offers are based on rider trends and app usage in your area.” 

One possible meaning is that Uber may offer promotions if they expect a spike in demand or a drop in driver supply.

But why do two drivers in the same city or area get different promotions? If Uber needs drivers on the road, shouldn’t they send out promos to everyone?

Your driving history may determine whether you get a promotion or not. One common theory is that new drivers receive more promotions to give them a more encouraging start to the gig.

Drivers have also noticed more promotions after taking a few weeks off from driving.

Promotions are more common in larger, busier cities. So if you’re in a smaller city, don’t be surprised if you don’t see many opportunities.

Is there a way to get more Quest and promotion offers?

Currently, there is no reliable way to guarantee that you will get more Quest offers from Uber.

Some drivers noticed that taking a long break from driving or delivering might prompt the app to send you more promos, but taking a break isn’t a great option if you can’t afford to take a break.

To make sure you don’t miss any opportunities, check the app regularly and turn on all notifications so you don’t miss any opportunities.

Sign-up bonuses: New driver promotions

Uber sometimes offers promotions to new drivers who sign up and enter a referral code or “invite code” in the application.

You can get a referral code from another driver you know or from driver forums online. A referral code will automatically be applied if you sign up from an email or text invite.

The most common new-driver bonus is an earnings guarantee. Uber does not regularly offer cash bonuses for new drivers.

Previously, you could get big bonuses for signing up and completing a few dozen rides. Now, you are more likely to get an earnings guarantee as your sign-up promotion.

Earnings guarantees for new drivers

With an earnings guarantee, Uber guarantees you will earn a minimum amount after completing a number of trips. If your ride earnings don’t match the minimum, they will give you a bonus to make up the difference.

For example, an earnings guarantee for a new driver might say, “Earn at least $1150 when you complete 100 trips.”

If you complete 100 trips and your earnings are only $1000, Uber will pay you a $150 bonus to match the guarantee.

If you complete 100 trips and earn $1200, you won’t get any bonus because your earnings exceed the minimum guarantee.

a page on uber that says 'earn at least $2430 when you do 210 trips'

Earnings guarantees are the most common promos for new drivers

An earnings guarantee can be lucrative if you target short, low-paying rides. The driver below got more than $1,000 extra by targeting low-mileage rides.

Screen in the uber driver app letting a driver know that they got an extra $1000 after completing an earnings guarantee

This driver got over $1000 extra from an earnings guarantee

Quest: Bonus for reaching rides, delivery, or earnings goals

Quest is a bonus for reaching ride & delivery goals during a period of time. An example of a Quest: “Earn $8 extra by completing 4 deliveries between 5 and 9 PM.”

Some Quests give you a bonus for completing a certain number of trips, and others give you a bonus for reaching an earnings goal.

Side by side image of Quests in the Uber app. The left image is a bonus for a trips goal, the right image is a bonus for an earnings goal

Two types of Quests: Bonus for reach a trip goal and bonus for hitting an earnings goal

Uber adds the bonus to your earnings if you reach the goal within the time period.

You can see available Quests and track the progress of your existing Quests by going to the Opportunities area of the driver app.

Trips do not have to be consecutive to count toward a Quest, so you can decline or cancel rides and still complete a Quest. 

Many Quests have two bonus amounts and two goals. After you reach the first goal, do the additional trips to unlock the second goal.

Quests can be big or small. Sometimes they are for a few dollars to do a handful of trips. Other times, a Quest could be for hundreds of dollars to complete hundreds of trips.

You can select which Quest you want to work toward if multiple Quests are available.

In the example below, Uber offers two large Quest options to choose between.

The Uber Eats driver app showing two Quest options

Sometimes you can choose between Quests

Here’s an example of a lucrative Quest. $30 for completing 13 trips is a $10 bonus per ride. These are rare!

A list of Uber Quests offering $10 per ride

$10 per ride is about as good as it gets

Here’s another unusually generous Quest. $100 for 5 rides, and $150 for 10. That’s more than a $16 bonus for each ride.

Uber quest screen with 15 rides for a $250 bonus

Over $16 bonus for each ride. As good as it gets.

But not all Quests are worth taking. The Quest below is an example of a bad Quest—a $10 bonus for 50 trips. That’s only $0.20 extra per trip! Most drivers are not going to go out of their way to do this.

An uber quest offering $10 for 50 trips

Only $10 for 50 trips? That’s only 20 cents per ride

Some Quests can look impossible to complete. Quests are generated algorithmically, and sometimes the system makes mistakes.

In the Quest below, Uber offers $64 extra for completing 16 trips in 3 hours. However, experienced drivers know that doing 16 trips in 3 hours is nearly impossible.

Read closely to make sure that a Quest is actually doable!

a quest in the Uber Eats app for 16 trips in 3 hours

16 trips in 3 hours? Not possible!

Does Uber reduce trip requests when you’re close to finishing a promotion?

Drivers sometimes say that when you get close to completing a Quest, new trip requests stop coming in, and it becomes impossible to complete the Quest.

“I’ve been waiting 2 hours to get 2 rides and I can’t complete my Quest!”

A Quest on uber with 49/50 rides complete

Will Uber stop sending you rides when you’re close to a bonus?

Is Uber doing something sinister to prevent you from getting your bonus?

There is no conclusive proof that Uber reduces the volume of trip requests when you’re getting close to earning a Quest.

One explanation is that many different drivers can be working on Quests that end at the same time. It’s harder to get a trip when too many drivers are online at the same time.

Try to complete Quests before the last day to avoid the last-minute rush to complete the final rides.

Driver secret: You can still get a Quest bonus if you finish 95% of it

There is some flexibility to finishing Quests: If you don’t do every ride in a Quest, you can still earn the bonus if you finish at least 95% of the rides. 

So if you were a few rides short, contact Uber driver support and ask if you can still earn the bonus.

Many drivers report that this method works, but Uber might decline your request if you’ve asked too many times in the past.

Surge: A dynamic earnings multiplier

Surge is a flat-rate bonus that Uber can add to trips. Surge turns on and off dynamically during periods of high demand. Check the map in your driver app to see if surges are live.

You will earn the surge bonus if you are positioned inside the surge zone or if the rider’s location is in the surge zone when you accept the trip.

One piece of advice: Don’t chase the surge! Surges appear and disappear quickly, so there’s a good chance that the surge will be gone by the time you arrive.

It’s a good idea to reposition yourself into a surge if you’re nearby—5 minutes or less. But if you’re further, other drivers chasing the same surge can get there first and end the surge.

Uber driver app map showing surge pricing

Surge ‘clouds’

Boost: An earnings multiplier

Note: Uber no longer offers the Boost promotion in some markets

Boost is an earnings multiplier added to rides and orders that begin and end within a designated area on the map. Boost payouts are included in the upfront payout estimate before accepting a trip.

Below is an example of what Boost looks like on the driver map. Notice the outlines designating the areas where the multiplier is in effect. It also happens to be an example of an unusually big Boost, up to 2.8x

Uber Eats boost multipliers outlined on a map of NYC

A big Boost in NYC. Notice the outlined areas

For deliveries, the multiplier is added to the base fare of an order, not the trip supplement or tips. For rides, the multiplier is added to the trip fare.

Check the home screen of the Uber driver app to see Boost zones, or look for Boost in the Opportunities menu.

Boost is an automatic promotion, so you don’t have to opt into it or accept it in the Promotions area of the app.

Below is what Boost looks like when it is listed in the Promotions area of the app. 1.4x is good, but 1.1x might not be worth going out of your way.

Schedule of boost offers in the uber driver app

Check for upcoming Boosts in the Promotions area

What’s the difference between Boost and Surge?

Boost is typically offered in advance, while Surges happen dynamically based on demand. Surges appear on the map as shaded zones, while Boosts appear as specific outlined shapes.

If Boost and Surge are active when you get a ride or delivery request, you will receive whichever pays the most. Like Boost, Surges are applied automatically.

Surge is a flat-rate amount in most cities. So if the map in your driver app shows dollar amounts, it’s a flat rate surge. Otherwise, you’ll see a multiplier (1.2x, 2.1x, etc).

Boost+: A bonus for each trip during a period

Boost Plus is a bonus for each trip completed in an area during a specified time frame. Boost+ is offered directly to individual drivers, and you must sign up for the Boost+ offer in the driver app to be eligible.

The significant difference between Boost and Boost+: You have to sign up for Boost+. Regular Boost is automatically applied if you’re in the correct area.

Example of a Boost+ promotion: “$3.50 on every trip between 6 pm and 7 pm on July 1st in Los Angeles”

Boost+ will appear on the home screen and in the Opportunities area of the app.

For a ride to be eligible for the bonus, you or the rider must be in the selected zone and accept the request during the stated period.

A Boost+ offer on the uber driver app and a list of Boost+ offers

Boost+ offers appear on the home screen and in Opportunities

Uber Boost+ rules: Sign up to be eligible, receive rides in the stated zone

Make sure you’re in the Boost+ zone during the correct time

Uber is retiring Boost in some markets

Uber no longer offers the Boost bonus in some markets. In an announcement, Uber stated that upfront pricing made Boost calculations confusing.

Boosts are no longer displayed in the map or in Opportunities, but any Boost bonus will still be included in the upfront estimate.

Instead of displaying Boost on the map, Uber displays ‘merchant hotspots’ for Uber Eats couriers. A dark-colored hotspot indicates higher delivery demand.

If you can’t see

an announcement from uber that says Boost is no longer available

Uber retired Boost in some markets

How promotions work when you drive for both rideshare and delivery

If you do drive passengers and delivery for Uber Eats, Uber offers promotions that may be for one service type or both.

For example, the driver below was offered one guaranteed earnings promotion for rides only and another for deliveries only.

Uber guarantee offers page with one promotion for rides only, and one for deliveries only

You may need to pick between rides-only and delivery-only promos

But for the Quests below, both rides and deliveries count toward the bonus.

an Uber Quest with a 'rides and eats' tag

Both rides and deliveries can count toward some promotions

Over time, Uber may ask you to choose between delivery or rideshare promos.

Uber can send an email and app message letting you know which promotions you will receive based on your recent activity.

So if you’ve been doing more deliveries, they will only send you delivery promotions. There is an option to continue to receive whichever promotions you are currently getting.

an email from Uber informing a Uber driver about delivery promotions

Uber may email you to let you know if you will receive rideshare or delivery promotions

Some drivers say that the delivery Quests are worse than rideshare Quests. Uber may try to push drivers into lower-paying delivery promotions even if they do an equal balance of rideshare and delivery.

Keep an eye out for messages from Uber, and select the promotion category that is more valuable to you.

Related: How Uber Eats drivers can switch to Uber ridesharing

The Quest widget — See Quests on your home screen

Uber created a Quest widget to track Quests on your phone’s home screen. The benefit is that you don’t have to open the Uber driver app to see your Quest progress.

To add the Quest widget on iPhone: Tap and hold the home screen until the icons jiggle. Tap the + button in the upper corner, then search for “Uber Driver” and add the widget.

Uber Quest widget showing progress toward a Quest

Install the Uber Quest widget on the home screen of your phone to easily track quests

Quest and Boost Strategies

Getting Quest and Boost offers is mainly a matter of luck. But when the Uber algorithm finally gives you a promotion, there are things you can do to maximize your earnings and avoid unprofitable trips.

You mainly want to look at the additional earnings that the promotion offers, and the time period that it’s offered.

Quest strategies

The optimal Quest strategy is to target short trips to complete the Quest as quickly as possible. By targeting short trips, you can maximize the bonus amount per mile.

Do the math and see how much of a bonus a Quest offers per trip. If the Quest only offers an extra dollar for each trip, it might not be worth going out of your way to do it.

Check the dates and times of the Quest. Many Quests want you to drive during an inconvenient time. Or the Quest will want you to drive nearly nonstop all weekend.

Remember that you can decline or cancel trips during a Quest, so you don’t have to adjust your normal criteria to complete most Quests.

There isn’t much extra strategy to doing a Quest other than making sure it’s at a convenient time when the volume will be high enough to accomplish the Quest.

Boost and Surge strategies

“Don’t chase the surge” is advice that you will hear from many veteran Uber drivers. Why? Surges can disappear before you get to the zone, and Boosts can lower the volume of new trips by drawing too many drivers into the zone.

Surges appear when passenger demand is higher than driver supply, so the surge will end when enough drivers enter the zone.

There’s a good chance that you’re wasting unpaid miles to enter a surge zone that could go away before you arrive.

And for Boosts, all drivers in the zone compete for the same orders. So even if you’re getting 1.5x per ride delivery, you might not get enough volume to make it worth your time.

The best strategy is to use your normal criteria for accepting a ride or delivery and be happy if it happens to be in a Boost or surge zone.

Originally Published June 6, 2021
Filed Under: Delivery Gigs, Uber

About Doug H

Gig economy driver, writer, and expert since 2013. I created Ridesharing Driver to help drivers navigate all of the challenges we face in the on-demand world!

Comments

  1. Ariana H says

    June 18, 2023 at 11:08 pm

    I have the same issue as someone else that commented. I think I am being underpaid for boost. I received a base fare of $4.81 but only got 29¢ in promotion. My boost zone multiplyer was 1.3x so $4.81 x 1.3 = $6.25 but $4.81 + 29¢ = 5.1. This has been happening for all my orders within boost zones and Uber support is not very helpful when I explain this to them.

    Reply
  2. Keith T says

    November 18, 2022 at 4:07 pm

    I’m very frustrated with UberEats. I don’t believe they are paying the correct boost bonuses. For ex. 1.8 multiplier paid $.70. Do the math, 1.8 X x = $.70; the fare would have to be $.39. So, $.39 x 1.8 = $.70 boost bonus. We all know there are no base fares of $.39.

    Uber support tells me they don’t have the details to calculate the boost bonus. They see what is in the app. Any insight?

    Reply
    • Doug H says

      November 18, 2022 at 4:47 pm

      Can you share an example screenshot? You can comment with an image link or email the picture to me at doug (at) ridesharingdriver.com. This is something that people have reported on and off over the years

      Reply
    • Nkosiyabo Enock Mthethwa says

      June 8, 2023 at 2:16 pm

      I am a delivery driver but i dnt receive boost opportunity on my app what must i do so that i will receive opportunity promotion ?

      Reply
  3. Mustaqur rahman says

    April 19, 2022 at 6:03 am

    Hi sir, its really full of important information. I am a uber eats driver only (bicycle). My colleagues are getting bunch of quest promotion while I got none from 6 to 8 months means from my starting I only got boost and surge but never ever I got any quest. Did I have done anything wrong or missing any trick?

    Reply
    • DougH says

      April 19, 2022 at 10:38 am

      Sometimes if you are a driver for passengers and deliveries, you can get Quest for only one and not the other. But if you are only an Eats driver, I’m not sure what the problem is. Try to contact Uber and ask.

      Reply
  4. Amy Isaacs says

    December 7, 2021 at 4:26 am

    I was getting the quest 80-90 rides extra 290$. Then all of a sudden I have no promotions at all. They said do you want Uber eats or driver promotions. I said I want the promotions that gives me the option to do a certain amount of rides for extra money. They said they don’t know which one offers that promotion. Do you know if that promotion is for rides or deliveries?

    Reply
    • DougH says

      December 7, 2021 at 10:15 am

      It sounds like you want to do the Quest driver promotions. Quest can be for rideshare or delivery. If you let them know you want rideshare promotions, Quests that you get in the future should be for rideshare. But it’s also possible that you stoped getting quests for other reasons, like your market slowed down. That’s common in the winter

      Reply
  5. MOHAMED says

    November 21, 2021 at 9:37 pm

    Hello
    I received an email from you asking me if I want to start taking delivery promotion rather than UberX promotions , I clicked on “ opt in” by mistake. I would like to keep the delivery promotions for the moment and not changing them .
    Sincerely.

    Reply
    • DougH says

      November 22, 2021 at 8:57 am

      Try to contact Uber to change it back

      Reply
  6. Andrew says

    October 29, 2021 at 3:00 pm

    Hi, I have a question. My uber quest says “*Trips must begin in the Inland Empire”. I did a few in the IE then decided just to go to LA, and my quest trips were raising and were counted towards completing the quest. Will they count if I complete the quest? Is it EACH trip that must begin in the IE or just the starting point going into the quest? Thanks

    Reply
    • DougH says

      October 30, 2021 at 8:31 am

      Typically each trip must begin in the stated area. So you may be getting lucky, or there could be problems with the Quest down the road. You can try to contact support for more detail but your quest might be over by the time you get a real answer from them

      Reply
  7. Sam says

    August 27, 2021 at 2:02 pm

    Hi there, really helpful post! I was wondering how Lyft weekly bonuses are determined. In my market (LA), I have a list of options where I can choose the Uber quest I want to do – 30 trips, 40 trips, etc. But Lyft will just send one like do 40 trips and get $100. Do you have any insight into how Lyft determines the bonus they offer? Does it depend on your level of driving activity? thx!

    Reply
    • DougH says

      August 27, 2021 at 2:15 pm

      Nobody really knows exactly how they determine what your bonus is. Some people think it’s based on your driving history. A top theory is that they offer more bonuses to less active drivers. But nobody really knows, and knowing these companies it might be highly experimental and random.

      Reply
      • David T. says

        October 6, 2021 at 10:30 am

        yea that is a fact. drivers who are less active they give bonuses but lyft in NJ isnt worth very low pay per trip.

        Reply

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