Uber offers many different payment methods to pay for your ride or Uber Eats order, and there are several easy ways to add and switch between payment options.
You can even change your payment method after a ride is over!
Read on to see how to add different payment options, and how to use Uber Cash, and what to do if you run into problems.
Uber & Uber Eats accepts these payment methods
- Credit and debit cards
- Paypal
- Venmo
- Apple Pay
- Google Pay
- Gift card
- Uber Cash
- CVS Pharmacy
Zelle is not currently a payment option on Uber.
Cash is not accepted (in the United States)
You can’t pay for an Uber ride in cash in the US, but you can tip your driver with cash. Cash on delivery (COD) is not available for Uber Eats deliveries.
You must have an active payment method in your Uber Wallet to request a ride, and it will automatically be charged after the ride is complete.
Uber has an in-app credit system called Uber Cash, but it is not the same as paying in cash.
Related: How much does Uber cost? Uber fare estimator
How to add a payment method to your Uber account
You can add a payment method to your Uber Wallet in your account settings, or you can add a payment method when you request a ride or place an Uber Eats order.
To add a payment option to your Uber Wallet, tap Account in the lower right corner of the home screen, then tap Wallet.
Scroll to ‘Add payment method‘ and select the Payment Method you want to add. Follow the on-screen instructions to add your payment method.
To add a payment method when you request a ride: Enter your destination, then tap on the payment method icon near the bottom of the screen. You can change the payment method, or add a new one.
How to select a different credit card or payment option
You can select a payment method before you request an Uber, and you can change you payment method during a trip.
To change your payment method before you request a ride:
- Enter your destination
- Tap the credit card icon at the bottom of the screen
- Select a different payment option or enter a new one
How to change the payment method for a past trip
If you used the wrong payment method for a past trip, it is possible to change the payment method if the trip is less than 30 days old.
Go to Activity at the bottom of the Uber app and find the trip. Tap Receipt, then scroll to find ‘Switch payment method.‘ Select your preferred payment type.
You can follow the same steps at help.uber.com or in the email receipt that you receive for each trip.
What is Uber Cash?
Uber Cash is Uber credits that you can use to pay for rides or Uber Eats orders. You can purchase Uber Cash in the Uber app, or you can be rewarded Uber cash from special promotions or refunds.
Gift card balances appear as Uber Cash, credits offered by Uber support appear as Uber Cash, and some other promotional credits also appear as Uber Cash.
To use Uber Cash to pay for a ride, select it as a payment method before you request the ride or place an order.
How to get Uber Cash
- Purchase it: Buy Uber Cash inside the app
- Earn it as a credit card reward: Some credit cards (such as the Amex Platinum Card) offer Uber Cash as a reward
Uber promo codes: Another way to get Uber discounts
Uber offers promo codes for new users that give a discount on rides. To add a promo code, head to Account > Wallet, then scroll to “Add Promo Code.” Enter the code there.
My code: Use promo code cws7s2 to get a discount. It works for all new users in the USA.
Promotions from Uber promo codes are automatically applied to rides. You can’t prevent a promo code promotion from applying to a ride. Promo codes are applied in reverse order, meaning your most recently added code will be applied to your next trip.
How to use Apple Pay or Google Pay for Uber
You can pay for Uber and Uber Eats with Apple Pay and Google Pay.
If Apple Pay or Google Pay are already set up on your phone, go to your Wallet to enable it as a payment method.
In your Wallet, tap Apple Pay or Google Pay to link to your Uber account. After that, you’ll be able to select Apply Pay or Google Pay from your list of payment methods.
What to do if you can’t add a credit card to your Uber account
Some users follow steps to add a new payment method only to find that the card doesn’t become available in the list of payment options.
If that happens, restart the app and repeat the process. If that doesn’t work, you will need to contact Uber customer service.
How to delete a credit card or payment option from your account
To delete a credit card or other payment method, tap Account > Wallet.
Tap the payment method you want to delete, then tap Remove payment method.
What to do when you can’t delete a payment method
When you get a new credit card, you might want to delete an old one before you add the new one.
You may see this error message: “You must have at least one payment method active.” To prevent that error, add in your new card first before you delete the old one. It may take a day or two for the old card to disappear.
You can update a credit card expiration date without deleting and re adding the card. Go to Payment, select the card, then tap the icon in the upper right to edit the card info.
Another problem Uber users run into is when a deleted payment method still show up as a payment option. You can ignore the old card, but make sure to select your current card when you request a ride to prevent errors.
If fully deleting the card from your account is important to you and you’re unable to do it yourself, contact Uber.
Can more than one Uber account use the same credit card?
Uber may not allow you to add or select a credit card that is already in use by another account. Some users see this error message, “This payment method is being shared by too many uber accounts.”
Uber examines credit card and phone number usage to prevent fraud. If a credit card is connected to too many accounts, it can trigger fraud detection systems.
If you’re sharing the credit card with a family member, consider creating a Family Profile to ensure that you can share the card.
More Uber Tips
Cliff says
If you pay the tip in cash, why does the app still make you leave a minimum tip from your credit card? I recently gave a driver a cash tip then the app would not let me enter zero for a tip amount. Also, would paying a cash tip and giving zero tip via credit card affect my rate?
IRVIN DAWKINS says
WHY IS IT SO DIFFICULT TO ADD NEW PAYMENT METHOD? I’VE TRIED YOUR EXAMPLES, ALL REJECTED. PLEASE ADVISE??
caroline says
I can enter my card however when I go to pay it says : Oops something went wrong – and does not process payment. I have had the card checked and nothing wrong with it, installed app again, tried it on a different phone etc.
Bini says
Nope. “Payment” is not a viable option on android app any more.
Frank Schreier says
Driver $5 tip not applied to fare. Why? Trip on June 19 around 8:30 from middlefield ct to Portland ct by driver Brian.