If you want to drive with Uber or deliver for Uber Eats, you must undergo a background check that looks into your criminal history and driving record.
Uber can reject your application if your background doesn’t meet the current screening criteria!
Read on to learn how the background check works and what issues in your background or driving record might prevent you from getting accepted by Uber.
Article Contents
- What is the Uber Background Check?
- Criteria for the Criminal Background Check
- Criteria for the Driving Record Check (MVR)
- Background Check FAQ
Overview of the Uber background check
All Uber and Uber Eats applicants must undergo a background check to be eligible to drive. It is a screening procedure that uses public records to examine your criminal history and driving record.
After you consent to the background check and provide your social security number (SSN), a third-party background check company (Checkr) looks at public records and delivers a report to Uber.
After reviewing the results of your background screening, Uber will accept or reject your application. The background check is free and Uber does not run a credit check.
Uber also periodically re-runs your background check, typically once per year. You can be deactivated if Uber finds new violations on your record.
Uber & Uber Eats Background Check and Driving Record Check Requirements
Note: Criteria is subject to local laws. Different states may have different background standards.
Your criminal background must meet these conditions:
- No serious crimes such as murder, sexual assault, terrorism-related offenses
- No convictions for a felony, violent crime, or sexual offenses
- Some non-violent felony convictions may be accepted
- Pending charges can be disqualifying until the charges are resolved in your favor
Your motor vehicle report must meet these conditions:
- A minimum of 1 year of licensed driving history in the U.S.
- Age 24 and under: At least 3 years licensed driving experience
- International driving experience doesn’t count
- A clean Motor Vehicle Report (MVR) with no more than 3 incidents in recent history
- No DUIs and no reckless driving
- California Uber drivers must not have a DUI in the last 10 years.
- No speeding violations for driving 20 mph or greater over the speed limit in recent history
- Uber does not perform a credit check
Source: Help.uber.com
Want to apply? Sign up with Uber here
Left: The background check consent. Right: The message you see while your check is in progress
The background check looks at these records
- County courthouse records for every county of residence
- Federal courthouse records
- The multi-state criminal database
- Motor Vehicle Records
- Social Security Trace
- National Sex Offender Registry
How often does Uber do background checks?
In most states, Uber runs a background check once each year. Uber might also run a new background check if the background standards have changed recently or to comply with a new local law.
There is no set date for the yearly background check, so it’s hard to predict when the next background check will happen.
Uber renews your background check at least once each year
How long does it take to complete the Uber background check?
The background check typically takes around 2–10 days to complete. If you haven’t received an update from Uber after 7 days, contact Uber and Checkr for more information.
How to check the status of your background check
Visit the Checkr candidate portal to view the status of your background check. If the report is complete, the next step is to wait for a decision from Uber.
Check the status of your report at the Checkr candidate portal
You can also check the status of your account in the Uber Driver app. Log in and look for any notices from Uber.
If you need to take action, you will see something like “There are a few steps you need to complete,” with a checklist of things to do.
Check your background check status in the Uber Driver app
If the driver app says that your background check is ‘pending’ or ‘pending approval,’ it means that Checkr is still completing your background check or Uber is still examining the report.
If the status is still pending after 3–5 days, contact Uber for an update and visit your Checkr candidate portal.
When your background check is pending, the driver app displays this status screen
If the status on Checkr says ‘consider,’ it means that a potentially disqualifying issue was flagged on your background or motor vehicle record. Uber will have to ‘consider’ that issue.
Unfortunately, seeing ‘consider’ on your Checkr report is a signal that Uber may reject your application.
‘Consider’ is usually bad news for your application. It means a potentially disqualifying issue was flagged
How far back does the driving record check look?
Uber does not say precisely how far back the background check goes. Each state may have different background checks regulations, making it hard to state a general number.
In the past, Uber said that their criteria was “no major violations within the last 7 years,” but they no longer publish a specific number.
Uber may renew your background check every year, or more
Uber performs a yearly background check to see if you’ve collected any new criminal or driving violations. Uber might also re-run your background check if the background requirements in your area have changed.
Even if you pass the first background check, you’ll have to pass it every year to continue driving.
An app notice for a background check refresh
What to do if you get deactivated after a background check
Uber may deactivate your account if they find a new issue on your background check that violates their current standards.
There isn’t a way to directly appeal the decision, but you can contact Uber support and ask them to reconsider.
If the deactivation was due to an error in the background check, you can dispute the background check results by contacting Checkr.
Social Security Number (SSN) issues
Some applicants or existing drivers may see this message: “We recently discovered a potential issue with the Social Security Number you provide when you signed up to drive or deliver. Please submit proof of your SSN and a secondary form of identification if you want to continue driving.”
You might receive that message if there is conflicting information in your records or identity theft concerns that are connected to the SSN. Your account will be placed on hold until you upload the requested documents.
Some drivers run into issues with their SSN. Upload more documents to clear the hold
HireRight: Incidents on Uber can be reported to Lyft
Both Uber and Lyft partner with a consumer reporting agency called HireRight that monitors and report issues that occur on either app.
Through HireRight, Uber and Lyft can communicate with each other about serious safety incidents. It is called the Industry Sharing Safety Program.
If you are involved in a serious incident on Lyft, HireRight can report the incident to Uber. And if the incident took place on Uber, HireRight can report it to Lyft.
That means that you can be deactivated from both platforms from one incident!
An incident on Lyft can be reported to Uber through HireRight
The Uber driving record (MVR) check: Full details & criteria
Uber evaluates your driving record by running motor vehicle report (MVR). Uber doesn’t provide complete details on the exact criteria for the driving record check, but they do offer some guidelines.
Uber states, “Your driver’s license must be active and free of disqualifying restrictions. Major driving violations or a recent history of multiple minor driving violations, including but not limited to no-fault accidents, may result in disqualification.”
Drivers license history: One year if 25+, 3 years if 24 or younger
Uber requires one year of licensing history in the US if you are 25 or older, and 3 years if you are 24 and under.
Learner’s permit experience does not count toward your one year of licensing history.
Uber does not count international driving experience when they examine your background, so even if you have extensive foreign driving experience, you will still need one year of US licensing history.
Uber and Checkr might need additional documents to verify your license history if your license was recently issued.
You’ll get an email from Checkr asking for a previous driver’s license, driver’s license number, or a motor vehicle report from the DMV. Promptly provide those documents to ensure that the screening process can continue.
Major driving violations that can disqualify you
Uber says they won’t accept drivers with any ‘major violations.’
Major violations include:
- DUI, DWI, wet reckless, or anything related to drinking or drugs and driving
- Driving on a suspended license
- Reckless driving
- Hit and run
- Fleeing an officer
- Use of a vehicle to commit a felony
Minor driving violations that can disqualify you
Minor driving violations are moving violations that result in small tickets or warnings.
Generally, Uber may reject you if you have 3 or more minor violations on your record in the last several years.
Some minor violations include:
- Speeding
- Failure to yield
- Illegal U-turn
- Improper passing
- Disobeying a traffic light
- Driving with expired registration tags
Does Uber look at points against your license?
There’s no indication that Uber directly looks at points against your license in their driving record criteria. Instead, they examine the violations on your record.
Uber doesn’t have a system that accepts you if you have x or fewer license points and rejects you if you have more than x license points.
States have different point systems, and others don’t have point systems at all, so Uber only considers the specific violations that are on your record.
Does Uber look at pending criminal or driving issues?
If an issue appears on your record—even a pending issue—Uber can count it against you.
That means that if you are still in the process of dealing with a criminal issue, Uber can count it against you when they evaluate your record.
Here’s a quote from help.uber.com: “Pending charges for those categories of crimes are also disqualifying, unless and until such charges are resolved in your favor.”
Rejected by Uber due to your background? Can you reapply?
It’s possible—but difficult—to reapply to Uber if they reject you due to your background.
Check out our in-depth guide on finding out why you were rejected, and the steps you can take to reapply.
Uber Background Check FAQ
How long does the background check take to complete?
Uber says it takes 3–5 days, but that time frame may vary depending on the number of driver applications Uber and their background check partner are dealing with. Most drivers report that it takes around 2–10 days.
“My background check is taking forever. What should I do?”
You can check the status of your background check at the Checkr candidate portal. If Checkr has completed the report, you are waiting on Uber to make a decision. Contact Uber if there is further delay.
“I am accused of a crime, but my case is still pending. Does Uber see pending charges?”
Pending charges show up on your background check, so Uber can use that information. Pending charges are a common reason for rejection.
“Uber rejected me due to my background. Can I reapply?”
It is possible to apply again in 3–6 months, but depending on why you were rejected, you may be unable to reapply. Learn more about how to reapply to Uber.
“My background check is incorrect or incomplete. How can I dispute it?”
You can dispute your background check by emailing [email protected]. Uber will not review the details of your screening with you, so always go to Checkr first.
Will you pass the background check? A trick to find out
Hundreds of commenters have come to us with all sorts of legal scenarios and wonder if they will pass the background check.
Nobody other than Uber can say whether you’ll pass, but generally speaking, you should pass if your criminal history has been clean for the past 10 years or so, and if your driving record doesn’t have any major issues.
Here’s a trick to help you find out if you’ll pass without applying.
Apply to delivery Gigs. They have similar hiring standards
Other on-demand companies like DoorDash use the same background check company as Uber—Checkr—to run your background check, and many of the gig apps have similar background standards.
If you’re not sure that Uber will accept you, and if you don’t want to risk your one chance of applying, apply to DoorDash first.
If DoorDash rejects you, Uber likely will reject you as well. And if they accept you, there’s a strong chance that Uber will accept you too.
Don’t have a car? You can still apply and do background screening
If you want to do the background check before figuring out how to get a car, visit the Uber application and select “I need a car.”
When you select “I need a car, “you can do the background screening without entering vehicle information.
If you pass the background check, Uber will refer you to their rental car options, but you can get a car however you want.
Will you pass? The only way to find out is to apply!
Nobody can tell you for sure if Uber will accept you or not. The background check is free, so there’s no harm in trying. Apply and see what happens!
Jose says
Well i had felony back in 2009. I applied doordash and amazon flex recently and they accept me and the copy of my background was clear which is from checker. Then i apply for lyft and they reject me and the copy of my background was flaged which is also from checker. Im confused 3 different background checks from same compney checker is cleared me in 2 cases and failed me in one. So im wondering what uber will do…?
DougH says
It’s hard to say for sure. Each company may come to a different conclusion
joseph jose says
Hi,
I had a DUI in NY 08/2015,do I pass the back ground check for Uber driver application?
DougH says
Most likely not. Any DUI in the last 5 – 10 years means you will likely be rejected
clarence smith says
uber say they go back seven years not true I got denied for something in 2005.which is 13v years ago.uber need to up front with people before they sighn.
Bill says
Do understand that Uber follows State laws that dictate how many years back they can have included in their background checks. Here in California, there’s a seven (7) year limit, yet each and every State allows checks to supersede that limit when researching certain criminal convictions, i. e., Felony Theft and/or Property crimes, crimes of Sexual/Assault in nature, etc.
So bottomline is, check specifically into the Uber disqualifires along with your own skeletons, then you’ll know how and if to proceed with the application process!
Mark says
It’s been 38 years ago that I had a felony conviction, not a sex crime. I have had no other infractions since. I was hired by Uber and worked with them for two years, with a very high rider rating 4.88. They ran another background check and I was deactivated. How long do I have to do the time for the crime? I have full restoration of my rights, I can and do vote. Uber would not pass a background check on themselves.They killed a woman with one of their driverless cars. I just want to make a few extra bucks. By the way I have been employed as a driver for the last thirty three years. No incidents.
DT says
I am in california and Chekr put stuff on my BG check from 1990. 7 years is not the limit. however I was approved.
james tipton says
Hello,
I recently has a assault misdemeanor charge for a bar fight which many people were involved .I was not involved except someone threw a punch at me and I pushed him down it was a misdemeanor. Will that keep me from driving for uber
DougH says
It’s hard to say for sure. It might hurt your chances, might not. You’ll have to apply to find out
Omar mohamed says
I have a Speeding ticket from December 2015 goin over 100 mph will it disqualify me for 7 years? My liscense wasn’t suspended or anything.
DougH says
It’s hard to say for sure. You’ll have to try to find out
Devan says
Uber’s background checks are invalid, inaccurate and prevent good, honest individuals from obtaining a position within their company. I have a friend who applied for a job with them and because of a misdemeanor that occurred OVER 21 YEARS ago, they denied her! Yet, some people considered ‘minor felons’ are allowed employed by them? This is just obscene to me. Obviously, things within corporate need some re-evaluation.
Derek says
Yep. That 7yr back thing is BS. I got a disorderly conduct for get this. Driving with my factory stereo too loud TEN years ago. The a-hole cop wouldn’t even drop it down to noise ordinance. Most likely because i’m black and it was rap music. Wasn’t even in a neighborhood. It showed up and now my chekr says consider. I’m a USPS mail carrier and drive for the government 5 days a week. But I may not be good enough for Uber. Wow.
Kevin says
I had a car accident I was at fault beside this I have a clean record, no DUIs ,no speeding tickets only one car accident I was at fault will u er hire me
DougH says
It’s hard to say for sure. You’ll have to try to find out.
JasonG says
Did you receive any ticket(s) for the accident?