Passing the Uber vehicle inspection: Find inspection locations, see the cost, and more

Did you know that in most states, all vehicles on the Uber app must pass an inspection before the driver can begin taking rides?

So if you’re thinking about driving with Uber, be ready to get your car inspected!

You can get an inspection at an Uber location, an independent mechanic, or do a video chat inspection.

Read on to learn what to expect from a vehicle inspection and how to look for free & cheap options.

Article contents

• Basics of the Uber vehicle inspection
• How to find a free inspection
• Get a video chat inspection
• Find & download the inspection form
• Inspection points: What the inspection looks for
• How to get one inspection for Uber & Lyft

Uber vehicle inspection basics

In most cities, Uber requires a yearly vehicle inspection at a state-certified auto repair facility or an Uber inspection location.

The Uber vehicle inspection looks at the condition of safety features like tires, brakes, lights, seatbelts, glass, and others. View the inspection form to see what the inspection covers.

Uber does not require a vehicle inspection for Uber Eats.

The top 4 ways to get an inspection

• Visit an Uber Greenlight Hub (~$20)
• Get a video chat inspection with RMI ($15)
• Go to an independent mechanic (~$30)
• In states that require a yearly inspection, upload the state inspection form or sticker

How to find vehicle inspection locations

In the Uber driver app, tap Menu > Account > Documents > Vehicle Inspection > Find an inspection center.

Not all cities require a vehicle inspection

You may find that your city doesn’t require a vehicle inspection. If that’s the case, continue driving and only get an inspection if Uber asks you to get one.

Some cities require a vehicle inspection in your first 30 days as an active driver, so it’s also possible that you’ll be able to get on the road before you get an inspection.

If your state requires a yearly inspection, Uber may accept a valid inspection sticker or form

Many US states require a yearly or periodic inspection for all vehicles. If you are in a state that requires inspections, you may be able to use the inspection sticker or inspection form to satisfy Uber’s inspection requirement.

Watch out for emails and app messages from Uber for more information about the exact requirements in your state.

How to get an Uber inspection at Uber Greenlight Hubs & participating locations

In many larger cities, Uber provides discounted inspections at ‘Greenlight Hubs‘ and local auto shop chains.

How to find a free vehicle inspection

In the Uber driver app, tap Menu > Account > Documents > Vehicle Inspection > Find an inspection center.

You will find a list of official Uber locations and independent auto shops. Uber locations usually offer a low-cost option that is generally around $20.

Scroll through the independent mechanics to find nearby inspection locations. You might get lucky and find a shop offering free promotional inspections.

In my case, I found a free inspection at a local Pep Boys. Your experience may vary.

Video inspection options with RMI

In some locations, Uber offers video chat inspections through RMI. RMI inspections cost around $15.

After you schedule an inspection, an RMI associate will call you via video chat and lead you through an inspection. They will ask you to walk around the car to show them the condition of your vehicle.

If your vehicle passes, RMI will email you a photo of the completed inspection form. Upload the photo to your documents portal and wait for approval.

Video inspections are a convenient way to get an inspection wherever you want, without traveling to a mechanic or printing out any forms.

The only potential drawback of an RMI inspection is that it may only qualify for Uber. Lyft may not accept the form.

How to download the Uber inspection form

If you choose to do your inspection with an independent mechanic, you will need to print out the inspection form and bring it to the inspection.

Below is a PDF copy of the inspection form:

• View the Uber inspection form (pdf)

Uber can also send you the inspection form inside the driver app.

Request a copy of the inspection form from Uber: While using the “Find an inspection center” feature, tap on any independent mechanic, then tap “Get inspection form” at the bottom of the page.

Uber will email you a copy of your form to the email address associated with your driver account.

How to upload a completed inspection form

To upload a completed inspection form, go to Account > Documents > Vehicle Inspection > ‘I’ve completed my inspection’

Follow the instructions to take a photo of the form, then upload it. It typically takes Uber only a few hours to approve your form. If it takes longer, contact support.

More reading for Uber drivers

• Does your car qualify for Uber?
• How to rent a car for Uber

Vehicle inspection points

Here’s what the inspection looks for:

• Headlights, tail lights, stop lights, turn signal indicators
• Tire tread depth
• Brake pad/shoe thickness
• Interior and exterior rear-view mirrors
• Emergency brake/parking brake
• Steering mechanism
• Windshield glass, windshield wipers, window glass
• Seatbelts for driver and passengers
• Doors open/close/lock
• Front seat adjustment
• Horn & speedometer
• Condition of bumpers

Can you pass the inspection if your car has body & paint damage?

Uber doesn’t accept vehicles with major body damage, panels with mismatched paint, or missing pieces.

A good rule of thumb is anything bigger than a baseball-sized dent could disqualify your car.

But if you read closely, the inspection forms do not leave clear guidelines specifying exactly how much damage is acceptable.

Most inspectors are concerned with mechanical safety features and will overlook body damage unless there is significant damage to safety features like bumpers and exterior mirrors.

So you may be able to pass an inspection with body damage, but passengers might give you bad ratings or complain to Uber.

After a while, driving with a damaged car is likely to lead to deactivation.

How to get one vehicle inspection for both Uber and Lyft

If you are active on both Uber and Lyft, you’ll need to keep inspections up to date for both apps.

You can try to use an Uber inspection for Lyft or a Lyft inspection for Uber, but there’s no guarantee that either company will accept an inspection form from the other.

Going to two inspections and paying twice is a hassle, but there is a way to get one inspection that works for both Uber and Lyft. 

Go to an independent mechanic to get both forms filled out at the same time

You can have an independent mechanic fill out the Uber & Lyft forms at the same time.

The inspections are nearly identical, so most mechanics are happy to fill out both forms for you at little or no extra charge.

If you go to an Uber inspection location, there’s a chance that the inspector will use a phone or tablet to complete the inspection and won’t provide a paper form. Without the paper form, you’ll have to get a separate inspection for Lyft.

• All about the Lyft vehicle inspection

Can you fill out your own forms? Faking the inspection

Some drivers go the dishonest route by filling out their own inspection form without actually getting an inspection.

Many say that they get away with it, but it’s considered fraudulent behavior and you risk deactivation if Uber finds out.

Many drivers have been deactivated for uploading fraudulent documents. Faking your forms isn’t worth it if you rely on the money you earn from Uber.

What to do if your car doesn’t pass an inspection

If your car doesn’t pass the inspection, correct the issue and go back to redo the inspection.

The inspection only covers the most basic roadworthiness of a car, so if your car fails, it’s probably not safe to drive anyways!