Uber's car rules: what qualifies and what can't

**Reported.** Everything in this story comes from Jalopnik's rundown of the rules Uber sets for cars on its platform, and those rules change from city to city.

The driver requirements are looser than most riders assume. Jalopnik reports a driver needs a valid license held for at least a year, residency in the area they plan to drive, a background check and the local minimum driving age. Owning a car isn't necessary, because Uber runs a rental program, and Jalopnik reports special rideshare coverage isn't a condition either.

The car checklist is where it gets strict. Per Jalopnik:

• No more than 15 years old.
• Four working doors.
• Seat belts for five people.
• Windows and climate control that function.
• Good cosmetic condition.
• No commercial branding.

The city decides the rest

Uber has drivers pick a metro area to see the full list, and Jalopnik works through San Francisco, where the company started. California registration and insurance are required there. A standard UberX car can't be a van or a box truck. Marked vehicles, meaning cabs and government cars, need prior authorization through a taxi partner. Salvaged and rebuilt cars need extra partnership approval. Aftermarket parts touching the seats or seat belts are out, and only factory safety restraints are allowed. UberXL follows the same rules with more seat belt positions, since it carries more riders.

A car that qualifies today can age out of the platform while the loan is still open.

What the tiers ask for

Uber WAV vehicles are all minivans, customized and certified to carry riders who use wheelchairs, Jalopnik reports. Uber Black is the dress-code tier: black paint outside, black leather inside. San Francisco accepts vegan leather, and Jalopnik reports other cities allow other exterior colors, though the corporate palette stays close to black, gray and silver.

What can't show up

• Two-door vehicles, which rules out the two-door Jeep Wrangler and roadsters including the Mazda MX-5 Miata and the BMW Z.
• Lamborghini's Gallardo, Huracán and Temerario, all out on the door-and-seat count. The Urus SUV makes it.
• The Porsche 911, for the same reason. The Panamera, Macan and Cayenne can qualify, Jalopnik reports.
• Regular-cab pickups. Extended-cab and crew-cab trucks pass.

Powertrain matters less than doors and seats. Jalopnik reports a diesel Nissan Titan XD sits on the eligible list for the Bay Area, which tells you fuel type isn't the filter.

The quirks

An automatic transmission isn't a must-have, so a manual can qualify. Jalopnik notes that's a thin slice of the driver pool, and the ride depends on how the driver shifts. Lift kits can pass too, because Jalopnik reports the fine print only blocks modifications tied to safety. The eligible range runs from the AM General MV-1 to the ZX Auto Urban Ark C3, until the car reaches the age line.

What the rules cost a driver

The 15-year cap is the expensive part, and it's the one rule that resets on its own. A car bought for rideshare duty has a shelf life, and the buyer carries it. If you're shopping used with Uber income in mind, the qualifying set is narrow: four doors, five belts, working air conditioning and a model year inside the window. The cheapest thing you can find is often the one that fails the checklist. Buy the youngest four-door sedan or crossover your budget allows and hold back some cash for maintenance. That's my read; the rules above are Jalopnik's.

• Jalopnik
• Lamborghini
• Porsche
• rideshare
• Uber
• used cars