How Long Does Uber Take to Issue Refunds for Cancelled Rides?
Ridesharing services like Uber have become integral parts of transportation infrastructure across the globe. With just a few taps on your smartphone, you can book an Uber ride and be on your way. However, life happens and plans change. You may find yourself needing to cancel your scheduled Uber ride last minute.
But what happens when you cancel an Uber ride? Will you be charged a cancellation fee? And if so, how long does it take Uber to process a refund?
In most cases, Uber takes 7 business days to process ride cancellation refunds. The actual timeframe can vary depending on the original payment method used, rider bank, and other factors. Refunds are returned to the same source of payment for the trip.
This comprehensive guide will cover Uber’s cancellation and refund policies, provide a step-by-step process for requesting ride refunds, outline what impacts the refund timeline, and answer some frequently asked questions about Uber ride cancellation and refunds.
Uber’s Ride Cancellation Policy
Before getting into the ride refund process, it’s important to understand Uber’s policies around cancelling scheduled rides.
As noted earlier this year, Uber gives passengers a short grace period to cancel a ride request free of charge:
- 1 minute for Uber Pool
- 2 minutes for UberX, UberXL, and other basic ride types
- 5 minutes for premium services like Uber Black
These windows give riders a buffer to reconsider their ride booking.
However, if the cancellation happens after getting matched with a driver, fees apply as follows:
- $5-10 for typical UberX, UberXL rides
- Up to $10 for Uber Pool
- Higher cancellation penalties for premium Uber Black, Uber SUV services
Cancellation fees account for the driver’s time and effort spent traveling to the pickup location before a ride is cancelled.
That said, extenuating circumstances like long driver ETAs may warrant a cancellation fee refund, which will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis, as detailed below.
Step-by-Step Guide to Getting an Uber Ride Refund
If you had to cancel your Uber ride and were still charged unfairly, take the following step-by-step actions to request a refund:
Request a Refund via the Uber App
- Open your Uber app and log into your account
- Tap the menu icon ≡ and select ‘Your Trips’
- Choose ‘Past Trips’ to view your ride history
- Select the cancelled trip in question
- Tap ‘I would like a refund’
- Pick the issue from the list or choose ‘Other’
- Give additional details about why you need to cancel
- Submit your refund request
Request a Refund via Uber’s Website
- Go to the Uber website and login
- Click ‘Help’ in the top menu
- Choose ‘Issues and Refunds’
- Select your cancelled trip date
- Tap ‘I would like a refund’
- Provide context around your cancellation
- Submit your refund request details
In both cases, be sure to be as specific as possible in explaining the context and reason you had to cancel, as this will help Uber better evaluate your refund eligibility.
Having supporting details or documentation around long driver ETA, inability to locate the vehicle, or other ride issues will also help strengthen your case.
Factors That Impact Uber Refund Timeline
If Uber approves your ride cancellation refund request, when should you expect to see the money back in your account?
Here are some considerations that influence the processing time:
- Uber aims to issue ride refunds within 7 business days
- Actual duration depends on original payment method
- Can take longer pending card issuer/bank refund policy
- Riders should submit refund requests within 30 days
- Delays if Trip Issues team needs more information
- Holidays and weekends can also lengthen time
While 7 business days is the standard Uber refund timeline, the main variable is the external processing times of your credit card company or bank.
Some financial institutions may take longer due to fraud monitoring reviews. In those rare cases, it’s best to follow up with your bank after 7 business days.
Frequently Asked Questions About Uber Ride Refunds
Here are answers to some common questions about what happens when you cancel your Uber ride:
Will I get a notification when my refund processes?
No, Uber does not actively notify when they have issued a ride refund. Yet you can check the status any time by looking at your associated credit card statements or bank transaction history.
What if I notice repeat charges or duplicate Uber fees?
If you see multiple similar charges around the same timeframe, it likely indicates temporary payment method verification holds that will soon drop off rather than actual duplicate charges. Still, contacting Uber support can help confirm the details.
Can I use promotional credits for my cancelled ride refund?
In most cases when a ride is cancelled, the refund will be processed back to the original payment method, which excludes applying promotional Uber credits. Those credits remain valid in your account for use on future rides.
How does the timeline work for international ride refunds?
For rides booked abroad, refund times align with the processing systems and standards of the country you were travelling in. Submit international ride cancellation refund requests just like normal, and the regional Uber team will handle accordingly.
Key Takeaways: Uber Ride Refunds
To recap, here is a bullet point summary around Uber ride cancellation refunds:
- Standard policy is 7 business days refund timeframe
- Actual duration varies based on bank/card refund processing
- Riders should provide detailed context to support case
- Having documentation around ride issues helps too
- Refund goes back to original payment method used
- Submit cancellation refund requests within 30 days
- Can contact Uber for status updates if concerned
- International refunds tied to regional banking norms
Understanding precisely how Uber manages ride cancellation refunds—from policies to timelines—can give you confidence your bases are covered should you need to request your money back after cancelling an Uber trip. Always reach out to Uber’s customer support team if you have other questions or concerns around cancelled ride refunds.
