With almost everything accessible with a few taps, the habit of flagging down cabs feels as outdated as pay phones and video rental shops.
Rideshare platforms such as Uber make planning your trip home from an evening out simple — you don’t have to fuss over parking or worry about driving after drinking. But when surge fares kick in, that affordable ride can suddenly look expensive.
Getting where you need to go doesn’t have to break the bank — even during the hectic post-event exodus.
Below are some straightforward tactics to dodge surge pricing and keep more cash in your pocket on your next ride.
5 Ways to Avoid Uber Surge Pricing
Ridesharing is woven into modern life, but it also exposes riders to supply-and-demand pricing. Booking an Uber isn’t as inexpensive as it once was. Here are five strategies to sidestep Uber surge fees.
1. Order Your Uber at the Right Moment
Uber’s system raises rates when demand spikes. Surge pricing commonly appears during:
- Morning and evening rush hours
- Periods of unusually high demand
- Severe weather
- Post-big events (concerts, sports fixtures)
Because prices update live as demand shifts, surge can dissipate within minutes. Waiting to request your ride until after that long restroom line or until crowds thin may yield a noticeable discount.
2. Install the Uber Driver App
One of the smartest ways to avoid surge is to download the Uber Driver app on your iPhone or Android and set up an account. Do this before you head out to a concert or game, since creating a driver profile can take a few minutes.
Don’t worry — you never actually have to drive for Uber to use the Driver app.
Once installed, open the Driver app when venues let out and view the local map. Streets and neighborhoods will shift colors when surge pricing is active.
The map shows colored circles or zones from pale orange to deep red. Pale orange signals a modest uptick while deep red can mean fares are double or triple typical rates. This tool helps drivers find the most lucrative areas.
After spotting where rates are highest, simply move away from that zone until the surge area is behind you. Then switch to your regular Uber rider app and request a ride at a much lower cost.
3. Consider an Uber One Membership
In late 2021, Uber launched a subscription called Uber One, which provides riders with fare discounts and priority pickup perks.
Signing up for Uber One before busy times can sometimes yield a small discount during surges. The membership generally offers about 5% off rides.
The plan costs $9.99 per month or roughly $100 annually.
Uber One makes the most sense if you frequently ride with Uber or order many meals through Uber Eats (savings apply to both services). Uber estimates members can save up to $27 per month.
4. Use UberX Share
Previously called Uber Pool, UberX Share allows riders to share trips with others to reduce costs.
While some Uber vehicle options seat up to six passengers, Share is available only to solo riders and permits a maximum of two additional co-riders at once.
The service matches nearby passengers so detours are minimized, usually adding no more than eight minutes to your journey.
5. Compare Other Rideshare Apps
Lyft, another major rideshare option, also uses surge-like pricing called “Prime Time.” It’s smart to check both apps to compare fares.
For example, a Monday afternoon ride from Orlando International Airport to downtown showed Uber charging $32–43 while Lyft quoted $29–36 for the identical route. A Tuesday afternoon trip from Union Station to the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago listed Uber at $30.90–35.65 and Lyft at $18.05–22.17 (Lyft offered a cheaper option if you don’t mind waiting a little longer).
If neither Uber nor Lyft offers an appealing rate, consider other alternatives.
Prefer conventional taxis? Apps like Curb and Flywheel connect riders to licensed cab companies rather than independent rideshare drivers.
Need a scheduled airport transfer? Try Wingz. Although they’re expanding their services, Wingz focuses on airport trips. You can book up to two months in advance and they don’t rely on surge pricing.
Contributor Jenna Limbach covers personal finance and lifestyle topics for Savinly. Kristen Pope helped with this piece.
