How to improve your Uber or Lyft passenger rating
Not loving your Uber experience? Your Lyft driver not the most pleasant?
As you pull out your phone to tap three stars instead of five, remember one thing: They’re rating you, too.
After all, this two-way feedback is one of the key differentiators between a ride-hailing service and taxicabs, along with the chance of getting a less expensive ride, requesting a car on your smartphone, seeing the vehicle arrive on an overhead map and not worrying about cash exchanges when you reach your destination.
Why should you care about a low rating from a driver, anyway? It brings your overall average score down, and while you won’t necessarily be banned by the service if it plummets — being kicked off Uber or Lyft is determined on a case-bycase basis — a low rating could mean fewer drivers will want to pick up.
Here, we look at how to see your rating, and ways to improve it.
How you find your rider rating varies by service.
After you’ve taken at least five Uber trips, open the app and touch the menu icon — the three horizontal lines in the top left corner of your smartphone screen — and your rating is the number displayed under your name, such as 4.6.
It’s not as easy with Lyft. You’ll need to ask your Lyft driver for it, contact the company through the app, or send an email with the request.
Boosting your rider score isn’t rocket science, says Lexi Levin, a representative in consumer communications at Uber. In fact, you can make a good impression even before you step into the car. A few tips:
1. Be on time
“Time is money, and no one likes to be kept waiting,” says Levin. “Always try to meet your driver on time. If you’re running late, call or send a text to let them know you’re on the way.”
Siamak Omanesh, a seasoned Lyft driver in Austin, agrees. “Remember, everyone is a five-star when you request a ride, so to keep it there, the first tip is to make sure you’re not late.”
“If you are, you can easily contact the driver to let them know what’s going on. It’s common courtesy,” adds the 55year-old, who puts in about 40 hours a week as a Lyft driver.
Another issue, Omanesh says, are GPS glitches when your phone is sharing its location with the driver. Therefore, riders should review their map location and tweak if necessary (by moving the pushpin on the map), and don’t blame the driver if it’s not clear.
2. Be respectful
People who use Uber come from all walks of life, reminds Levin, therefore “please respect those differences in your conversations and behavior. We want all riders and drivers to always feel welcome.”
On a related note, have respect for the driver’s car, says Levin. “Uber drivers use their own cars, so please be careful when opening and closing doors, and try to avoid making a mess. That might mean enjoying your burrito in the backseat isn’t the best idea.”
Omanesh confirms one of his pet peeves is being asked to go through a drive-thru, riders eating in the car and sometimes spilling food and drinks, and leaving trash behind. “This means a zero star,” he says.
That said, Omanesh understands many use ride-hailing services after drinking, so they don’t have to drive. “I’ve often helped drunk people walk up to their doors and use their keys — but there’s no excuse for being rude or messy.”
3. Follow rules, go with the flow
Another way to lose points as a rider? By not following the rules, says Levin. “Buckle up, don’t carry open alcohol containers, and don’t ask your driver to speed.”
All three of these scenarios happen every day with Uber and Lyft drivers.
Also, don’t smoke or vape in the vehicle. Don’t even ask if you can. Don’t hit on your driver. Don’t do anything obscene with a special someone beside you. Don’t be obnoxious on phone calls.
This is all common sense, folks. And don’t threaten to rate drivers poorly as leverage.
4. Tip your driver
While Lyft always offered this, and Uber more recently, adding a tip will make the driver happy and will likely mean a higher rider rating from him or her. Even if it’s a buck or two. Will you really miss it?
A few more tips:
❚ Verify it’s the right vehicle before you get in: Checkthe license plate and ask your driver who they’re picking up. This way, you can be sure you don’t get into someone else’s Uber.
❚ Give people space: “No one wants to feel cramped, uncomfortable or unsafe,” says Levin.
❚ For those sharing a ride with others through UberPool or Lyft Line, you can’t change your destination or the drop-off order. If you ask drivers to do this, they will likely give you a bad rating. After all, they’re not getting paid to go out of their way for you.
❚ When you get out, say “thank you.”