What the Uber Card is and who it's for

The Uber Card is a co-branded credit card issued by Uber and a bank partner that gives you cash back on purchases you make through the Uber app and at certain merchants. You earn a percentage of what you spend back as rewards, which appear as credits in your Uber account. The card is designed for people who use Uber services regularly — rides, Uber Eats, or both — and want those purchases to pay them back over time.

This is not a prepaid card or a debit card. It is a standard credit card that reports to the three major credit bureaus, which means using it responsibly can help build your credit history. You receive a monthly bill, make a payment, and carry a balance if you choose — though carrying a balance means paying interest.

The card works like any other credit card outside the Uber ecosystem too. You can use it at gas stations, restaurants, grocery stores, and online retailers. The rewards rate changes depending on where you swipe, so understanding those categories helps you decide whether the card makes sense for your spending.

Key Takeaways

  • The Uber Card earns cash back at different rates depending on the merchant — higher percentages for Uber services and certain categories, lower percentages everywhere else.
  • Rewards post to your Uber account as credits, not to a separate rewards account, so you can only use them within the Uber app.
  • You need to meet the card issuer's credit requirements to be considered, and approval depends on your credit history and income.
  • The card has an annual fee that varies by card tier, so you should calculate whether your expected rewards will exceed that cost.
  • Using the card responsibly — paying on time and keeping your balance low — helps build credit, but missing payments or carrying high balances can hurt your score.

How rewards work and where you earn the most

The Uber Card offers different cash back rates depending on what you buy and where. The highest rate applies to Uber services — rides and Uber Eats orders placed through the app. A second tier typically covers gas stations, restaurants, and streaming services. Everything else earns a lower flat rate.

Rewards are not points or miles. They are cash back, meaning a percentage of your purchase amount comes back to you. That cash back appears as a credit in your Uber account within a few days of the transaction posting. You can then use that credit to pay for your next Uber ride or Eats order, which effectively reduces what you pay out of pocket.

The exact percentages vary depending on which version of the card you hold — the card issuer typically offers a standard version and a premium version with higher rewards but a higher annual fee. Before you explore, check the current rewards structure on the card issuer's website, because these rates change and vary by region.

Annual fees and when they make financial sense

Most versions of the Uber Card charge an annual fee, usually between $0 and $100 depending on the tier. This fee is charged once per year, typically on your card anniversary or the first billing statement of the year. You pay it whether you use the card or not.

To decide whether the card pays for itself, do the math: estimate how much you spend on Uber services in a year, multiply that by the rewards rate, and subtract the annual fee. If the result is positive, the card likely makes sense. If you spend $100 per month on Uber rides and Eats at a 4% cash back rate, that is $48 per year in rewards. If the annual fee is $0, you come out ahead. If it is $100, you lose money.

Some card versions waive the annual fee for the first year, which gives you time to test whether you use the card enough to justify keeping it. After that year, you can decide whether to keep the card or close it.

how the process works and what the issuer will check

You can explore for the Uber Card through the Uber app, the card issuer's website, or sometimes through a partner financial institution. The process takes about 10 minutes and asks for your name, address, Social Security number, income, and employment information.

The issuer will pull your credit report from one or more of the three major credit bureaus — Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion. This is called a hard inquiry and it temporarily lowers your credit score by a few points. The issuer uses your credit history, credit score, and income to decide whether to approve you, deny you, or offer you a card with a lower credit limit.

There is no minimum credit score published by the issuer, but most people approved for this card have a credit score of 700 or higher. If you are denied, the issuer will send you a letter explaining why. You can request a free copy of your credit report from each bureau at annualcreditreport.com to see what information they used to make the decision.

What happens after approval and how to use the card

If you are approved, the card issuer will mail you a physical card, which usually arrives within 7 to 10 business days. You can also request a digital card number to use when ready while you wait for the physical card to arrive. The digital number works for online purchases and in the Uber app right away.

Once you have the card, you can add it to your Uber account as your payment method. When you request a ride or order food, the app will let you choose which payment method to use. You can also use the card anywhere Visa or Mastercard is accepted, depending on which network the card runs on.

Rewards post automatically. You do not have to do anything to earn them or redeem them. After each transaction clears, the cash back appears in your Uber account as a credit. You can see your rewards balance in the app under your payment methods or account settings.

How the card affects your credit and what to avoid

Using the Uber Card responsibly helps build credit. Every on-time payment is reported to the credit bureaus and adds to your payment history, which is the largest factor in your credit score. Over time, a clean payment record raises your score.

Carrying a high balance — especially close to your credit limit — hurts your score. Credit bureaus track your credit utilization ratio, which is the percentage of your available credit that you are using. If your limit is $5,000 and you carry a $4,000 balance, your utilization is 80%, which signals risk to lenders and lowers your score. Keeping your balance below 30% of your limit is ideal.

Missing a payment or paying late is reported to the bureaus and damages your score significantly. A single late payment can lower your score by 100 points or more. If you miss a payment by 30 days or more, the issuer may report it as a delinquency, which stays on your credit report for seven years.

Comparing the Uber Card to other rewards cards

The Uber Card is one option among many rewards cards. Other cards offer higher cash back rates in certain categories — some gas cards offer 4% or 5% at the pump, some grocery cards offer 3% or 4% at supermarkets. The Uber Card's advantage is that it combines multiple categories and ties rewards directly to services you may already use.

If you use Uber services frequently and rarely use other transportation or food delivery, the Uber Card may be the best fit. If you use multiple services — Lyft, DoorDash, Instacart, and Uber — a general cash back card with a flat rate might earn you more overall, because you would earn rewards on all of them.

Some cards offer sign-up bonuses — a lump sum of cash back or statement credit if you spend a certain amount in the first few months. The Uber Card sometimes offers these bonuses, though they vary by region and change over time. A sign-up bonus can offset the annual fee in year one, making the card more attractive initially.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use Uber Card rewards outside the Uber app?

No. Rewards are credits that appear only in your Uber account and can only be used to pay for Uber rides or Uber Eats orders. You cannot transfer them to a bank account, use them at other merchants, or convert them to cash. This is different from some other rewards cards, which let you redeem points for cash or statement credits.

What happens to my rewards if I close the card?

Any unused rewards credits in your Uber account remain there and you can continue to use them for rides and orders. Closing the card does not erase your rewards balance. However, you will stop earning new rewards once the card is closed.

Does the Uber Card have a foreign transaction fee?

Most versions of the Uber Card charge a foreign transaction fee — typically 3% — when you use the card outside the United States. This fee is added to your bill on top of the purchase amount. Check the card's terms and conditions for the exact fee, as it varies by card version.

Can I get the Uber Card if I have bad credit?

The card issuer does not publish a minimum credit score, but approval is unlikely if your score is below 650. If you are denied, you can work on building credit by paying bills on time, lowering existing balances, and correcting errors on your credit report. After several months of improvement, you can explore again.

How do I report fraud or a lost card?

Call the number on the back of your card or contact the card issuer's customer service line. Report the card lost or stolen when ready to stop unauthorized charges. You are not responsible for fraudulent charges reported within 60 days, and most issuers offer zero-liability protection for unauthorized transactions.