People are increasingly working in the gig economy, which includes Uber. Driving for Uber is a flexible way to earn additional money, and some people do it as a full-time job. You do have to pass a background check, however. As part of your onboarding process, Uber will do their own background check to protect the company and the people who might end up riding with you.
The following are some of the things to know about Uber’s background check and other relevant considerations if you want to drive for the rideshare company.
The Basics of the Uber Background Check
The background check to drive for Uber is a screening process that looks at both your driving record and criminal history. You have to undergo the check to be eligible to drive.
Once you consent to have Uber check your background, they use a third-party company. That company will look at all available public records and then give a report on you to Uber.
The background check is free, and the criteria are subject to local laws, so keep in mind your state could have different standards for background checks in general.
The records the screening looks at include the following:
- County courthouse records for every county you’ve lived in
- Multi-state criminal databases
- Motor vehicle records
- Federal courthouse records
- Social Security trace
- National Sex Offender Registry
How Long Does It Take?
Typically, the Uber background check will take anywhere from 2-10 days. According to Uber, if you haven’t heard anything after seven days, you should contact the company.
You might also be able to use the Checkr applicant portal to see the status of your screening. This is the third-party screening company Uber uses.
What Is the Background Check Looking For?
There is no credit check involved to drive for Uber, but as mentioned, you do have to go through a Motor Vehicle Report and a criminal background check.
As far as your Motor Vehicle Report, you need a valid driver’s license in the U.S. and have at least one year of driving experience, licensed, in the U.S. if you’re 25 or older. If you’re 24 or younger, you need to have three years of licensed driving experience. International driving experience doesn’t count.
If you’re going to make deliveries for Uber, you need to have at least a year of licensed driving experience.
Your license can’t have any disqualifying restrictions and must be active.
You can’t have any DUIs or reckless driving charges. In California, you can’t have had a DUI in the past ten years, whereas otherwise, it’s completely disqualifying. You can’t have speeding violations in your recent history for going 20 mph or more over the speed limit.
Uber typically says they won’t accept drivers with any major violations, which can include not only DUI and reckless driving but also hit-and-runs and driving on a suspended license. Minor driving violations may lead to rejection if you have three or more on your record over the past few years.
Minor violations can include failure to yield, speeding, improper passing, or not following a traffic light.
Uber doesn’t indicate exactly how far back a screening of your driving history will go, and every state has its own regulations regarding background checks. Previously, Uber would say that you couldn’t have any major violations within the last seven years, but they no longer make public a number that’s specific.
The criminal background check is done to ensure it’s in line with state and local law. There are certain criminal convictions that will lead to disqualification if they occur at any point in your life, such as sexual assault.
Any convictions for felonies, sexual offenses, violent crimes, or registered sex offender status are disqualifying, as are pending charges for those types of crime.
Ongoing Checks
Uber will typically do an annual background check on people already driving for them to see if they have any new driving or criminal violations. If the requirements in your area change, Uber might also re-run a check.
Even if you pass the initial background check in order to keep driving, you have to pass it every year.
If Uber finds an issue, they might deactivate your account. You can’t appeal the decision through any standard procedure, but you can contact Uber and ask them to reconsider. If there is an error in your background check, you’ll have to dispute it with the third-party screening company.
Finally, as briefly touched on above, Uber does consider even pending criminal issues.
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