Goodbye fee per ride? Uber tests new charging model for drivers

Uber has started testing a new remuneration model for partner drivers in Brazil. Called “Pass for Drivers”, the format replaces the service fee charged on each ride with a single charge and allows the driver to keep 100% of the value of the trips in the weekly accumulated while the plan is active, according to the company.

In practice, the driver stops paying the platform fee on eligible trips and disburses only the value of the pass. Any fees charged on individual rides throughout the week are recalculated at the end of the period: if there is any amount paid to Uber above the price of the pass, the difference is reversed in the app’s wallet, according to the company.

The program is offered in two modalities:

• Time Pass: Allows unlimited rides, without charging the service fee, for 24 or 72 hours after paying a fixed amount. The pass is automatically activated after the first ride is completed and does not change the limits on how long the driver can stay online.
• Pass by Earnings: The driver pays a one-time amount and is exempt from the service fee until he reaches a billing ceiling set by Uber. The benefit is valid until this limit is reached or for up to 180 days after purchase, whichever occurs first.

According to Uber, the values of the “Pass for Drivers” vary between R$ 19 and R$ 97, depending on the chosen modality and the conditions of each region where the test is carried out. The company says that categories such as Uber Deliveries and Uber Shipments may not be included in the program.

The charge happens only after activation and is deducted directly from the driver’s license in the app. If there is not enough balance, the amount is recorded as a negative balance and is offset against future earnings. Once activated, the pass cannot be paused or suspended temporarily, and when it expires, it cannot be reactivated, even for subsequent adjustments to a trip.

According to Uber, the modality was already offered to motorcyclists in Brazilian cities and began to be tested with car drivers as of May 25, in selected municipalities — including Divinópolis (MG), Juiz de Fora (MG), Uruguaiana (RS), Petrópolis (RJ), Cascavel (PR), Botucatu (SP), Teresina (PI), Porto Velho (RO), Rio Branco (AC), Imperatriz (MA), Itabuna (BA) and Ilhéus (BA).

Contemplated drivers are notified by email and through the app’s inbox, and the prices practiced in each city can be consulted in the specific tab of Uber Driver. The company points out that the purchase or activation of the pass does not guarantee a minimum volume of rides, which remains subject to factors such as demand, time, traffic and weather.