Uber pioneered hailing a ride from your cell phone, but its prices have increased with its popularity over the years. Thankfully, using Uber Pool, promo codes, mindful timing, and even your Amazon account, you can access money-saving hacks through Uber.

Selecting the right tier of Uber service is crucial to saving money upfront.
Understanding dynamic pricing, avoiding price hikes during peak hours, and using Uber Pool are simple ways to save money.
Whether you’re a rider or an Uber driver, there are ways to save beyond the rideshare with the right type of insurance.

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How to save money on Uber

If you live in a bustling city like

New York

and want to avoid the stuffy subway, you might be an Uber ride regular. While the Uber app makes your commuting way more convenient,, it can also spike your credit card bills. Thankfully, there are ways to spare Uber expenses, but before we dive into them, let’s break down two built-in money-saving factors: service tiers and dynamic pricing.

Before you accidentally pay top dollar for an SUV for your casual work drop-off, take a look at Uber’s tiers of service:

UberX: This is the standard Uber ride with a four-door passenger vehicle that can carry up to four riders. It typically costs between $41 and $50.

UberXL: For a larger group, this tier includes larger vehicles with seating for up to six passengers. This costs slightly more, at $61 to $74.

UberSELECT: To get a more cushiony ride, you can opt for a luxury sedan that seats up to four riders. You’ll pay somewhere between $114 and $139.

UberBLACK: If you’re heading to a gala, this option includes a swanky sedan or SUV. This also typically costs between $114 and $139.

SUV: Those with six or more passengers who prefer more legroom can choose this option. The highest-tier ride costs between $138 and $169 on average.

While you may prefer to upgrade to a higher tier if you’re going out for a special occasion, it’s essential to know the difference between each tier to avoid overpaying for Uber fare. Don’t expect to see these numbers for every ride, though—the prices vary by location and are dictated by Uber’s dynamic pricing.

Ever notice a ride to a restaurant is more expensive on a Saturday night than on a random Tuesday? That’s because Uber’s algorithm changes to match environmental variables—like the Uber driver demand and congestion on the road. Understanding the algorithm can help you avoid paying a higher fare to get to a nearby place.

Now that we have the basics down, let’s get into the Uber hacks that can give your wallet (and feet) a rest.

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Rideshare insurance

Use Uber Pool

If you don’t mind sharing space with one or more strangers, Uber Pool is one of the cheapest ways to use Uber. Not only is the Uber fare more affordable, but the fare shown in your Uber app is guaranteed. That means unforeseen obstacles that can increase the price of the ride along the way won’t affect the initial cost displayed in the app.

Uber Pool is like public transportation, but with significantly fewer people, no Metro Card to swipe, and an available phone charging cable. You’re also not guaranteed to share the ride with a stranger if they don’t show up for it, so there’s a chance it can feel like a classic Uber trip at a much cheaper rate.

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Avoid surge pricing at peak times

If you and the rest of your city are heading to the same bars for New Year’s Eve celebrations, you might notice surge pricing in your Uber app. With pricier rides due to a low driver-to-rider ratio, the best way to save money is to wait until the surge subsides.

While it could potentially interfere with your plans, the surge could dwindle within a few minutes, so it’s best to hang tight before ordering a ride. You can close and reopen the app to ensure the data is current, and try moving the pick-up location slightly to see if that beats the surge. It’s usually limited to a specified time and radius, so test out some modifications to your pick-up timing and location before you succumb to the surge.

MORE: How to work for a rideshare company: Driving for Uber or Lyft

Leverage referrals for free rides

If you have friends and family who have never experienced the glory of being chauffeured by an Uber, it’s time to refer them to the Uber app—and get rewarded for it. Here’s what you need to do to refer a friend for a free ride:

Tap “FREE RIDES” in your Uber account menu

Send a friend the invite code under the “FREE RIDES” tab

Once your friend redeems the code, they’ll get a first free ride (up to $50)

After their first ride is complete, you’ll receive a free ride (up to $50)

These referral codes aren’t meant for existing users and don’t stretch beyond your referral’s first ride. That said, if you refer multiple friends and family members to Uber, you can access significant savings. Not only can you send out the invite codes via text, email, and social media, but you can also customize them on rides.uber.com under your “PROFILE” tab.

Between Uber, Uber Eats, and Amazon, you may never have to get behind the wheel of your car again—especially if you take advantage of the rewards programs they offer. Here’s how you can cut costs with Uber rewards:

Earn one point for every eligible dollar spent on Uber Eats and Uber Pool

Earn two points for every eligible dollar spent on UberX, UberXL, or Select

Earn three points for every eligible dollar spent on Uber Black and SUV

What can you do with those points? You can cash in on Uber Rewards once you’ve earned 100 points—in fact, you can cash in for up to 8,000 points. One caveat: your points expire after six months, so you have a limited time to use them before you lose them.

Here’s what they can get you:

250 points: 10% off your next Uber ride

500 points: free Apple music for up to four months

1,250 points: free month of Rosetta Stone lessons for your language of choice

2,000 points: free UberX trip for up to $30

2,500 points: free Uber Eats order up to $25

8,000 points: a month of half-priced Uber Eats orders

Uber Eats regulars aren’t the only ones feasting on savings—Amazon Prime members can access rewards by linking their Amazon Pay wallets to their Uber accounts. This pairing unlocks three upgrades and a 20% discount on three trips per month when you pay for trips with your Amazon account.

Use Jerry to save money on your car insurance

These wallet-friendly hacks don’t need to stop at ridesharing—you can keep the savings going with a

cheap car insurance

policy. If you’re someone with low mileage on your daily driver while Uber gets you around, you could be missing out on some savings that only a handy comparison-shopping tool like

Jerry

can help you access.

Jerry is a pocket-sized broker with a network of cheap quotes and discount information from over 50 top insurance providers. With the convenience of a rideshare app, you can compare quotes and select an affordable policy from your fingertips.

With Jerry’s speedy service, you could hail over $800 in savings per year!

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FAQs

Is buying an Uber monthly pass worth it?

If Uber is a weekly or even daily app that you use, a pass is worth it. It’s also worthwhile for die-hard Uber Eats fans to cut down delivery fees.

Is Uber cheaper than Lyft?

Sources suggest Uber is cheaper than Lyft for the average ride. For a typical trip, Uber costs about $20 to Lyft’s $27. Uber is also more accessible on a global scale, while Lyft only reaches the US and Canada.

Are you overpaying for car insurance?

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