
Popular ride-hailing service Uber has strict protocols in place governing the type of vehicles operators on its platform are permitted to use to transport paying passengers.
It recently instated a new rule that banned cars older than three years from signing up for the app, meaning any new driver must have a car that was registered in 2021 or sooner, but this is not all.
No two-door vehicles are allowed to operate for Uber presumably for comfort as well as safety reasons, and it is vital that they can seat a minimum of four passengers in addition to the driver.
Furthermore, every Uber car has to be in “good condition” which will be determined by a Dekra inspection before being put into service, and it may not have cosmetic damages.
As per the company’s guidelines, cosmetic damages constitute imperfections that do not affect the structure or function of the vehicle but that impact its visual quality, such as paint scratches, scraped bumpers, or dings on the body.
In addition, every vehicle driving for Uber must be equipped with comfort features such as working windows and airconditioning, as well as safety systems encompassing ABS and front passenger and driver airbags at the very least.
Finally, no full-sized vans, trucks, taxi cabs, government cars, other marked vehicles, or salvaged/rebuilt cars are allowed to carry out official Uber business.
Approved Uber cars
The list below details all the cars that are approved to drive for Uber in South Africa.
If you believe an Uber vehicle did not live up to the standards set out by the company following a trip, you can escalate the issue through the Uber app by navigating to the “Your Trips” section under which you will find an option for “Help.”
In the Help section, select the category that aligns with the issue on that specific trip and you’ll be able to submit feedback to Uber’s 24/7 customer support team.
UberGo
UberGo is the absolute cheapest service on the app, with approved vehicles mostly consisting of entry-level hatchbacks and crossovers.
The models that qualify to drive for UberGo in South Africa are as follows:
- Chery Tiggo 4 Pro
- Citroen C3
- Fiat 500X
- Fiat Tipo Hatch
- Ford Figo
- Ford Focus
- Ford Puma
- Honda Fit
- Honda WR-V
- Hyundai Grand i10
- Hyundai i20
- Hyundai Kona
- Kia Picanto
- Kia Rio
- Mahindra KUV100
- Mazda 3
- Nissan Magnite
- Renault Kwid
- Suzuki Baleno
- Suzuki Celerio
- Suzuki Ignis
- Suzuki S-Presso
- Suzuki Swift
- Suzuki Vitara Brezza
- Toyota Agya
- Toyota Corolla Hatch
- Toyota Starlet
- Toyota Vitz
- VW Polo Vivo Hatch
UberX
The requirements for UberX are much the same as for UberGo, though it allows more premium vehicles with the caveat being higher prices.
The models that qualify to drive for UberX in South Africa are as follows:
- Honda Amaze
- Hyundai Accent
- Hyundai Elantra
- Hyundai Grand i10
- Kia Cerato
- Kia Rio
- Nissan Almera
- Suzuki Dzire
- Toyota CH-R
- Toyota Corolla Quest
- Toyota Urban Cruiser
- VW Jetta
- VW Passat
Uber Comfort
Uber Comfort intends to give users the best balance between exclusivity and affordability, with several requirements imposed upon this ride tier.
Operators may only use “high-quality” sedans or SUVs, and only drivers with a minimum rating of 4.92 are allowed to accept Uber Comfort rides.
The models that qualify to drive for Uber Comfort in South Africa are as follows:
- Audi Q3
- BMW X1
- Chery Tiggo 7 Pro
- Chery Tiggo 8 Pro
- Citroen C5
- Fiat Tipo
- Ford Everest
- Haval H6
- Haval Jolion
- Honda Ballade
- Honda BR-V
- Honda CR-V
- Honda HR-V
- Hyundai Grand Creta
- Hyundai Palisade
- Hyundai Santa Fe
- Hyundai Tucson
- Kia Pegas
- Kia Seltos
- Kia Sonet
- Kia Sorento
- Kia Sportage
- Mazda CX-3
- Mazda CX-5
- Mitsubishi ASX
- Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross
- Mitsubishi Outlander
- Nissan Almera
- Nissan Qashqai
- Nissan X-Trail
- Range Rover Evoque
- Renault Captur
- Renault Duster
- Renault Koleos
- Suzuki Ciaz
- Suzuki Grand Vitara
- Suzuki Vitara
- Toyota Corolla (excl. Quest)
- Toyota Corolla Cross
- Toyota Fortuner
- Toyota RAV4
- Volvo XC40
- VW Caddy
- VW Polo Sedan
- VW T-Roc
- VW Tiguan
Uber Black
Uber Black is the most extravagant option on the e-hailing platform, and it is limited to a few handpicked brands comprising Audi, BMW, Jaguar, Land Rover/Range Rover, Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, and Volvo.
The most important distinctions between Uber Black cars and those in the lower tiers are that they must feature leather or vinyl upholstery and have no interior or exterior cosmetic damage.
The models that qualify to drive for Uber Black in South Africa are as follows:
- Audi A4
- Audi A5
- Audi A6
- Audi A7
- Audi A8
- Audi Q5
- Audi Q7
- Audi Q8
- BMW 3 Series
- BMW 4 Series
- BMW 5 Series
- BMW 7 Series
- BMW X3
- BMW X4
- BMW X5
- Jaguar F-Pace
- Land Rover Defender 110
- Land Rover Discovery
- Lexus ES
- Lexus IS
- Lexus LX
- Lexus RX
- Mercedes-Benz C-Class
- Mercedes-Benz E-CLass
- Mercedes-Benz GLC
- Mercedes-Benz GLE
- Mercedes-Benz S-Class
- Range Rover
- Range Rover Velar
- Volvo XC60
- Volvo XC90
UberXL
UberXL is intended to seat a few extra people for a higher fee than UberX.
For this service, operators may only drive four-door minivans with independently opening doors that can fit at least six passengers along with the driver.
The models that qualify to drive for UberXL in South Africa are as follows:
- Mitsubishi Xpander
- Renault Triber
- Suzuki Ertiga
- Suzuki XL6
- Toyota Rumion
Uber Van
Uber Van can essentially be seen as the pricier version of UberXL, allowing only four-door premium minivans with independently opening doors.
These models must be able to accommodate at least seven passengers as well as the driver for a total of eight occupants.
The models that qualify to drive for Uber Van in South Africa are as follows:
- Hyundai H1
- Hyundai Staria
- Kia Carnival
- Mercedes-Benz V-Class
- Mercedes-Benz Vito
- Opel Zafira Life
- VW Caravelle
- VW Kombi
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