Where to buy Uber gift cards and what they cover

You can buy Uber gift cards from Uber's own website, from major retailers like Target, Walmart, Best Buy, and CVS, and from some grocery stores. The cards work for both Uber rides and Uber Eats food delivery in the United States. When you buy a card, you choose the dollar amount — they typically start at $15 and go up to $500, though some retailers may have different minimums or maximums.

Physical cards arrive in the mail if you order from Uber directly, usually within 5 to 7 business days. Retailer cards are available immediately when you buy them in store. Uber also sells digital gift cards through its website and app, which you receive by email within minutes and can use right away.

The balance on an Uber gift card does not expire, so there is no rush to spend it. You can use the same card for multiple trips or orders until the balance runs out. If your balance is less than the cost of a ride or order, you can add a payment method to cover the difference.

Key Takeaways

  • Uber gift cards are sold at Uber.com, major retailers like Walmart and Target, and some grocery stores, with amounts ranging from $15 to $500.
  • Digital gift cards arrive by email within minutes; physical cards from Uber take 5 to 7 business days; retailer cards are available immediately in store.
  • Gift card balances work for both Uber rides and Uber Eats and do not expire.
  • You can combine a gift card balance with another payment method if the card does not cover the full cost of a ride or order.

How to redeem an Uber gift card

To redeem a physical card, open the Uber app or go to Uber.com and sign into your account. Look for "Wallet" or "Payment Methods" in the menu. Select "Add Gift Card" or "Redeem Code," then enter the 16-digit code printed on the back of the card. The balance will appear in your account immediately and stay there until you use it.

For a digital gift card sent by email, the message will include a link or a code. Click the link and sign in to your Uber account, or copy the code and paste it into the redemption field in the app. The process is the same whether you received the card as a gift or bought it yourself.

Once the balance is in your account, it becomes your default payment method for the next ride or order. If you want to use a different payment method instead, you can change it before you request a ride or place an order.

What happens if you lose the card or code

If you have a physical card and lose it before redeeming it, contact Uber support through the app or website. You will need the receipt or proof of purchase. Uber can sometimes reissue the card or transfer the balance to your account, but this depends on whether the card has already been used and whether you have documentation of the purchase.

If you received a digital gift card by email and lost the message, check your email spam folder or search for messages from Uber. If you still cannot find it, contact Uber support with the email address associated with your account. They can look up the code if you have proof of purchase.

If someone else redeemed the card before you could, Uber cannot reverse the transaction or recover the balance. This is why it is safer to redeem a gift card into your account as soon as you receive it, rather than waiting.

Using a gift card balance across rides and orders

Your gift card balance applies to any Uber service — rides, Uber Eats orders, or Uber Freight if you use that service. The balance is shared across all of them, so if you add $50 to your account, you can spend $30 on a ride and $20 on food delivery, or any other split.

If your gift card balance does not cover the full cost, Uber will charge the remaining amount to your backup payment method — usually a credit card or debit card you have on file. You do not have to do anything; the system handles it automatically.

You can check your current gift card balance in the Wallet section of the app or website at any time. The balance updates immediately after each transaction.

Buying gift cards as a gift for someone else

If you are buying a gift card to give to another person, you have two main options. You can buy a physical card and hand it to them, or you can buy a digital card and email it to them. Digital cards are faster if you are sending it to someone who lives far away or if you need to send it quickly.

When you buy a digital gift card through Uber.com or the app, you can add a custom message before it is sent. The recipient will receive an email with the code and your message. They can redeem it into their own Uber account whenever they want.

Physical cards do not come with a personalized message from you, so if you want to include a note, you will need to write one separately. The card itself just shows the Uber logo and the amount.

Gift card fees and restrictions

Uber does not charge a fee to buy a gift card, and there is no fee to redeem one. The price you pay is the amount that goes onto the card — a $50 card costs $50.

Gift cards can only be used in the country where they were purchased. A gift card bought in the United States works only for Uber services in the United States. If you travel internationally, you will need a gift card for that country or a regular payment method.

Gift cards cannot be transferred between accounts once they are redeemed. Once you add the balance to your Uber account, it stays there and cannot be moved to someone else's account or converted back to cash.

Troubleshooting common problems

If you enter a gift card code and see an error message, check that you typed the 16-digit code correctly. Codes are case-sensitive in some cases, so make sure you are using the exact characters from the card. If the code still does not work, the card may have already been redeemed by someone else, or it may be damaged.

If a gift card was supposed to arrive by mail and you have not received it after 10 business days, contact Uber support with your order number. They can check the shipping status or resend the card if it was lost in transit.

If you see a charge on your account that you did not make, or if someone else redeemed your gift card without permission, report it to Uber support immediately. They can review the transaction and may be able to help, depending on the circumstances.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use an Uber gift card to pay for a ride share with multiple passengers?

Yes. The gift card balance applies to the full cost of the ride, regardless of how many people are in the car. If you are splitting the fare with others, you can use your gift card to pay your portion, or you can pay the full amount and have your passengers reimburse you through Uber's split fare feature.

What if I buy a gift card and then change my mind?

If you have not redeemed the card yet, you may be able to return it for a refund within a certain time frame, depending on where you bought it. Retailer policies vary — Target, Walmart, and CVS have their own return rules. If you bought it directly from Uber, contact their support team. Once a card is redeemed into your account, the balance cannot be refunded.

Do Uber gift cards work for Uber Eats in all areas?

Yes, Uber gift cards work for Uber Eats everywhere Uber Eats operates in the United States. However, Uber Eats availability varies by location, so you should check whether the service is available in your area before buying a card specifically for food delivery.

Can I buy a gift card with another gift card?

No. Uber does not accept gift cards as payment when you are buying another gift card. You must use a credit card, debit card, or other direct payment method to purchase a gift card.

What is the maximum amount I can load onto an Uber account using gift cards?

There is no stated limit to how much gift card balance you can have in your account. You can redeem multiple gift cards into the same account, and the balances will add together. However, Uber may flag unusually large balances for security reasons.