You can request a female driver, but Uber does not may provide one will be available
Uber's app lets you filter for female drivers in some cities, but the feature is not available everywhere and does not promise a driver will accept your request. When the option exists, you tap it before you request a ride, and Uber shows you only drivers who have marked their gender as female in their profile. If no female drivers are nearby or willing to take your ride at that price, your request may sit unanswered, and you will have to choose whether to request without the filter or cancel.
The availability of this feature depends on where you live. Uber rolled out female driver filtering in certain markets — including parts of the United States, Canada, India, and other countries — but it is not a standard feature everywhere. You can check whether it is available in your area by opening the Uber app, tapping the profile icon, and looking for driver preference settings. If you do not see a gender filter option, it is not currently offered in your location.
This feature exists partly because some riders feel safer with a female driver and partly because some female drivers wanted a way to connect with riders who specifically request them. Uber does not require drivers to disclose their gender, so the pool of drivers you see when you filter is only those who chose to do so.
Key Takeaways
- The female driver filter is available only in certain cities and regions, not nationwide.
- Filtering for a female driver does not may provide one will accept your request — availability depends on who is online and nearby.
- You can only see drivers who have voluntarily listed their gender as female in their profile.
- If no female drivers are available, your request may time out, and you will need to decide whether to request without the filter.
- Uber does not charge extra for requesting a female driver where the option exists.
How to use the female driver filter in the Uber app
Open the Uber app and tap the profile icon in the bottom right corner. Scroll down to find "Preferences" or "Ride Preferences" — the exact label varies by app version. Look for an option related to driver gender or driver preferences. If the female driver filter is available in your area, you will see a toggle or checkbox you can turn on.
Once you turn on the filter, go back to the main ride screen and request a ride as usual. The app will show you only drivers who have marked their gender as female. If you see drivers available, you can tap one to request, or you can let Uber match you with the nearest female driver. If the screen shows no drivers available, wait a few seconds — drivers are constantly coming online — or cancel and try again in a moment.
If the filter times out without a match after several minutes, the app will usually ask whether you want to remove the filter and request from all drivers. You can do this, or you can cancel the request entirely.
What happens if no female drivers are available
If you request with the female driver filter on and no female drivers accept within a few minutes, your request will eventually expire. Uber does not hold your request indefinitely — the app will prompt you to either remove the filter and request again, or cancel. There is no waitlist or way to be notified when a female driver comes online.
In areas where the filter is available, female driver availability varies by time of day and location. During peak hours in busy areas, you are more likely to find a female driver quickly. Late at night or in quieter neighborhoods, the pool may be smaller, and you may wait longer or find no one available.
If you need a ride and cannot wait for a female driver, you can remove the filter and request from all drivers. Removing the filter does not affect your safety settings or any other preferences you have set.
Where the female driver filter is and is not available
Uber has rolled out the female driver filter in select cities across multiple countries, but the company has not published a complete list of where it is active. The feature has been introduced in parts of the United States, Canada, India, Mexico, and several other regions. In India, for example, Uber added the option after riders and drivers requested it as a safety measure.
If you do not see the option in your Uber app, it may not be available in your city yet, or it may not be available for the type of ride you are requesting — for instance, it might work for Uber X but not for Uber Eats or other services. The best way to find out is to check your app's preferences menu. If it is not there, you can contact Uber support through the app to ask whether the feature is planned for your area.
Safety and why riders request female drivers
Some riders prefer female drivers for personal safety reasons, cultural or religious reasons, or simply comfort. Uber introduced this filter in response to requests from both riders and drivers who saw value in the option. The company does not require drivers to participate — listing gender is voluntary.
It is important to know that requesting a female driver is not a substitute for other safety practices. Uber's standard safety features — including trip tracking, emergency assistance buttons, and driver ratings — apply to all rides regardless of driver gender. If you have safety concerns about a specific ride, you can use Uber's in-app emergency button or contact local authorities.
Cost and surge pricing with the female driver filter
Uber does not charge extra when you request a female driver. The fare you see before you request is the same whether you have the filter on or off. However, if surge pricing is in effect in your area, the fare will reflect that surge — but again, the filter itself does not add to the cost.
In some cases, waiting for a female driver to become available might mean waiting through a surge period and then requesting when prices drop. If you are in a hurry, you may find it faster to request without the filter, even if you prefer a female driver.
What to do if the filter is not working or not available
If you see the female driver filter option in your app but it is not working — for instance, if you turn it on and still see male drivers, or if requests keep timing out — try closing and reopening the Uber app. Make sure your app is updated to the latest version, because older versions may not support the feature properly.
If the filter is not available in your area and you want to request it, you can send feedback to Uber through the app. Open your profile, tap "Help," and look for an option to send feedback or suggest a feature. Uber reviews these requests and considers them when deciding where to roll out new features.
If you have a specific safety concern about a ride or driver, use Uber's in-app support or emergency features rather than relying on the gender filter alone. You can report a driver, rate your experience, or contact support directly through the app.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do female drivers have to list their gender in their profile?
No. Uber does not require drivers to disclose their gender. Only drivers who choose to list their gender as female will appear when you use the filter. Some drivers may prefer not to disclose this information.
Can I request a male driver instead?
Uber does not offer a filter to request only male drivers. The female driver filter is the only gender-based preference option available in the app.
Will my driver know I requested a female driver?
Your driver will not see that you used a filter — they will only see that you requested a ride. The filter is a way for you to narrow the pool of available drivers; it does not send any message to the driver about your preferences.
What if I change my mind and want to cancel after requesting a female driver?
You can cancel your request at any time before a driver accepts, just as you would with any other Uber ride. If a driver has already accepted, you can still cancel, but you may be charged a cancellation fee depending on how long the driver has been on the way.
Does the female driver filter work for Uber Pool or shared rides?
This depends on your location and which Uber services are available in your area. In some places, the filter may work only for Uber X (standard rides) and not for shared or pool options. Check your app to see which ride types support the filter where you are.