Uber has approved drivers with violent felony convictions on their records, according to reports from news outlets and safety advocates

Uber's background check system is not designed to catch every conviction, and in some cases drivers with serious criminal histories have passed screening and been active on the platform. The company uses third-party screening vendors and relies on records that are incomplete, outdated, or sealed in different states. A driver might pass Uber's check in one state and be rejected in another, depending on what records that state makes public and how thoroughly the vendor searches.

If you use Uber or Uber Eats, understanding how driver screening actually works — and its real gaps — matters for your safety decisions. This guide explains what Uber checks, why some convictions slip through, and what you can do to protect yourself.

Key Takeaways

  • Uber screens drivers through third-party vendors who search criminal records, but those records vary by state and are often incomplete or delayed.
  • Sealed convictions, expunged records, and convictions from other states may not show up in a background check even if they should legally disqualify a driver.
  • Uber's policy bans drivers with violent felonies, but enforcement depends on what shows up in the search — not on what actually happened.
  • You cannot see a driver's full background check results, and Uber does not publish data on how many drivers are rejected or why.
  • Your own safety decisions — checking driver details before the ride, sharing your trip, trusting your instincts — remain your most direct protection.

How Uber's background check process actually works

Uber contracts with screening companies (historically Checkr and similar vendors) to run background checks on new drivers before they go active. The vendor searches public criminal records, sex offender registries, and driving records in the states where the driver has lived. If nothing disqualifying appears, the driver is approved.

The problem is that "public records" is not the same as "all records." Criminal records are stored in county courthouses, not in one national database. A vendor's search is only as good as the records that county has digitized and made searchable online. Many rural counties, older cases, and sealed or expunged records never make it into those searchable systems. A conviction from 15 years ago in a county with poor record-keeping might not show up at all.

Uber also does not re-screen drivers after their initial approval. If a driver is arrested or convicted after becoming active on the platform, Uber typically does not find out unless the driver reports it themselves or Uber receives a complaint that triggers a manual review.

Why violent felony convictions sometimes pass screening

Uber's stated policy is to reject drivers with violent felonies, but the policy only works if the conviction appears in the background check. Several common situations allow convictions to slip through:

Sealed or expunged records: When a conviction is sealed or expunged, it is legally removed from public view in most states. A background check vendor cannot find what is not public. A driver with a sealed violent felony can truthfully say they have no criminal record (in the legal sense) and pass screening.

Records from other states: A driver who lived in multiple states may have a conviction in one state that is not searchable from another state's records system. Interstate record-sharing is incomplete, and vendors do not always search every state where a driver has lived.

Delayed or missing records: Convictions take time to be entered into searchable databases. A recent conviction might not appear for months. Very old convictions in counties with poor digitization might never appear.

Misclassification: A charge that should legally count as a violent felony might be recorded under a different name or category in the court system, making it harder for automated searches to flag it.

What Uber's policy actually prohibits

Uber bans drivers with convictions for violent crimes, sexual offenses, and certain drug felonies. The company's stated policy covers murder, assault, robbery, rape, and similar offenses. However, the policy is enforced only against convictions that show up in the background check — not against convictions that exist but are hidden from the search.

Uber also has a "lookback period," meaning it does not automatically reject drivers for very old convictions. The exact timeframe varies by offense type and has changed over time, but generally Uber may approve drivers with older felonies if enough time has passed. The company does not publish these timelines clearly, and they are not consistent across all states.

The company does not disclose how many drivers are rejected during screening, how many pass despite prior convictions, or what percentage of rejections are for violent crimes versus other reasons. This lack of transparency makes it impossible to know how often the system actually fails.

What you cannot see about a driver's background

Uber does not show riders the results of a driver's background check. You can see the driver's name, photo, car details, and rating, but not their criminal history, driving record, or screening results. If a driver has passed Uber's check, the app does not tell you what that check actually covered or how thorough it was.

You also cannot request additional screening or ask Uber to re-check a driver's record before accepting a ride. If you have concerns about a specific driver, you can cancel and request a different one, but Uber will not explain why the first driver was approved or what information they have on file.

Uber does allow you to report safety concerns after a ride, and serious reports can trigger a manual review. However, the company does not tell riders what happens after a report is filed or whether a driver remains active.

What actually protects you as a rider

Because background checks have real gaps, your own decisions matter more than Uber's screening. Before you get in the car, check the driver's name, photo, and rating. If something feels off — the photo does not match the person, the rating is unusually low, or you have any instinct to cancel — do not get in. You can always request another driver.

Share your trip details with someone you trust: send them the driver's name, car details, and real-time location through Uber's built-in share feature or a text. Let them know when you arrive. If you feel unsafe during a ride, use Uber's in-app emergency button or call 911 directly.

Trust your instincts. A background check passing does not mean a driver is safe, and a background check failing does not mean Uber will catch it. Your own judgment about whether you feel comfortable in a car is the most reliable safety tool you have.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I see what Uber found in a driver's background check?

No. Uber does not share background check results with riders. You can see the driver's name, photo, and rating, but not their criminal history, driving record, or what the screening company found. If you have safety concerns about a specific driver, you can report them to Uber after the ride, but the company will not explain what information they have.

What should I do if I feel unsafe during a ride?

Use Uber's emergency button in the app to contact emergency services, or call 911 directly. Tell the dispatcher your location and that you are in an Uber. You can also end the ride and exit the vehicle if it is safe to do so. After the ride, report the incident to Uber through the app.

Can Uber remove a driver if they are arrested after being approved?

Uber can remove a driver if they learn about an arrest or conviction, but the company does not automatically monitor drivers for new charges. Removal typically happens only if a rider reports an incident, if Uber receives a complaint, or if the driver reports it themselves. There is no system that catches new convictions automatically.

Does Uber check drivers again after they are approved?

No. Uber screens drivers once during the approval process and does not re-screen them regularly. If a driver is arrested or convicted after becoming active, Uber will not find out unless someone reports it or the driver discloses it. This is a significant gap in ongoing safety monitoring.

What if a driver has a sealed or expunged conviction?

A sealed or expunged conviction does not appear in public records, so a background check vendor cannot find it. The driver can legally say they have no criminal record, and they will pass Uber's screening. This is one of the main reasons convictions slip through the system.