What Uber Teen Account is and who can use it

Uber Teen Account lets riders aged 13 to 17 request rides through the Uber app without their own payment method. A parent or guardian sets up and controls the account, approves each ride request, and pays for trips. The teen sees the app interface and can request rides, but cannot book without parental approval — the parent receives a notification, reviews the trip details, and must accept it before the driver is assigned.

This is different from a regular Uber account. A teen cannot create their own Uber account and use it independently; they must be added to a parent's account as a teen rider. The parent remains the account holder and the person responsible for payment and oversight.

Uber Teen Account is available in most U.S. cities where Uber operates, though availability can vary by region. You can check whether it is available in your area by opening the Uber app and looking for teen account settings under your profile.

Key Takeaways

  • A parent creates and controls the teen account through their own Uber profile, and the teen cannot book a ride without parental approval for each trip.
  • The parent receives a notification showing the pickup location, destination, and estimated fare before the ride is confirmed.
  • Payment comes from the parent's payment method on file, and the parent can set spending limits or turn off the account at any time.
  • The teen can see their ride history and track their current ride in real time, but cannot change the destination or cancel without parent permission.
  • Teen accounts work with UberX and Uber Comfort; they do not work with Uber Eats or other Uber services.

How to set up a teen account

Open the Uber app on your phone (the parent's account) and tap your profile icon at the bottom right. Scroll down and look for "Add a teen" or "Manage teen accounts" — the exact wording varies by app version. Tap that option and follow the prompts to enter your teen's name, birthdate, and phone number.

Your teen will receive an invitation on their phone. They download the Uber app, open it, and accept the invitation. Once accepted, their account is linked to yours. They will see a simplified version of the app that shows only the ride request screen; they cannot access payment settings, account details, or other features.

You remain the account holder. Your payment method, phone number, and contact information stay on file. You will receive all ride notifications and approval requests on your phone, not theirs.

How approval and payment work

When your teen opens the Uber app and enters a pickup location and destination, they tap "Request Ride." At that moment, a notification appears on your phone showing the pickup address, destination, and estimated fare. You have a window of time to review this information and decide whether to approve or decline the ride.

If you approve, the driver is assigned and begins heading to the pickup location. Your teen can see the driver's name, vehicle, and real-time location on their screen. If you decline, the request is cancelled and your teen is notified that you did not approve it.

Payment is charged to your Uber account — the payment method you have on file. You are not charged twice; the fare is simply deducted from your account balance or card. You can view all teen rides in your ride history and see the fare for each trip.

What parents can control and monitor

You can set a daily spending limit for your teen's rides. Once that limit is reached, your teen cannot request new rides until the next day. You can also turn off the teen account entirely from your profile, which immediately prevents your teen from requesting rides.

You have access to your teen's full ride history, including pickup and drop-off locations, times, and fares. You can see whether a ride was completed or cancelled. However, you cannot see the route the driver took or detailed GPS tracking during the ride — you only see the start and end points.

You can remove your teen from the account at any time by going to your profile settings and selecting the option to remove the teen rider. Once removed, they can no longer request rides through that account.

Safety features and limitations

Teen accounts include the same safety features as regular Uber accounts: emergency contact buttons, the ability to share your ride status with a trusted contact, and access to the driver's information before the ride starts. Your teen can also contact the driver through the app if they need to communicate about pickup details.

However, teen accounts have restrictions. Your teen cannot rate or review drivers, cannot add a tip through the app (though they can tip in cash), and cannot change the destination once the ride has been requested. If the destination needs to change, the ride must be cancelled and a new one requested — which requires your approval again.

Teen accounts do not work with Uber Eats, Uber Comfort Plus, or other Uber services. They work only with standard UberX and Uber Comfort rides.

When teen accounts are useful and when they are not

Teen accounts work well for parents who want to give their teenager independence while maintaining oversight. A teen can request a ride to school, a friend's house, or an after-school activity without needing to ask a parent for a ride — but the parent still knows where they are going and approves each trip. It removes the need for cash and creates a record of where the teen has been.

Teen accounts are less useful if you need real-time GPS tracking during a ride, if your teen needs to make frequent unplanned trips, or if you want to avoid the approval step for every single ride. Some parents find the notification and approval process cumbersome if their teen is making many trips in a short period.

If your teen is very young (under 13) or if you live in an area where Uber Teen Account is not available, you will need to use a regular Uber account and handle approval and payment yourself, or use a different transportation option.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can my teen use the account if I do not have a smartphone?

No. You need the Uber app on your phone to receive approval notifications and manage the account. Without it, you cannot approve rides or control the account settings. You would need to use a regular Uber account instead.

What happens if I do not approve a ride request?

The ride is cancelled and your teen is notified that you declined it. The driver is never assigned. Your teen can request a different ride, which will send you another approval notification.

Can my teen see how much money they have left in their daily limit?

Yes. The teen app shows the remaining daily budget. Once the limit is reached, they cannot request new rides until the next day resets the limit.

Is there a minimum age for a teen account?

Yes, your teen must be at least 13 years old. Uber does not offer accounts for younger children.

Can I set different limits for different days of the week?

No. The daily spending limit is the same every day. You can change the limit amount at any time through your account settings, but you cannot create a schedule that varies by day.