How to use uber cash for ride

Whether you want to limit your credit card expenses or you’re waiting for credit card approval, Uber Cash can be a lifesaver.

Uber created Uber Cash to help riders budget for their trips and manage their spending.

Here is all you need to know about using Uber Cash on the Uber app and Uber Eats.

Table Of Contents

• What Is Uber Cash?
• How Does Uber Cash Work?
• How Do I Use Uber Cash?
• Is Uber Cash Worth It?
• Uber Cash FAQs
• Final Thoughts

What Is Uber Cash?

Uber Cash is a digital balance and in-app wallet that you can refill at any time.

When you purchase $100 in Uber Cash, for example, it will never expire.

You can use that Uber Cash balance to order rides or food.

How Does Uber Cash Work?

Using Uber Cash is pretty straightforward.

Think of it as a store credit or “Uber money.”

To start, you’ll reload your Uber Cash balance using a credit card, Google Pay, or another payment method.

Then, when you order an Uber ride, you can use your Uber Cash balance to pay for it, either in full or partially.

Uber users can also use their Uber wallet cash balance for Uber Eats orders.

However, they can’t cash it out – once it’s on Uber, it stays on Uber.

It won’t expire, so you can use it years later.

How Do I Use Uber Cash?

You’ll need to fill up your Uber Cash balance before ordering a trip.

Doing so is a pretty simple process.

Once you’ve done that, you can order a ride or food, and Uber Cash will be selected as the default payment method.

The only caveat is that you can only use your Uber Cash in the country where you purchased it since the company doesn’t manage currency conversions.

For example, if you purchased Uber Cash in San Francisco, you won’t be able to use it in Paris and vice versa.

While this doesn’t present a major issue by any means, it is something to remember if you’re planning to use Uber on a trip abroad.

How to Add Funds

As we just mentioned, adding Uber Cash to your account is only possible through the Uber app at this time.

However, once you have the proper app open, the process to add funds is incredibly straightforward.

Start by tapping on the app menu icon on the upper left corner and selecting the “Wallet” tab.

Make sure your preferred credit card, debit card, Venmo account, PayPal account, or Google Pay account is listed under “Payment Methods.”

If not, tap “Add Payment Method” and follow the prompts to add it.

Head back to your primary “Wallet” page and tap “Add Funds.”

Tap “Select Payment” on the bottom right corner to choose your preferred payment method.

Then, select how much you’d like to add to your account balance and tap “Confirm.”

Once complete, your balance will be loaded to your Uber account and ready to use for your next ride or meal.

Users also have the option to auto-refill their balance once it drops below $10.

If you’re a frequent Uber user, this can save you the hassle of manually reloading your balance every time you run low.

To opt into this convenient option, all you need to do is head back to the “Wallet” tab, tap “Auto-Refill,” and select your reload amount and payment method.

Then, tap “Update” to save your preferences.

Adding Money to Uber Cash

First, you’ll need to add money to Uber Cash.

Follow these steps:

1. Open the Uber app.
2. Click on your profile picture in the upper-right corner.
3. Tap on “Wallet” or “Uber Cash.”
4. At the top of your screen, you’ll see your Uber Cash balance. If it’s your first time adding money, it will be $0. Click on “Add Funds.”
5. Select “One-Time Purchase” if you only want to refill your balance once. Click on “Auto-Refill” if you wish to automatically refill your balance each time it drops below $10.
6. If you selected “One-Time Purchase,” select the monetary amount you’d like to add. Typically, you’ll be able to add $25, $50, or $100, but that amount can vary based on your location.
7. At the bottom, select or change your payment method. You can use an existing card or add a new payment method.
8. Click on “Confirm” to confirm your purchase.

If you select “Auto-Refill,” the process will be similar.

You can automatically add $25, $50, or $100 each time your Uber Cash balance drops below $10.

Your default payment method won’t be selected for auto-refill – you’ll need to choose one manually.

Once you’ve done that, click on “Update” to confirm.

Finally, besides “One-Time Purchase” and “Auto-Refill,” you can also select “Gift Card.”

That’s only if you received or purchased an Uber gift card and would like to load its balance onto your Uber Cash wallet.

Once you’ve loaded your Uber Cash balance, you’re ready to start using it on Uber.

Selecting Uber Payment Methods

If you have a positive Uber Cash balance, the app will automatically select it as the default payment method when ordering a ride.

However, you can toggle Uber Cash off if you prefer to save your balance for later.

When ordering a ride, you’ll see Uber Cash selected as the payment method towards the bottom of the screen, under the ride options.

Click on it to see the toggle switch and toggle it off or select a different payment method.

Note that if your Uber Cash balance isn’t enough to cover the total cost of the ride, it will still be selected as the default payment method.

In that case, your primary credit card or other payment methods will automatically be chosen to cover the rest of the trip cost.

As before, you can switch to another payment method to cover the remainder of your ride.

Using Uber Cash on Uber Eats

Your Uber Cash wallet will be available on Uber Eats as well, even if you used the main Uber app to refill your balance.

The reverse is also true – if you purchased Uber Cash on Uber Eats, you can use it to order rides.

You must be signed in to both apps with the same phone number and email address.

In the Uber Eats app (or the Food section of the main Uber app), order food, and your Uber Cash balance will show up as the default payment method.

As before, you can select a different payment method or use Uber Cash together with another payment method if the cost of your order exceeds your balance.

Is Uber Cash Worth It?

If you use Uber frequently, Uber Cash may be worth it.

The main reason people use Uber Cash is for the convenience and budgeting help it offers.

For example, if you’re in a hurry, you may not have the time to try out your different debit cards to see which ones have enough balance to cover the cost of your ride.

Furthermore, if you want to set a budget for your Uber transportation costs for the week, month, or even year, you can do so by purchasing a set amount of Uber Cash in advance.

There’s another reason to use Uber Cash, and that’s if you’d like to pay for your rides with cash.

In many cities, including in the United States, there is no cash option, as Uber is designed to be a cashless experience.

While you can’t refill your Uber Cash balance with actual cash (that option is only available in Brazil), there is a workaround.

Purchase an Uber gift card with your cash at CVS or another participating retailer.

Then, load that gift card onto your Uber Cash balance, as explained above.

Get More for Your Money with Uber Cash

In the past, Uber offered discounts of up to 5% on Uber Cash purchases, depending on how much you purchased at once.

However, Uber has since discontinued that program, though that is always subject to change.

Nevertheless, there are still ways to earn Uber Cash for free.

For example, you can earn Uber Cash from interactions with customer support.

Whether they’re refunding you for spoiled food, returning a cancellation fee, or giving you a bonus due to a bad experience with a driver, Uber Cash lets you get money fast instead of waiting days for it to arrive in your bank account.

American Express cardholders can also earn Uber Cash rewards.

Amex Gold cardholders will get $10 in Uber Cash per month, while Amex Platinum cardholders will get $15 in Uber Cash every month.

You’ll need to add your Amex card to your Uber wallet first.

Uber Cash FAQs

New to Uber Cash?

Don’t worry – here are answers to some of the most common questions we see.

Why Do I Need to Refill My Uber Cash?

If you did not opt into auto-refill, you will have to manually refill your Uber Cash balance when it goes down to $0.

An easy way to avoid this problem is to turn auto-refill on.

To do that, click on your profile picture at the top of the app.

Then, click on “Uber Cash” and proceed to tap on “Add Funds.”

Finally, select “Auto-Refill,” and choose an amount you want to automatically add to your balance when it goes below $10.

Can I Use Uber Cash in Any City or Country?

No.

Uber Cash is not available in all countries, only the United States.

However, when you travel to another country, you won’t be able to use the Uber Cash you purchased in your home country.

If you bought Uber Cash when you were abroad, it won’t show up in your account when you return home.

You can only use it in the country you purchased it in.

You can’t convert Uber Cash from one currency to another.

Furthermore, you can only purchase Uber Cash in the currency of the country you are in.

So, if you’re in Europe, you won’t be able to load a monetary USD balance onto Uber Cash.

Where Can I View My Uber Cash Balance?  

You can view your Uber Cash balance at any time.

Here’s how to do that:

1. Open the Uber app.
2. Tap on your profile picture at the top of the screen.
3. Your Uber Cash balance will be displayed.
4. If you don’t see it, click on “Wallet.” Your Uber Cash balance will once again show up.

You can also see your Uber Cash balance when ordering a ride.

If you don’t see Uber Cash selected as the payment method, click on the selected payment method, and you’ll see your Uber Cash balance at the top of the screen in your wallet.

Final Thoughts

Uber Cash provides convenience and flexibility.

It allows frequent commuters to quickly order rides without worrying about whether their payment methods are working or their credit cards are expired.

It’s also helpful for budgeting for your Uber or Uber Eats expenses.

For example, if you only place orders on Uber Eats when you want to treat yourself, using Uber Cash is a great way to ensure you don’t overdo it and ruin your budget.

Just keep in mind that once you have loaded money onto Uber Cash, you can’t withdraw it to your bank account.

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