As part of Uber’s goal of making ridesharing convenient and accessible to all, it accepts a wide range of payment methods.
While taxi drivers in major cities like NYC and San Francisco now accept credit cards, Uber goes beyond that and allows many other forms of payment, including PayPal.
But does Uber take PayPal? That is the question we intend to answer below.
Does Uber Take PayPal?
Yes, Uber accepts PayPal as a valid payment option instead of a credit card. An increasing number of people are receiving their salaries via PayPal.
If you are one of them, you can use that money straight away for an Uber ride.
Even if you don’t get paid via PayPal, you can connect your PayPal account to your bank account and transfer money back or forth. You can also link an American Express card or another credit card to your PayPal account and pay with it.
Finally, you can load your PayPal account with cash at select retailers. While Uber accepts PayPal in both the United States and Canada, it might not accept it in other countries.
Therefore, when you travel, you may no longer see it as a payment option.
Did You Know?
Cardholders can get Amex Platinum Uber Credits for free just by having this type of card.
It’s a great way to save money on your next ride, regardless of whether or not you use PayPal for your ride.
Does Uber Eat Accept PayPal?
Yes, Uber Eats also accepts PayPal.
In general, Uber Eats accepts most of the payment options that Uber accepts, excluding things like commuter benefits.
How to Add PayPal to Uber
Uber users can add PayPal as a payment option in the Uber app quickly and easily. Here is how to link your Uber account with PayPal:
- Open the Uber app.
- Click on the hamburger menu in the top-left corner.
- Click on Wallet.
- Select “Add Payment Method.”
- Click on “Paypal.”
- Log in to PayPal and follow the prompts to connect your account.
To remove PayPal as a payment method on Uber, simply go to your wallet, click on the PayPal icon, and select “Remove Payment Method.”
Adding PayPal as a payment option on Uber Eats involves a similar process.
Click the “Account” option in the bottom-right corner of the screen, then on “Wallet.” Follow the steps outlined above.
How to Pay Uber With PayPal
To make a PayPal payment for your Uber ride, you need to ensure it is your selected payment method when ordering a ride.
When you order a ride on Uber, you will be able to select a specific payment method. This will appear under the list of available Uber services (such as UberX, Uber Black, etc.).
If PayPal is not selected, click on the selected payment method to bring up your added payment methods. Then, click on the PayPal icon to choose it for your current ride.
Finally, proceed to select an Uber service. It will remain the default payment method for future rides, too, until you change it.
What Other Payment Methods Does Uber Take?
In addition to PayPal, Uber users can use the following payment methods to pay for Uber:
- Credit or debit card
- Prepaid debit card (not all prepaid cards will work)
- Venmo (which is owned by PayPal Holdings)
- Google Pay (formerly Android Pay)
- Apple Pay
- Uber Cash (Uber’s built-in wallet, which you can top up with any digital payment method)
- Uber gift card (available for purchase at select retailers across the country)
Troubleshooting: Uber PayPal Not Working
PayPal provides a convenient way of paying for Uber. However, sometimes, Uber might reject your PayPal account While that can be frustrating, it’s usually easy to fix.
Why is Uber Not Accepting my PayPal?
Uber might be rejecting your PayPal account due to several reasons. Here are the most common reasons why this might happen:
- There are not enough funds in your PayPal account.
- You have not fully verified your PayPal account.
- You do not have a verified credit or debit card linked to PayPal to be used as a backup payment method when you don’t have sufficient funds in your PayPal account.
- You did link a card to your PayPal account, but that card has since expired or got canceled.
- You changed your PayPal password.
- PayPal has put a hold on your account due to a security concern.
- Your PayPal account is from another country.
- You have traveled outside the US or Canada to a country where PayPal is not a valid payment method.
How to Fix This Issue
Fixing this issue is usually pretty simple.
First, open your PayPal account and make sure you have enough funds to cover your Uber ride. If you don’t, add funds from your bank account (this can take a few days).
In addition, add a new credit or debit card to your PayPal account and verify it (PayPal will give you instructions on how to do so).
If that does not work, try removing PayPal as a payment method on Uber (you can do this from your wallet). Then, add it again – you may need to enter your PayPal password another time.
Finally, if that does not work either, or if you can’t log into PayPal, you might need to call PayPal to see what is happening.
If PayPal has frozen your account, it will usually notify you. However, you may have missed the email it sent you.
Remember, if you moved from another country to the United States or Canada, you will need to close your existing PayPal account and open a new one in your new country, as required by PayPal.
Alternative: Does Lyft Accept PayPal?
If you can’t get Uber to work with PayPal, but you need to use your PayPal funds to pay for a ride, consider downloading and opening an account with Lyft.
Lyft is Uber’s top competitor in the United States and Canada, and it also accepts PayPal as a payment option.
Final Thoughts
Whether you need to order a ride or get some food, Uber and Uber Eats have got you covered. Using PayPal is incredibly convenient.
Not only can you get paid via PayPal and use it for Uber rides, but you can top up your PayPal account at Walmart, 7-11, and other retailers with cash. While you might not be able to use cash to pay for Uber directly, PayPal provides a nice workaround.
