Many people are well-versed in ordering an Uber for themselves, but there are several circumstances where you might want to order an Uber for someone else.
Whether you want to help pay for their Uber or you are simply helping out someone who otherwise can’t operate the app themselves, it is usually possible to order an Uber for someone else.
However, your ability to do so depends on the circumstance, location, age of the rider, and a few other factors.
In this article, we’ll discuss the times in which you can order an Uber for someone else, explain how to do so, and answer related questions around this topic.
Table Of Contents
Can You Order an Uber for Someone Else?
Yes, you can order an Uber for someone else in most circumstances.
If you’d like to send someone you know—such as a friend or a family member—back home, pick them up to meet you somewhere, or get them to their desired location, Uber allows you to do so.
Can You Order an Uber for Yourself and Someone Else at the Same Time?
No. Uber does not allow you to request two different Ubers simultaneously.
Therefore, unless you are riding in the same Uber, you cannot order an Uber for yourself and someone else at the same time.
You will have to wait until they get the Uber you requested for them and make it to their destination before you can order another Uber.
However, if you are headed in the same direction, you are able to share the ride with the friend or family member that you are requesting an Uber for.
This is because you can have two dropoff addresses for your Uber.
It just has to be the same Uber (as in, the same car).
Can You Order an Uber for a Minor?
No. You cannot order an Uber for a minor.
Minors are not allowed to use Uber alone.
They are not even allowed to have an Uber account or request rides.
To ride an Uber, they have to be accompanied by an adult who requested the ride and plans to take the ride with them.
This is why you cannot order an Uber for someone under 18.
Reasons to Request an Uber for Someone Else
There are several situations where you might wish to request an Uber for someone else.
Ordering an Uber for Someone Without a Phone
85% of Americans have smartphones, so it might seem like everyone has a smartphone these days, but this is not always the case.
There are still some individuals who do not have a smartphone, or do not have data on their smartphone whether it’s because they choose not to, don’t have the funds for one, or recently had their phone lost or stolen.
Thus, if they need an Uber to get somewhere, someone else who has a smartphone and the Uber app can request it for them.
Paying For Someone Else’s Uber
There are times when you might want to pay for someone else’s Uber as a gift, as a service, or just because you can.
Instead of allowing them to book their own Uber and then paying them back, you can cut out that extra step by simply ordering an Uber for them directly through your own account.
Additional Reasons
There are countless other reasons you might want to request an Uber for someone else.
Perhaps, they are visiting, and you want to treat them to a ride to your house, but you don’t have a car to be able to pick them up.
Alternatively, you could have a car, but it would take much longer to go pick them up for the airport and come back than simply sending them an Uber.
Of course, a visitor could request their own Uber in that scenario, but some people find it rude to allow their guests to pay for their own ride to their house.
Further, if a friend is intoxicated and needs a ride home, you can ensure they get a safe ride home by ordering them an Uber.
Finally, some people who own smartphones recently got them or are not technologically savvy.
Thus, you can help them save time and frustration by ordering an Uber for them instead of trying to do it themselves.
How to Request Rides for Others
It is nearly as simple to request rides for others as it is to request a ride for yourself.
We’ll provide a step-by-step guide to show you exactly how to do it.
Step 1: Open the Uber app
Open the Uber app and click on the “Where to?” box.
Step 2: Tap your name
Tap on your name and profile located at the top of the screen.
Step 3: Select “Add a Rider”
Select the option labeled “Add a Rider”
Step 4: Enter rider information
Type in the contact information of the person you wish to order an Uber for.
If their number is saved in your contacts, you can select their phone number from your list.
Otherwise, you will add it manually.
Step 5: Next
Hit the “Next” button
Step 6: Enter destination
Type in the destination your friend or family member would like to go.
Step 7: Confirm rider
Select “Confirm Rider”
Step 8: Request ride
Tap “Request” to complete the Uber ride request.
Once you have completed the request, your friend or family member will receive a text with information regarding the ride, such as the car’s make and model, the license plate number, and the name of the Uber driver.
How to Order a Ride for Someone Else Using Uber Family Profile
If you want to have a consistent way of ordering for a select group of people, you have the option of creating an Uber Family profile.
With the Family Profile, you can add up to four people under one profile, and each member can order rides for any other member in the group.
Here is how to set up an Uber Family Profile:
- Open the Uber app and select your profile image in the upper right-hand corner to go to your profile
- Select the “Trips” button with the clock icon
- In the upper right-hand corner, select the drop-down button that says “Past” and then tap on “Family”
- Select the “Create a family profile” button on the bottom of the page to set up your Family Profile
How Do I Order an Uber for Someone Else in Advance?
Uber also allows you to schedule rides in advance, and you can schedule an Uber for someone else in advance as well.
- Open the Uber app
- Before clicking the “Where to?” box, click on the “Now” drop-down button to change the time of the Uber ride
- Select the desired date and time of the ride you want to order for someone else
- Then, change the pickup destination to wherever your friend or family member will need to get picked up
- Then, enter the destination address in the “Where to?” box
- Select the desired ride and hit “Schedule UberX” to confirm the ride
When scheduling an Uber for someone else, you do not have the option of switching the rider on the app.
Thus, you will have to send the rider information regarding the ride in a different way than if you were ordering a right for them at the current moment.
Can You Order an Uber for Someone in a Different Location?
Yes, you can order Uber for someone else in a different location, as long as their Uber exists in their specific city or location.
In addition to selecting a different rider than yourself, all you will have to do is change the pickup location to their current location instead of your own.
Can I order an Uber for someone in another country?
There are 30 countries where you can use Uber and request a ride for someone else.
You may be charged a conversion rate fee for doing so.
Can I order an Uber for someone in another city?
Yes, you can order an Uber for someone in another city, as long as Uber is available in their specific city.
You will just have to change the pickup location to their current location and city.
Can I reserve an Uber for someone in a different timezone?
Yes, you can reserve an Uber for someone in a different timezone.
How to Order an Uber in a Different Time Zone
How to Order an Uber in a Different Time Zone
When you schedule the ride, the pickup time will be listed in the pickup location’s time zone, and the dropoff time will be listed in the destination location’s time zone.
To accurately order an Uber in a different time zone, make sure that you are scheduling it for the correct time in the pickup location’s time zone instead of whichever time zone you are currently in.
Wrapping Up
If you’re looking for a way to help out a friend or loved one, or maybe just want to make someone’s day, calling an Uber for someone else is the perfect solution.
It’s simple to do and can be done in just a few steps.
What are you waiting for?
Schedule an Uber ride for somebody today.
Urgent question.
1. Can I simply order a ride UNDER MY NAME for my friend who does not have a phone that accepts SMS/TEXT service who will be at my local airport heading to my house and Can he ride the uber telling the driver that I ordered the ride for him?
2. If I switched the rider to my friend and order a ride, will I get the driver/car information as usual so that I can call my friend that ride info? *His phone won’t get the confirmation text.
3. I’ve had problems with ordering Uber from airport when the app telling me I can’t order until I(my phone) goes to the car “rideshare” area, or app doesn’t recognize my phone being at the rideshare area. If that happens, which Uber number is there to contact??
My comment relates to the question asked above by Carrie, which has not been answered. I have the exact same question, in that it involves ordering a ride for a friend with a phone which can’t receive SMS/Text. In our case, my friend COULD receive a phone call from the driver if necessary, but wouldn’t be able to confirm or receive anything by text. (I would be a go-between to answer texts on my phone if necessary.) In that case … same question … could I still request a ride for my friend? Carrie’s question was marked as “urgent.” In my friend’s case, it was urgent as well … he was waiting for a ride to take him for scheduled surgery, and a (Lyft, in his case) driver went to the wrong address nearby but was only communicating by text, not phone. Bottom line, I’d like to do the same thing as Carrie asked about in her question number 2. Is this possible, and how? Thank you.