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A Driver’s Guide To Understanding Uber Instant Pay

Learn how Uber instant pay works for drivers, and how you can use it to instantly cash out your earnings on-demand.

Key Takeaways

  • Uber Instant Pay allows drivers to cash out earnings up to six times daily.
  • Requires one completed trip, a valid debit card, and simple setup in the Uber app.
  • Each cash-out incurs a $0.85 fee, except with an Uber Pro Card which is fee-free.
  • Uber Pro Card offers instant, fee-free payments and additional cashback rewards for drivers.

Can Uber Drivers Get Paid Instantly?

Working for Uber, the average driver pay ranges between $15 and $37 per hour. If we factor in the earnings from tips, we’re looking at an extra $1 to $4 an hour.

To incentivize drivers to continue driving for Uber and encourage more prospective drivers to sign up for the platform, Uber is offering them a faster and easier way to cash out their earnings.

Instead of waiting until Thursday or Friday for your weekly payout, you can get your money daily with Uber Instant Pay . It’s a payment system that enables Uber drivers to receive their earnings quickly up to six times per day.

Each time you use Uber Instant Pay, the money appears right away in your account. You can choose to transfer the funds from the Uber app either to your Uber Pro Card, Uber GoBank Debit Card, or your debit card from a different bank.

For Uber drivers, the convenience of not having to wait an entire week is a major perk. They can benefit from their earnings whenever they want without delays or complicated steps.

Setting Up Instant Pay as an Uber Driver

To enjoy the flexibility and convenience of Uber Instant Pay as a driver, you need to set up the feature in your account. But first, make sure you meet the following requirements :

  • You’re registered as a driver (where Uber X or Uber Eats) on the platform/app with a valid email.
  • You have a valid debit card. Instant Pay is compatible with most Mastercard, Visa, and Discover debit cards. It also supports the Uber Pro Card and Uber GoBank Debit Card.
  • You have completed at least one trip. This ensures there are some funds to withdraw from your balance.

The setup process is simple enough for anyone to complete, and it goes like this:

  1. Open the Uber Driver App on your phone.
  2. Tap on your profile photo to view the menu.
  3. Locate your ‘Account’ and tap it.
  4. Find the ‘Payment’ option and tap it.
  5. Tap on the payment option ‘Set Up Instant Pay’.
  6. Provide the required personal information and type in the details of your debit card.
  7. Once your debit card is linked to your Uber Driver account, you should have no issues using Instant Pay. However, if you’re having trouble setting up Instant Pay on your account, you can always visit a Greenlight Hub.

How to Use Instant Pay

With Uber’s Instant Pay feature, you can withdraw any earnings you make as a driver anytime you like. This applies to the whole payment for the ride or delivery, including income from tips.

To use Instant Pay, open the Uber Driver App on your phone and tap on your profile picture. Then, navigate to the ‘Wallet’ option, tap the ‘Cash Out’, and choose ‘Instant Pay’ from the options.

Once you tap ‘Instant Pay’, you’ll see the available balance for cashout. Tap the option ‘Transfer Now’ and then ‘Confirm’ to initiate the transaction.

Within a few seconds, most Uber drivers will see a message saying the cash has reached their account successfully. However, some banks may take up to three or four business days to complete the transfer.

If you want to check the transactions you already completed, there’s a ‘Recent Transfers’ section to look through. Your Instant Pay transfers will also appear on your earnings statement every week under ‘Instant Payouts’.

You can cash out your earnings via Instant Pay up to six times a day in the US with no minimum amount. In Canada and most other regions, the Instant Pay frequency limit is five times.

You can use this feature on weekend days and holidays as well. But keep in mind that transactions may be delayed until the following business day.

Fees Associated with Instant Pay

Doing jobs with same-day pay offers a substantial advantage for gig workers in need of fast cashing out. But if you’re an Uber driver, you should be aware of the potential fees involved.

While it costs nothing to set up Instant Pay on your driver account, using it may not be for free.

You may be charged a transaction fee per cashout , depending on the card that you added to receive the money. Here’s how that works:

  • If you link a personal debit card, each Instant Pay cash out will cost you $0.85.
  • If you link an Uber GoBank Debit Card, each transaction via Instant Pay will also cost you $0.85.
  • If you link an Uber Pro Card, you’ll get Instant Pay transfers free of charge.

An $0.85 fee may not seem like much, but it can add up big time. If you take advantage of the cashing out limit, this means you’ll pay the fee five or six times.

  • In the US, that’s $5.10 per day and $35.70 per week. Over a month, you’ll have paid about $150.

How to Minimize Instant Pay Fees

The good news is that there are ways to cut down those fees or even avoid them altogether.

You can work smart and keep your cashing out frequency per day to a minimum.

We recommend cashing out only once per day after you’re done driving for that day. You may also add another transfer at the beginning or the middle of your work day if you need the money.

By cashing out once or twice a day, you’ll still benefit from the convenience and speed of Instant Pay. However, you won’t waste as much money on fees that you could be spending on something more useful.

Another solution to save the fees money is to not pay them in the first place. This is possible if you use an Uber Pro Card.

The Uber Debit Card Alternative

The Uber Pro Card is Uber’s latest fully-endorsed debit card and an excellent Instant Pay alternative.

It’s also the “unofficial replacement” for the previous Uber Debit Card, which has become the GoBank Debit Card. The GoBank switch and its subsequent cancellation of the various Uber Debit Card perks took effect on January 1, 2023.

Now, Uber has moved all of those perks to the new Uber Pro Card . This time, Branch is the bank powering Uber’s Mastercard debit card and the bank account linked to it.

With the Uber Pro Card, your payouts after each ride/delivery will be automatic and instant with zero fees. Earnings will go to your Uber Pro Card right away without delays, eliminating the six times per day limit.

This means you won’t have to worry about setting up Instant Pay, manually requesting to cash out, or transaction fees.

You’ll also receive a guaranteed cash back when you refuel from any gas station. The basic cashback amount is:

  • 2% for Blue and Green card holders
  • 3% for Gold cardholders
  • 4% for Platinum cardholders
  • 6% for Diamond cardholders

These percentages can increase by 3% at Mobil or Exxon gas pumps. Mastercard Easy Savings and Upside stations also offer extra cash back.

Similar to the Uber Rewards program for users, you can get additional rewards the more you use the Uber Pro Card.

Who Can Get an Uber Pro Card?

Any Uber driver or courier can apply for this debit card as long as they have an Uber Pro status.

The process doesn’t involve a credit check, but an ID verification is obligatory. Most applications receive approval within minutes,

Analysis: Is Instant Pay Worth It?

If you’re considering using Instant Pay, you should consider the pros and cons of the feature. The same goes if you already use the feature but are not sure if you should get an Uber Pro Card instead.

The advantages of Uber Instant Pay include:

  • Quicker access to earnings: Instant Pay is the fastest way to cash out payments if you don’t have an Uber Pro Card. You don’t need to wait for weekly paydays to access your earnings.
  • Flexible eligibility: Any Uber driver can use Instant Pay, whether they drive for Uber X or Uber Eats. There’s no minimum limit on how much you can cash out, so drivers can use it whenever they want.
  • High service frequency: Drivers can cash out up to six times per day. This grants you greater control over your finances.
  • Easy setup: It doesn’t take more than entering your debit card information in your Uber Driver account to start using Instant Pay. From there, you only need to complete one ride to cash out.

As for the downsides of Uber Instant Pay, we can sum them up in transaction fees and manual transfer initiation .

Unless you link an Uber Pro Card to your account, you’ll pay $0.85 per cash out. You also need to open the app and request a transfer every time you want to cash out.

Using an Uber Pro Card gives you all the benefits of Instant Pay while taking away the cons. You can enjoy immediate, direct payouts with no fees for as many rides as you complete.

However, you don’t get a choice of other payment types once you link the Uber Pro Card to your account. There are also daily and monthly spending and withdrawal limits to consider.

Scenarios for Using Instant Pay vs. Uber Debit Card

Using Instant Pay instead of an Uber Pro Card can be more beneficial if:

  • You prefer to still have the option of more traditional weekly payouts: This may be because they help you better manage your monthly budget, control your daily spending habits, or provide a consistent income stream. With Instant Pay, you’re not giving up this option.
  • You prefer to not use the “unstable” Uber debit card: There’s always a chance that Uber will change the conditions or perks for its debit card. This happened with the GoBank Debit Card, and you may want to avoid a potential repeat of this scenario.

Using an Uber Pro Card instead of Instant Pay can be more beneficial if:

  • You prioritize fast payments.
  • You don’t want to pay transaction fees.
  • You don’t drive many hours and you want to keep as much of your earnings as possible.
  • You want to enjoy the cashback and rewards.
  • You don’t need the weekly payout option.

Conclusion: Maximizing Financial Flexibility as an Uber Driver

Both Uber Instant Pay and the Uber Pro Card provide drivers with financial flexibility. They offer daily cashing out with no minimum limit, allowing faster and easier access to earnings.

Our guide walks you through the pros and cons of these options and when it’s best to use each. Be sure to go over all the information to figure out what makes the most sense for your driving pattern and financial strategy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are a few common questions regarding Uber Instant Pay that you be wondering:

How Long Does Uber Fast Pay Take?

Most Uber Instant Pay transactions are reflected in the driver’s debit card/bank account within a few seconds. However, some transfers may take up to three or four business days depending on the bank.

Why is Uber Instant Pay Not Working?

You may have been inactive for too long or still haven’t completed a certain number of rides. Also, your account may be under review or there’s an issue with your card provider.

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