Uber Select: Car List, Pricing, and More

What Was Uber Select?

Uber Select was a mid-tier service provided by Uber that offered riders a balance between luxury and affordability.

Positioned between the standard UberX and UberX Share services and the more upscale Uber Black, Uber Select catered to those seeking extra comfort with highly-rated drivers and specific types of vehicles, without the premium price tag.

This service allowed riders a degree of predictability regarding the type of car they could expect.

Drivers needed to complete a certain number of rides and maintain a high rating to qualify for Uber Select. However, this option was discontinued in July 2020 as part of Uber’s efforts to streamline their service offerings.

Uber Select functioned similarly to other Uber services, allowing riders to choose this option when booking their trip. It provided the flexibility to view available vehicle types in the area at the time of booking and the convenience of scheduling rides in advance.

A notable feature of Uber Select was the larger vehicle size standard, catering to passengers needing more space for luggage or personal comfort.

The vehicle lineup for Uber Select included models such as the Tesla Model S, Audi A6 Premium, BMW 330i, Lexus ES, and Mercedes-Benz E 300, among others, ensuring a range of quality vehicles for riders.

Following its discontinuation, Uber Comfort or Uber Black are recommended for those still looking for additional space.

How Much Did Uber Select Cost?

As you might expect, a more luxurious offering equals higher costs than a base Uber ride.

However, because Uber Select sat a tier or two below Uber’s most premium services, prices remained pretty reasonable.

Here’s an example of what Uber Select costs looked like in Los Angeles:

• Base fare: $5
• Per-minute rate: 61 cents
• Per-mile rate: $1.90
• Minimum fare: $12
• Marketplace fee: $3 (the fee only existed in some markets)
• Rider no-show or cancellation fee: $10

Prices could vary based on city, time of day, and other factors, but that is roughly what a passenger could expect to pay.

Uber passengers can always use Uber’s ride estimator tool for a fuller estimate.

Uber Select Vs. Other Premium Ubers

As an entry-tier luxury offering, Uber Select was comparable to many of Uber’s other offerings. Next, we’ll compare these in experience and cost.

1. Uber Select Vs. Uber Black

Uber Black is Uber’s highest tier of service.

These luxury vehicles are for customers wanting the best Uber can provide.

Pricing for Uber Black is significantly higher than Uber Select.

Uber Black also offers maximum points for Uber Rewards if that’s something you’re looking for.

2. Uber Select Vs. Uber Black SUV

Like Uber Black, Uber Black SUV is Uber’s premium service for riders looking for sport utility vehicles.

SUVs offer more seating and luggage space.

Because of that level of service, Uber Black SUV’s prices are much higher than what Uber Select offered.

3. Uber Select Vs. Uber Lux

Like Uber Select, Uber Lux is no longer available.

When it was around, it offered a tier even above Uber Black.

Drivers were required to drive high-end luxury vehicles and offer a premium experience.

Even at its peak, Uber Lux was only available in specific markets.

Uber deemed it too similar to Uber Black and retired it in 2020 alongside Uber Select.

4. Uber Select Vs. Uber X

Uber X is Uber’s most essential and popular offering.

By default, any reservation you make with Uber will be through Uber X.

It’s a step below Uber Select in car quality.

Still, the selection was usually better, meaning you’re getting a ride faster.

Like Uber Select, Uber X must accommodate up to 4 passengers.

Uber X fees are lower than Uber Select.

5. Uber Select Vs. Uber XL

If you have six passengers, Uber XL is your best bet for Uber.

It’s similar to Uber X in that it’s the most basic offering, just with larger cars.

Uber Select maxed out with 4-passenger vehicles, meaning that it and Uber XL were often working with different passengers.

Uber XL rates are comparable to what you would see with Uber X.

6. Uber Select Vs. Uber Comfort

Uber Comfort is similar to Uber Select in some ways and different than others.

This tier exists for customers who need extra space for passengers or belongings.

It’s an excellent offering for larger passengers.

Unlike Uber Select, though, any car that is bigger than average will qualify, whereas Uber Select required a more high-end vehicle.

Uber Comfort rates fall roughly in between Uber X and Uber Black.

How to Request an Uber Select Ride: Step by Step Guide

Requesting an Uber Select worked much the same as booking any other kind of Uber.

Here’s how it works:

• Open your Uber app and select your target destination.
• Swipe up to see your options. By default, Uber will have you listed with an Uber X, but this is your spot to select your level of service.
• Confirm your pickup location. Uber will usually show you a map with where your GPS says you are and allow you to adjust if needed.
• Wait for your driver! The Uber app will give you their name, license plate, and vehicle information, along with an estimated time of arrival.

If desired, Uber allows you to reserve rides up to a month in advance, including Uber Select.

Rider Summary: Was Uber Select Worth It?

Riders who used Uber Select loved the service, so they would tell you that it was worth it.

Ultimately, though, not enough riders used the service compared to levels like Uber X and Uber Black, so Uber retired the service.

Pros and Cons

Just because the service is no longer active doesn’t mean it didn’t have its perks.

Here are a few key advantages:

• More luxurious ride without the prices of Uber Black
• Bigger cars
• More predictable experience

However, the drawbacks ultimately won out and caused Uber to remove the service.

Some primary disadvantages included the following:

• Narrow range of cars
• Not as popular as Uber X and Uber Black
• More expensive than Uber X

Driving For Uber Select

If you’re an Uber driver, it can be a little bit tough to understand what you’re eligible for when it comes to driving.

Uber Select had very particular requirements for drivers, but meeting those requirements did open Uber Select drivers up to more pay.

Uber Select Car Requirements

Eligible vehicles that fit into Uber Select met a very particular set of criteria.

These Uber car requirements were pretty standard for most services across the board.

This included:

• Mid-sized sedan
• 4-doors
• Room for at least four passengers
• Leather or synthetic leather interior
• No older than ten years old

These criteria ensured that passengers could reasonably predict the car and experience they were reserving with Uber Select.

How Much Did Uber Select Drivers Make?

Drivers for Uber Select did make a bit more money than Uber X drivers.

Where Uber X drivers average a little under $14/hour before tips, Uber Select drivers average making around $15/hour before tips.

Because Uber Select is more expensive and a higher tier of service, tips were often higher for Uber Select drivers, although that was not a guarantee.

How to Become an Uber Select Driver

To become an Uber Select driver, drivers needed to meet specific criteria.

• Their car must meet the above requirements.
• Drivers would need to complete a certain number of rides. The exact number is unknown but ranges from 50 to 100.
• Drivers would need to maintain an average rating of 4.7/5, although some drivers reported needing 4.8.

Once drivers met those requirements, Uber Select credentials would automatically enter into their account.

Getting to Uber Select status can take some time, but the process was very straightforward once you’re in!

Today, getting to Uber Black driver status has similar, but not the same, criteria.

Frequently Asked Questions

Wrapping Up

Even though Uber Select is retired, the idea of using Uber for a more upscale ride lives on.

Uber does a great job giving lots of options to riders, so rest easy knowing that you’ll be able to get the ride you want when you want it.