17 Useful Uber Safety Tips for Solo Travelers

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So, you’re gearing up for your first solo trip and you’re worried about staying safe in an Uber or Lyft.

Or perhaps it’s been a while since your last solo trip and you need a quick refresher. Whatever situation fits best, I’m here to give you 17 tips to stay safe in an Uber or Lyft.

You might already know that I prefer to walk or take public transportation when traveling. But there will be times where taking an Uber might just be the better option, whether it’s because you don’t feel like walking or riding a smelly train.

By the end of this post, I want you to be equipped with all of the tools, resources, and pieces of advice to ride in an Uber or Lyft with confidence, not fear.

Without further ado, let’s get into the post! I’m going to discuss 17 things you need to know before riding in an Uber or Lyft alone, and then we’ll get into the good stuff.

Ready, friend? Let’s go!

THIS POST IS ALL ABOUT UBER SAFETY TIPS.

BEFORE WE CONTINUE

Before we continue, I wanted to give a brief disclaimer regarding this topic.

Even though this post is catered any kind of solo traveler, I’m aware that women in particular are interested in these protocols. I’m giving you these tips so you can feel more comfortable riding in an Uber or Lyft.

Please know that it is not my intention or goal to fear-monger in any way. We absolutely do NOT endorse or encourage that kind of behavior over here.

DOES THIS POST APPLY TO LYFT ALSO?

Yes, these safety tips also apply to Lyft. I’m just referring to Uber specifically because it’s more popular and what I personally prefer when I’m unable to get somewhere via train or walking.

IS IT SAFE TO RIDE IN AN UBER ALONE?

Yes, it’s safe to ride in an Uber (or Lyft) alone. As long as you take the proper safety precautions outlined in this post, you should be just fine!

UBER SAFETY TIPS

CHECK THE DRIVER RATING

Check the driver rating. The higher the rating, the higher the chance of a smooth, safe, and uninterrupted ride.

For myself personally, I feel comfortable as long as the rating is 4.8 stars or higher. If it happens to be lower than that and I have a bad feeling about it, I’ll simply cancel the ride and request a new driver.

This rarely happens, but I know what to do when it does.

REQUEST AN UBER BLACK

Request an Uber Black. Aside from feeling like you’re a celebrity, riding in a black car makes you feel extra safe due to the requirements these drivers must consistently fulfill.

Lyft also has this option (premium vehicles), but I’m specifically referencing Uber since I use it a lot more often.

For example, here are some of the requirements for Uber Black:

• Only specific vehicle makes and models qualify for Uber Black and/or Uber Black SUV trips. The vehicle’s model year must be no older than 5 years ago. The vehicle must also have a black exterior and a black leather or vegan leather interior.
• All drivers using Uber Black must maintain a 4.85 rating or above. Star ratings are based on drivers’ most recent 500 rated trips.
• Drivers using Uber Black must be professional drivers with commercial auto insurance (personal auto insurance does not qualify) and have all permits required by their city to operate a commercial livery vehicle in their area.

Personally, knowing that these drivers have to fulfill these requirements regularly makes me feel much safer and at ease.

Click here to read about Uber Black’s requirements and here to read about Lyft’s premium ride requirements.

REQUEST A FEMALE DRIVER

Request a female driver. This is more of a recent addition to Uber and Lyft rides — and I’m SO happy about it.

Now, if you’re a woman and you feel more comfortable riding with a woman instead of a man, you can specifically order a ride with a female driver.

It’s pretty simple. When you’re on the Uber or Lyft app, look for the option to request a female driver. Usually it will say something like, “Women Preferences” or “Women Drivers.”

Please note that this option won’t always be available, as only one in five Uber drivers are women. But if it is an option when ordering your ride, definitely take advantage of it!

CHECK THE LICENSE PLATE BEFORE ENTERING THE CAR

Check the license plate before entering the car. This is one of quickest, simplest ways to ensure you’re getting in the correct vehicle.

You can very easily avoid troubling or embarrassing encounters by doing this. It only takes a second, and you’re going to see the license plate anyway. So why not?

Just be sure to check the ENTIRE number, not just the first or last few characters. Two license plates could look nearly identical, and there could be that one coincidental scenario where two drivers have similar plates.

You definitely don’t want to get in the wrong car, so pay attention to that small yet impactful difference.

CONFIRM YOUR NAMES BEFORE ENTERING THE CAR

Confirm your names before entering your car. This protects both you and the driver. Not only do you need to confirm their name, but you also need to confirm your own name.

I like to follow this simple script each time I enter an Uber:

Hi, I’m DeMarcus. Are you [DRIVER’S NAME]?

ENSURE THE DRIVER MATCHES THE DESCRIPTION

Ensure the driver matches the description. Anytime you order an Uber or Lyft, you’ll be able to see their driver profile within a few minutes of arrival, at the latest. Sometimes you’ll get it shortly afterward if you schedule in advance.

This profile will display important identifying information, such as their name and a photo of themselves. You’ll also find their driver rating here, which we discussed a bit earlier. And you’ll see a brief description of their car, which we’ll discuss in just a second.

Once again, this protects both you and the driver. I’m sure neither of you want to realize, after you get in the car, that you got in the wrong vehicle.

ENSURE THE CAR MATCHES THE DESCRIPTION

Ensure the car matches the description.

Like I said above, the driver’s profile will include a brief description of the vehicle they’re using to complete your ride. Here, you’ll see the make, model, and color of the car. This makes it pretty easy to identify the car once it approaches you.

I’ve found that the color can be a bit deceptive and misleading at times. For example, blue might be mistaken for a dark purple. Or, orange might be mistaken for a lighter-colored red.

To avoid any confusion, be sure to check the license plate and confirm you’re meeting with the correct driver before entering the car.

STAY FULLY ALERT DURING THE ENTIRE RIDE

Stay fully alert during the entire ride.

Now, I’m not saying you need to act like the driver and be 100% aware of your surroundings from start to finish. But you do need to keep in mind that someone is driving you, and you can only control so much.

This means you need to look up from your phone occasionally, avoid blasting music in your headphones, and scan your surroundings. And of course anything else you want to do to feel more alert during your ride!

These are just some of the things I personally do to feel aware in an Uber or Lyft.

ENABLE ALL OF THE SAFETY SETTINGS

Enable all of the safety settings. I’m not sure if you’ve explored them, but both Uber and Lyft have some pretty neat safety settings.

Allow me to share some of them with you. I’m going to head into the Uber app and show you all of the safety settings you can enable:

• Go to the Uber app > Account > Settings > Safety > Safety Preferences
• Enable “Get more safety check-ins” — with this feature, Uber will check on you sooner if your ride goes off course or ends early.
• Enable PIN verification — with this feature, you can use a PIN to help make sure you get in the right car.
• Record audio — with this feature, you can send Uber an audio recording if you report a safety issue.
• Share trip status — with this feature, you can share your live location and trip details with a friend or family member.
• Be sure to enable these safety preferences for ALL RIDES at the bottom of the page.

SIT IN THE BACK OF THE CAR, ON THE PASSENGER SIDE

Sit in the back of the car, on the passenger side. This is another tip that protects both you and the driver.

You should sit in the BACK of the car, as it delays any potential threat the driver might make to you if you were to sit in the front.

And you should sit on the PASSENGER SIDE, as it makes the driver feel more comfortable and knowing the rider isn’t sitting directly behind them.

This also allows you to quickly escape the car in the (unlikely) event of an emergency since there won’t be as much ongoing traffic on that side.

RECORD THE AUDIO OF THE RIDE

Record the audio of the ride.

This gives you peace of mind knowing that you have audio proof in case anything goes down during your ride. Know that this is unlikely to happen, but it adds an extra layer of security and protection for both you and the driver.

Note that sometimes the driver will also record the ride either visually or auditorily for the safety of both of you. Don’t worry — you’ll be aware of this in advance, as the Uber app will display it before the driver arrives.

USE A PERSONAL SAFETY APP

Use a personal safety app.

Nowadays, there are TONS of these personal safety apps where you can hold down a button and release your finger if something dangerous happens. I think this is a pretty smart innovation — especially for solo female travelers who might be afraid to take an Uber alone.

There are many apps out there, but I’ve heard that Noonlight is the most popular. It has 17K ratings on the app store, with an average rating of 4.7 stars.

With this app, you simply hold the button until you feel safe. Then, you release the button and enter your four-digit PIN. Unless you’re in danger, in which you’d avoid entering the PIN and allow the app to notify the local police you’re in danger.

I especially recommend using this kind of app if you’re riding late at night. Women are increasingly hesitant to ride in an Uber or Lyft when the sun isn’t out, so this would add a nice layer of security and peace of mind.

That leads me to my next Uber safety tip…

ONLY RIDE WHEN THE SUN IS OUT

…only ride when the sun is out.

Like I mentioned in the previous tip, you should only ride when the sun is out. Or actually, let me rephrase that: whenever you CAN, you should ride during the daytime.

Of course there will be special scenarios like after a concert or an early flight. But you’ll likely feel a lot safer if you’re riding when the sun is out.

FOLLOW YOUR OWN GPS

Follow your own GPS.

If you’ve ever actually taken an Uber or Lyft, you know that you can follow the directions within the app. And while this is great and all, I suggest following the GPS in your own app as well.

Google Maps, Apple Maps, and Waze (along with many others) are all great options. This way, you’ll be able to see if the driver goes off course or abruptly ends the ride without notice.

WEAR YOUR SEATBELT

Wear your seatbelt.

I know what you’re thinking. Duh! Of COURSE you need to wear your seatbelt! But anytime you’re riding in a vehicle, you need to wear a seatbelt. Because you’d be shocked how many people have died in a car wreck, and they simply could’ve avoided it by wearing their seatbelt.

TRUST YOUR GUT

Trust your gut.

I know this is a less practical piece of advice, but it definitely belongs.

You need to trust your instincts — especially if you feel like something dangerous is going to happen. Believe it or not, doing this could very well make the difference between life and death.

CONSIDER BOOKING A PRIVATE DRIVER INSTEAD

Last but not least, you should consider booking a private driver instead.

I understand you might not have hundreds or thousands of dollars to afford a chauffeur during your trip. That’s why I’m not recommending that.

What I am saying, is that you should book a private driver to get from the airport to your accommodations.

Even though this is often more expensive than an Uber of Lyft, these drivers are professionally trained and qualified to transport you safely. So if you feel more comfortable doing this, I think it’s a smart option — at least every now and then!

FINAL THOUGHTS: UBER SAFETY TIPS

In this post, I shared some of my top tips for staying safe when riding in an Uber or Lyft. I use nearly all of these tips and I never feel unsafe using any kind of ride-hailing service.

Like I mentioned, I prefer to walk or take public transportation when possible, but there will always be that handful of instances where a ride-hailing service might just be the better option. I hope these safety tips educated and prepared you for your upcoming solo trip.

Remember — this post exists so you can take the proper precautions to stay safe, NOT to scare you away. Consider reading this guide for more solo travel safety tips.

And now, it’s your turn. I’m opening the floor for you to start a conversation in the comments. Here are some discussion topics:

• Do you prefer Uber or Lyft, and why?
• What safety precautions do you already take to stay safe in an Uber or Lyft?
• What was your favorite ride-share safety tip in this post? How do you plan to implement it in your next solo trip?

I’d love to hear your thoughts! If you feel more comfortable chatting with me directly, shoot me a DM on Instagram or email me at demarcus@thesolosolstice.com.

ABOUT DEMARCUS

DeMarcus is a Midwest-based travel content creator and the founder of the solo travel blog, The Solo Solstice. He began his solo travel journey in December 2025 and since has been creating practical, in-depth travel guides for a like-minded community of first-time solo adventurers.

Visit the About Page to learn more about DeMarcus, and visit the Ethical & Responsible Tourism Page to learn more about his efforts to promote responsible tourism.