I happened to take an Uber last weekend and noticed that Uber now has a new program that lets us squeeze out a little extra value: Uber Rewards. I checked the official site and found that it was launched at the end of last year. So how do you join, and what kind of small perks can you get from it? Let’s get scientific take a look.

How do you join?

First, you need an Uber account. If you don’t have one yet, you can use our site’s refer link. Right now, new users get $2 off each of their first 3 rides after signing up.

  • Uber refer link: Thanks for using it!
  • Uber refer code: zhous106ue
  • Uber Eats refer link (new users: $20 off $25)
  • Uber Eats code: eats-zhous106ue (after adding our code, you can get $7 off your first order; thanks for using it)

Follow our Uber and Uber Eats deals roundup to stay up to date on the latest promotions.

Next, open the Uber app, tap the menu icon in the upper-left corner, and select Uber Rewards from the list.

Then you’ll see the signup screen, which includes an introduction to the program. Tap join for free to begin enrollment.

Finally, carefully (?) read the terms and information shown during signup, tap accept, and you’re in.

How do I know whether I’m eligible to join?

I think it mainly depends on where you live. According to the official site,

Once Uber Rewards is launched in your area, the Uber app will display a signup screen and/or you may receive an email invitation to join the program.

Benefits by membership tier

According to Uber’s official description, the program has 4 tiers. Everyone starts out as a Blue member and then moves up by earning points.

There are 4 tiers in total: Blue (0-499), Gold (500-2499), Platinum (2500-7499), and Diamond (7500+).

After taking a closer look, even Diamond, the top tier, doesn’t seem especially attractive. The one exception is the complimentary upgrade benefit:

When you book an eligible premium ride, you may be surprised with an upgrade to a luxury ride at no extra cost.

What I’m not sure about is whether this “surprise upgrade” means a random upgrade once in a while, or whether you get upgraded every time. My guess is the latter—otherwise it would be a little too stingy.

How do you earn points?

There are three scenarios:

  • 1X: On eligible Uber Eats orders and UberPool rides, you earn 1 point per dollar spent.
  • 2X: On eligible UberX, UberXL, or Select rides, you earn 2 points per dollar spent.
  • 3X: On eligible Black and Black SUV rides, you earn 3 points per dollar spent.

In short, the more you spend—and the more premium the ride—the more points you earn.

How do you use points? (a little extra value)

You can convert points into Uber Cash, or choose a reward yourself instead (it seems this starts at Gold).

Uber Cash is a smart new way to pay for rides and Uber Eats orders. As an Uber Rewards member, every time you earn 500 points, we’ll add $5 to your Uber Cash balance. You can also get 5% off when you reload. That means you can pay less and save more.

In other words, for every $500 we spend under normal circumstances (usually standard rides and Uber Eats), Uber gives us back $5. That really is just a small perk.

The official introduction says you can choose either cash or rewards.

Gold members can choose their rewards.

Blue members seem to only be able to cash out into Uber Cash.

Can you combine point redemptions?

According to the official site—also a frequently asked question:

Yes. You can use your $5 Uber Cash reward on rides and Uber Eats orders. Because the $5 Uber Cash reward is added to your total Uber Cash balance, you can use the value from multiple rewards together.

Do points expire?

For something this important, it’s surprising Uber didn’t list it as a FAQ.

Points that are not converted to Uber Cash, or Uber Cash converted from points but not used, expire in monthly batches after 12 months.

Rewards Points that are not converted to Uber Cash or redeemed for Chosen Rewards will expire for redemption purposes in monthly batches on a rolling 12 month basis.

Learn more

Here are the official links for the program:

Summary

As a free loyalty program, the value proposition is pretty simple: for every $500 you spend in normal use cases—typically standard Uber rides and Uber Eats orders—Uber gives you back $5. That’s a very modest return. If you reach a higher tier, starting with Gold, you can choose other rewards, though they don’t look especially compelling to me either. Still, for people who use Uber or order from Uber Eats frequently, this program is decent enough. If you only use it occasionally like I do, you can just let the points accumulate slowly.

Better than nothing.