Uber deactivates drivers due to poor ratings and passenger complaints. This has frustrated many people and sometimes led to anger towards Uber, but the thing is, Uber is a business. Maintaining high standards is what keeps them on top of their game. They want to provide the best service they can offer, and deactivating drivers or even firing them if need be helps ensure that. So then, how do you avoid being deactivated, and how do you get re-activated if ever you were? These are just some of the things you need to know when dealing with a deactivation at Uber.
Luckily, there are services, like Driverly, that do help gig drivers who have been wrongfully terminated. While it isn't guaranteed, Driverly will do everything that they can to help a driver who has been canned through the Driverly Premium membership. Driverly also helps gig workers with education, tips to earn more, tax prep help, and a slew of other benefits and perks. Reactivation services is just one of many perks that come with a Driverly Premium membership. Keep in mind this works for Uber, Lyft, Instacart, DoorDash, Postmates, Amazon Flex, and other major gig apps.
15 Ways to Avoid Uber Driver Deactivation
Here are some ways to avoid Uber driver deactivation:
1. Drive Safely
To avoid being deactivated by Uber, you should always drive safely and obey all traffic laws while on the road. If you are involved in an accident or receive a traffic violation, it will be reported to Uber. It could cause your account to be suspended or permanently deleted from the system.
2. Be Polite
Being rude or aggressive with passengers is grounds for immediate termination as an Uber driver. But it's also important to remember that being rude or aggressive with other drivers can get you in trouble too! Fighting with another driver could result in either one of you getting deactivated from the app, so be careful about what you say when someone cuts in front of you or takes a longer route than necessary just because they feel like it.
3. Don’t Cancel too often
Always ensure that you don’t cancel too often. Canceling can deactivate your account if Uber thinks it’s happening too much. This can happen if your driver has to wait too long or have no other options available at the time of cancellation. If this happens to your driver frequently, they may decide not to drive for Uber anymore because it makes things difficult for them and passengers who need rides immediately.
4. Don’t Abuse guaranteed pay hours
You can earn more than usual if you accept a guaranteed pay trip during surge pricing. However, this means your fare will also be higher than normal. Suppose you accept these trips without following Uber’s rules and guidelines. In that case, they may deactivate your account because they don’t want drivers to abuse these fares and make them unprofitable for other drivers.
5. Keep your ratings high
Uber requires drivers to maintain a 4.6 or higher rating out of 5 to drive for the company. If your rating falls below this threshold, you may be deactivated from driving for Uber. Drivers who receive too many low ratings from riders will receive an email from Uber asking them to take action to improve their rating within 30 days or risk being deactivated from driving.
6. Use the right car
Uber’s vehicle requirements are quite strict and vary depending on where you live. A few years ago, these requirements were even more stringent and only allowed certain types of vehicles to drive for Uber. Your car should be in good working order and have all the required safety features, such as airbags and seatbelts. Additionally, ensure your car is registered and insured before driving for Uber. If you don’t have one of those approved cars, then it’s likely that your account will get deactivated when Uber finds out about it. Always use a vehicle that meets Uber's requirements, or risk losing your job!
7. Keep documentation current
Uber requires all of its drivers to keep their documents up-to-date at all times. If you miss an update or change an address incorrectly in your app, it could lead to an automatic deactivation from Uber. Make sure that everything is correct before logging into the app each time so that you don’t run into any issues later on down the road!
8. Don’t trick the system
Uber is constantly looking for ways to keep its drivers honest and prevent them from trying to make money on the platform without actually driving. To do this, Uber uses various methods, including GPS tracking and other technological advances. One such method is by tracking your speed as you drive around town. If you move too quickly from one fare to another, you may get deactivated from the app. Uber wants its drivers to be professional and avoid rushing around town for money or passengers.
9. Pass your background check
Uber requires all drivers to pass a background check before they can drive with them. If these checks flag you, your account will likely be deactivated. It’s important to note that even if you have no criminal history, someone else in your family does, which could affect your ability to drive for Uber. The company has strict policies about who can drive on their platform; anything that causes them concern will automatically reject your application.
10. Don’t Drive with someone else
Uber has strict rules about driving with other people in your car – even family members or friends who just want to tag along for the ride. You’re only allowed to drive alone in your vehicle, so if another person is present in your car when you accept a ride request from an Uber customer, it could end up costing you your job!
11. Don’t Discriminate
Uber drivers cannot discriminate against their passengers in any way and should also not comment on their passengers' race, religion, or ethnicity. If a passenger feels that you have discriminated against them in any way, they can report it to Uber and take action against you and other drivers who have done this before.
12. Don’t text while driving
It is against the law in most states. If caught doing so by police officers, it could lead to fines and even jail time if charged with reckless driving or other offenses related to distracted driving while behind the wheel of an automobile.
13. Don’t Go outside the system
Uber’s app is designed to keep you following its rules and regulations. If you go outside of these boundaries, then you will be deactivated. An example is using a different phone or device that Uber has not approved. You could also get deactivated if you use an unapproved third-party app to access your Uber account.
14. Don’t Hide your identity
The Uber app will require you to show your face to verify that you are driving the vehicle. If you don’t show up on time and give the driver a reason, they have no choice but to deactivate your account until further notice. If you are hiding behind a fake name or profile photo, this could also lead to deactivation because there is no way for them to verify who it is behind the wheel of that car!
15. Don’t Get a ticket
If you don't already know this, Uber takes safety very seriously. Your account will be deactivated if you're driving with them and get a ticket for anything from speeding to reckless driving or DUI/DWI.
Check out this great video showing more things to avoid when you become an Uber driver.
How to Get Reactivated on Uber
If you have been deactivated on Uber, here is how to reactivate.
Contact Customer Service: If you've been deactivated from Uber, contact customer service and explain what happened. Be sure to be as detailed as possible about the incident and why you think it was an honest mistake. Please provide video evidence of what happened.
Provide Documentation: Once Uber's customer service team accepts your case, they will ask for documentation proving that you are who you say you are. This can include various things, including Passport, Driver's license, and Vehicle registration card.
Wait for approval, usually within two to five days.
Driverly Premium members have access to what is called reactivation services. While this isn't a guarantee by any means, Driverly will reach out to the company on your behalf and try to get your account reactivated. They will do this for any of the major gig apps. And, it has proven to be helpful for some gig workers thus far. If you're interested, you can browse the Driverly site and see for yourself if this is something that might be helpful to you. They have an FAQ section that answers many commonly asked questions.
Conclusion
Uber driver deactivation is inevitable for some. But there are ways to make it less likely to get reactivated if you are deactivated. The first thing to do is understand why you were deactivated, why other drivers have been deactivated, and what you can do differently going forward. As long as you do not commit any violations that would instantly get you deactivated, you can guard your account against deactivation. With the right strategies, you can positively impact your Uber driver rating. Strive to be a 5-star Uber driver and maintain a low cancellation rate.
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