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What is Uber Comfort – and how does it work in London?

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Everybody dreams of extra money for the same amount of work. With Uber Comfort, this is a reality for PCO drivers who know how to play the game.

What is Uber Comfort?

In December 2020, Uber introduced a new category of trip in several UK cities, including London. The big idea is that riders can choose to pay roughly 20% extra for trips that are more comfortable than standard Uber X and yet still far cheaper than either the Uber Exec or Lux tiers.

For the driver, it’s a great idea because they receive a higher fare with only minimal extra effort. So that you know, Uber charges a fixed service-fee percentage for all its tiers and this is one quarter (25%) of the trip value, no matter which category it falls into.

How does Uber Comfort work?

There are several reasons why riders might pay extra for Uber Comfort. The most important one is that the PCO car offers plenty of legroom in the back – for example, the Skoda Enyaq 85 or the Kia Niro EV 2 – and it should also be fairly new.

Another benefit to riders is that Comfort drivers must be experienced and also highly rated by Uber. Finally, there are the service benefits, such as the ability for the customer to choose preferences at the moment they book. These include the car temperature and if they want a quiet environment.

Riders also get more time for sorting out pickup issues. In London, they have 12 minutes to get to the car before a trip is cancelled automatically. In return, riders pay higher costs both in terms of the wait-time per minute and also cancellation fees. Both of these mean the driver is paid more overall.

How to sign-up for Uber Comfort?

To take on these trips, you must first satisfy Uber’s four golden rules:

  • Driver has completed at least 500 trips
  • Driver must maintain a minimum rating of 4.85
  • Vehicle is mid-sized with extra passenger legroom*
  • Vehicle was manufactured within the last 7 years

*This rule is slightly vague but there is more information below.

If you meet the above criteria and enable Uber X in the Driver app, then you should see ‘Comfort’ appear on some incoming trip-requests. You will boost your earnings if you see this message.

Does my car qualify for Uber Comfort?

The two main criteria for Uber Comfort are the age of the vehicle and its size (i.e. passenger legroom). The official list of Uber-approved cars for London shows exactly which models are cool for Comfort.

You will quickly see from this list that because the maximum age for Uber Comfort is 7 years, your PCO car must be no older than 2017, given that it is presently 2024. By comparison, for other tiers such as UberX, the car can often be up to 15 years old i.e 2008/9.

Aside from age, the main reason why some PCO cars are eligible for Uber Comfort trips is size. As a rough guide, Uber says the manufacturer’s specs should state at least 91 cm of passenger legroom.

Which Otto Car models are ready to roll?

Nearly every car in the Otto family is eligible for Uber Comfort. In fact, it’s a significant reason why we choose them. This is true even for compact models with affordable specs, such as the MG4 SE.

Hyundai Ioniq 5 Premium ✅Hyundai Ioniq Plug In Hybrid Premium SE ❌
Kia EV6 Air ✅Kia Niro 3 Hybrid ❌
Kia e-Niro 2 ✅Kia XCeed 3 Plug-in Hybrid ❌
Kia e-Niro 3 ✅Nissan Leaf e+ Tekna ❌
Kia Niro EV 2 ✅Toyota Prius Hybrid Active ❌
MG4 SE Long Range ✅Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid Business Edition Plus ❌
MG4 Trophy Long Range ✅VW ID.3 Life ❌
MG5 EV Exclusive ✅
MG5 EV Long Range Exclusive ✅
MG5 EV Trophy Long Range ✅
Skoda Enyaq iV 60 ✅
Skoda Enyaq 85 Edition Suite ✅
Tesla Model 3 ✅
Tesla Model Y ✅
Toyota bZ4X Pure ✅
VW ID.4 Life ✅

Did you know?

Only one car has ever been demoted from the Uber Comfort approved list. Thankfully, this was not a problem for Uber drivers who already had this model.

Which drivers are eligible for Uber Comfort?

It’s not enough to simply do 500 trips and reach the minimum Uber rating. The real challenge is to consistently keep your rating above this level, even when things get difficult out on the roads.

The good news is that if your score drops below the minimum of 4.85, you are not out of the game completely. You must simply rebuild the rating back to this level to take on more Uber Comfort trips.

To help you do this, Uber provides tips, or you can read our post on how to earn more in the summer.

  • Keep the vehicle clean and smelling fresh
  • Run the satnav (GPS) in silent mode
  • Be friendly, courteous and professional
  • Perform pickups, drop-offs and navigation confidently

How much extra can drivers earn with Uber Comfort?

In general, the value of each trip is 20% higher than Uber X but there are differences in terms of the far calculation. For example, here is a sample fare from Ealing to Kings Cross at off-peak (no surge).

Uber XUber Comfort
Basic fare£2.10£2.70
Minimum fare£4.30£5.20+
Per minute driving£0.10£0.12+
Per mile driving£1.16£1.37+
Per minute waiting£0.38 (first 3 mins free)£0.50 (first 4 mins free)
Estimated operating fee£7.98£10.03
Estimated Upfront Price (EFP)£24.99£30.73

Is Uber Comfort a good idea for PCO drivers?

In one word – yes. Every Uber driver will love to make more money by doing the same job. That said, Uber Comfort riders demand a higher level of service. For example, they might want help with bags and expect the driver to respect the options chosen while booking the trip, such as arriving with the correct car-temperature or knowing if they prefer to travel in silence. Drivers willing to go the extra mile to meet rider needs will find this idea a great way to earn extra. After all, every little helps.

About Otto Car

Otto Car is London’s largest community of private-hire drivers. We offer easy access to excellent PCO cars at low prices – and no credit checks.

Since 2015, Otto Car has helped over 20,000 Uber drivers take the keys to freedom. Everyone is invited.

All vehicles come with free smart dashcams to protect your income and keep you safe.

Be part of something big. Join the family.

Want to learn more?

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