New Delhi: Uber has rolled out its teen ride service in India, allowing 13 to 17-year-olds to book rides with parental approval. The service is currently available in Bengaluru, Delhi NCR, and Mumbai, with plans to expand to 35 more cities, including Chennai, Hyderabad and Pune.
How It Works
The service allows parents or guardians to create a teen profile under their Uber family account. This enables them to track rides in real time, set monthly trip limits and receive live updates. Parents can also book rides on behalf of their teenagers if needed.
To activate the teen account, a credit or debit card must be linked to the family profile. After setup, both parents and teens can choose from multiple payment options, including cash.
Uber has introduced safety measures such as:
- Opt-in audio recording feature
- Additional background checks for drivers handling teen rides
- RideCheck and PIN verification for extra security
- Live tracking with real-time alerts for parents
Teen Ride Rules and Driver Preferences
Teen riders are allowed to travel with peers in the same age group (13-17). However, Uber has not clarified how consent for such trips will be managed. Drivers can identify teen rides through a special label on the trip request.
If they suspect a rider is underage without a teen account, they can decline the ride and report it as an unaccompanied minor case. Drivers who do not wish to accept teen trips can opt out through their app settings.
Uber’s Expansion and Competition in India
Uber first launched Uber for Teens in the U.S. and Canada nearly two years ago and has since expanded to 50 countries. In India, Uber faces competition from local ride-hailing firms like Ola, Rapido, Namma Yatri, and BluSmart. The company continues to introduce new features in India, including concurrent ride bookings and prepaid item pickups, as it strengthens its presence in the market.
