Reserving an Uber can cost a little more or protect you from a higher price, depending on when you travel. Uber Reserve shows a locked price with a reservation fee included, so the quote you see is the one you pay unless the trip changes. Compare it with the on-demand estimate in the app before you decide.
When a reservation can save money
Uber describes Reserve as a way to avoid surges and spikes, because the rate is locked when you book. At busy times, such as commute hours, big events or a rainy evening, that lock can beat an on-demand fare that has jumped. A reservation also helps when the ride matters more than the price, for example an early airport run, where a missed pickup costs more than a few dollars.
Uber has rolled Reserve out in select Canadian cities for UberX and UberXL, so check that it is offered where you are.
When a reservation costs extra
The reservation fee is built into the locked price, and it varies by ride type and city. When demand is low and no surge is active, a last-minute on-demand ride can come out cheaper than a reserved one. The locked price can also change if you add a stop, change the destination, the route or duration changes a lot, or you pass through a toll that was not in the original quote.
Cancellation matters too. Riders can cancel a reservation without a charge up to an hour before pickup, and a fee applies inside that last hour.
Surge on busy nights
On-demand prices rise when riders outnumber drivers. Uber lists Friday and Saturday nights, after-work rush hour and large events and festivals among the times when surge is more likely.
- Check the fare estimate for a reservation and for an on-demand ride on the same trip.
- Watch local events and weather forecasts, which signal when surge is likely.
- Prices usually ease after demand falls, so moving a pickup time can help.
- Read the price screen before confirming, since extras are shown there.
Comparing before you book
To get a rough number ahead of time, use the Uber estimate calculator, and set it beside the taxi fare estimator for the same route. A taxi meter does not respond to demand the way app pricing does, which can make the comparison worth a minute on a busy night.