Uber announced a nationwide U.S. expansion of its Women Preferences feature on March 9, 2026. Women riders can request a woman driver for an on-demand trip, reserve one in advance, or set a standing preference; women drivers can prefer women riders. None of these options guarantees a match.
How women riders can request a woman Uber driver
Uber offers three ways to use Women Preferences. Choose the option that fits whether you need a ride now or want the setting to apply to future trips.
- Request one on-demand: Select the Women Drivers option when requesting a trip in the Uber app.
- Book ahead: Use Reserve to schedule a trip with a woman driver in advance.
- Set a standing preference: Enable Women Preferences in the app’s settings so it can be used for rides going forward.
Uber says the preference increases the chance of matching with a woman driver; it does not guarantee one. If no woman driver is available, riders can wait, reserve for later, or choose another available driver. Uber announced its nationwide U.S. expansion on March 9, 2026.
What women drivers can choose
Women drivers can turn on Women Rider Preference to favor trip requests from women riders. It is a matching preference, not a rule that every person in the vehicle must be a woman: Uber’s driver help page says a woman rider may bring male companions as long as she is present. See Uber’s explanation of Women Rider Preference.
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Who is eligible—and what the limits mean
Uber’s rider FAQ says the feature is for riders and drivers whose gender is set to Woman in the respective Uber app. The Associated Press reported that the option is not open to nonbinary users and that driver eligibility relies on the gender marker on a driver’s license. For transgender women, access may therefore depend on whether local rules allow them to change the marker on identity documents. AP also reported Uber’s explanation that it consulted women’s safety organizations and LGBTQ+ groups and concluded this feature was not the best way to serve nonbinary riders or drivers.
These eligibility details are distinct from the preference’s matching limit: even an eligible rider may not be matched with a woman driver. Check the current Uber Women Preferences FAQ or the app for local availability and current instructions.
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Does a woman driver cost more?
Uber says it aims to price Women Drivers trips comparably to similar trips. The fare can still vary with the time, distance, driver availability, and demand for the trip. The company’s pricing statement is an aim, not a fixed fare or a guarantee that two trips will cost the same.
Why Uber expanded the feature
Uber first announced an expansion to 26 additional U.S. cities on November 12, 2025, after initial pilots. That announcement also discussed access for teen riders in markets where teen accounts and Women Preferences were available. On March 9, 2026, the company announced the nationwide U.S. expansion; actual access remains subject to local availability and eligibility. Uber Head of Product Communications Brooke Anderson said, “Women asked for more choice — and we built it with Women Preferences.” That statement explains the company’s rationale, not a measured safety or matching outcome. See the November 2025 expansion announcement.
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What the rollout does—and does not—establish
The announcements establish that Uber has expanded a preference-based way for women riders and drivers to seek a gender-specific match. They do not establish that a match will always be available, that wait times or safety outcomes have improved, or how often users get their preferred match.
The Associated Press reported a California class-action lawsuit by male drivers challenging the policy and alleging discrimination and an effect on earning opportunities. Those allegations are not a court finding that the policy is unlawful. The report does not establish the case’s current status, so it should not be described as pending or resolved without an up-to-date check.
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