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CALCULATE YOUR PAYMENTSWritten by Shehrez Riaz, Operations Associate at Ayan.
Table of Contents
- Why Your Uber Rating Matters More Than You Think
- 9 Proven Ways to Get More 5-Star Ratings on Uber
- What’s a Good Uber Rating in the UK (2025)?
- How Halal Car Finance Can Help
- Final Checklist to Improve Your Uber Rating
Your Uber driver rating is not just a number - it’s your reputation on the platform. It shows potential riders a quick snapshot of what other riders thought of you. Kinda weird right.
Unfortunately, your rating doesn’t come with context, such as ‘yeah but the rider was extremely obnoxious’, so that is something to keep in mind the next time you feel like kicking a passenger out for making 30 song requests.
Apart from the obvious, as stated above, your rating actually affects the way Uber’s algorithm works. Meaning, having a higher rating can actually help you indirectly earn more, and is the first step you should take if your current rating is relatively low and you’re looking to step up your Uber game.
In 2025, Uber’s algorithm uses rider ratings for several key functions. It prioritizes which drivers receive more ride requests, determines eligibility for Uber Pro rewards, and plays a role in evaluating a rider's standing during complaint reviews. Additionally, a high rating can influence the level of trust from customers, particularly when booking premium services like Uber Exec or XL.
Most top earners maintain a 4.85+ rating. If your score drops below 4.6, you risk deactivation or reduced trip offers.
That being said, the author of this blog has a 4.6 rating on Uber himself (I swear I’ve done nothing wrong), so we understand what it’s like being cheated out of a rating you so clearly deserve 🙄.
That’s why we’ve written the following guide showing you evidence based facts on how to turn that frown of a rating upside down.
1. Keep Your Car Spotless (Inside & Out)
A clean car makes a great first impression. UK riders - especially in cities like London or Manchester - expect a vehicle that feels like a professional service.
Honestly, this is a given. If passengers wanted a sweaty, unclean, uncomfortable ride to wherever they were going, they’d just take the tube.
The state of your car will instantly set the tone for the rest of the ride… trust me. You can’t make a first impression twice, so make sure it’s a good one. And it’s relatively one of the easier steps on this list. Below are a couple things to keep in mind if you’re unsure whether or not your car would pass:
- Vacuumed floor mats
- Clean windows (inside and out)
- Dust-free dashboard
- No food wrappers, old receipts, or trash sitting around
- No smells (if you’re going to ignore anything in this list please don’t make it this one)
Quick tip, carry air freshener, antibacterial wipes, and a mini vacuum in the car. That way even if the last passenger left it a bit messy, or you were just in a rush and didn’t have time to give your car a deep clean, you can quickly give it a quick upgrade.
2. Offer Simple Comfort Upgrades
You don’t need leather seats or ambient lighting to impress riders. Quite literally the bare minimum will impress, specifically if you’re doing UberX rides.
There is nothing better than getting in an Uber and thinking you’ve just paid for a first class ticket to Dubai. We’re talking a water bottle in the cup holder ready for you, we’re talking mints carefully placed ready for your consumption, we’re talking a little butt pillow to add some cushion for London’s never ending amount of potholes. Tell me you wouldn’t feel obliged to leave a 5 star rating.
For Uber Exec, you might want to consider going the extra, extra mile. Have a charger ready with all types of cables, have some snacks (make sure you have the mini vacuum listed in the previous section if you’re going to do this one), and maybe even choose a car that lets your riders choose the temperature of their seats. Whatever it may be, think outside the box. Uber Exec rides, on average, are 1.5 to 2 times the cost of an UberX ride, so I reckon it’s fair to expect the comfort of the ride to also feel 1.5 to 2 times the level an UberX ride would be.
3. Drive Smoothly and Avoid Aggression
Harsh braking, fast turns, or tailgating are major reasons why passengers give 4 stars instead of 5, even if the ride was on time. Of course, at the end of the day, as a private hire driver, you should make sure the driver part is covered before you start thinking about other ways you could improve. A ride so smooth it makes you feel like you could fall asleep is the best feeling of all time when you step in an Uber.
And avoiding aggression goes without saying. Absolutely no one enjoys a hostile environment. The number one way to guide a positive experience is by being positive yourself. Be kind, patient and understanding, it will go a long way. We’ll discuss this in a bit more detail in the next section.
4. Be Polite, But Let the Rider Set the Tone
Your communication style can make or break a rating. Some passengers want a chat. Others want silence. The best part? You can find out within seconds of them taking a seat.
There’s probably no ‘right way’ to do this, but we can offer a couple suggestions on things to try out for our socially-awkward drivers out there looking to get better at chatting their way to a 5 star rating.
The first option is you can just start chatting to them. Small conversation starters asking them about their day, where they’re headed, or where they’re from, are easy ways to gauge how open they are to a conversation. Quick tip, generally, short answers = they’re likely not in the mood, long answers = they’re likely up for a chat. Just imagine they’re a friend, and take the time to get to know them a bit better.
Of course, if you’re bad with social signals (and don’t worry all of us are sometimes), there’s a more straightforward option, and that’s to literally just ask them. Anything along the lines of ‘are you looking to chat or you were hoping for a quiet ride, completely up to you’ is probably good - just make sure it doesn’t come across as a trick question.
This point on the list is your easiest way to increase your rating, and arguably the most effective way if it’s not something you’re currently leveraging. Being extra nice is never a bad thing. Of course, we at Ayan might be a little biassed to how much importance we put on customer service… you know… given our truspilot and google review ratings 😏.
5. Arrive on Time, and Message Proactively
Uber gives you the rider’s location and estimated pickup time. Being late - even by 2-3 minutes - can trigger low ratings, especially in busy cities. And it may sound unfair, but the other way around, consider waiting that extra 2-3 minutes, that can also go a long way when they’re deciding whether to give you a rating or not.
If it’s late, or the rider is messaging you asking where you are, consider writing them back (goes without saying do this only if you’re parked up and not whilst driving). Letting the rider know how long you will be, or that they shouldn’t stress as you don’t mind waiting will definitely leave a good impression.
6. Have Bluetooth. Or a Fire Playlist.
Not having bluetooth in your car is a gamble we don’t think you should take (and you shouldn’t be gambling anyways if your muslim 🤨).
Of course, if you’re the next Skepta, feel free to have your USB and decks on the go. But if you’re not, not having bluetooth is like having a massive sign on your forehead saying please don’t give me a good rating.
Technology is awesome. I mean, the author of this blog doesn’t even really know how bluetooth works. You mean to tell us, you can just press a weird looking ‘b’ on your phone, and all of a sudden music is coming out of a speaker that you’ve never seen before?!?! The world’s biggest technological mystery second to fax machines.
Nevertheless, the point is, there is no excuse to not have bluetooth in 2025. If your car didn’t come with bluetooth, this is an adaptor you can buy to convert your car into a batmobile (jk it just acts as a bluetooth transmitter).
Understand how to make it work easily. And then rather than your passenger having to awkwardly ask if you have bluetooth, offer it to them. Boom, easy 5 stars.
7. Avoid Talking About Religion, Politics, or Personal Opinions
Even if well-intentioned, some riders feel uncomfortable when drivers bring up controversial or personal topics. You might feel very strongly about something, that doesn’t mean you would bring it up in the workplace, and that’s the exact mentality you should have when speaking to customers.
You never know what their opinion about something is, and the fact of the matter is we all see things differently, so don’t take the chance.
Keep it professional, warm, and respectful if you want to secure a 5 star rating.
8. Be Flexible with Drop-Offs
If a rider asks to be dropped slightly ahead or behind the pin, always say yes (unless it’s unsafe or against the law). And if they ask to make a pit stop, try to accommodate. Micro-actions like these leave a lasting impression, might only cost you an extra 20p on gas, and usually result in a 5-star tap as soon as they exit.
In general, it’s probably best practice to be as flexible as you can. Of course, you should always have clear boundaries and do your best to make sure riders abide by them. But don’t sweat the small stuff.
We get it, driving people around all day isn’t easy at all. It takes a lot of hustle, a lot of patience, and a grinders mentality. But if you’re going to do it, might as well do it with a smile. Something we live by at Ayan: take care of your customers to the best of your ability and the rest will follow. Good advice if you ask me 😉.
9. Follow Up If You Get an Unfair Rating
In the UK, Uber allows drivers to flag unfair or mistaken reviews (e.g., passengers upset about surge pricing or app glitches).
📩 Go to your Uber Driver app > Help > Trip Issues and Adjustments > Ratings Issue.
Protecting your account reputation is key - especially if you’re working toward Uber Pro or driving XL/Exec.
You might not always agree with the rating you were given, and hey, that’s the nature of the job. But you likely know what went wrong. So don’t take every rating so personally, and look at it as an opportunity to point out how you could do better the next time.
📊 What’s a Good Uber Rating in the UK (2025)?
Bonus: Want More 5-Star Rides? Drive a Better Car.
According to the Ayan University of Smart People, passengers associate car quality with service quality. Driving a newer, more comfortable, or electric vehicle improves first impressions and ratings.
With Ayan Capital, you can upgrade with:
- ✅ Halal car finance (no riba)
- ✅ PCO-approved electric and hybrid vehicles
- ✅ Uber XL and Exec-eligible 7-seaters
Final Checklist to Improve Your Uber Rating ✅
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