Disable Uber’s Preferred Currency Feature to Avoid Fees
Converting between currencies while traveling can make it difficult to know exactly how much you’re spending when making a purchase, which, along with conversion fees, can lead to surprises when you see your card or bank statement. Uber now has a feature that will show you the cost of a ride in your preferred or home currency, but for convenience, you’ll pay a conversion fee, so you may not want to enable this feature.
No matter what currency your Uber account is set to, the actual cost of your ride will be the same. But if the price of your ride is displayed and charged in your home currency rather than your local currency, Uber charges a 1.5% conversion fee. (The 1.5% commission applies to fares, but not to tips.)
Paying in your local currency instead—and a simple Google conversion calculation if you really need to know—may allow you to avoid fees entirely if your credit card provider or bank allows free international transactions. Be sure to check the terms and conditions of your payment method for applicable fees. Unfortunately, you cannot change your preferences after booking once you see the price in your preferred currency, as the new settings apply to the next eligible trip.
Uber’s preferred currency pricing option is available for rides in the US, Canada and the Eurozone. It does not apply to split fares, Uber Cash, Uber Money, Uber Eats/Delivery, or gift cards.
How to change currency for Uber rides
According to Uber’s FAQ , the company may set your home currency as its default preferred currency. To switch from your home currency to your local currency (or vice versa), open the Uber app and tap the account icon in the bottom right corner. Click Wallet > Set Preferred Currency . Once you’ve booked a trip, you can change how you pay for that trip, but not the currency.