Planning to hit the town this New Year's Eve? If you're hoping to Uber there and back, you may have to pay a little more than usual.
Uber this week said its drivers provided more than 5 million rides last New Year's Eve. This year, the company expects to move more than 3 times that number. Here are some tips and warnings if you plan to take an Uber tomorrow night.
For starters, try to head to your destination early, and plan to stay late. Otherwise, be prepared to pay more. Uber said that fares will peak between midnight and 3 a.m. as people head home for the night. When fares are higher than usual, you'll see a notice in the app's ride menu, and you'll be asked to confirm that you're okay with the fee. If it's too much, try checking in a bit.
"Our goal is to ensure anyone, anywhere can push a button and get a ride within minutes," Uber said in an email to PCMag. "During times of high demand, fares increase (via an algorithm) to help ensure a driver is always nearby and you can get a ride if you need one."
Rest assured that you'll see the total cost of your ride before you request. These upfront fares take into account factors that affect the price of a trip — like how many people are requesting rides and the length of the journey.
Another handy tip is to try to share your ride if you can. If you're riding with friends, you can split the fare right in the app.
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Or, you can opt for UberPool to share the cost with other riders who are heading in the same direction. UberPool is "the most affordable option," and "typically a fraction of the cost of UberX," the company said.
Meanwhile, if you live in Nashville, Miami, Denver, or Newcastle in the UK, it should be easier than ever to find your Uber. In those cities, Uber has rolled out a new hardware device that will light the way to your ride.
The device is shaped like the Uber logo and is located on the driver's windshield. Riders can personalize the device by selecting a color for it to glow. That way, when you see a car pull up with an Uber logo glowing in your preferred color, you'll know it's your ride.