Unless you live somewhere extremely isolated, you’ve probably heard of ridesharing.
The Lyft and Uber services are revolutionizing the transportation industry, making it easier than ever to get a ride.
One of the best things about these car services is that they offer different types of rides to fit different budgets and needs.
In this guide, we’re going to take a look at UberSELECT, which is one of Uber’s high-end services.
We’ll explore what this service is, why you’d want to use it, and how passengers and drivers can get started with it today.
What Is UberSELECT?
Uber describes UberSELECT as the service to choose when you “want a low-cost ride with an added touch of luxury.”
It’s all the convenience of a regular UberX ride but with a more luxurious car and a highly rated driver.
The service exists to serve people who want to class things up for a special occasion but don’t want to spend the premium price to get an UberBLACK or UberSELECT ride.
If you think about it, there are plenty of situations where this makes sense.
For instance, taking an UberSELECT is a thoughtful touch for a Friday night date.
Taking UberBLACK for this would be overkill (save that for your anniversary), but taking UberX could make you seem cheap.
UberSELECT hits the sweet spot between luxury and affordability.
UberSELECT Pricing
So if UberSELECT is fancier than UberX but more affordable than UberBLACK, how much does it really cost?
As with all service levels, Uber prices will vary based on the distance traveled, current demand for rides, and the city you live in.
To show you how much UberSELECT tends to cost, we’re going to use Ridester’s fare estimator tool.
For our first example, here’s the estimated fare for an UberSELECT trip between a hotel and restaurant in
While an UberX for this trip would cost $10–$14, an UberSELECT trip would be $19–$25.
Compare this to UberBLACK, which would cost anywhere from $27–$35 for the same trip.
For another example, here’s the estimated fare for an UberSELECT trip in Denver:
How to Get an UberSELECT Ride
Taking an UberSELECT ride is simple.
You’ll follow the same steps as you would for requesting any other Uber ride.
Once you’ve input your pickup and dropoff locations, all you have to do is scroll down the list of ride types until you find UberSELECT:
Once you’ve chosen UberSELECT from the list, tap “Confirm SELECT” to order your ride:
How (and Why) to Drive for UberSELECT
If you’re an Uber driver who’s looking for a way to boost your earnings, then you should look into driving for UberSELECT.
Just as you can earn a lot more driving for UberXL, UberSELECT can have much higher payouts than UberX.
Assuming you already meet the other Uber driver requirements, you only need to meet two additional requirements to become an UberSELECT driver:
- Maintain a minimum driver rating: The precise number varies based on your city and the number of Uber rides you’ve given. Generally, you need to stay at or above 4.7 stars to remain eligible to drive for UberSELECT.
- Have a qualifying vehicle: Consult the next section to get details on the car you’ll need.
UberSELECT Cars and Vehicle Requirements
The main thing that sets UberSELECT apart from UberX is the list of eligible vehicles for the service.
Whereas UberX just requires a working, reasonably new vehicle with capacity for four passengers, UberSELECT has stricter requirements.
To be eligible for UberSELECT, your vehicle must meet the following requirements:
- Have a leather or vinyl interior with no tears
- Seat at least 4 passengers (not including the driver)
- Be on the list of approved vehicles — most mid-tier luxury sedans will qualify, but see the list below for more detailed information
So what cars qualify to drive for UberSELECT? This will vary based on your city, but here are some qualifying vehicles to get you started:
- Acura RDX and TLX
- Audi (most models)
- BMW 5 Series
- Buick Enclave
- Cadillac SRX and CTS
- Hyundai Genesis
- Infiniti EX
- Kia K900
- Lexus LX
- Lincoln Navigator
- Mercedes-Benz GL-Class
- Porsche Cayenne
- Tesla Model S, 3, and X
For a full list of eligible vehicles, visit the Uber vehicle requirements page for your city.
Frequently Asked Questions
To conclude this guide, here are answers to some common questions about UberSELECT:
1. What’s the difference between UberSELECT and UberX?
The main difference comes down to the vehicles that each service uses.
UberX vehicles can be just about anything, so long as they function, are safe, aren’t too old, and can hold at least 4 passengers.
UberSELECT, in contrast, requires drivers to use only mid-tier luxury sedans (or nicer).
UberSELECT drivers also need to maintain a higher minimum star rating than UberX drivers, which means that you’ll generally get slightly better drivers when you go with UberSELECT.
As a consequence of the nicer vehicles, UberSELECT also costs more than UberX, though less than UberBLACK.
UberSELECT also has lower availability than UberX.
While UberX is available in cities worldwide, UberSELECT is limited to larger markets.
2. What’s the difference between UberSELECT and UberBLACK?
UberSELECT and UberBLACK are both similar in that they offer a more luxurious ride experience than UberX.
Beyond that, however, the two services have some major differences.
To start, UberBLACK has stricter vehicle and driver requirements.
You need a luxury black car with a black leather interior to drive for UberBLACK, while UberSELECT isn’t picky about the color of your vehicle or its interior.
Drivers for UberBLACK also need to have commercial insurance and maintain a nearly perfect star rating.
Since UberBLACK is fancier, the price will be higher as well.
You can expect a higher level of service, too, with the driver getting out and opening the door for you in the same way a chauffeur would.
Overall, UberSELECT has more in common with UberX, while UberBLACK has more in common with a limousine or car hire company.
3. Does Lyft have a service similar to UberSELECT?
Yes, they do.
In an effort to compete with Uber’s luxury ride service, Lyft has both Lyft Lux and Lyft Lux Black.
The terminology is a bit confusing, as Lyft Lux used to be Lyft’s only high-end offering.
Now, however, Lyft Lux is essentially the equivalent of UberSELECT: nicer vehicles than average but still with an affordable price.
Lyft Lux Black, as the name suggests, is the equivalent of UberBLACK.
4. Is driving for UberSELECT worth it?
This depends on your situation.
We would not suggest that you buy a brand new luxury vehicle just to drive for UberSELECT.
The extra earnings are unlikely to be worth the additional expenses that a luxury vehicle will incur.
However, if you’re shopping for a new car anyway, then it could be worth considering a used mid-tier luxury vehicle.
You’ll have to do the math to decide if the extra earnings are worth the added vehicle cost.
Don’t forget that luxury vehicles tend to be more expensive to maintain.
Those extra maintenance costs can eat into your rideshare profit margins.
Ride in Style With UberSELECT
We hope this guide has helped you understand what UberSELECT is and how it works.
Whether you’re a rider or a driver, UberSELECT has benefits in terms of the style and extra earning potential it offers.
