Learn three ways to get an Uber estimate so you know exactly what you’ll pay for your ride. We’ll also share how to lock in your price in advance. Read on to get started.

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Whether you’re planning a trip, setting a transportation budget, or comparing rideshare services, knowing the expected cost of an Uber ride can be helpful for any passenger. With plenty of Uber estimate tools on the web, you can always be prepared to pay your fares, no matter which Uber city you’re in.

One of the biggest perks of riding with Uber is the upfront pricing, so you know exactly what you’ll pay before a trip. Unlike taxi rides, you won’t have to wait until the end of your trip to find out what you owe. Even months ahead of your next Uber ride, you can get a general idea of fares you can expect — as well as a breakdown of what may contribute to your final price.

If you want to eliminate the mystery behind your ridesharing expenses, keep reading to learn how get your Uber fare estimate, how fares are calculated, and how you can lock in prices to avoid surge.

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How to Get an Uber Estimate: 2 Methods

Nowadays, there are a handful of resources you can use to get accurate Uber price estimates. Whether you’re planning on riding UberX, Uber Black, or any service in between, these three methods can help you figure out what you can expect to pay for any upcoming trip:

Related: The Comprehensive Guide: How Much Does Uber Cost?

1. Uber Estimate Tool

The most convenient way to get an Uber estimate is by using the company’s official tool. When you enter a pick-up and drop-off location into this price estimate tool, you’ll see a short list of available services in the area, along with an estimated cost for each. You can tap “View all options” to see the full list.

If you want to get a more detailed fare breakdown for your next Uber trip, simply tap the information icon next to the estimated ride cost for your desired service.

While this estimator is an official tool on Uber.com, keep in mind that the fare prices you see here are not guaranteed prices. Additional costs like surge pricing, which multiplies your fares when demand is high, and toll fees can still kick in.

2. Uber App

If you’re about to leave for your trip, your Uber app can get you the most accurate prices possible. When you open your app and enter your drop-off location in the “Where to?” bar, the Uber estimates that appear are real-time prices. This means they account for current traffic and demand, so if you request a ride in the next few minutes, the dollar amount you see will likely be what you pay. If you’re checking for an estimate an hour or less ahead of time, your final cost likely won’t be too far off.

California riders won’t receive the benefit of upfront pricing, including residents of San Francisco and Los Angeles. Due to state regulations, you’ll only get an exact cost before you request if you’re selecting UberPool. For all other Uber services, you’ll simply see an estimated price range until the end of your ride, and there is no way to get an exact Uber estimate.

How Are Uber Fares Calculated?

As we previously mentioned, Uber estimates aren’t always what you end up paying. Understanding potential changes in your final Uber costs requires you to get to know the factors that contribute to the price of your ride.

These factors typically include your:

Base fare: This is a flat fee that’s charged with every pick-up.

This is a flat fee that’s charged with every pick-up. Booking fee: Uber charges another flat fee to cover administrative costs.

Uber charges another flat fee to cover administrative costs. Time spent on the ride: Riders are charged a per-minute fee, based on the estimated length of the ride.

Riders are charged a per-minute fee, based on the estimated length of the ride. Ride distance: Riders are charged a per-mile fee, based on the estimated distance to be traveled.

Riders are charged a per-mile fee, based on the estimated distance to be traveled. Surge pricing: Your fares may be multiplied when demand is higher than supply. This is not included in the official Uber estimate tool.

Your fares may be multiplied when demand is higher than supply. This is not included in the official Uber estimate tool. Minimum fares: Every Uber market has a set minimum fare. If your local minimum is $7, you’ll still have to pay $7, even if your cost would only be $5 based on the factors above.

Every Uber market has a set minimum fare. If your local minimum is $7, you’ll still have to pay $7, even if your cost would only be $5 based on the factors above. Tip: We recommend tipping Uber drivers a minimum of 15%. Tips are not included in any Uber estimate tools.

Beyond these rates and costs, you may also be charged small fees for rides to and from airports and big events, as well as when you pass tolls on your route.

3 Ways to Lock in Uber Prices

While Uber estimate tools can’t guarantee prices, there are three simple ways to lock in your prices ahead of time. If you’re on a tight budget or want to save on your next car service, you can use these methods to avoid the cost of unexpected surge.

1. Schedule a Ride

If you know your starting point, destination, and takeoff time, making an Uber reservation is an incredibly easy way to leave know exactly what you’re paying up to 30 days in advance. As long as you schedule your ride at least an hour ahead, your prices will be locked, and you can look forward to your driver arriving in your desired time frame.

Uber reservations are limited to UberX, UberXL, Black, and Black SUV rides. However, ride reservations come with a flexible cancellation policy, allowing you to cancel anytime before you’re matched with an Uber driver at no cost.

2. Get an Uber Ride Pass

The Uber Ride Pass is a subscription service that guarantees price protection on UberX rides, so you’ll never have to deal with sudden surge pricing. While the service costs $24.99 per month, it also gets you up to 20% off on every ride in your market. This means you’ll always have the lowest available prices in your city.

3. Reach Platinum on Uber Rewards

If you’re not always sure where you’re headed and you don’t want to pay for a Ride Pass, you can opt into the Uber Rewards program to unlock price protection over time.

This rewards program allows you to earn points every time you spend money on an Uber service. Once you reach 2,500 points, you unlock the third-tier Platinum Level. As a perk, you’ll get price protection on your two most frequented routes, even when surge pricing is multiplying fares by 10 for all other users.

While Platinum Level can be difficult to reach for users who aren’t consistently using Uber services, it’s feasible for frequent Uber users to unlock this perk in a matter of months.

Frequently Asked Questions

Uber estimates are easy to get with all the resources available on the internet, so you’ll never be surprised by your final cost. To learn more about rideshare pricing, read our answers to three frequently asked questions:

1. The price estimator tool on Uber.com was unable to get me an Uber estimate. Why is this?

When using the official Uber fare estimator tool, you may see a message that says “Sorry, a price estimate is not available for that trip” after entering your pick-up and drop-off destinations.

This can happen when your trip is too long (usually over four hours of driving time) or physically impossible. This may also occur if your trip begins in an area outside of the Uber coverage map or ends in an area where Uber drop-offs are not allowed (including select airports).

2. Does Lyft offer an official price estimate tool on its website?

Yes. You can use this Lyft estimate tool to get an estimate price range for your fares.

This tool does not include Prime Time pricing, which accounts for real-time demand, but should get you a fairly accurate look at your base fares.

Alternatively, you can use our Lyft estimate fare calculator for a more detailed fare breakdown, or use your Lyft app for the most accurate real-time pricing.

3. What happens if I schedule a ride and my driver doesn’t arrive in time?

If your driver doesn’t arrive in your scheduled 10-minute time frame — or if you’re not matched with a driver at all — Uber has been known to give a $10 credit as compensation. However, this rarely occurs, so Uber reservations are a reliable way to lock in your Uber estimates for good.

Know What Prices to Expect

Budgeting for your next vacation, business trip, or everyday commute is easy when you know what price estimate tools are available to you. Paired with our price locking strategies, you can get a solid hold on your finances and prevent overspending on Uber rides.

Of course, getting Uber estimates doesn’t help you cut back on transportation costs at all. If you want to save money on your future Uber requests on top of getting fare estimates, read our guide to the best Uber promo codes that are active today.

Brett Helling is the owner of Ridester.com. He has been a rideshare driver since early 2012, having completed hundreds of trips for companies including Uber, Lyft, and Postmates. In 2014 he acquired Ridester.com to share his experiences with other drivers. His insights are regularly quoted by publications such as Forbes, Vice, CNBC, and more. He is currently working on a book about working in the Gig Economy, expanding his skill set beyond the rideshare niche. Read more about Brett here.