You cannot may provide a female driver through Uber's standard app, but you can increase the likelihood by using Uber's Women+ feature or by communicating your preference to the driver after matching.
Uber does not have a built-in filter to show only female drivers before you request a ride. The app matches you with the nearest available driver based on location and vehicle type, regardless of gender. However, Uber introduced Women+, a feature available in select cities that lets female and non-binary drivers opt into a separate driver pool, and lets riders request drivers from that pool. This is the closest option to booking a female driver directly.
If Women+ is not available in your area, your other option is to message the driver after you are matched but before they arrive, and ask if they are comfortable with your request. Some drivers will cancel and rematch you; others will continue. There is no penalty for either choice, but this approach means you may go through several matches before finding a driver willing to proceed.
Key Takeaways
- Uber's Women+ feature, available in some cities, lets you request a ride from female or non-binary drivers who have opted into the program.
- Women+ appears as a ride option in the app if it is active in your location; you select it the same way you would select UberX or Uber Comfort.
- If Women+ is not available where you are, you can message a matched driver to ask about their willingness to continue; they can accept or cancel without penalty.
- Canceling and rematching multiple times to find a female driver may result in surge pricing or longer wait times, depending on driver availability.
How to Use Uber's Women+ Feature
Open the Uber app and look at the ride options at the bottom of the screen. If Women+ is available in your city, it will appear as a selectable ride type alongside UberX, Uber Comfort, and other options. Tap Women+ to select it.
Enter your pickup and dropoff locations as you normally would, then request the ride. Uber will match you with a female or non-binary driver from the Women+ pool. The ride works exactly like a standard Uber ride: you see the driver's name, photo, vehicle details, and real-time location on the map.
Women+ is currently available in cities including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington D.C., and others, but the list changes. If you do not see Women+ as an option, it is not yet available in your area. Check back periodically, as Uber continues to expand the feature to new cities.
What to Do If Women+ Is Not Available in Your Area
Request a ride normally using UberX or your preferred ride type. Once you are matched with a driver, open the chat window in the app and send a message before the driver arrives. You might write: "Hi, I have a preference for a female driver. Would you be comfortable continuing with this ride?"
The driver will see your message and can choose to accept or cancel. If they cancel, you will be unmatched and can request another ride. You can repeat this process, but be aware that canceling multiple times may trigger surge pricing or longer wait times, depending on how many drivers are available in your area at that moment.
This approach works best during busy times when many drivers are online, because you have more chances to match with someone willing to continue. During slow periods, you may wait longer or face higher fares if you cancel and rematch repeatedly.
Pricing and Wait Time Differences
Women+ rides are priced the same as standard UberX rides in the same location at the same time. You will not pay extra for using the Women+ feature. However, because the driver pool is smaller (only female and non-binary drivers who have opted in), wait times may be slightly longer during off-peak hours or in areas with fewer Women+ drivers.
If you cancel and rematch multiple times while searching for a female driver outside of Women+, you may see surge pricing kick in. Surge pricing happens when demand for rides exceeds driver supply; each cancellation and new request counts as a new ride request, which can push the price up if the app detects high demand.
Why Uber Does Not Offer a Standard Female Driver Filter
Uber's policy is that drivers cannot be filtered or rejected based on gender, race, or other protected characteristics. This protects drivers from discrimination. Women+ is an exception because it is opt-in for drivers—female and non-binary drivers choose to join the pool, and riders choose to use it. No driver is forced into it, and no rider is required to use it.
Standard ride requests must match based on availability and location, not on driver demographics. This is why requesting a female driver after matching is technically against Uber's terms of service, though enforcement is inconsistent. Drivers can decline without penalty, and riders can cancel without penalty, but Uber does not officially endorse this practice.
Safety Considerations and Alternatives
If your reason for requesting a female driver is safety, Women+ is designed with this in mind. The feature was created in response to rider concerns about safety, and it gives you a direct way to request a driver from a specific group without relying on post-match messaging.
Other Uber safety features available to all riders include the ability to share your trip details with a trusted contact, emergency information through the app, and the option to rate and review drivers. You can also use Uber's "Report Safety Incident" feature if something goes wrong during a ride.
If Women+ is not available and you do not feel safe requesting a female driver through messaging, consider using Lyft, which offers a similar feature called Lyft Pink, or waiting until Women+ launches in your area.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Women+ available everywhere?
No. Women+ is available in select cities including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington D.C., and others, but not nationwide. Check your Uber app to see if it appears as a ride option in your location. Uber continues to expand the feature to new cities over time.
Do I pay more for a Women+ ride?
No. Women+ rides cost the same as UberX rides in your location at the same time. You will not see a price increase for using the feature. Wait times may be slightly longer during quiet periods because fewer drivers are in the Women+ pool.
What happens if I message a driver asking for a female driver and they cancel?
You will be unmatched and can request another ride. There is no penalty for either you or the driver. However, if you cancel and rematch multiple times, surge pricing may explore depending on demand in your area at that moment.
Can I rate a driver lower if they decline my request for a female driver?
You should not rate a driver based on their choice to decline or accept your preference. Drivers have the right to accept or cancel rides, and rating them poorly for exercising that right violates Uber's community guidelines. If you feel unsafe, use the "Report Safety Incident" feature instead.
Is there a way to may provide a female driver every time?
No. Women+ increases your chances significantly in cities where it is available, but it is not a may provide—only female and non-binary drivers who have opted into the program will appear. Outside of Women+, there is no way to may provide a female driver, only to request one after matching and hope the driver accepts.