You can contact a driver through the Uber app for up to 30 days after your trip, or reach them through Uber support if you've lost an item
Uber keeps your trip history in the app and lets you message the driver who took you directly through that record. You'll find a messaging option on the trip receipt — tap it to send a message, and the driver gets a notification. This works whether you left something behind, want to ask a question, or need to report a problem with the ride.
The 30-day window matters because after that, Uber removes the direct messaging link. If you need to reach a driver after 30 days, you'll have to go through Uber support instead, which is slower but still possible if you have a legitimate reason — a lost item, for example, or a safety concern.
If you've lost something valuable, don't rely on messaging alone. Contact Uber support through the app at the same time, because support can reach drivers through their own channels and flag the item as urgent. Drivers are more likely to check a message if Uber has already told them someone is looking for something.
Key Takeaways
- Open your trip receipt in the Uber app and tap the message icon to contact the driver directly — this works for 30 days after the trip.
- Uber support can reach drivers outside the 30-day window and should be your first step if you've lost something valuable.
- Drivers are not required to respond to messages, and Uber cannot force them to return items or meet you — the driver decides whether to help.
- If you need to report a safety issue or dispute a charge, use the Uber support channel rather than messaging the driver directly.
How to message a driver through the Uber app
Open the Uber app and go to your account menu — usually a profile icon in the top left or bottom right depending on your phone. Tap "Your Trips" or "Trip History." Find the trip you need to contact the driver about and tap it to open the receipt.
On the receipt, you'll see the driver's name and photo. Below that is a message icon (usually a speech bubble or chat symbol). Tap it. A text box will appear where you can type your message. Keep it short and direct: "I left a black wallet in your car" or "I have a question about the charge" works better than a long explanation. Hit send.
The driver will get a notification that you've messaged them. They can reply through the same screen in their driver app. Responses usually come within a few hours if the driver is online, but there's no may provide — drivers are not required to respond or to help you retrieve something.
What to do if the driver doesn't respond
If you don't hear back within a few hours and you've lost something, contact Uber support. Open the app, go to Account, then Help. Search for "lost item" or "contact driver." Uber will ask you what you lost, which trip it was on, and how to reach you. Support can then contact the driver through their system and let them know you're looking for something.
Uber support has more leverage than you do as a passenger — drivers take support messages more seriously than passenger messages because it affects their account standing. Support can also offer the driver a small incentive (usually a few dollars) to return an item, which sometimes makes the difference.
If the driver still doesn't respond, Uber can provide you with the driver's first name and last initial, which you can use to search for them on social media if you want to try reaching out directly. This is a last resort and not always successful, but it's an option if the item is valuable enough to warrant the effort.
When you can no longer message through the app
After 30 days, the message button disappears from your trip receipt. At that point, you can still contact Uber support and report a lost item, but you won't be able to message the driver directly through the app. Support can still reach the driver on your behalf, but the response time is usually longer because the trip is older.
If you realize you've lost something more than 30 days after your trip, go to Uber support when ready anyway. Provide as much detail as you can about the trip — the date, time, pickup and dropoff locations, and what you lost. Support will look up the driver and try to contact them, though there's no may provide the driver will still have your item or be willing to help.
Contacting Uber support for safety or billing issues
If your reason for contacting the driver is a safety concern, a billing dispute, or a complaint about how you were treated, don't message the driver directly. Go to Uber support instead. Open the app, go to Account, then Help, and describe the issue. You can report unsafe driving, a charge you don't recognize, or a problem with the ride itself.
Uber support has the power to investigate, issue refunds, and take action against a driver if needed. A message to the driver won't accomplish any of that. Support will document your report and may contact the driver as part of their investigation, but you won't see that conversation.
If you're reporting a safety issue, be specific: describe what happened, when, and why it concerned you. Uber takes these reports seriously and uses them to decide whether a driver should stay on the platform. A vague message to the driver won't trigger the same level of review.
What drivers are and aren't required to do
Drivers are independent contractors, not Uber employees. Uber cannot force them to respond to messages, return items, or meet you somewhere to hand over something you left behind. A driver can ignore your message entirely and face no consequences from Uber for doing so.
That said, most drivers do respond to lost item requests because they know it affects their rating and because Uber support sometimes offers them money to help. If a driver does agree to return something, agree on a safe public location and a time that works for both of you. Don't give out your home address or ask the driver to meet you somewhere isolated.
If a driver offers to return your item but then ghosts you or doesn't show up, contact Uber support again. There's not much Uber can do to force the driver to follow through, but support can document the broken agreement and factor it into the driver's record.
Using Uber's lost and found service
Some Uber offices and partner locations have physical lost and found areas where drivers can drop off items. This is not available in all cities, and most drivers won't know about it or use it. When you contact support about a lost item, ask whether your city has a lost and found location and whether the driver can be directed to use it.
In most cases, the driver-to-driver message or Uber support contact is your only real option. The lost and found service exists but is not a reliable way to recover something unless you're in a major city with an Uber office.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I call the driver instead of messaging?
Uber doesn't provide driver phone numbers to passengers for privacy reasons. Your only direct contact option is through the app's messaging feature. If you need to reach a driver urgently, contact Uber support and explain the situation — they may be able to call the driver on your behalf.
What if I don't remember which driver took me?
Your trip history in the Uber app shows every ride you've taken, with the driver's name, photo, and the date and time. If you remember roughly when the trip was, scroll through your history to find it. If you can't find it, contact Uber support with the date and location, and they can look it up for you.
Can the driver see my phone number or address?
Drivers can see your pickup and dropoff locations during the ride, but Uber doesn't share your phone number or home address with them. When you message through the app, the driver sees only your first name and the message itself. Your contact information stays private unless you choose to share it directly.
What happens if I message a driver weeks after the trip?
As long as it's within 30 days, the message will go through and the driver will get a notification. After 30 days, the message button is gone. At that point, contact Uber support instead, which can still reach the driver but usually takes longer to get a response.
Do drivers have to give back lost items?
No. Drivers are not required to return anything. Most will if you ask politely and the item is straightforward to return, but Uber cannot force them to do so. If a driver agrees to return something, meet in a public place and verify the item before leaving.