Uber Eats Background Check – Everything You NEED to Know

How long does an Uber Eats background check take? What does the background check look for? These are questions every potential Uber or Uber Eats driver has.

You must pass a background check to start making money with Uber or Uber Eats — they’re the same company and run the same background check. They have strict standards for all independent contractors, and lots of people have concerns about the background check.

This article is going to explain exactly what the background looks for, how long it takes, what to do if you’re denied, and more.

What is an Uber background check?

The Uber background check is a procedure that both Uber and Uber Eats use to screen drivers, and all drivers must go through this screening process before they’re approved to drive. You will have to consent to this extensive background check before moving forward with your application, and it looks at your driving record and criminal history.

The background check is free and goes through a third-party company called Checkr. Uber then looks at Checkr’s report to decide whether or not to approve your application. This is the same background check that’s used by other food delivery services and rideshare companies.

Uber runs yearly background checks on its drivers, so you’ll want to maintain a clean driving record and criminal history to clear it. They can and will deactivate your account if they find any disqualifying offenses.

This is a very extensive background check, and it looks at records for offenses going back at least 7 years.

It’s not uncommon for companies to run background checks on prospective employees, and they’re meant to ensure the safety and security of all of those involved with the business— both customers and other workers.

The vast majority of side hustles that require you to drive — rideshare companies, food delivery services, and other delivery services — will ask you to consent to a background check.

What does the background check look for

Using your name, driver’s license number, and Social Security number, Chekr runs a series of checks through local, state, and national databases. They’re looking for anything related to your criminal history and motor vehicle report (this is only for drivers or those making deliveries using a car).

Motor vehicle report

You must have a valid and active U.S. driver’s license and have a minimum of one year of licensed driving experience in the U.S. For those giving rides through Uber or driving for food deliveries will need three years of U.S. driving experience if you are 24 and under.

Your motor vehicle report must show no more than 3 minor violations in the previous 3 years, and minor violations include:

• Speeding violations
• Driving with a license
• Driving without insurance
• Traffic light violations
• Moving violations

Your report should also show no major violations in the previews 7 years, and major violations include:

• Hit and run accidents
• Speeding in excess of 100 mph
• DUIs
• Reckless driving convictions
• Street racing

Criminal background check

Your report must show none of the following criminal convictions in the previous 7 years:

• Felonies
• Misdemeanors related to intoxication
• Resisting arrest
• Child endangerment of abuse
• Violent crimes
• Driving related convictions
• Sexual offense

Uber says that some types of convictions such as murder, sexual assault, terrorism-related offenses, and other serious criminal convictions will result in disqualification not matter when they occurred. 

How long does Uber Eats background check take?

Uber says the background check takes 3-5 business days, but many drivers report that it takes closer to 5-10 days. 

Some drivers are experiencing even longer delays, mostly related to Covid-19. Checkr, the company Uber contracts for background checks, relies on governmental agencies to provide records, and some agencies have been experiencing closures and staff shortages because of the pandemic.

There are other reasons your report may be taking longer than 3-5 days, such as living in multiple states over the past seven years. There can also be delays when there’s an influx of applications because there are more applications to process than normal.

Once Checkr finishes the report, Uber still needs to review it before making a decision.

You can check on the status of your background check through the Chekr Candidate Portal — you’ll create a log in and password when you apply for Uber or Uber Eats. 

Uber says that delays in background checks do not affect the outcome of your application.

What do I need for an Uber Eats background check?

Checkr, the third-party company used by Uber, needs the following information to run your background check:

• Legal name
• Driver’s license
• Address
• Social Security number
• Consent to run a background check

Yes, you must consent to the background check before getting started. You’ll be asked for consent when you go through the application process, and Uber is required by law to have your consent.

If you are delivering for Uber Eats using a bicycle, you won’t need to provide a driver’s license number or have a motor vehicle check— that’s only for those who will be using a car to drive or deliver. You will still need to complete the criminal background check though.

What your Uber profile status means

Once you’ve consented to the background check and have submitted your application, your account will be assigned a certain status. If you’re asking, “How long does an Uber background check take?” there’s a chance you’re wondering what that status means.

You can check the status of your account while you wait, and your account will be labeled with one of the following five statuses:

1. Onboarding: Once you’ve consented to the background check, Uber will start reviewing your documents to process your background check. 
2. Waitlisted: There could be issues with your documents or that your information is being run again.
3. Consider: Your background check is almost complete, and Uber may be taking a closer look at issues before making a final decision.
4. Active: You’ve passed the background check, and you can start accepting rides and delivering food.
5. Rejected: This status means you’ve been denied because you haven’t passed the Uber Eats background check for some reason. Or, your account has been deactivated for another reason — this applies to those who have been driving with Uber or Uber Eats prior to this background check.

Uber isn’t likely to email you about changes to your profile status. However, they will email you once you’ve passed the background check and are active to drive, but you’ll want to check regularly for updates.

What to do if your Uber Eats background check is denied

Unfortunately, Uber isn’t always clear about why you failed the background check. You’ll have to contact Uber directly to find out why.

If you’ve been denied and you know you have a clean driving record and criminal history, you can try to get in touch with Uber through their help portal. Even if there was an error, you’ll need to wait 2-4 months to reapply. 

New applications need to go through Uber support because they’ll already have your rejected one on file. Some drivers report that support can be slow, so be patient.

Besides reapplying in a few months, you can also try applying for other food delivery services or rideshare companies. You can check out:

• DoorDash
• Instacart
• Shipt
• Lyft

Uber, Uber Eats, and Postmates are all under the same company now (Uber), so if you’ve been rejected by one, you will need to wait 2-4 months to reapply with any of them.

How to pass the Uber Eats background check

There’s not a sure-fire way to pass the background check, but there are a couple of things you can do if you think you might be rejected.

The first thing you can do is request a copy of your motor vehicle record to look over yourself. You may be able to remove minor traffic violations by taking a safety class. Laws vary state-by-state, so you’ll want to check with your state’s DMV to check out the process to remove points or minor violations.

There are some violations or convictions that can be expunged from your record once you’ve paid a fine or after a certain amount of time has passed. This may apply to DUIs in your state. Again, check with your state’s laws to see if this is an option for you.

If your driving record is what will prevent you from passing the Uber Eats background check, you may want to consider delivering via bike. That’s not available in all markets, but it’s worth considering.

How long does Uber Eats background check take? The final word

Uber and Uber Eats are the same company, and you can expect an Uber background check to take anywhere from 5-10 days. It takes so long because the background check reviews past and pending criminal convictions plus your driving record. You can check the status of your application by logging into your Uber profile. 

If your background check is taking too long or if you’re denied, here’s a list of 40 side hustle ideas that are worth your time.