Uber Eats Background Check 2024 Requirements

When you apply to drive for Uber Eats, the process is straightforward enough, until you get to the dreaded background check. Instead of signing up to the platform and being approved to drive right away, you’ll have to wait until your background check gives you the all-clear.

Because delivering for Uber Eats is independent contractor work, the background check requirement often surprises applicants and brings up a few questions. How long does an Uber Eats background check take? What does an Uber Eats background check look for? Is there a drug test? What happens if you fail the background check?

In this article we’ll answer those questions, take a look at why your Uber Eats background check could lead to disqualification, and give you an idea of how long the process will take.

What Is An Uber Eats Background Check?

You’ll have to pass the Uber Eats background check before you can start making deliveries.

Uber Eats need to make sure that they’re using drivers who don’t pose a threat to the safety of their customers or to other road users.

To do this Uber Eats uses an outside agency called Checkr to carry out a background check which will confirm your identity, and look at your criminal record and your driving report.

If your driving record is clean as a whistle and you haven’t been in trouble with the law, you’ll pass the background check with ease.

Of course, if you’re applying to deliver by bicycle, then a driving records check isn’t necessary.

To get the background check underway, Checkr needs your consent and the following information:

Legal name
Date of birth
Driver’s license number
Social security number
Zip Code
Email address

Meeting The Driving Record Requirements

To drive for Uber Eats, you need to meet minimum age requirements which vary depending on where you live. For some areas, the minimum age for drivers is 19 years old, and in others, you’ll need to be at least 21 years old.

If you’re under 25 years old, you need to have held your driver’s license for at least 3 years. For applicants over the age of 25, you need to have held your driver’s license for at least 1 year.

The motor vehicle records check (MVR) will make sure your license is valid and look for any driving offenses on your record.

In the last 3 years, you cannot have more than 3 minor violations on your record.

Minor violations include offenses like:

Minimal speeding ( less than 15 mph over the limit)
Failure to stop at a stop sign
Improper lane changes
Not paying a toll

In the last 7 years, you cannot have any major violations. Major violations include:

DUI or DWI
Hit and run
Reckless or dangerous driving
Excessive speeding (more than 20 mph over the speed limit)
Running a red light
Failure to yield
Vehicle-related felony
Driving without a license

If your driving record doesn’t meet the required standards, you won’t be able to drive for Uber Eats. You’ll need to wait until your record is acceptable, then apply again.

Related Article: Can Felons Drive For Uber?

What Does The Criminal Records Check Look For?

If you’ve got a criminal record, you might not be able to drive for Uber Eats. Even though you’re hired as an independent contractor and not an employee, they still have strict standards that you’ll have to meet and maintain.

The background check goes back at least 7 years, and if state laws allow, it will go all the way back to uncover any offenses on your record.

Certain offenses within the last 7 years are definitely disqualifying, including:

Felonies
Violent offenses
DUI
Sexual offenses

You’ll be permanently disqualified if you’ve got a conviction for murder, sexual assault, terrorism, or any offense that they deem serious. Registered sex offenders are also barred from the Uber Eats platform.

Other offenses, depending on their nature and age may be approved, but there’s no way for anyone outside Uber Eats to say what will or won’t disqualify you.

How Long Does Uber Eats Background Check Take?

Uber Eats say that background checks take 3 – 5 working days to complete, but many drivers report longer waiting times of 10 – 14 days. Some applicants are still waiting for activation weeks after applying. There’s nothing you can do to hurry the background check along, and while it’s frustrating to be stuck waiting when you’re eager to start earning money, you’ll have to be patient.

Background checks will take longer to process if you’ve lived in multiple states, or if Checkr has a larger than normal volume of reports to process.

Once Checkr completes the background report and sends the information to Uber Eats, Uber Eats has to review the report before they can activate you on the platform.

How Long Does It Take For Uber Eats To Accept Background Checks?

Well, that depends on how many backgrounds report they have to process. If they’re dealing with a large volume of applications, waiting times will be longer than normal.

You can keep tabs on the progress of your background check by logging onto the Checkr Candidate Portal using the credentials you created when you signed up for Uber Eats. The portal will show you if the background check is still pending, or if it’s complete and being reviewed by Uber Eats.

Just because your background check is taking a long time, don’t automatically assume the worst. Unless you’ve got a problematic background, you’re just stuck in the system until Uber Eats gets around to activating you.

You can also check on your application by visiting your Uber Eats profile. Your account will show you one of these five statuses.

Onboarding – Your background check is underway and the documents you submitted are being reviewed.

Waitlisted – There’s a problem with your application. Your documents could be expired or information is missing.

Consider – Checkr has completed your background check and found offenses on your driving record or criminal record. Now Uber Eats needs to review your report and make a decision.

Rejected – You didn’t pass the background check. Check your email because you should have received a pre-adverse action notice.

Active – You passed the background check and you’ve been cleared to drive. Now you’re active on the platform and can get to work. Congratulations!

Is A Drug Test Part Of Uber Eats Background Check?

Uber Eats doesn’t require a drug test, so you don’t need to worry about your recreational activities costing you an income-earning opportunity.

However, you can’t be under the influence of drugs while you’re making deliveries because that’s a violation of the law.

And besides the risk of being stopped by the police, if you make a delivery and your customer suspects that you’re high, they can complain to Uber Eats, and it doesn’t take many complaints to get kicked off the Uber Eats platform.

Does Uber Eats Do More Than One Background Check?

Uber Eats runs periodic background checks on all drivers, so once you pass the initial background check, you can expect further checks, roughly every 6 – 12 months or so depending on the rules in your city.

The Uber Eats app should send you a series of notifications informing you that your background check is going to expire and that you need to submit your details for a new one.

Don’t wait until the last minute to get your new background check underway. If your current background check expires before the new check is complete, you’ll be deactivated and unable to make deliveries until your background check clears you.

Some drivers end up waiting for weeks before they’re allowed back on the platform, so to keep making deliveries and earning an income, make sure you respond to the background check message as soon as possible.

What Happens If You Fail The Background Check?

If your background check doesn’t clear you to drive for Uber Eats. you’ll receive a pre-adverse action email.

The notice advises you that adverse action will be taken because of the information found during your background check. By adverse action, they mean that your application will be rejected.

The notice will list the disqualifying offenses, offer you a free copy of your background report, and tell you the steps to follow if you want to dispute the decision because you believe they have made an error.

It’s always a good idea to request a copy of your background report so that you can check it for errors. Background reporting agencies are not infallible and they do mistake identities or include offenses that are outside state laws regarding time limits.

If you find an error, Checkr must take steps to correct the information, and then you can re-apply to Uber Eats in 2 – 4 months.

What can you do if the report is correct?

Minor violations on your driving report can sometimes be removed if you take a driving safety class or defensive driving course. Check what the rules are in your area by contacting your local DMV.

Some other offenses may be eligible for expungement. You’ll need to contact a lawyer to see if you’re eligible. When an offense is expunged, it’s removed from your record and won’t be an obstacle in the future.

Quick Recap

All applicants need to pass the Uber Eats background check. The background check confirms your identity and searches your driving record and criminal history.

Uber Eats aims to process background checks within 3 – 5 working days, but many reports take longer than that because of the volume of applications they receive.

You won’t be activated on the Uber Eats platform until your background report has been processed. Further background checks take place periodically, and you can be deactivated while the check is taking place, and permanently deactivated if you fail.