Still on teenage taxi duty? How to give them more freedom while staying in the loop

“Can you pick me up?” Somehow, the message always arrives just as you’ve sat down.

You want your teenager to have a social life. You’d also quite like an evening that doesn’t revolve around driving them to it. But letting them organise their own journeys can bring a fresh set of questions: have they got in the right car? Can you check where they are? What happens if their plans change?

Uber for Teens gives 13 to 17-year-olds a way to request their own rides through an account linked to their parent or guardian. You can follow the journey in your app and receive updates along the way.

Here’s what to know before you both give it a go.

How does Uber for Teens work?

Your teenager books through their own account, linked to your Family profile. That means they can organise a ride without borrowing your phone, while you can see how their journey is progressing.

Getting started involves three steps:

1. Invite your teenager. Set up a Family profile in the Uber app and invite your 13 to 17-year-old to join.

2. Complete the safety onboarding. Your teenager must finish this before taking their first trip.

3. Plan the first journey together. Agree where they’re going and where they’ll be picked up. When they request a ride, you’ll receive notifications and can follow their journey using Live Trip Tracking.

Did it make family life easier? Here’s what Mumsnet testers thought

Fewer lifts to juggle and more freedom for teenagers: those were among the benefits families reported when we asked 68 parents to try Uber for Teens.

Of the parents who took part, 95% said they would recommend the service to friends or family, earning it the Mumsnet Rated badge. Meanwhile, 79.4% said it made managing their family schedule easier, and 76.5% agreed it made their teenager more independent.

As one tester put it:

“It’s taken the pressure off us parents having to be available for lifts.”

Another highlighted what it meant for their teenager:

“My son gained his independence and grew in confidence.”

Is your teenager ready to organise their own journeys?

Wanting more freedom and being ready for it don’t always happen at the same time. Before agreeing to a solo journey, talk through what your teenager would do if their phone battery ran low, they couldn’t find the pickup point or something didn’t feel right.

- Mumsnet tester feedback

A useful starting point is whether they can:

• Stick to an agreed destination and let you know if plans change.

• Check the driver and vehicle details before getting in.

• Keep their phone charged and contact you when needed.

• Speak up or ask for help if they feel uncomfortable.

Start with a short, familiar daytime journey rather than making their first trip an unfamiliar route late at night. You can build from there as their confidence — and yours — grows.

Agree the ground rules before the first ride

A little planning now can save a lot of “I thought you meant…” later. Decide together:

When is booking a ride appropriate?
Perhaps it’s an option when the bus route doesn’t work, two children need collecting at once or you’ve agreed a journey home from a friend’s. Be clear about when they should check with you first.

What can they spend?
Talk about who pays and what’s affordable. Parents can set a monthly spending limit through their teenager’s linked account.

How will you stay in touch?
Agree when you expect a message and what they should do if plans change. Live tracking can help you follow the ride, but it’s still worth having that conversation.

What should they check before getting in?
The driver and vehicle must match the booking details. Talk through checking the registration, make and model together, so your teenager knows what to look for. With Uber for Teens, these details are available in both the parent and teen app.

- Mumsnet tester feedback

What can parents see - and which safety features are included?

Handing over the journey planning is easier when you understand what you can check along the way. With Uber for Teens:

• You can follow the ride. Live Trip Tracking shows the journey in your app, with real-time status updates.

• You can see the driver and vehicle details. These are available in both the parent and teen app.

• A PIN is needed to start the trip. The driver must enter the correct code before the ride can begin.

• RideCheck looks for unusual events. This includes unexpected long stops.

• Drivers cannot change the destination. Only your teenager can change it through the app.

Parents can also contact the driver during the ride if needed. Teenagers can access in-app options to contact emergency services, reach Uber Support or report an issue.

Before their first journey, look through these features together so your teenager knows where to find help.

Could it help with your family’s next diary clash?

One child’s at football, another needs collecting and you’re still finishing work. Having another travel option could make those evenings easier to manage.

If your teenager is ready, check whether Uber for Teens is available in your area, explore the features together and agree a first journey you both feel comfortable with.

*Offer details: Offer valid for Mumsnet users who apply the unique promo code to their account before booking. You will receive £10 off your first trip when booked through an Uber or Uber Teens account. Offer valid on the first eligible ride in the United Kingdom only, completed on or before 31 December 2026. Discount applies to the fare only; offer does not apply to surcharges, government fees, tolls, or tips and cannot be combined with other offers. For accounts with multiple valid promo codes, the promo with the highest savings will automatically apply. This offer is non-transferable and subject to change or withdrawal without notice at any time.