Booked a trip to the Eurozone? Don’t let Uber quietly skim 1.5% off every ride.
Credit: Diego Thomazini, Shutterstock
Holiday Shocker: Uber adds extra fee unless you change this one setting. If you’ve booked a trip to the Eurozone, make sure Uber isn’t quietly skimming 1.5% off every ride.
This affects anyone who’s:
- Living in one country and banking in another
- Travelling across borders
- Visiting any Eurozone country from outside
Uber alert: the sneaky 1.5% fee quietly stinging travellers in Europe
One tiny setting could save you cash on every ride – here’s how to stop Uber from charging you extra fees.
Living in Spain, planning a weekend in Paris, or just heading to the Algarve for a bit of sun? If you’re using Uber while abroad, there’s a good chance you’re being quietly charged extra – and most people don’t even realise it.
A little-known setting buried in the Uber app could be costing you an extra 1.5% every time you ride, thanks to automatic currency conversion fees. It’s subtle, it’s sneaky, and it adds up fast – especially if you move around the Eurozone or hop between countries for work or travel.
If your Uber account is tied to GBP, USD, CAD, or EUR, this affects you, so read on.
The hidden Uber surcharge you weren’t told about
Here’s how it works:
When you take a trip abroad and book a ride, Uber may automatically charge you in your home currency, not the local one. Sounds convenient, right?
Well, not quite – because Uber then adds a 1.5% conversion fee on top. That’s their own rate, plus their own fee, built right into the final price.
So if your ride in Madrid or Lisbon should cost €20, you could end up paying significantly more once Uber’s rate and fee are quietly baked into the bill.
Whether you’re paying in dollars in Paris or pounds in Palma, you’re paying more than locals for the same ride – and not getting anything extra for it.
Real-world example: How it hits you
Say your Uber account is set to USD and you take a ride in Marbella. Instead of charging you in euros, Uber converts the fare to dollars at their own rate – and adds 1.5% on top for the service.
You’ll barely notice at checkout. But your card will, and so will your travel budget. It’s a quiet fee that no one asked for, but that millions are paying without realising.
The quick fix: save money in three taps
Here’s the good news – avoiding this pointless fee is ridiculously easy. You just need to adjust one setting in the app:
- Open the Uber app and go to ‘Wallet’
- Tap ‘Set preferred currency’
- Choose ‘Always pay in the local currency’
That’s it. Your bank or card provider will now handle the exchange – and most offer better rates without the cheeky surcharge.
What Uber says
On Uber’s official help page, they admit the following:
“If you pay in your home currency outside your home country, a 1.5% fee may apply to the converted fare.”
But that disclaimer is buried deep – and worst of all – there’s no warning before you confirm the ride.
Who’s affected – and why it matters now
Anyone with an Uber account linked to pounds, euros, dollars, or Canadian dollars, travelling in a country with a different currency, is at risk of being charged this fee.
That includes:
- People living in one country with accounts tied to another country
- Frequent travellers and digital nomads
- Holidaymakers from the US, UK, Canada and beyond
- Foreign residents who bank internationally
With travel booming across Europe again, millions are overpaying without realising it.
Bottom line: Don’t let Uber take you for a ride
If you live abroad or move between countries in Europe, don’t let Uber quietly skim cash off your trips. Change your setting, skip the 1.5% fee, and keep more money for your morning cortado or sunset cocktail.
In the age of rising prices, even small savings go a long way.
Is Uber using these fees to help finance their robotaxis?
Stay tuned for more UK news.
