Understanding Uber Extra Mileage: How It Works in the UK

Written by: Majid Ismailzada

Ride-hailing services have become increasingly popular in recent times, as they offer passengers a good alternative to taxis and public transport like trains and buses.

One of the very popular services in the UK is Uber, as it enables passengers to pre-book their journey on the ride-hailing app with upfront costs. However, there are situations where extra mileage charges are added to the agreed-upon costs.

Are you an Uber driver or a regular Uber passenger? Want to know when additional costs apply to your journey? Keep reading.

This article will discuss how Uber's pricing model in the UK works, what extra mileage is, when it affects ride costs, and what drivers and passengers alike should be aware of to avoid issues.

So, let's get right to it.

How the Uber Pricing Model Works in the UK

When a passenger books a ride with Uber, they receive an estimated cost upfront. Factors like the fixed base fare, the distance of the journey, estimated trip duration, surge pricing during peak demand times, service charges, and booking fees usually determine this cost. However, some situations, like extra mileage, can cause the estimated price to increase.

What exactly is Uber Extra Mileage?

Extra mileage, also referred to as extra destination, is the distance that is added to the initial estimated ride route at the start of the booking.

This can happen for a few reasons, one of which can be if the passenger decides to make additional stops or to go to a different destination.

Another example is if the driver chooses a longer route that deviates from the one suggested by the app to avoid traffic.

Besides, if there are situations like accidents, road closures, or diversions that make the driver take a longer route, this can also cause extra mileage.

Now that you understand Uber mileage, let's look at how it is calculated.

How Uber Calculates Extra Mileage Cost

Throughout the trip, Uber's algorithm tracks the actual trip distance and compares it with the original estimated route in real time. This means that if the total distance is longer or shorter than expected, the price will be affected.

The algorithm plays an important role in making sure that the cost accurately reflects the actual journey while accounting for any changes from the planned route. Nonetheless, depending on the Uber service type, like Uber Exec, Uber XL, and Uber X, the extra mileage charge will be different.

If the passenger changes the destination, Uber adjusts the upfront fare in real time and displays it for the passenger to confirm. If the detour increases the trip duration, time-based charges will also be applied.

Besides, there can be a few cases where Uber will adjust the price after the trip if the mileage costs are necessary.

Additionally, there are some special cases and Uber ride categories that may have different extra mileage charge rules. Highlighted below are a few of them:

Airport Rides: In the UK, Uber rides to and from major UK airports like Heathrow, Manchester, and Gatwick have a special fare structure. This means that the extra mileage charged will be based on the airport regulations.
Long-distance Trips: A few cities in the UK have policies that state private hire vehicles (PHVs) like Uber are paid extra for long-distance trips. Since the cost is decided between the driver and passenger before the trip, the terms of Extra Mileage may not apply.
Uber Premium Services: For Uber premium services like Uber XL, Uber Exec, and Uber Lux, the base fee and the cost per distance is higher, meaning that extra mileage can result in substantially higher prices.
Promotions: Depending on the discount terms and conditions, extra mileage charges may or may not be covered when a passenger uses a discount or promo code.

It's important to note that these charges are applied fairly and only under specific conditions, ensuring that passengers

are not unfairly penalized for circumstances beyond their control. Nonetheless, passengers pay extra mileage charges under the following conditions:

Making Multiple Stops: If a passenger makes multiple stops along the way to their destination, the Uber app will add the extra distance to the final price.
Change in Destination: If a passenger changes their destination in the middle of the trip, the new price will reflect the added distance, even if it is shorter or longer than the previous distance. -** Unexpected Delays**: If there are delays caused by traffic or accidents, longer distances will increase the mileage cost because Uber also uses a time-based pricing model.
Major Route Diversion: When the driver has to take another route because of roadblocks or heavy traffic, additional charges will be added if the distance is significantly more than the estimated one. They are not charged if the route change is negligible and the distance does not increase substantially. Additionally, passengers will not be charged if Uber's upfront price prediction accounts for the potential route variation or if the driver takes a longer route without a legitimate reason.

What Do Drivers Get for Extra Mileage?

Uber pays its drivers for any extra distance they cover during their journey. They ensure that the drivers receive payment for the entire time and distance of the journey.

If a passenger changes their destination, the app recalculates the driver’s fare so the driver is appropriately compensated.

Plus, drivers can use their Uber app to check that their final payout reflects the extra mileage.

Extra Mileage Disputes

Sometimes, passengers believe that the extra mileage charges may have been incorrectly calculated. In cases like this, they can contact Uber's support team to review the charge.

The support team will compare the initial estimated upfront price with the final payment, GPS tracking data showing the route of the trip, and any issues concerning unnecessary detours.

If Uber finds that the charge was not right, it may issue a partial refund to the passenger. This process is designed to ensure that passengers are charged fairly for their journey.

However, to avoid any issues regarding extra mileage costs, there are some best practices drivers and passengers alike can follow.

Outlined below are a few of them.

Passengers should always double-check the up-front price estimate before confirming the trip, while drivers should confirm the destination with the passenger before starting the journey.
Passengers should be aware that the price will change if they change destinations, and they should communicate any additional stops to the driver beforehand to avoid unexpended charges.
Drivers should follow Uber's suggested GPS route to avoid any mileage charge issues, but if a detour is necessary, inform the passengers and make sure they agree to it.
Passengers can review the receipt after the ride to make sure they were charged fairly.
Drivers should track the price changes through the Uber driver app to avoid disputes.

To Wrap It Up

While passengers cannot always avoid extra mileage costs, they can reduce the cost by either picking cheaper ride options or using discounts and promotions.

However, in situations where extra mileage costs are added to your ride, remember that the charges are automatically calculated with fairness to both the passengers and drivers.

So, passengers must remember that the upfront price may not be the cost they'll see at the end of the journey, especially if they change destinations or add multiple stops along the way.