Uber announced a multi-layer background check and continuous safety monitoring system for U.S. drivers, including identity verification, motor vehicle record reviews, and national criminal checks, with ongoing oversight designed to detect risks after drivers begin taking trips.
According to Uber’s announcement, the new safety framework is built around pre-activation screening, human review, and ongoing monitoring rather than one-time checks. Every prospective U.S. driver must pass identity verification, a motor vehicle record review, and a national criminal background check before taking their first trip. The company emphasizes that safety screening is an ongoing process with systems designed to detect new issues after a driver is already active. Uber positions this approach as an evolution beyond traditional transportation safety models.
Since 2017, Uber reports that its screening and monitoring systems have prevented approximately 3.5 million people from joining or remaining on the platform. The company states that roughly 70% of rejected driver applications fail at the motor vehicle record stage alone, highlighting the importance placed on driving history and license validity before any criminal history review occurs.
Uber’s verification process includes direct courthouse checks across approximately 3,200 county courthouses nationwide. This structure is particularly relevant in states like Colorado, which is divided into 64 counties each maintaining its own court records. By tracing residence history and verifying flagged records at the county level, Uber’s process aims to capture offenses that may not appear in statewide databases alone.
Founded in 2009 and headquartered in San Francisco, California, Uber operates a global technology platform connecting riders with drivers for ridesharing services along with food delivery, freight, and logistics.
