AARP Hearing Center
In this story
A convenient option • Before the ride • As it arrives • On your way
If you live in an urban or suburban area, ride-hailing services can be a convenient option for getting around.
And, like with a taxi, drivers are available on demand, or you can book a trip in advance. If you haven’t used Lyft or Uber — or lesser-known apps such as Curb, Wingz and Ztrip — here’s how they work: Open the app on your smartphone and type in your destination to see how much a trip will cost. In many instances, it may be less than calling a cab.
AARP Membership— $12 for your first year when you sign up for Automatic Renewal
Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine.
When you reach your destination, you don’t give the driver cash or your credit card. Your credit card is already charged through the app, and you’re immediately emailed a receipt.
To save money, you might opt to pick up another passenger along your ride. That’s why these transportation services often are referred to as ride-sharing apps.
But you already knew this. Before the pandemic, about a quarter of adults 50 and older told Pew Research Center researchers that they had used Lyft or Uber. This is still the most recent information available, but it was a 17 percentage point increase from three years before. So even more older adults are likely to have experienced the service now as people travel more across town or head to the airport for a trip out of town.
You can arrange for a friend to join you, taking that person with you, stopping along the way, or giving a door-to-door ride without you — handy if you’re a caregiver. Here are ways to ensure that you have the smoothest experience, no matter how you use the apps.
Before you ride, prepare
1. Start looking early. If getting to a place such as the airport or a doctor’s office by a specific time is important, Conor Ferguson, Uber’s mobility communications manager, suggests opening the app a little earlier than you need it.
“Wait times can vary during times of peak demand, [so] open the Uber app 20 minutes before you want to ride to gauge arrival times,” he says. “This will help ensure you get where you want to go on time.”
Learn online
Senior Planet from AARP has occasional online classes on using ride-hailing apps.
1. Go to the Senior Planet classes page.
2. Type ride hailing in the 🔍 Search for classes box.
3. Click on the red Find Classes button.
Don’t be discouraged if you don’t see a class offered. Check back in a few weeks, look for a location near you under the In-Person Classes drop-down menu, or call the Senior Planet Hotline number listed on the page to request the topic.
2. Or book days in advance. Both Lyft and Uber allow you to reserve a ride weeks before that trip to the eye doctor or a flight to see the grandkids.
A driver might not always accept immediately, but you’ll be notified in advance if a service can’t find a driver for you. Lyft allows you to lock in your pickup time and fare up to 30 days ahead. Uber’s window is from two hours to 90 days and includes an estimated charge.
3. Maybe wait a bit. If you’re not in too much of a rush and you see that rates are a little higher than normal, check again in a few minutes. Both Uber and Lyft use demand pricing, so prices go up when more people want the services.
4. Share the ride. You can use carpooling options, called UberX Share for Uber; Lyft no longer has the service. You also can choose to split a fare with someone such as a friend. Selecting more than one drop-off spot in the app is easy.
More From AARP
5 Apps to Help Caregivers Get Organized, Find Support
Try these digital tools for managing meds, sharing tasks and moreDoes Medicare Cover Medical Transportation?
Advantage plans allow more than original Medicare8 Amazing American Pilgrimages
The United States features many sites that attract visitors looking to travel with purpose
Recommended for You