Uber for Teens Launches in India: Safe and Independent Rides for Teenagers
Uber has introduced its Uber for Teens service in India, allowing teenagers aged 13-17 to book rides independently through their own devices. This service is currently available in Bengaluru, Delhi NCR, and Mumbai and will expand to 35 cities, including Ahmedabad, Chennai, Hyderabad, and Pune, in the coming weeks.
How Uber for Teens Works
Uber for Teens lets parents and guardians create dedicated accounts for their teenagers. With this feature, teens can request rides on their own while guardians enjoy key safety features like live trip tracking and opt-in audio recording.
Safety and Payment Features
- Guardians can book rides for teenagers and set monthly trip limits to control ride frequency.
- A credit or debit card must be added to the guardian’s family profile to activate a teen account.
- Both cash and digital payments are accepted for teen rides.
- Teens can bring friends (aged 13-17) along, though details on consent policies remain unclear.
- Uber is implementing additional background checks on drivers to enhance safety.
Uber Expands in India Amid Competition
This move comes two years after Uber for Teens launched in the U.S. and Canada. Uber aims to expand its presence in India and compete with domestic ride-hailing services like Ola, Rapido, Namma Yatri, and BluSmart.
Currently, Uber for Teens is active in 50 countries, with some regions allowing teen-specific profiles where they can pay using their own payment methods, including cash.
Recent Uber Updates in India
Uber has introduced new features to meet the evolving needs of Indian users, such as:
- Concurrent rides (allowing multiple ride bookings at once)
- Flexible pricing
- Prepaid item pickups
- No commissions on auto-rickshaw bookings (replaced with a daily subscription charge)
With Uber for Teens, the company is taking a significant step toward enhancing mobility for teenagers in India while maintaining strict safety measures for both riders and their guardians.
