To Uber with kids, you must book a dedicated Uber Car Seat trip if available in your city, as regular Uber rides do not provide child safety seats. Availability is limited to select metropolitan areas like New York City, Los Angeles, Boston, and Washington D.C., and the service typically supplies one forward-facing car seat suitable for children approximately 12 months and older (22-48 lbs). The process is simple: open your Uber app, enter your route, and select the 'Car Seat' ride option from the list of available vehicle types. You will see an updated fare and can then confirm the booking. A confirmed trip is your guarantee that a car seat will be present.
Service Availability and Limitations
The Uber Car Seat service is not universally available. It operates in specific markets where regulations and driver partnerships allow. According to Uber's own service updates, expansion has been gradual since its initial launch. If the option does not appear in your app, the service is not offered in your current location. Furthermore, the service usually provides one car seat per vehicle. If you are traveling with multiple young children who all require seats, you may need to book multiple vehicles or bring additional seats yourself, which must be installed by the accompanying adult.
Booking and Using the Service
The booking workflow is integrated into the main Uber app. After entering your pickup and dropoff points, you will scroll through vehicle options such as UberX, Uber Comfort, or Uber Black. Look for the specific 'Car Seat' icon and label. Selecting it will display the fare estimate, which is generally $10-$15 more than a standard UberX trip in the same market. Once booked, you will receive a confirmation. Upon the driver's arrival, it is your responsibility to verify that the provided seat is properly installed and appropriate for your child's height and weight. The driver is not trained or responsible for installation or securing your child.
Critical Safety and Practical Considerations
Parents must understand that the provided seat is a forward-facing model. For infants requiring rear-facing seats, this service is not suitable. Major safety organizations like the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend children remain rear-facing as long as possible, typically until at least age 2. Therefore, for younger infants, bringing your own certified rear-facing seat is the only safe option on any rideshare or taxi. Always be prepared to install your own seat; the driver is required to wait a reasonable amount of time for this process.
Alternatives When Uber Car Seat is Unavailable
In cities without Uber Car Seat, your primary alternatives are using a traditional taxi service that offers car seats (often requiring advance phone booking), traveling with a portable car seat you own, or utilizing family-focused rideshare alternatives like HopSkipDrive in some regions. The most reliable and flexible method is to own and carry a travel-friendly car seat. Lightweight, FAA-approved models are designed for this purpose and ensure your child’s safety is never dependent on a third party's equipment availability.
