Turn Off Uber's Preferred Currency Feature to Avoid a Fee

Converting between currencies when you're traveling can make it difficult to know exactly how much you're spending when you're making a purchase—which, along with conversion fees, can lead to surprises when you see your card or bank statement. Uber now has a feature that'll show you the cost of your ride in your preferred or home currency—but you'll pay a conversion fee for the convenience, so you may not want to have this enabled.

Regardless of which currency your Uber account is set to, the actual fare for your trip is the same. But if the price of your ride is shown and charged in your home currency rather than the local currency, Uber tacks on a 1.5% conversion fee. (The 1.5% is applied to your fare but not tips.)

Paying in the local currency instead—and simply calculating the conversion on Google if you really need to know—may allow you to skip fees entirely if your credit card provider or bank allows fee-free foreign transactions. Be sure to check with the terms of your payment method for any applicable fees. Unfortunately, you can't change your preference after booking once you've seen the price in your preferred currency, as new settings apply to the next eligible trip.

Uber's preferred currency pricing option is available for rides in the United States, Canada, and the Eurozone. It does not apply to split fares, Uber Cash, Uber Money, Uber Eats/Delivery, or gift cards.

How to change your currency for Uber rides

According to Uber's FAQ, the company may assign your home currency as your preferred currency by default. To change from your home currency to the local currency (or vice versa), open the Uber app and tap the Account icon in the bottom-right corner. Tap Wallet > Set preferred currency. Once you've booked a trip, you can switch your payment method for that trip but not your currency.

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