Strategy: How to get a 5-star passenger rating on Uber, according to drivers

There's probably a reason you have a surprisingly low Uber rating.

Ratings on Uber are a two-way street.

Not only do you rate your driver, but your driver rates you on a scale of one to five stars after each journey.

You may think, who cares? So what if my Uber drivers don't like me? But there are direct consequences of having a lower passenger rating.

As Jon Hoos, an UberX driver with two years of experience, puts it on Quora, "When your rating is low, the driver will likely take a second or two and think to themselves, 'This rider has a 3.2 star rating. I don't know if I want them in my car.' I have not accepted rides because of a poor passenger rating, and I know that I will do it again."

Now, if you just checked your passenger review (all you have to do is open the Uber app and click on the menu button in the top left corner), and you're not happy with what you find, don't fret. Since that little number under your name is an average of all your ratings, earning a few more five-star reviews will up your average rating.

Figuring out what exactly constitutes a five-star passenger is a little less clear, however.

When Business Insider asked more than 40 Uber drivers to reveal their personal rating systems, we found that, though there are some basic standards most drivers hold passengers to, oftentimes what one Uber driver may consider totally acceptable, another Uber driver may deem worthy of point deductions.

If you follow these rules, however, you're almost guaranteed to get a five-star rating:

Add a tip

"No tip, you get four stars."

"If a passenger is friendly and leaves me a tip, they get five stars. If they're friendly but don't leave a tip, they get four stars."

Don't keep the driver waiting

"Everyone starts at five stars. Certain things can knock off a star or two. The most common reason for a lower passenger rating is making us wait after we arrive to pick you up. If you're ready to go at the curb when we arrive, it means a lot."

Be polite

"Rude passengers immediately get four stars. Depending on the level of rudeness, their rating can go down to one star. Most of my riders get five stars."

"Everyone I drive is five stars unless they are terribly rude."

If you're going to be sick, don't do it in the car

"Don't puke in or ruin the car and you get five stars from me."

Clean up after yourself

"I had a passenger who literally left a half-full gallon of apple cider in my back seat at the airport. When I asked her if she wanted it (clearly hinting that she should bring her garbage with her), she made up something about how she couldn't bring it into the airport with her. She got one star."

Avoid slamming doors

"If they make me wait, slam my door, or are rude, I deduct stars."

"Passengers get five stars if they are paying attention to the arrival of the car and one star if they slam the door."

Smell good

"Ninety-nine percent of my passengers get five stars. The only ones that don't are the ones that smell bad or try to be bossy with me."

Don't do anything illegal in the car

"I start every ride as a five-star rating. I will deduct points for rude behavior or illegal activities. I will also deduct points for passengers who leave garbage in my car."

Generally just be a decent human being

"If the passenger is a basic, decent human being, they get five stars. Seriously, get in, do the small-talk thing, and get out — five-star status. I rate a passenger one star if they make me feel unsafe, uncomfortable, or afraid. I'll rate one star for a drunk passenger who spent the whole ride hitting on me. I'll rate one star and report them if they threaten me or hurt me."

Responses have been edited for clarity.

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