Uber Driver Reveals the 3 Fastest Ways to Get a 1-Star Rating
An Uber driver with more than 16,000 trips under his belt says passengers who want a five-star rating need to do just three simple things: be ready, don't stink, and say hello. Fail at any of these, and you might find yourself locked out of future rides.
Levi Spires, who has driven for Uber for over six years around Syracuse, New York, says he gives most passengers top marks. But there are three behaviors that guarantee a one-star rating, and they have nothing to do with tips or conversation.
What makes an Uber driver give a 1-star rating?
Spires says the number one offense is making him wait. Uber doesn't pay drivers for the first two minutes of waiting, then pays roughly $0.26 per minute after that. A five-minute wait earns the driver just $1.30, and it costs him time he could spend making real money.
“That's a 1-star automatic every time,” said Spires, who has built a following with his podcast and social media content about driver earnings and passenger behavior.
He puts it in stark terms for riders: “If you make me wait a minute or two, you're talking like a 10%, 20% pay cut.”
A Cornell study of Uber and Lyft drivers in Seattle found that drivers spend about 28% of their logged-in time just waiting for ride requests. When a passenger adds to that wait, it hits the driver's bottom line directly.
Why bad smells in your Uber can cost you a good rating
Spires takes pride in keeping his Tesla spotless, running it through the car wash once or twice a day. Strong odors can undo that work in seconds.
“Weed is really bad,” Spires said. “People that smoke weed, it infests your car.”
After some passengers exit, he has to wipe down the seat, seat belt, and door handle. Pet odors can linger too, and if he can't clean between rides, the smell carries over to the next passenger. That hurts his tips and his reputation.
Uber's policy allows drivers to charge riders up to $225 in cleaning fees for qualifying messes, but smells alone don't qualify. So the driver eats the cost of lost business.
Do you have to make conversation to get a 5-star Uber rating?
No. Spires says he doesn't need a chat. He just wants basic human decency.
Some passengers get in while on business calls, don't acknowledge him, and act “as if you're a robot,” he said.
“Once we say hello and confirm, make eye contact, you can do whatever you want,” Spires said.
He recalled a recent ride with a woman in her 60s who worked the register at a grocery store. She tipped him $1 on a $5 trip. That meant more to him than a big tip from a wealthy rider.
“That's the best tip you get,” he said.
Can a low Uber rating keep you from getting rides?
Yes. Research from a 2019 study of 16 Uber drivers in the Netherlands found that some drivers avoid low-rated passengers, viewing poor ratings as a warning sign of bad behavior. Spires says he filters out riders rated below 4.9.
For context, the average Uber rider rating in Australia was 4.82 in 2025, with major metro areas averaging between 4.78 and 4.88 out of 5.
Spires sees his car as one of the few spaces where strangers can connect. Passengers have talked to him about death, breakups, politics, and love. Others barely speak. “But even the quiet rides have meaning and value,” he said.
Sometimes it's 2 a.m., jazz is playing, and the person in the back seat just wants to get home safely. That's fine by him. Just be outside when he pulls up.
Frequently asked questions about Uber driver ratings
What is the average Uber passenger rating?
The average Uber rider rating in Australia was 4.82 in 2025. Major metro areas averaged between 4.78 and 4.88 out of 5, according to industry data.
Can Uber drivers see your passenger rating before accepting a ride?
Yes. Uber drivers can see a passenger's rating when a ride request comes in. Many drivers, like Spires, choose to decline rides from passengers rated below a certain threshold.
How much does Uber pay drivers for waiting?
Uber does not pay drivers for the first two minutes of waiting. After that, drivers typically earn about $0.26 per minute, though rates vary by location and market.
Can Uber passengers be charged cleaning fees for bad smells?
No. Uber allows drivers to charge up to $225 in cleaning fees for qualifying messes, but unpleasant smells or odors alone do not qualify for a cleaning fee.