Uber is introducing a new feature called Preferred Currency Pricing in select regions, including the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom, and the European Union. This update was brought to light after a member of The Points Guy (TPG) team received an email from Uber regarding account updates.
Starting February 27, Uber will impose a 1.5% currency conversion fee for users who opt to pay in their preferred currency rather than the local currency when requesting rides abroad. According to Uber, this setting aims to assist riders by displaying prices in their home currency during international travel. It may also help reduce conversion fees imposed by some banks and credit card companies that can exceed Uber’s 1.5% charge.
However, if you use a credit card without foreign transaction fees, choosing your preferred currency means incurring an additional 1.5% cost when traveling outside your home country.
To avoid this surcharge, users can change their settings within the Uber app. By navigating to “Account,” then “Wallet,” and selecting “Preferred Currency,” users can choose “No preferred currency” as their default option to ensure payments are made in local currencies during international trips.
Even if travelers do not adjust this setting before departure, they will have another opportunity at checkout when booking rides abroad. It’s advisable to modify these settings ahead of time to prevent oversight.
Additionally, it is recommended that users ensure their payment methods within the Uber wallet do not incur currency conversion fees and stay informed on optimizing benefits while using Uber services.
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