You're stuck at the office. Your kid is stranded at soccer practice, or maybe your grandma needs a lift to the doctor and she still thinks an "app" is something you eat before dinner. We've all been there. The panic sets in. You start wondering, how do I order an Uber for someone else without the driver getting confused and pulling away?
It's actually easier than it used to be. Uber finally realized that we aren't all solo travelers. They built a specific feature for this, but honestly, people still mess it up because the interface can be a bit finicky if you're in a rush.
The guest rider feature is your best friend
Stop trying to just "text the driver" a different name. That's a recipe for a canceled ride and a fee you don't want to pay. Uber has a formal "Guest Rider" function. When you open the app, you tap the "Where to?" box like usual. But wait. Look at the top of the screen.
There’s a little dropdown that usually has your name and "For Me." Tap that.
Switch it to "Choose who's riding." This is where the magic happens. You'll pick the person from your contacts. If they aren't in your phone, add them first. It makes everything smoother. Once you select them, Uber sends them a text message with all the details—car model, license plate, and the driver’s name. They don't even need the Uber app installed on their own phone to track the ride.
It’s pretty slick.
The driver sees the rider's name, not yours. This prevents that awkward moment where the driver is looking for "Jessica" but a 70-year-old man named Bill is standing on the curb waving them down. Safety matters here. Drivers are trained to verify names. If the names don't match, they might drive off for their own protection.
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Why you shouldn't just "request and pray"
I’ve seen people try to bypass the guest feature by just booking a ride and calling the driver. Don't do that.
First off, it’s a massive privacy headache. Second, if something goes wrong—like an accident or a lost item—the digital paper trail is a mess. When you use the official guest rider setup, the insurance coverage is clearer. Uber’s system knows exactly who is in that car.
Plus, there’s the "Live Location" factor. If you’re the one who booked it, your phone is the one sending the GPS signal. If you're at home and the rider is three miles away at a bar, the driver’s GPS might get wonky. Using the guest feature anchors the pickup to the person's actual location or the specific address you typed in, rather than trying to tether it to your account's physical presence.
The technical side of the Guest Rider notification
When you trigger this, your friend gets an SMS. It contains a link to a web-based map. They can see the little car icon crawling toward them in real-time. It’s basically the Uber experience without the storage-hogging app.
But here is a pro tip: tell them to look for the PIN. Sometimes Uber requires a 4-digit PIN for safety. If that's enabled, you'll see it on your screen, and they’ll get it in their text. They have to give that to the driver before the ride starts. If they don't have it, they aren't going anywhere.
Dealing with the payment side of things
You are the one paying. Period.
The guest doesn't need a credit card on file. The fare comes out of your default payment method—whether that's your Visa, Apple Pay, or those Uber credits you’ve been hoarding. If they want to tip, they can give the driver cash, or you can do it through the app after they get dropped off.
Speaking of drop-offs, you can track the whole trip from your couch. It’s actually kinda comforting. You’ll see when they get picked up and exactly when the car pulls into their driveway. No more "Text me when you're home" messages that get forgotten.
What if they don't have a smartphone?
This is the tricky part. If you're wondering how do I order an Uber for someone else who is still using a flip phone or has no phone at all, you can still do it.
You just have to be the middleman.
Book the ride using the "For Me" setting (since they can't receive the guest text anyway) but immediately message the driver. Say: "Hi, I'm booking this for my dad, Henry. He's wearing a red hat and waiting by the main entrance. I am not with him."
Most drivers are cool with this as long as you communicate early. If you wait until they arrive, they'll get annoyed. Time is money for these guys. If they spend five minutes looking for you only to find out it's someone else, your rating might take a hit.
A note on Uber Health and Business
If you’re doing this for a business or a medical practice, there are higher-level tools like Uber Health or Uber for Business. These are different beasts entirely. They allow for "dashboard" booking where you can manage dozens of rides at once. But for a regular person just trying to get a friend home from the airport, the standard app is plenty.
The "Family Profile" alternative
If you find yourself doing this constantly for the same group of people—maybe your teenagers or your spouse—setup a Family Profile.
- Go to Settings.
- Find the "Family" section.
- Add members.
This lets them use their own app and their own account, but the charges go to your card. It's a bit more "set it and forget it" than the guest rider feature. It also gives them more autonomy. They can choose when to leave without having to call you to "call them an Uber."
Common hiccups and how to dodge them
Sometimes the "Choose who's riding" button just... isn't there. It happens. Usually, it's because your app needs an update or you're in a region where the feature is restricted (though it's available in most of the US and Europe).
If it fails, just go back to the manual method:
- Set the pickup location manually. Don't use "Current Location."
- Type in the exact address.
- Check the car type (UberX is standard, but maybe they have luggage? Get an XL).
- Send a screenshot of the car details to your friend.
Honestly, the screenshot is the most important "human" step. Even if Uber sends them a text, a quick photo of the license plate and the driver's face via WhatsApp ensures they don't get into the wrong black Honda Civic.
Safety and Etiquette
You are responsible for the guest. If your friend decides to be a jerk or, heaven forbid, gets sick in the backseat, that cleaning fee is hitting your bank account. Your rating is also on the line. I once ordered a ride for a buddy who was a bit too "celebratory" after a wedding, and my 4.98 rating plummeted to a 4.85 in one night.
Choose your guests wisely.
Also, remind them not to change the destination mid-ride unless they ask you first. It changes the fare, and since it’s your card, you should probably know why you’re suddenly being charged for a 20-mile detour to a Taco Bell.
Summary of Actionable Steps
- Open the app and tap the destination box.
- Tap your name at the top of the screen to toggle the "Guest Rider" menu.
- Select the contact from your list so they receive the automated tracking link.
- Confirm the pickup point specifically—don't trust the GPS if you aren't standing there.
- Monitor the trip on your own map to ensure they arrive safely.
- Communicate with the driver via text through the app if there are any specific physical descriptions of the rider (e.g., "She's in a wheelchair" or "He's holding a blue umbrella").
By using the dedicated guest feature, you keep the insurance valid, the driver informed, and the rider connected. It’s the only way to do it that doesn't feel like a sketchy workaround.