Car cleanliness policy

Cars on the platform need to be kept in a reasonably clean and tidy state at all times, so that all members can feel comfortable driving them.

They’re real people’s cars and they should still meet this basic standard.

The basic standard of cleanliness

There is no rubbish on the floor, seats or in the console
The hard surfaces, upholstery and seatbelts are clean and free of any sticky residue or spills, sand, crumbs, pet hair or dirt
The floor mats and floor wells have minimal dirt or sand
The windows are reasonably clean to allow for clear vision
There is no dried mud or heavy dirt on the exterior of the vehicle
There is no smoking in the car, either by the owner or a borrower

Members' responsibilities

If you borrow a car, you have a responsibility to return it at least as clean as when you picked it up, take photos showing the interior and exterior of the car before and after your trip, and report any cars that don't meet the basic cleanliness standard at the start of your trip.

If you share your car, you have a responsibility to check your car regularly and make sure it meets the basic standard of cleanliness before each borrower's trip. Keeping your car clean is also one of the most important things you may do to help you get good reviews and more bookings.

Take a few simple steps after you drive to ensure you don't get charged a cleaning fee:

Clear out any rubbish and take all of your belongings with you (check inside all of the pockets, under seats and in the boot)
Shake out the floor mats
If the car needs cleaning after your trip, either do it at home before you return the car or take it to a servo with self-serve carwash facilities or a professional car wash. A quick online search will help you find these nearby.

Cleanliness Definitions and Fees:

Untidy - no cleaning fee

If a car isn't left perfectly tidy, but it's quick and easy to clean up, we won't charge a cleaning fee. However, the tidier you leave the car, the more likely you may be to receive good reviews as an owner or as a borrower.

If the total of all the mess in the car would take the average person approximately 5 minutes or less to remedy, it is considered untidy. For example, it might mean throwing out a receipt, brushing off the seats, or shaking out the floor mats.

*Note: Items and waste left behind beyond a few pieces of paper (receipts, parking tickets, etc) will automatically qualify as Messy.

Messy – $50

If the car has rubbish or more than a little mess and will take the average person around 6-15 minutes to clean, then it's considered messy. This might include a small amount of vacuuming (like around the floor mats) or wiping down hard surfaces with a damp cloth, or external dirt or marks that can also be removed with a damp cloth.

$40 will be passed on to the affected owner or borrower, and $10 goes to Uber Carshare.

Dirty or very dirty – $50, plus cleaning fees

The cost of cleaning a vehicle may exceed $300 depending on the extent of the cleaning required, the size of the vehicle, and whether air conditioning filters need to be replaced.

A car is considered to be dirty if it would take the average person more than 20 minutes but less than an hour to return it to an acceptable level of cleanliness. For example:

Multiple areas require vacuuming, or only one area needs vacuuming, but the dirt has been trodden in and requires persistent effort
Multiple hard surfaces require wiping down, especially if the residue is sticky and isn’t easily removed
External dirt covering most of the external surfaces, requiring a wash to remove.
Any sign of an animal having been in a car that is not listed as pet-friendly
Pet hair or mess, even in a car that is pet-friendly: you still need to carry your pet in a carrier and clean up after it
Any sign of smoking (including the smell of cigarette smoke, ash, butts)
Odors from foods, spoiled milk or other smells - this may require repeated cleaning to fully remediate
Any cleaning that requires a professional cleaner to fully remediate, including stains on soft surfaces, or hard-to-remove residue on internal or external surfaces
Any cleaning that can be done at home, but that would take more than an hour

$40, plus the amount to cover the cleaning costs, will be passed on to the affected owner or borrower, and $10 goes to Uber Carshare.

Interior damage (including permanent stains or tears) is handled under the Damage Policy.