Uber expands driver background checks to permanently disqualify individuals with convictions that could be sexual in nature and adds disqualifications for stalking and strangulation-related offenses, aiming to bolster safety with guidance from domestic violence experts and civil rights groups.

Existing drivers aren’t affected by the new rules unless there are serious safety complaints; convictions older than 15 years that aren’t sexual in nature also aren’t retroactively disqualifying.

This move follows prior Uber safety reporting, including New York Times investigations into ride-share violence and a 2023-2024 case in which Uber was found partially liable for a passenger’s rape and assault, resulting in an $8.5 million damages verdict.

Background checks will cover a driver’s lifetime (up to about 99 years), expanding beyond the previous seven-year SSN trace checks by third-party providers.

Uber is rolling out the updated checks nationwide, reflecting a broader industry push toward stricter driver vetting amid lawsuits over safety gaps.