DisableUber's Preferred Currency Setting to Prevent an Additional Charge
Traveling can be a delightful experience, but dealing with currency conversions can sometimes make your wallet groan. You never know how much that expensive souvenir is really costing you, and those conversion fees can add up, leaving you with an unexpected bill. Fortunately, Uber has a feature that can help, but it might come at a cost.
Uber now offers the option to display the cost of your ride in your preferred or home currency, which can be convenient when you're trying to keep track of your spending. However, this convenience comes with a 1.5% conversion fee. So, if you're happy to calculate the conversion rate yourself and pay in the local currency, you might be able to avoid these fees entirely, especially if your credit or debit card provider offers fee-free foreign transactions.
But let's say you've decided to go with Uber's preferred currency pricing. The actual cost of your ride is the same, no matter the currency. Uber adds a 1.5% conversion fee to your fare, but not to your tips.
It's important to note that Uber's preferred currency pricing isn't available for all services. It only applies to rides in the United States, Canada, and the Eurozone. Split fares, Uber Cash, Uber Money, Uber Eats/Delivery, and gift cards aren't included in this feature.
If you want to change your currency setting, simply open the Uber app, tap the Account icon in the bottom-right corner, then navigate to Wallet > Set preferred currency. You can switch your payment method for a specific trip, but you can't change your currency preference after booking, unless you want to wait until your next eligible trip.
Now, if you want to dodge those pesky conversion fees, Uber's FAQ offers some guidance. They may assign your home currency as your preferred currency by default, but you can change it to the local currency, or vice versa, by following these steps: Open the Uber app, go to your account settings, then tap Wallet > Set preferred currency. From there, select "No preferred currency" to avoid the conversion fee.
So there you have it! If you're savvy with your spending, you can navigate the world of currency conversions on Uber with ease. Just remember to check your terms and conditions, because different payment methods may have different foreign transaction fees. And if you're really planning on traveling, it might be worth finding a card that offers fee-free foreign transactions - your wallet will thank you for it.
Using Uber's preferred currency pricing might incur a 1.5% conversion fee, but this fee is not added to the tips.To avoid the conversion fee altogether, you can opt to pay in the local currency directly, especially if your credit or debit card provider offers fee-free foreign transactions.Smart travelers can change their currency setting in the Uber app to avoid conversion fees, either by selecting the local currency or setting "No preferred currency" as an option.
