UberXL Guide: (Cars List, Requirements, & Rates) [2022]

Uber has exploded in popularity over the past few years and now there are several options to get around the country and the globe with Uber. You can choose to go the cheaper routes with services like Uber Pool and UberX or you can make your experience more premium by going with services like Uber Select or Uber Black.

But what about UberXL? Is it different from UberX or Uber Black SUV? 

In this article, I am going to tell you everything you need to know about UberXL, including how much more expensive the price/costs are, the UberXL cars list, and all of the requirements. I’ll also compare it to UberX and Uber Black SUV.

What is UberXL?

UberXL is a type of (more expensive) Uber fare that offers SUV or minivan vehicles to accommodate up to six riders. This fare is designed for groups/families and also for individuals who need extra space to store their luggage to and from the airport.

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How to use UberXL?

To use Uber XL, simply log into your Uber app and proceed as if you were going to book an ordinary UberX ride.

Select the destination that you will be heading to and once you do that, if UberXL is available you should see it listed under the menu for choosing a ride, as seen below. (In some cases you may need to swipe up to see UberXL.)

Since UberX is the default option you just need to select the “UberXL” option and then confirm your ride and you’re all good to go!

How much more expensive is UberXL vs UberX?

UberXL will likely be around 30% to 40% more expensive than UberX.

Below are some data points that I used to arrive at this figure.

I did a test booking from my house to my university in Rochester Hills, Michigan which is about 15-20 minutes away. Here is what the rates look like:

• UberX: $16.62
• UberXL: $23.62
• Uber Black: $46.94
• Uber Black SUV: $65.83
• Uber Select: $36.84

So, as you can see, UberXL is more expensive than UberX. In fact, the price is about 30% more expensive.

However, when you factor in the fact that it’s up to six riders per UberXL, you can significantly save some money by selecting one UberXL versus multiple UberX rides if you have a group of five or six people. Remember, UberX is designed for up to four passengers.

Related: Is Uber Available 24/7?

When I did another test booking for UberXL at a different time and destination, we can see it’s quite different from UberX. In this case, the price is 38% more expensive, so the price increase is not always a constant percentage. 

This quote was from my house to Detroit Airport (DTW), which takes 50 minutes to one hour. But again, it could be more efficient than booking two Uber rides with a large group or family.

• UberX: $62.79
• UberXL: $100.21
• Uber Black: $181.51
• Uber Black SUV: $251.95
• Uber Select: $140.68

Don’t forget that they’ll also be expecting a tip which will add more to the cost (related: To tip or not to tip?).

And if you want to find out more about how Uber fares are calculated, click here.

Is UberXL worth it?

The short answer is yes, but only if you have a group of 5 to 6 people or have tons of luggage that takes up lots of room.

Comparing UberX and UberXL, you get a significant upgrade with UberXL in vehicle size. While UberXL vehicles won’t be luxurious, you will be guaranteed a vehicle with tons of room in both the seat and trunk. Even though the price is almost double of UberX in some cases, it’s perfectly worth it for space if you need or desire it.

However, if you don’t need the extra space, UberX is still perfectly fine as UberXL drivers are on the same level as UberX drivers. Meaning, they aren’t specially trained or held at a higher standard than UberX (unlike drivers for premium Uber options like Uber Select, Black, and Black SUV).

The Turo comparison

After a recent trip to Hawaii we compared the prices for Uber versus Turo.

One of the things I found was that UberXL could be very expensive compared to Turo, especially when you are talking about a group of five since five person vehicles can be pretty cheap to rent and UberX is not available.

So depending on your circumstances, it might be cheaper to rent a Turo vehicle for a day. Just something to consider.

What vehicles qualify for UberXL? (car list)

2008 or newer

First, many different types of cars are limited by the year. Some areas allow models that go all the way back to 2008 but some areas can require you to have newer models such as those ranging from 2013 to new.

2022 Update: Uber now says that UberXL vehicles must be a 2002 or newer.

UberXL models

UberXL doesn’t require certain models of vehicles. The only requirement for vehicles, besides the year, would be to be able to sit up to 6 riders and 1 driver along with luggage.

Additional requirements

• 4-door vehicle
• Good condition with no cosmetic damage
• No commercial branding
• At least 21 years of age
• Valid US driver’s license
• Proof of personal Auto Insurance
• Proof of vehicle registration
• Pass a vehicle inspection if your vehicle is 5 model years or older

As you can see, the requirements are nothing too special and are very standard for baseline ridesharing vehicle requirements.

Plus, these requirements are exactly the same as UberX too. UberXL drivers are held at the same standard as UberX drivers, meaning ratings cannot be below 4.6 or Uber will kick the driver off the platform.

Examples of UberXL vehicles

• Kia Sorrento
• Toyota Highlander
• Dodge Grand Caravan
• Chevrolet Traverse
• Dodge Durango
• Ford Explorer
• Buick Enclave
• Cadillac Escalade
• Hyundai Santa Fe

These are just examples of UberXL vehicles and certainly more vehicles are allowed to drive for UberXL. Expect anything that can fit 6 riders.

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How expensive are UberXL vehicles?

If you are like me you might be wondering how expensive the UberXL vehicles are on average. Maybe you want to know how expensive the car is you are going to be riding in or maybe you want to drive an UberXL vehicle and need to know the price.

I’ve looked up some prices for these vehicles that can give you an idea of how expensive they are. The prices are for the base model. If you are considering being an UberXL driver then you might want to get a car more equipped so that you and your riders have more features. So just keep that in mind.

Buick

• 2020 Buick Enclave MSRP: $40,000

Cadillac

• 2020 Cadillac Escalade MSRP: $75,195

Chevrolet

• 2020 Chevrolet Traverse MSRP: $29,800

Dodge

• 2020 Dodge Grand Caravan MSRP: $28,535
• 2020 Dodge Durango MSRP: $30,495

Ford

• 2020 Ford Explorer MSRP: $36,675

Hyundai

• 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe MSRP: $25,900

Kia

• 2020 Kia Sorento MSRP: $27,335

Toyota

• 2020 Toyota Highlander MSRP: $31,350

UberX vs UberXL

It all comes down to size, and size matters for UberXL. If you want space for yourself to spread out or are traveling with a group of 6 that needs one Uber or you have tons of luggage that takes up a lot of room, an UberXL vehicle will be best.

Some examples of cars that you will find for UberX:

• Dodge Charger
• Toyota Prius
• BMW 3 Series
• Kia Sorento & Optima
• Ford Escape
• Nissan Maxima
• Toyota Camry
• Honda Accord
• Ford Escort
• Hummer H3
• Ford Fusion
• Ford Crown Victoria
• Nissan Altima
• Chevrolet Equinox
• Chrysler 200 & 300

As you can see, there are some good vehicles in there like the BMW 3 Series, but many vehicles won’t be roomy at all. While riding in a BMW would be great, the 3 Series is about the size of a Toyota Prius. So, this just verifies that the vehicles you get as an UberX rider can be small.

Driver qualifications will be the same for both UberX and UberXL. When a driver applies to Uber, the car determines if he or she can serve UberX or UberXL passengers.

Sometimes, you can see UberXL drivers drive as UberX since the driver has the ability to change the class it’s in, but the UberXL driver will be paid less as an UberX driver, even if they are driving an SUV or van.

Both UberX and UberXL drivers have to have a rating of 4.6 or above. Drivers range from amazing to okay with the rare bad driver. I personally haven’t had a bad UberX driver, but have had bad Uber Select and Uber Black drivers. But that may not be the norm for many people.

Tip: If you ever left something in the car, you can read our article about Uber Lost and Found.

UberXL vs Uber Black SUV

This is a very unfair comparison, but UberXL and Uber Black SUV will be very different experiences.

The big differences will be Uber Black SUV vehicles will be hand-selected and have to be a specific model, or at least be greater in value and luxury than the least expensive vehicle on the list. Here are some models of vehicles you can expect to ride in when you order an Uber Black SUV.

• Cadillac Escalade ESV
• Ford Expedition Limited/Platinum
• Audi Q7
• GMC Yukon XL
• Infiniti QX/56/60/80
• Lincoln Navigator
• Nissan Armada
• Mercedes-Benz GL-Class
• Chevrolet Tahoe/Hybrid
• Toyota Sequoia
• Lexus LX/GX
• Lincoln MKT
• GMC Denali/Hybrid
• Porsche Cayenne
• Chevrolet Suburban

As you can see, the list is small, curated, and only allows premium luxury vehicles. Every Uber Black SUV has to have an all-black interior and exterior. Seats have to be leather. And on top of those requirements, all Uber Black SUV drivers have to have a limo license.

Meanwhile, UberXL only requires the driver to be above 21 with a clean driving record. Nothing else. So you can see the vehicles and the driver will differ greatly as UberXL will be casual while Uber Black SUV would be for all business.

The only similarity you can see between them is the number of riders in one vehicle, and both UberXL and Uber Black SUV allow 6 riders plus 1 driver.

Final word

UberXL is valuable if you need the space for either luggage or for people. It’s still very much like UberX in the service department, which isn’t bad. At least you know the type of vehicle size you will get when you order UberXL, unlike UberX which is very random most times.

This article was originally published by Steve Smith.