"Can I Uber With My Dog?" - 5 Important Things to Know

Nowadays, rideshare apps are a way of life, to such an extent that you’re far more likely to see a Lyft or an Uber go by than a taxi cab. It’s only natural for dog owners who feel attached at the hip to their pups to wonder: can I Uber with my dog? Here are 5 important things to know.

Our dogs: some of us just won’t leave home without them. And who can blame us? Dogs have literally evolved additional, even excessive, cuteness as a survival trait! And the most obvious such traits are those imploring puppy-dog eyes when you head out to work, for the groceries, on a trip, or really to do anything without them. Of course, some of us have service dogs, who heal us and provide for us in all sorts of ways, and truly are a necessary part of travel. The rest of us are just too in love with our pups to resist bringing them along (going so far as to stuff a Great Dane into an IKEA bag to get him on the New York City subway)!

So we imagine you’re ready to jump through all kinds of hoops to bring your dog on your rideshare trip. Luckily, it’s easier than ever for you both to stick your heads out the window and lap up the breeze.

Can I Uber With My Service Dog?

This one’s easy: yes! It’s the law. The 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act established the Device and Service Animal Policy. It states in part that drivers for hire “are required to serve passengers with service animals, regardless of the type of ride.” It defines service animals as “dogs that have individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities.” There are service dogs for a multitude of tasks: helping to interrupt an anxiety attack, reminding someone to take a needed medication, protecting someone who is having a seizure, guiding the blind or deaf, or even pulling a wheelchair. So whether you’re taking Uber, Lyft, a taxi, or some new rideshare app they haven’t even dreamed up yet, you and your service dog are welcome under federal law.

(One important distinction: if your dog is classified as an emotional support animal, but not a service animal, this law will not cover you. Read on for your best options.)

Can I Uber With My Pet Dog?

Uber and Lyft do this differently, so let’s cover both. Here, we’ll do an overview of Uber’s policy.

Uber has recently introduced a new feature in their UberApp: Uber Pet. If you want to bring your dog or other pet on your Uber ride (one pet per ride), Uber advises you to simply choose the Uber Pet option in their app. There will be what they call “a small additional fee”, but they don’t mention a number. (This writer opened up the app and did a quick comparison: in the Los Angeles area on a Friday morning, it looked to cost about $4 extra to bring your pooch.)

A few more things to keep in mind: Uber also asks that you bring a towel to put under your pup. They mention that you could pay an additional cleaning fee if your fuzzy friend “leaves waste, excessive hair, or damages the vehicle”. You’re responsible for restraining your dog with leash, harness or carrier, and the driver reserves the right to turn you down if they deem your dog to be “unsafe or uncontrolled”. (They also don’t have to take animals beyond dogs or cats, just in case you’re the kind of person who likes to take their boa constrictor on a joyride.)

In addition to the dog, two people can ride. And Uber reminds you that they don’t insure your dog in any way, so take all the same precautions with your precious pet as you would if you were the one driving.

Can I Lyft With My Pet Dog?

Unlike Uber, Lyft doesn’t have a pet-specific type of ride. Their policy is broader, and asks that you contact the driver ahead of time to make sure they’re comfortable transporting your fur friend.

Lyft states that you should order a ride as if you were dogless; then, once a driver is assigned, call them up and ask if they’re comfortable taking you and your pooch. If there are any quirks about your dog that you want them to know ahead of time: speak! Lyft drivers do have the right to turn down riders with pets. If your assigned driver tells you they aren’t comfortable having a dog on the ride, Lyft advises you to cancel the ride and request a new one.

Lyft notes that this can sometimes result in a cancellation fee, but that you can contact them to have it removed from your charge.

Can I Take a Taxi With My Dog?

If it’s a service dog, any business, including a business on wheels, has to take you both. So that applies to taxis just as it would to Lyft, Uber, etc.

While there are nine registered taxi franchises in the United States, and thousands more that aren’t part of the registration system, it seems to be a general rule of thumb that whether or not your dog can be taken along is up to the driver’s discretion. You can order many taxis ahead just like a rideshare. Chances are you’ll be doing this by phone, so you can simply mention your dog and let the taxi service tell you what they can and can’t do for you.

If you and your canine companion are catching a taxi in the wild, as it were… well, let’s be honest. If a taxi driver doesn’t take dogs, and they see you hailing them with a dog in tow, they probably just won’t stop for you! But NYC Yellow Taxi says that small dogs in a carrier are the most likely to catch a cab. And they advise those with medium or large dogs to have them sit next to you calmly, demonstrating what mannerly and charismatic passengers they can be.

Dog-Specific Taxis

We get it: there are some situations where none of the above options will really work for you. We note that, even though Uber has a pet-specific service, they and Lyft still reserve the right of their drivers to turn your specific dog down. Maybe your dog is fragile, ill or has an injury, and needs special accommodation for their comfort while traveling. Perhaps your dog must wear a muzzle, has aggression issues, or is from a breed or of a size that, through no fault of their own, means drivers consider them risky passengers. Maybe you’ve just had bad luck, and more than one rideshare driver has canceled on you, delaying you and throwing off your plans or causing you to miss your vet appointment.

We don’t judge. Dogs, just like people, are all individuals. If you have a particular concern that your dog will get turned down, under a rideshare policy or due to a driver’s uninformed opinion, there are reputable dog-centered taxi services throughout the country. Rather than thinking of dogs as an occasional fellow traveler, these services exist to transport your pooch. Depending on the individual business, they offer a wide range of services, including specialized vehicles ideal for comfortable dog transpo, as well as a service where your dog can be taxi’ed to its destination even if you can’t come along! (“To the dog park, Reginald!”) If your dog has special needs that could make them ineligible for an Uber, Lyft or taxi, this is an option highly worth considering.