(Image: Laura Dale/PA)
EVEN a pub quiz could be the reason your Uber fare suddenly spikes.
Events like trivia nights or the end of dinner service can trigger a surge in ride requests, leading to higher prices even on otherwise quiet evenings, according to Uber.
Majid Ismailzada, director at GM Rides, said: "A quiet weeknight can still have a busy moment.
"If several quiz teams finish together and start arranging lifts, that creates a concentrated demand for cars.
"You could be leaving a restaurant nearby and encounter the same higher prices without knowing the quiz was happening."
Surge pricing occurs when demand exceeds the number of available drivers, and it is not based on a fixed number of ride requests.
Uber confirms that pricing responds to real-time demand and can vary between neighbourhoods within the same city.
Mr Ismailzada offered four tips to help passengers avoid unexpected costs:
- Check the fare before leaving your location.
- If you can wait comfortably, check again after a few minutes.
- Compare different vehicle options, as surge pricing may not apply equally.
- Check what is included in advance bookings and whether the fare is fixed.
He said: "Booking earlier should not automatically be treated as a guarantee of a cheaper fare."