Uber Criminal Background Checks Under Scrutiny After Uber Driver Assault Claims

Recent New York Times reporting has raised concerns that the leniency of Uber’s background check requirements may have contributed to their drivers allegedly committing sexual assault and rape.

Key takeaways:

• The New York Times found that Uber cleared drivers with a criminal history involving violent felony convictions in many states.
• The New York Times found that Uber allowed people in 22 states to drive, even though they had been convicted of crimes such as child abuse, assault and stalking, as long as the convictions were over seven years old.
• Some of those same drivers whose applications didn’t trigger Uber background check disqualifiers are now being accused by passengers of alleged sexual assault.

Call us today for a FREE consultation at (800) 718-4658 or contact us if you or a loved one was assaulted by an Uber driver. Our experienced Uber sexual assault lawyers will hold Uber accountable for their inadequately thorough background checks and help you recover compensation for medical bills, therapy costs, pain, suffering and more.

How Uber Conducts Criminal Background Checks

Uber uses criminal background checks as part of its driver screening process in an effort to keep riders safe. To do this, the company works with third-party background check providers such as Checkr, which review a wide range of records. These checks typically include criminal databases, motor vehicle records, court records, sex offender registries, international sanctions lists, and federal watchlists.

Uber’s background check partners are nationally accredited by the Professional Background Screening Association and are regulated under state and federal law to ensure accuracy and completeness.

Potential drivers are required by Uber to provide personal information like consent to background checks, valid government ID, vehicle documents, live profile photos, Social Security numbers, dates of birth and full names.

Under Uber’s screening standards, most offenses are subject to a seven-year lookback period, while certain serious crimes are meant to be permanently disqualifying. Once a background check is completed, the result is labeled either “Clear” or “Consider,” with “Consider” cases requiring further review before a driver is approved to use the platform.

Key factors and nuances regarding the screening process:

• Not just charges: Convictions are usually required, not just arrests.
• Individual assessment: Uber may review rehabilitation evidence in “Consider” cases.
• Local laws: The criteria, such as local regulations, may significantly differ by state/city.
• Timeframe: Drivers can be approved within hours.

Unfortunately, many criminals have made it through the cracks:

• The New York Times found that drivers are not disqualified by many violent crimes which occurred over seven years ago.
• They also found that some drivers with prior convictions for crimes such as armed robbery, child abuse, and assault were allowed to drive for Uber and were later accused of sexually assaulting passengers across the United States.

Together, these findings raise serious questions about whether Uber’s background check policies do enough to protect riders from preventable harm.

Criminal Convictions That May Not Disqualify Uber Drivers

Not all criminal convictions disqualify people from driving for Uber:

• Uber, in many states, allows people to drive even if they have felony convictions that are over seven years old.
• These convictions can include convictions for assault, armed robbery, stalking, child abuse and other serious offenses.
• For example, officials in Massachusetts audited rideshare drivers and banned over 8,000 rideshare drivers who had previously been approved to drive, showing the extent that Uber was failing to properly screen its drivers.
• It’s clear that Uber prioritizes speed of hiring over the safety of their passengers.

Gaps in Uber’s Background Check System

There are, unfortunately, gaps in Uber’s background check system:

• Background checks are often limited to where drivers lived in the past seven years.
• Crimes committed in other states or counties may not show up.
• Fingerprint-based checks aren’t required in most states.
• In-person interviews are not conducted.
• Not only could Uber have done more to screen its drivers, but, in the past, the company has actually fought against legislation which would have required stricter background checks like those required of taxi drivers.
• Internal documents show that company leaders were aware of these limitations.
• For example, according to The New York Times, in 2018, Uber’s head of safety communications said “We are def not doing everything we can” regarding background checks.

Uber Driver Sexual Assault Allegations Highlight Safety Concerns

Uber has faced growing scrutiny over sexual assault allegations involving its drivers, raising concerns about passenger safety and the company’s screening practices. Court records, safety reports, and investigative journalism suggest the scope of the issue may be larger than Uber has publicly disclosed.

Between 2017 and 2022, Uber reported 12,522 serious sexual assault incidents in the United States across five categories in its safety reports. However, a December 2025 New York Times investigation revealed unsealed court documents indicating Uber may have received more than 400,000 sexual assault or misconduct complaints during the same period, averaging roughly one report every eight minutes.

Advocates warn that these figures likely understate the problem, as under five percent of sexual assaults are reported to law enforcement. Many victims report being intoxicated, asleep, or otherwise vulnerable during rides, which can further reduce reporting rates.

Lawsuits also question Uber’s background check practices. Research shows that more than one-third of individuals arrested for rape have at least one prior felony conviction, yet court filings allege some drivers accused of assault had criminal histories that did not disqualify them from driving on the platform.

Common themes identified in lawsuits and reports include:

• Passengers being in a vulnerable state during rides
• Drivers with prior felony convictions allegedly being approved
• Claims that stronger safeguards, such as stricter background checks or in-car cameras, could have reduced assaults

Uber maintains that serious safety incidents are rare and that reported assault rates have declined, but ongoing criminal cases and civil lawsuits continue to raise questions about whether existing safety measures are sufficient.

Uber vs. Lyft Background Check Policies

Regarding the background check policies of Uber and Lyft:

• Lyft’s background checks disqualify applicants whose criminal histories include violent crimes or sexual offenses.
• Lyft re-runs background checks every year.
• Uber also screens criminal history, but many convictions are only disqualifying if they happened in the past seven years, and disqualifying factors can vary by state.
• Both ridesharing companies have faced lawsuits involving drivers allegedly assaulting passengers.

FAQs

What Safety Measures Does Uber Implement Through Its Background Checks?

Uber conducts background checks on all potential drivers in order to attempt to ensure all users’ safety:

• This background check process usually takes three to seven business days. It may be extended to 15 days for a manual search.
• The background checks include reviewing identity, driving history by way of DMV checks, and criminal records regarding serious offenses.
• Motor Vehicle Record Checks review driving history and check for disqualifying offenses. About 70 percent of applications that are rejected stop at this stage.
• Potential drivers who fail the motor vehicle reports do not proceed to criminal background checks.
• Motor Vehicle Record Checks look for major violations in driving records such as DWIs/DUIs, hit-and-runs, driving on suspended licenses and reckless driving. They also involve limits on the number of traffic tickets or accidents, such as three in three years.
• Drivers must have a minimum of driving experience, such as one to three years depending upon age.
• Some criminal convictions, like terrorism-related offenses, sexual assault, kidnapping, murder, violent crimes and some theft/property damage crimes might lead to being disqualified from being able to drive for Uber and access to the user’s Uber account being removed.
• A seven-year lookback period is applied by Uber for most offenses, such as violent misdemeanors, fraud, robbery or felonies. This means any conviction within the past seven years can be disqualifying.
• Drivers who have convictions for serious crimes such as kidnapping, murder or sexual assault get permanently banned from being able to drive for Uber.
• Uber requires identity verification which is ongoing via photos that are matched with government IDs.
• Continuous monitoring to look for new issues happens between annual screenings. This includes continuous background checks that monitor drivers for any new offenses following them getting approved to drive.
• Uber does annual background checks on existing drivers to make sure that compliance is ongoing regarding safety standards.
• Pending charges might lead to access to Uber’s platform being blocked, even in the absence of a conviction.

How Far Back Does Uber’s Background Check Look?

Regarding how far Uber’s background checks look:

• Only convictions in the past seven years for most crimes are disqualifying for Uber applicants.
• However, some serious crimes can be disqualifying if they happened at any time in the applicant’s adult life.
• The background checks are based largely on where the driver has lived in the past seven years.
• So, crimes that occurred earlier or in other jurisdictions may not always be uncovered by the background checks.

Can Uber’s Background Checks Be Disputed?

Yes. Uber applicants have a right to dispute inaccuracies in background checks:

• The Fair Credit Reporting Act gives Uber applicants the right to receive copies of background check reports and dispute inaccuracies.
• Background check errors may happen because of data entry mistakes, mistaken identity or outdated information.
• Those who suspect errors in background checks should obtain copies of the reports and carefully review them.
• Those who find inaccuracies need to file disputes with the background check companies who performed the checks.
• One can navigate the process of disputing a background check effectively by working with a lawyer who handles background checks.

How Many Sexual Assault Cases Does Uber Have?

There were 2,949 cases in the Uber sexual assault multidistrict litigation as of December 9, 2025.

Can I File a Lawsuit Against Uber If I Was Assaulted by My Driver?

Yes. If you have been assaulted by an Uber driver, you should:

• Immediately ensure your safety: Get to safety as quickly as you can. Immediately call 911 if you feel threatened or the incident is in progress.
• Contact law enforcement: The crime should be reported to the police. A police report is vital evidence for potential civil lawsuits and criminal prosecution of the perpetrator.
• Seek medical attention: It’s vital to obtain a medical evaluation in order to check for trauma or unseen injuries, even if you don’t think you’ve been physically injured. Medical records can be important evidence.
• Document the incident: Take videos or photos of the location and any injuries. Take screenshots of ride details in Uber’s app, including communication logs, the driver’s license plate and the driver’s name. Write down an account, in detail, of everything that happened.
• Tell Uber about the incident: The help menu in Uber’s app allows you to report the incident. You can also report it online. You can contact Uber support at any time, as they have a 24/7 safety support team.
• Consider legal options: Many assault survivors pursue lawsuits against drivers and Uber for negligence, seeking financial compensation for damages such as medical bills, therapy bills, pain and suffering, and pushing for systemic change. You can better understand your legal options and rights by contacting our lawyers. Uber has demonstrated that they employ negligent hiring practices and should be held accountable if they put riders such as you in danger’s way.

How Long Do I Have to File an Uber Sexual Assault Lawsuit?

The amount of time you have to file an Uber sexual assault lawsuit in California is governed by California’s sexual assault statute of limitations:

• Survivors of sexual assault which happened when they were an adult may file civil lawsuits in California up to 10 years following an incident, or within three years of discovering that an injury or illness was caused by the assault, whichever comes later.
• Survivors of sexual assault which happened when they were an adult also have a new lookback window, which ends on December 31, 2027, to file a lawsuit even if the statute of limitations has passed.
• Survivors of sexual assault which happened when they were a child in California have no time limit to file a lawsuit if the assault occurred on or after January 1, 2024, and may sue until the age of 40 or within five years of discovering that the assault caused psychological harm, whichever comes later, if the assault happened prior to January 1, 2024.
• Time limits may be extended when perpetrators flee or leave the state.
• It’s important to act quickly because evidence can fade or get harder to gather, witnesses can forget details or move, and quicker filing can lead to stronger overall cases.

Contact an Uber Assault Lawyer Today

Call us today for a FREE consultation at (800) 718-4658 or contact us if an Uber driver assaulted you or a loved one.

Clients choose our experienced sexual assault lawyers to handle their Uber assault claims because:

• We have been successfully handling sexual assault claims since 1990.
• Our lawyers have recovered over $750,000,000 for sexual assault survivors and other clients.
• We handle sexual assault claims on a contingency fee basis, meaning no fee is charged until we win your case, and the only fee you’ll ever owe is a percentage of any recovery obtained.
• Our sensitive, compassionate, empathetic attorneys and staff offer a trauma-informed, client-focused approach.
• We provide survivors with 24/7 availability and reliable communication.