Uber SMS Verification: How to Get the Code with a Virtual Number

Whether you're signing up for Uber or logging in from an unfamiliar device, the Uber SMS verification screen asks you to enter a phone number before you can continue. If you'd rather not leave your personal line on file with a ride-hailing app, you can wrap up this step with a virtual number in just a few minutes. In this guide, we walk through how the process works step by step, how things change for driver sign-up, and what to watch out for.

Why does Uber ask for a phone number?

Uber requires phone verification for both riders and drivers at signup, for identity confirmation and account security. A one-time code is sent to the number you enter, and your account isn't fully active until you enter it correctly. Driver communication, trip notifications, and account recovery also run through the number on file, so the platform needs a working line at signup. For anyone who'd rather not have their real number on file with a ride-hailing app, a virtual number is a practical way to get past this step.

How to verify Uber step by step with a virtual number

The process is a simple flow you complete in a few clicks on the dashboard:

1. Pick a country and select Uber as the service.
2. The fee for the assigned number is deducted from your coin balance, and the order opens with a countdown timer.
3. Enter the number in Uber's phone verification field.
4. Copy the incoming code from the dashboard, paste it into Uber, and finish the verification.

This flow works exactly the same whether it shows up on the signup form when creating an account or on the screen that appears when updating your phone number from settings. It largely overlaps with the steps we cover in virtual number verification for WhatsApp; the only thing that changes is which service you select.

Can you use a virtual number for the Uber driver sign-up too?

Driver sign-up involves a few more steps than a rider account: ID documents, vehicle details, and a background check are all part of the process. But the first step of that application still goes through the same Uber SMS verification screen. For anyone testing a second driver profile or setting up a separate account to work in a different city, reusing a real number every time isn't practical; opening a separate virtual number order for each application keeps the accounts independent of one another. We cover this kind of work-account use case in more depth in virtual numbers for businesses.

Which country's virtual number should you pick for Uber?

• Keep an eye on the timer: You need to enter the code before the order's countdown expires; otherwise the order is automatically canceled.
• Prefer a country that's in stock: Choosing a country shown as available in the dashboard at that moment speeds up the order process; you can check the current country and service catalog ahead of time on the services page.
• Coins come back if the code never arrives: If the timer runs out and no code ever arrives, the coins you spent are automatically refunded to your account, and you can try again with a different number.
• Use the number for verification only: Virtual numbers are reserved for a single verification window; instead of adding one to your account as a permanent contact number, use it just to get through that one verification step.

For anyone running multiple Uber accounts, setting up a driver profile in a different city, or rebuilding an account and needing to refresh the number on file, reusing a real number every time just isn't practical; opening a separate order for each application keeps them independent of one another. You can track your coin balance from the dashboard and apply coins earned through the referral program or any promo codes you have to your next order.

What to do if the Uber SMS verification code doesn't arrive

With some carriers the code can lag by a few seconds, so don't panic; just refresh the page before the order timer runs out. We've collected the common reasons a code doesn't arrive, and the order to try fixes in, in our article SMS verification code not arriving: causes and fixes. If Uber verification keeps failing, creating a new order with a different country is usually the fastest solution; like other platforms, Uber won't accept the same number for verification again within a short period, so picking a different country on the second attempt makes things easier.

Frequently asked questions about Uber SMS verification

• How long does the Uber SMS verification code take to arrive? Usually within a few seconds. You can keep checking the dashboard until the order timer runs out, and if the code never arrives, your coins are automatically refunded when the timer expires.
• Will Uber accept the same number for verification a second time? It usually won't accept the same number again within a short period. For a new account or a re-verification, you'll need to open an order with a different virtual number.
• Can I use a virtual number for the Uber driver sign-up too? Yes. You can use a virtual number for the phone verification step at the start of the driver sign-up; later steps like ID and vehicle documents are a separate process.
• Do I lose coins if the Uber verification code never arrives? No. If the code hasn't arrived by the time the order timer expires, the coins you spent are automatically refunded to your account, and you can try again with a different number.

Verifying with a virtual number is a fast, repeatable way to protect your real number, whether you're opening a new Uber account or getting through the first step of a driver sign-up. Since the entire process is tracked in the dashboard, you can also look back and see which account you verified and when.