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

Creating a new Uber account, logging back in after a long break, moving to a new phone: each of these puts you on the Uber SMS verification screen, which stops you until you enter a phone number and the code it receives. If you'd rather not tie your personal line to an app you open a few times a year, a virtual number gets you through this step in a few minutes. This guide covers how the order works in the dashboard, what Uber numbers cost by country (live Vernum data from August 27, 2026), how the driver sign-up differs, and what to do when the code doesn't show up.

Why does Uber ask for a phone number?

On Uber, the phone number is a more central identity than the email address. When you request a ride, the driver reaches you through a masked line inside the app; trip receipts and ride updates go to the number on file; and the account-recovery SMS lands on the same number when you forget your password. That's why Uber won't fully open an account until the number is verified, and why signing up with an email doesn't let you skip the phone step.

Keeping one number tied to one account is also part of how Uber limits fake accounts and promo abuse; changing your number from the settings menu triggers a fresh code to the new number. For anyone who doesn't want a personal line sitting in a ride-hailing app, who is testing a second profile, or who needs a local account for a short stay abroad, a virtual number is the practical way past this screen. If you're new to the concept, what is a virtual number explains where these numbers come from.

How to verify Uber step by step with a virtual number

The whole order takes a few minutes in the dashboard, and it doesn't matter whether you open Uber in the mobile app or in a browser:

1. In the dashboard, open Get a number, pick a country first, then choose Uber as the service. Each country row shows its coin price.
2. On the confirmation step the price is checked against your balance. If you have enough coins, the order opens, the fee is deducted, a number is assigned to you, and the countdown starts.
3. In Uber's phone field, set the country selector to the assigned number's country, type the number without the country code, and request the code.
4. The code appears in the order box in your dashboard. Copy it, paste it into Uber, and the verification completes; the order then closes.

The one detail that trips people up is the country code. Uber makes you pick the flag separately, so if you also type +62 or +44 in front of the number, you'll get an invalid-number error. The code usually lands within seconds; keep the dashboard tab open while the countdown runs. If nothing arrives, the coins are refunded automatically when the timer ends (more on that in the troubleshooting section). The steps are almost identical to our WhatsApp virtual number verification guide; what changes is the service you pick and how strict Uber is about the number's country.

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

The driver application is longer than a rider signup: driver's license, ID, vehicle documents, paperwork that varies by city, then a review period. But the very first screen is the same phone verification. A virtual number works for that step; the identity and vehicle checks run on documents, not on the phone number.

Who uses a virtual number on the driver side? People trying a separate driver profile for a different city, fleet operators opening several accounts, and drivers whose account was suspended and who need to apply again from scratch. Reusing a real number isn't possible there anyway, because Uber keeps a number attached to one account at a time; a separate order per application keeps the accounts independent. One caution: a driver account stays active for years, and Uber will eventually send another code to that number (new device, suspicious login) when you no longer hold it. For an account like that, update the number to your own line right after verification. We cover these work-account scenarios in more depth in virtual numbers for businesses.

Cheapest countries for Uber numbers (Vernum, August 27, 2026)

The table below comes from the Vernum catalog on the morning of August 27, 2026. One coin equals $0.01, so the USD column is simply the coin price divided by 100.

Uber is offered in all 193 of the 193 countries in the catalog, so nearly any country in the list can be used for an Uber order. A Turkish (+90) number is available at 84 coins, about $0.84, and a US number costs the same 84 coins. The gap between those two and the top of the table reflects how scarce +90 and +1 lines are compared with Indonesian or British ones; the Turkey virtual number guide explains why Turkish numbers sit at that level.

When picking a country, keep in mind that Uber compares the number's country code with the region the app is running in. An Indonesian number may receive the code for a rider account you'll use in the US, but driver contact and receipt settings can follow the number's country. Cheap doesn't always mean accepted. Since coins are refunded automatically when no code arrives, a 9-coin country is a low-cost first attempt; if Uber rejects it, move one row down. If you'll use the account in one specific country, choosing that country's number outright usually means fewer attempts. Prices refresh hourly; the live list and stock status are in the dashboard, and the Uber-specific page is at Uber virtual number.

Troubleshooting: the Uber verification code isn't arriving, what should I do?

• No code before the countdown ends: Use Uber's "Resend code" option once; some carriers delay the first SMS. If the timer runs out with no code, the order closes and the coins return to your balance automatically. Rather than insisting on the same country, open a new order with the next country in the table; the problem is usually between Uber and that country's carrier at that moment, not on your side.
• Uber rejected the number: An "invalid number" or "this number can't be used" message points to one of two things. Either you typed the country code twice (flag selected plus +62 in the field), so enter the plain number, or Uber recognizes that number range as virtual and won't accept it. In the second case don't wait on the order; continue with a different country. No code will reach a rejected number, so the coins are refunded when the timer expires.
• The countdown expired: Uber sent the code but you came back to the dashboard too late. The order is closed: if the code arrived, the coins stay spent on that order; if it never arrived, they're refunded. You can't ask Uber to resend to the same number because it's no longer yours; open a new order with a fresh number.
• The number was used before: If Uber says "this number is linked to another account," that line was verified on an Uber account in the past. Even if the code arrives, the account won't open. Drop the order and try a different country. The general causes of missing codes, and the order to try fixes in, are collected in SMS verification code not arriving: causes and fixes.

The rule of thumb: if the code never showed up in the dashboard, you don't lose coins; if it showed up and Uber still wouldn't accept the number, the issue is on Uber's account-check side, not delivery. In that second case, a different country plus, when possible, a different device or browser session is usually enough.

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.
• Is there a Turkish (+90) virtual number for Uber, and how much is it? Yes. As of August 27, 2026, a Turkish number for Uber costs 84 coins (about $0.84), while the cheapest country, Indonesia, is 9 coins. Prices refresh hourly, so check the dashboard for the current value.
• Can I use a virtual number for an Uber account? You can pass the initial verification with one, but think past signup. Uber signs you in by texting a code, and drivers contact riders on the number attached to the trip. An account on a released number becomes an account you cannot log back into.
• Why does Uber send a code every time I sign in? Uber uses the phone number as the login credential rather than a password, so each new sign-in needs a fresh code. That is also why the number matters more here than on services where a password is the primary key.
• What if the Uber verification code does not arrive? Check the country code, then wait out the countdown rather than requesting again — repeat requests trip rate limits. If the account already exists on a different number, no new code will reach you; recovery has to go through Uber support instead.

For a rider account, start with the cheapest country and move down the table only if Uber rejects it; for a driver account, verify with the virtual number and then switch the number on file to your own line. Because every order is tracked in the dashboard, you can also look back later and see which account you verified and when.