Uber has introduced a new service in India called ‘Uber for Teens’, aimed at helping young people aged 13 to 17 move around more independently, while keeping their parents in the loop.
The service, first launched in the US in 2023, has now made its way to over 50 countries.
In India, it’s being rolled out in 37 cities, including major metros like Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, and Kolkata.
In Kerala, Kochi is the first city to see the launch. It is likely that other cities will be added gradually, though nothing is officially confirmed yet.
Across the country, parents often find themselves juggling packed schedules and struggling to arrange safe transport for their teenagers. From school runs to coaching classes and extracurricular activities, the day can quickly turn into a logistical maze.
According to a survey conducted by Uber, 92% of parents reportedly limit their teenagers' activities because they can’t always find trustworthy transport options. On top of that, 72% said they worry about their child’s safety while travelling.
Many parents still rely on their own vehicles, with 63% saying they frequently drive their teens themselves. That might work for some, but it’s hardly practical for everyone—especially when both parents are working or there are multiple children in the family.
‘Uber for Teens’ is not just a regular ride-hailing service with a younger user—it’s built with a few added features that aim to ease safety concerns and give parents more oversight.
The service allows for real-time GPS tracking, so parents can follow the route live on their app. There is also an emergency button, which can alert trusted contacts immediately if anything seems off.
Parents can book and approve rides for their teens, or teens can do it themselves with permissions in place.
Notifications keep the parent informed at every step—from the ride being accepted to the teen getting dropped off. The whole idea seems to be about keeping everyone in the loop, without adding more stress.
To start using the service, the parent must already have an Uber account. From there, they invite their teenager to set up a separate teen account, which is then linked to theirs.
Once that’s done, the teen can either book rides on their own or have the parent do it for them.
Either way, the parent will be notified and can monitor the ride from beginning to end.
The service doesn’t claim to be a fix-all, and that’s probably for the best. Not every Indian city has the same level of Uber coverage or traffic behaviour, and safety can mean different things in different contexts.
Still, for parents who constantly find themselves playing the role of chauffeur, this could be a small step towards easing the load.
