Uber is rolling out its ‘Women Preferences’ feature nationwide, allowing female riders to match with same-sex drivers across the US. Jenny Southan reports

As part of efforts to give users more control and flexibility when booking trips, Uber is expanding a new app feature that allows female riders to match with female drivers across the US. Known as “Women Preferences”, the option builds on earlier pilot launches and is intended to give users more control and flexibility when booking trips.

First launched in five pilot cities in August 2025, Women Preferences expanded to 60 US cities by year end. Now, women in cities such as New York, Washington, DC, Austin, Atlanta and Philadelphia, will begin seeing these new options roll out in their app.

The system has been designed to give women more control over who they travel with. Riders can choose a “Women Drivers” option when requesting a trip, which increases the chances of being matched with a female driver. If availability is limited and the waiting time becomes longer than expected, users can switch back to the standard ride option for a faster pickup.

The feature can also be set as a permanent preference within the Uber app. When activated, it prioritises matching women riders with women drivers whenever possible, although this depends on driver availability in a given location.

Female Uber drivers are also able to opt into the feature. When they do so, they can choose to receive trip requests only from women riders, giving them greater control over the types of journeys they accept on the platform.

Brooke Anderson, head of product communications at Uber, says: “Women asked for more choice – and we built it with Women Preferences. This feature exists because women told us it should, and we are proud to expand Women Preferences nationwide and bring more flexibility and control to millions more women.”

The option can also be used on Uber Teen accounts in cities where the service is available. This allows teenagers and their parents or guardians to request trips with women drivers for both immediate journeys and rides booked in advance.

Uber first introduced the concept in 2019 in Saudi Arabia, shortly after women gained the legal right to drive in the country. The company has since expanded similar features in multiple markets as part of broader safety and comfort initiatives within the app.

According to Uber, the Women Preferences system has already supported hundreds of millions of trips globally and is now available for drivers in dozens of countries. The nationwide launch in the US represents the largest rollout of the feature so far.

The company says the update responds to feedback from both riders and drivers who wanted greater choice over their travel experience. By allowing users to set matching preferences, Uber aims to make journeys feel more comfortable while maintaining the flexibility that on-demand transport platforms are known for.

The rollout also reflects wider conversations about safety and personal control within ride-hailing services. In recent years, platforms have introduced a range of tools designed to give riders more information about drivers and more options within the booking process.

With Women Preferences now available across the US, Uber says it will continue gathering feedback from riders and drivers as it considers further improvements to the feature and potential expansion in other markets.