Safer, reliable teen rides with parental supervision
Uber, Sri Lanka’s most-loved ride-hailing app, today announced the launch of ‘Uber for teens’ in Sri Lanka — a dedicated product designed to offer teenagers aged 13 to 17 years the freedom to ride independently, with technology-driven safety features that keep parents and guardians informed every step of the way.
This marks the first time Sri Lankan families will have access to a tailored ride-sharing option for teens, offering parents peace of mind and greater independence to teenagers.
The product combines Uber’s best-in-class safety features with the flexibility modern families need. Every Uber for teen ride has safety features including GPS tracking, real-time trip tracking, in-app emergency button, and RideCheck. Parents or guardians initiate the setup by inviting their teen to create a specialised account and can book rides for them. Teens can also request rides on their own while guardians stay informed through real-time updates, live trip monitoring, and detailed ride summaries.
Kaushalya Gunaratne, Country Manager – Mobility, Uber Sri Lanka, said, “With Uber for teens, we’re introducing a powerful solution for busy families in Sri Lanka — one that blends independence for teens with transparency and peace of mind for parents. We’re proud to bring one of our most trusted global features to the market, reinforcing our commitment to safe, inclusive and innovative mobility.”
Key Safety Features
Uber for Teens comes with multiple protections built into every ride:
- Real-time trip tracking: Guardians receive live notifications the moment a ride is requested, with full visibility of the trip’s progress
- PIN verification: Teens must enter a unique PIN to ensure they’re getting into the correct vehicle
- RideCheck: Uber detects unexpected stops or route deviations and prompts both rider and driver to confirm if everything is okay.
- Verified driver-partners: Only experienced, top-rated drivers are eligible to receive teen trip requests. Drivers are notified that the trip involves a teen and can choose to opt out.
How to book an Uber for Teens ride:
- Parents/guardians with a verified Uber account can invite their teen to join the app
- The teen will need to setup their account, adding their parents as a guardian
- The teen can start requesting trips immediately after the account setup and teens can book rides independently too
- Parents/guardians will receive notifications about trips on their app as well
- Guardians also have the option to request rides on behalf of their teens which reflects on the teen’s account
Uber for Teens is now live in the Western Province with plans to expand to other major cities soon. Teen riders can request from a range of options, including Uber Zip, Premier, Reserve and Tuk.
About Uber
Uber’s mission is to create opportunity through movement. We started in 2010 to solve a simple problem: how do you get access to a ride at the touch of a button? More than 15 billion trips later, we’re building products to get people closer to where they want to be. By changing how people, food, and things move through cities, Uber is a platform that opens up the world to new possibilities.
