Two minutes late for your Uber? Expect a fine.

Uber will now charge riders who are two minutes late.

(Image credit: Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

published 28 April 2016

Uber riders are about to start paying a literal price if they keep their drivers waiting for more than two minutes. The ride-sharing company announced this week that it's rolling out a pilot program in Phoenix, Dallas, New Jersey, and New York City where, starting two minutes after the driver arrives at the designated location, riders will start getting charged for every minute they're late. Previously, riders had a five-minute grace period before they started getting charged.

Uber also plans to cut the time that customers have to cancel on their drivers from five minutes to two minutes. Now, if you cancel after 120 seconds have gone by, you'll be charged a $10 cancellation fee.

"Drivers' time is valuable, and while we expect riders to request a ride only once they're ready, we know that waiting for a rider at their pickup location can be frustrating," Uber said in a statement. With both of these changes, Uber explains, its drivers will still be "compensated for their time even when riders are running a bit late or have a change of plans."