Uber has been trialling cash payments in Birmingham, Nottingham, Stoke and Leicester. However, the cash payment option is under review in London.
Customers can select cash as their payment option on the Uber app. If they do so, they need to request rides as normal but hand over physical money at the end of the journey, instead of their bank card being charged.
However, individual Uber drivers have the option to opt out of accepting notes and coins. Some may do so due to fears about carrying cash in their vehicles.
Since its launch in 2012, Uber has been a digital-only service, with ride ordering, tracking and payment all taking place on the Uber app.
The Payment Choice Alliance, which campaigns for consumers to have choice over the way they pay, said: “This is great news from Uber. They have recognised the will of the British public – and given them the choice to use cash for the first time.
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“It has only taken them 13 years – but at least it demonstrates that they now believe in the future of cash in the UK.
“Since they already offer cash acceptance in over 50 countries, this is Uber recognising that the British public are not second-class citizens and deserve the same rights as those people living in other countries.
“Time for HM Treasury to do the same by agreeing to support UK legislation to oblige all UK businesses to accept cash.”
The acceptance of physical currency for goods and services in the UK is not currently specified in any legislation. This means firms can choose not to accept cash – with many cafes and shops already adopting this stance.
The move by Uber comes a week after the Treasury Committee suggested that shops and other businesses could be forced to accept cash in the future.
The committee heard directly from vulnerable groups that buying essential goods and services can cost more as the number of places where they can spend their cash is reduced.
The committee warned that people who are already at increased risk of poverty will, therefore, face a “poverty premium” if cash is not widely accepted by businesses and other organisations.
