Uber driver says these 3 behaviors will get passengers a 1-star rating

Gemini/ChatGPT Uber driver Levi Spires says making him wait without explanation is an automatic one-star rating.

Riders don't need to make conversation to impress him; offering a simple hello goes a long way.

He says he tends to filter out riders rated below 4.9.

Nothing annoys Uber driver Levi Spires more than a passenger who makes him wait.

Riders don't have to make conversation or tip to earn five stars from Spires, who said he gives most passengers the top rating.

If a rider keeps him waiting without an explanation or apology, that's different.

"That's a 1-star automatic every time," said Spires, who has completed more than 16,000 trips in over six years driving mostly around Syracuse, New York.

He's also built a following around his experience behind the wheel, producing a podcast, videos, and social media content about earnings and passenger behavior.

That 1-star rating may have consequences beyond Spires' car.

Research suggests that your passenger rating can affect whether Uber drivers will accept your next ride.

Uber driver Levi Spires filters out riders with a rating below 4.9.

Business Insider One study of 16 Uber drivers in the Netherlands in 2019 found that some avoided low-rated passengers, viewing a poor rating as a warning that the rider may misbehave.

How low is too low? Spires said he filters out riders rated below 4.9.

For additional context, in Australia, the average Uber rider rating was 4.82 in 2025, with major metro areas averaging between 4.78 and 4.88 out of 5.