BuyUKeSIM's UK +44 line receives both Uber's SMS codes and the masked driver calls, worldwide over roaming, with no mobile data on the line.
A real UK +44 number for your Uber account
Uber sends codes by SMS and drivers reach you by call, so the line has to receive both, including when you are abroad.
- Receives Uber's SMS codes and the masked driver calls, both unlimited, both worldwide.
- Real UK +44 carrier line rather than VoIP or a shared rental number.
- Change the number in the app under Account, Settings, Personal Info, while the old line still works.
- $25 includes the first six months, then $15 every six months, with nothing auto-renewing.
- No mobile data on the line, so the Uber app runs on wifi or your existing data plan.
- Uber may still require ID for riders using payment methods it treats as anonymous.
Uber uses a phone number for more than the signup code. The number is how the app confirms it is you when you change account details, how trip notifications reach you, and how a driver contacts you at pickup through a masked call. Uber also describes cross-checking the name and phone number on an account against trusted third-party data as part of rider verification. So the number is doing identity work in the background, not just opening the door once.
That makes an inbound-capable line the requirement rather than a text receiver. A BuyUKeSIM UK number is a real +44 mobile line delivered as an eSIM QR, with unlimited incoming SMS and unlimited incoming calls that roam internationally. It carries no mobile data, so the Uber app itself runs on your normal connection while the UK line handles codes and the driver's call. $25 covers the line and six months, then $15 every six months keeps it.
The two things Uber does with the number after signup
The first is authentication. Uber sends a verification code by SMS when you set up the account and again whenever you change the number or email in Personal Info, and you have to enter that code before the change is saved. If you have already lost access to the old number, Uber's route back is the 'Changed your mobile number?' option on the sign-in screen, which is slower and more conditional than simply changing it while you still hold both numbers.
The second is contact during a trip. Drivers phone riders through Uber's masked number when a pickup is unclear, and that call lands on the number attached to the account. A line that receives text but not voice leaves you unreachable at exactly the moment being reachable matters. The UK line takes incoming calls with caller ID visible, anywhere roaming reaches, which is the same behaviour as an ordinary UK handset abroad.
Why Uber checks numbers against outside data
Uber's rider verification page explains that verification involves cross-checking account information given at signup, such as name and phone number, against trusted third-party data. Uber is a platform where a stranger gets into a car with you, so the incentive to know something about both sides is unusually strong. Comparing a number to external records is a cheap signal: a line with a real carrier record behind it says more than a number that appeared last week and has no history.
There is a further point riders should know before choosing how to pay. Uber states that uploading an ID and a selfie for a verified badge is optional and that you can still take rides without one, but it also says verification becomes mandatory for riders using anonymous payment methods such as prepaid cards or gift cards, or for accounts flagged for extra checks. A phone number does not change that. If you intend to pay in a way Uber treats as anonymous, expect the ID request regardless of which number you hold.
What this line covers, and what it will not do
You get a genuine UK mobile number, held by you, installed alongside your existing SIM as a second eSIM profile. Incoming SMS and calls are unlimited and follow you internationally. There is no KYC, no account with us, no email required, and payment is crypto only across twelve methods. The QR appears on screen once the payment confirms on chain, and the order is tracked by an eight-character lookup code.
Two limits, stated plainly. The line has no mobile data, so you cannot hail a ride over it. The Uber app needs wifi or your own data plan, and if you want data abroad that is our separate travel eSIM, which is data only with no number attached. And acceptance is always Uber's decision. We never guarantee that a platform accepts a number, and we do not refund because it declined one. Delivery and payment faults on our side are always fixed.
How to put a UK number on your Uber account
- 1
Do this while you still have the old number working. Uber sends a confirmation code to complete a number change, and doing it after you lose access forces you into the slower 'Changed your mobile number?' recovery path on the sign-in screen.
- 2
Get a line that receives calls as well as texts, because drivers phone riders through Uber's masked number. A BuyUKeSIM UK line is a real +44 carrier number delivered as an eSIM QR and takes both.
- 3
Install the eSIM, check it shows signal, and turn on Data Roaming for that line in your device settings so it registers while you are outside the UK. Registration can take one to six hours in some countries.
- 4
In the Uber app open Account, then Settings, then Personal Info, edit the mobile number, and save. Enter the code Uber texts to the new number to confirm the change.
- 5
Place a test call to the new line from another phone to confirm incoming voice works, since that is the path a driver will use at pickup.
- 6
If the code does not arrive, request a code from a different service to prove the line is receiving SMS, and dial *132# or *#100# on the eSIM line to check the number you entered matches the number you hold.
Questions & answers
Can I change the phone number on an existing Uber account?
Yes. In the app open Account, then Settings, then Personal Info, edit the number and save. Uber sends a verification code by SMS to confirm the change, so do it while you still have access to the old number. If you have already lost it, use the 'Changed your mobile number?' option under the Mobile Number box on the sign-in screen and follow the prompts, which is a slower and more conditional route.
Will my driver be able to reach me on this number?
Yes, provided the line has signal and roaming is on. Uber connects drivers to riders through a masked call that lands on the account's number, and this line receives incoming calls with caller ID visible anywhere roaming reaches. That is the specific reason a text-only receiving service is a poor fit for Uber. It works fine at signup and then leaves you unreachable at the pickup.
Does a UK number let me skip Uber's ID verification?
No, and we would rather say so up front. Uber describes ID and selfie upload as optional for the verified badge, but it also states that riders using anonymous payment methods such as prepaid or gift cards, and accounts flagged for extra checks, must complete verification before riding. That is driven by the payment method and the account's risk signals, not by the number. No phone number removes an ID request.
Can I use the eSIM's data to book the ride?
There is no data on this line at all. It is a voice and SMS line, so the Uber app itself needs wifi or your existing mobile data while the UK profile sits beside your main SIM to take codes and calls. If you also need data while travelling, our travel eSIM is a separate product covering 190 countries and more from $1.99, data only, with no phone number attached to it.
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A real UK +44 number for your Uber account
Uber sends codes by SMS and drivers reach you by call, so the line has to receive both, including when you are abroad.
Buy UK eSIM - $25