Driver Matty and Patreon Members Investigate
Uber drivers across the UK and beyond have been raising concerns about their earnings in 2025 compared to the previous year. Driver Matty and his Patreon community took matters into their own hands, conducting an independent investigation to determine whether Uber’s new per-mile rates and commission increases lead to lower driver earnings. The findings could impact how drivers approach their work and whether Uber’s recent changes benefit or harm those behind the wheel.
The Test: A Year-on-Year Comparison
To provide a fair comparison, we analysed earnings from a random week in early 2025 and compared it to an equivalent week in early 2024. However, one major factor affecting driver earnings is their online time. Some drivers accept every trip, while others cherry-pick, which can influence their total income. To avoid these inconsistencies, we focused solely on driving time—the period when a driver is actively transporting a passenger, from pick-up to drop-off.
This approach allows us to measure Uber’s per-mile rates and commissions more accurately, removing external factors like waiting for jobs or declining certain trips. The question remains: are Uber’s recent fare structures and commission increases negatively affecting drivers’ earnings, or has increased demand balanced out these changes?
What We Discovered
- Per-Hour Earnings Based on Driving Time – By isolating active driving hours, we found variations between the two years. In some cases, per-hour earnings remained steady, while in others, they showed a slight decline or increase.
- Per-Mile vs. Per-Minute Pay – One of the most notable differences was a shift in how earnings were structured. While drivers were previously paid more per mile, 2025’s model appears to prioritise per-minute payments. This suggests that in busier areas or during longer trips with traffic, drivers may still earn competitively. However, those relying on long, efficient highway rides may see reduced earnings.
- Uber’s Commission Impact – Uber has adjusted its commission structure, and while their higher cut impacts overall take-home pay, increased demand in certain cities has helped counterbalance this. The question for many drivers is whether Uber’s busyness in 2025 can reliably sustain incomes or if the lower per-mile rates will result in long-term losses.
The Evidence Below:
The Results:
What surprised Driver Matty and his Patreon Members is how close the results are and the fact that some weeks in 2025 beat 2024 and vice versa. Please feel free to do your own research and tag Driver Matty with your results on Instagram / Facebook / Tiktok or Youtube.
