Whether Uber refunds a cancelled trip in 2026 depends entirely on who initiated the cancellation and when it occurred. If a driver cancels the trip, you are never charged, and any temporary "authorization hold" on your card will disappear within a few days. If you cancel the trip, Uber may charge a cancellation fee (typically between $5 and $10) if the driver has already made significant progress toward your location or if you wait more than two minutes after being matched to cancel. However, you can request a refund for this fee through the "Help" section of the app if you believe the driver was not making progress, was heading in the wrong direction, or if the estimated time of arrival (ETA) was significantly higher than initially quoted. Uber's system is largely automated, so if the GPS data supports your claim, a credit to your "Uber Cash" or a direct refund to your original payment method is often granted instantly. For "Uber Reserve" trips, you must cancel at least 60 minutes before the pickup time to avoid a much larger cancellation fee equivalent to the full fare.