You Won’t Believe What Uber Riders Left Behind in 2024

We’ve all been there—accidentally leaving something behind in an Uber. Whether it’s your wallet, your favorite jacket, or that water bottle you always forget to bring inside, Uber’s 2024 Lost & Found Index has revealed some interesting insights into what riders are leaving behind and where they’re doing it. From everyday items like phones to some truly unique discoveries, here’s everything you need to know about lost items and trends across the country.

Most Commonly Forgotten Items

The items people forget in Ubers are often things we rely on daily. According to the Uber 2024 Lost & Found Index, these are the 10 most commonly forgotten items:

1. Clothing
2. Luggage
3. Headphones
4. Wallet
5. Jewelry
6. Phone
7. Camera
8. Tablet or Book
9. Laptop
10. Vape

These items are often left behind during daily commutes or trips to the airport, and it’s not uncommon for people to realize they’ve forgotten something important just after they’ve exited the vehicle. Luggage and wallets tend to be top offenders, probably because they’re the most packed items at the start of a trip and are often checked in a rush before leaving the car.

Most Forgetful Cities

If you live in one of these cities, you might be more prone to forgetting something during your Uber ride. The Uber 2024 Lost & Found Index highlights the cities where people tend to forget the most items:

1. Miami, FL
2. Los Angeles, CA
3. Atlanta, GA
4. Houston, TX
5. Dallas, TX
6. Orlando, FL
7. Phoenix, AZ
8. Tampa Bay, FL
9. Denver, CO
10. Austin, TX

Big cities with bustling nightlife or tourism, such as Miami and Los Angeles, see a higher rate of lost items due to the sheer number of rides. Busy people are constantly on the go, whether for work or play, and those hurried moments can lead to forgotten phones, bags, and jackets.

Unique Lost Items

Of course, not all lost items are as ordinary as a phone or wallet. Uber riders in 2024 have left behind some truly bizarre items that are making people do a double-take. From sentimental items to truly odd finds, here are some of the most unique lost items:

• A frontal hair toupee
• Hot sauce and a breathalyzer
• Two containers with spiders
• A Beyoncé fold-up fan
• A tray of meat pie
• Ceramic cat
• A personalized blanket with a picture of me and my dog
• A small rat skeleton prop
• Police-grade handcuffs
• A live pet turtle
• A WWE championship belt

The list goes on, but these strange items prove that Uber drivers often encounter a wide range of lost goods. While some may be accidental, others leave us wondering: Why was that item left behind in the first place?

The Most Forgotten Food Items

It seems Uber riders also tend to forget their snacks and meals, especially after a long day or an indulgent night out. The Uber 2024 Lost & Found Index lists these food items as some of the most commonly forgotten:

• Leftovers from Pizzeria Portofino (very expensive, too!)
• A whole smoked pork belly
• Ice cream cones
• A pan of chicken spaghetti
• Benihana garlic butter
• A bucket of cookies
• Mason jar with cilantro
• Church cookies in the trunk

While some of these items are more likely to end up in the backseat after a long dinner, it’s not uncommon for Uber riders to forget that bag of food, especially when they’re distracted by their phone or a good conversation.

Uber’s 2024 Lost & Found Trends

This year, Uber riders have been a bit forgetful in some interesting ways. Here are a few trends that stand out in 2024:

• Seeing Red: Riders seem to lose more red items than any other color.
• Healing Crystals: More purple Amethysts and green Aventurines are being left behind than you might expect.
• Mini Cooper Movers: Mini Cooper owners are losing their car keys more than any other car brand.
• What’s the WiFi: A significant number of mobile routers and Wi-Fi hotspots are being forgotten.
• Emotional Losses: There’s been an uptick in emotional items being lost, including dignity, credibility, and memory.

Whether it’s the color red or your favorite crystal, it’s clear that Uber riders are embracing a range of trends, both in what they’re losing and how they’re forgetting it.

Most Forgetful Days and Times

It turns out that there are specific days and times when people are more likely to forget their belongings. According to Uber’s 2024 data, January 21 is the most forgetful day of the year, while the most popular hours for losing items are 9:00 pm and 10:00 pm. It seems that after a long day, when people are winding down, that’s when things tend to slip through the cracks.

In addition, specific days of the week also see more losses of certain items:

• Monday: Luggage
• Tuesday: Headphones
• Wednesday: Wallets
• Thursday: Jewelry
• Friday: Phones
• Saturday: Vapes
• Sunday: Clothing

It seems that Monday blues and the stress of the week ahead may cause people to forget their luggage, while Sundays are the day people leave their clothes behind.

Retrieving Your Lost Items

If you’ve ever left something in an Uber, don’t panic—getting it back is easier than you think! To recover a lost item:

1. Open the Uber app and tap on Activity at the bottom menu.
2. Select the trip where you lost the item.
3. Scroll down and tap Find lost item in the Help section.
4. Contact your driver and coordinate a time and place for return.

If the driver doesn’t pick up, leave a voicemail with a detailed description of the item.

As a driver, finding a forgotten item in your car can be an opportunity to provide great customer service. If you spot something left behind, make sure to check the Uber app to contact the passenger and arrange for the return. It’s a small effort that can go a long way in building trust with your passengers, and you never know when they’ll remember your helpfulness the next time they need a ride.

Source: Uber