These are the Most Common, and the Most Unique, Items Left In Ubers

A pair of badminton racquets on the back seat of a family car. — (Image credit: Getty Images)

Uber has released their eighth annual Lost & Found Index, providing insight into what exactly riders are leaving behind in their Uber rides. The 2024 Uber Lost & Found Index shows that riders still keep forgetting the usual items — phone, keys, wallet — but many have left behind unusual, and sometimes questionable, items as well. Uber also revealed the top 10 most “forgetful” cities, as well as which items are most commonly lost on each day of the week.

So, before you get out of your next Uber, make sure you grab your purse, phone, and yes, your pet turtle. Remember this list when you're using a rideshare so you don't lose money and time fixing your mistake. You don’t want to have to go through the process of getting your keys, or your pet, back from your driver, and I can assure you they don’t either.

Most forgotten items

Here are the top 10 items most commonly forgotten by Uber passengers, and they're what you'd expect someone to leave behind. In fact, you’ve probably forgotten one of these items yourself.

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

Further, here are the items people are most likely to forget on each day of the week. January 21st is the most forgetful day of the year, with the most lost items recorded.

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

While these items are pretty much what you’d expect to be left behind in a ride, you’d be surprised by what else people forget. According to Uber, here are some of the most “unique” and unusual forgotten items.

Most unusual forgotten items

The following items will have you questioning how someone could possibly forget them in an Uber, or even have them in the first place.

Frontal hair toupee
Hot sauce and a breathalyzer
Two containers with spiders in them
Jar of oysters
Small rat skeleton prop
A fake tooth/retainer
My live pet animal turtle
Benihana garlic butter
Poster of Hillary Clinton
Meditation crystals
Paternity test
Jeep Liberty engine
Standup paddleboard paddle
A tray of meat pie

Most forgetful cities

These following cities are the top 10 most "forgetful."

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

What to do if you forget something in an Uber

If you leave something in your Uber ride, don't fret. Follow the below steps from Uber on how to retrieve your lost item.

Login to your Uber account and tap Main Menu
Select “Your Trips” and then choose the trip you left your item in.
Tap “Find lost item” and then “Contact driver about a lost item.”
Enter your phone number to call the driver.
If your driver picks up and confirms that your item has been found, coordinate a mutually convenient time and place to meet for its return to you.
If your driver doesn’t pick up, leave a detailed voicemail describing your item and the best way to contact you.
And remember to be considerate, the driver’s schedule will be affected by taking time to return your item to you.

Erin pairs personal experience with research and is passionate about sharing personal finance advice with others. Previously, she was a freelancer focusing on the credit card side of finance, but has branched out since then to cover other aspects of personal finance. Erin is well-versed in traditional media with reporting, interviewing and research, as well as using graphic design and video and audio storytelling to share with her readers.