How to use Uber and 99 safely in Brazil

Uber is the first check and 99 is a serious comparison

A federal competition-authority report reproduced a March 2023 survey in which 74% of people who had requested app transport used Uber, 21% used 99 and 5% used other services. This measures surveyed users, not transaction share, and it is not a 2026 estimate. It still explains why Uber is the sensible first screen for a newcomer.1

99 is far more than an emergency backup. In June 2026, the operator reported more than 60 million active users, 2.5 million partner drivers and a presence in over 4,400 cities. Those are company figures across its broader platform, so use them as evidence of scale rather than a promise of a car at your pin.7

Federal law allows apps, while cities regulate the service

Federal Law 13,640 defined paid private passenger transport requested through a registered app and gave municipalities and the Federal District authority to regulate and inspect it. The law also sets driver, vehicle, insurance and criminal-record requirements.2

That structure means a national app isn't exempt from local operating and airport rules. Keep the booking inside Uber or 99, use the pickup zone it assigns and reject any driver who asks to cancel so the trip can continue privately.25

GRU and RIOgaleão use different pickup systems

At Guarulhos Terminal 2, the external arrivals-level pickup square serves current airport partners Uber, 99 and Rhino. Only drivers with an active trip may enter. Terminals 1 and 3 have their own signed Uber totems on the second curb, so follow the accepted booking instead of copying another terminal's route.39

RIOgaleão now publishes one exclusive Uber pickup point on the Arrivals level for domestic and international passengers. Turn left after leaving the arrivals area and follow the current airport signs. Ordinary taxis depart from level zero at Door A, with executive taxis at Door B.4

Set a payment fallback before the first ride

99's current passenger page lists Pix, in-app credit and debit cards, and credit or debit cards paid at the driver's terminal, alongside cash guidance. The choices shown can vary. Uber separately says that a rider who wants to use only cash may be asked for a name, CPF and date of birth, while choosing a digital payment method can avoid that request. Pix requires access through a participating account, so it is not a universal tourist workaround.811

For cash, 99 advises avoiding a change requirement above BRL 50. It also says the final amount can move beyond the estimate after route or traffic changes. Check the selected method before confirming, carry smaller notes and dispute an incorrect difference through the recorded trip instead of arguing at the curb.8

The match check matters more than the brand

Current UK travel advice reports robberies, assaults and express kidnappings involving unlicensed taxis and fraudulent app accounts. It advises against street hails, recommends authorized airport booths and tells app users to match the plate and driver to the confirmed booking.5

Turn on the extra pickup check if it appears. Uber can generate a unique PIN for every ride. In January 2026, 99 began a progressive nationwide rollout of an optional numeric Security Code that must be validated before the trip starts. Neither feature replaces checking the actual plate and face.1012

Request from inside the terminal, lobby or restaurant, then put the phone away until you reach the pickup. Share the live trip when useful. If the displayed car, driver or plate does not match, stay in the secure area and cancel through the app.510

A city listing still needs an address test

Uber's current Brazil directory names hundreds of municipalities across multiple states, while 99 reports national scale. That makes the pair useful well beyond São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. It doesn't establish the same driver density in a beach village, Amazon gateway or rural interior town.67

Test the exact hotel and bus terminal before a fixed transfer. For a late arrival, national park or long intercity leg, get the accommodation to name a licensed local provider and price. Do not assume a driver who takes you out of town will be available for the return.62