Why does it take so long to get approved to become a driver for Uber?

It’s most likely the background checks that involve driver records, criminal records, etc. (varying by state and country) The length it takes to get approval really depends from person to person, potentially due to the complexity of the review. Some get approval within a few days. Some in several weeks.

Here are some good articles that dig into this topic in detail. (and also my source)

What are the driver requirements for Uber? What's involved in the background ...

How long does Uber's background check and its process take? I just signed u ...