An engine, a paternity test and a live turtle among the strangest items left in Ubers in 2023

Will Conybeare
·2 min read

It’s common for passengers to leave their phone, wallet or keys in an Uber, but what about a frontal hair toupee, a jar of oysters or a live turtle?

The rideshare giant shared their 2024 Uber Lost and Found Index, which analyzed items that were left in Ubers as well as the most forgetful cities, most common time riders lose things and even the most popular color of item left behind on all rides last year.

Jan. 21 was the most forgetful day of 2023, Uber data found. And the most common time items were lost: between 9 p.m. and 10 p.m.

“Lost an item and seeing red? Well, that should help, since the most popular color of lost items was red,” the rideshare company said.

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The Uber Lost and Found Index also discovered that Los Angeles Uber drivers had more items left in their cars in 2023 than any other city except Miami.

Most often, passengers leave clothing, luggage or headphones; cameras, laptops and vapes are also among the top ten most forgotten items, Uber says.

However, there are many “surprising” things left in the rideshares, according to Uber, which released a list of the 50 most “unique” lost items, some of which include:

  • A frontal hair toupee

  • Two containers holding spiders

  • A candle that says ‘See you in court’

  • Benihana garlic butter

  • A contraceptive Plan B and a BaBylissPRO massager machine

  • A framed Taylor Swift autograph

  • A fake butt

  • Panty liner and $1,000

  • A Jeep Liberty engine

  • A WWE championship belt

  • Undergarments, bread, pack of ham and mayo

  • A spear and a furry fox tail

  • A live pet turtle

  • Waist beads and a burrito steamer

  • Gray tub of surgical implants

Uber advises passengers that if they have left something behind, the best way to get it returned is to call the driver.

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More information on recovering lost items can be found on Uber’s help page.

To view the full list of oddest items left in Ubers in 2023, as well as more statistics on lost items, click here.

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