Upfront pricing is dynamic, which means the price is worked out in real time to help balance supply and demand. This helps to give the best price for both riders and drivers.
When demand in a specific area is high and there aren’t enough available cars, fares automatically rise to encourage more drivers to go to the busy area.
If the fare is higher than expected, it may be because the trip was taken during a time of high demand.
You are always notified when surge pricing is in effect - the upfront price/mid-trip price you receive in-app will be inclusive of any dynamic pricing and there will be a note in your Uber app showing the fare is higher than usual because of increased demand.
If the surge is very high, an extra screen will appear in the app which asks you to re-confirm the upfront price.