Here's how you can unlock Uber's secret VIP program

On Thursday morning, I woke up to an email from Uber in my inbox. The subject line: "Congratulations, you're an Uber VIP!"

It turns out that there's a little-known perk that regular Uber customers can unlock — once you take 100 rides, you become an Uber VIP.

Here's what it looks like when Uber emails to notify you of the distinction:

What are the perks of being a VIP customer?

When you open your app, you see a VIP option along with UberX, UberBlack, and the other Uber features available in your city. When you select it, you'll be given only drivers with 4.8-star ratings and "high-quality cars."

Here's what it looks like in your app:

Uber VIP isn't available everywhere, with New York City, Washington, D.C., and Denver among its featured locations. Its market-specific nature may be why the company doesn't advertise it as it does its other features.

A VIP trip costs the same as a normal UberBlack ride. Uber says, however, that there are fewer VIP cars on the road — presumably because the quality is higher and you're getting only the top-tier drivers — so you may be stuck waiting a bit longer for your car.

Aside from better service, there isn't much upside to Uber VIP to differentiate it from Uber's other services. It's a loyalty program for its customers that might remind you of Uber's earliest days as a company, when the service was marketed as a way for people to feel like "ballers" when they needed a lift.

Watch: Here’s how to find out your Uber rating

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