UberBlack drivers must have 4.8 rating to participate next year

Uber is looking to reignite growth at its “UberBlack” luxury car service in the Big Apple — and it’s changing the rules for drivers to make it happen.

Beginning Jan. 1, UberBlack drivers across New York City — who must drive fancier cars and SUVs than those for the app’s mass-market UberX service — will be required to carry a customer rating of 4.8 or better to qualify for the service, The Post has learned.

At the same time, Uber will drop an earlier rule that allows only drivers with Uber as of February 2015 or earlier to take the wheel for the UberBlack service.

“Demand for UberBlack has been outpaced by UberX for the last two years,” Josh Mohrer, head of New York operations, admitted in a statement to The Post.

“As a result, drivers on UberBlack are not getting as many trips as they want.”

Insiders say UberBlack’s growth has stagnated since 2013, partly because of lackluster service provided by “legacy” drivers, who haven’t been given concrete incentives to up their game.

Accordingly, riders have opted for the less expensive UberX, sources said. UberX charges 35 cents a minute and $1.75 per mile, versus UberBlack’s 65 cents and $3.75.

Drivers eligible for UberBlack — who enjoy the privilege of being able to turn down an UberX fare — account for 18 percent of Uber’s fleet, but only 6 percent of the rides.

“We are re-making UberBlack to be the premium option for riders by making it available to our highest-rated partners,” Mohrer said.

The exec added that the new rule doesn’t go into effect until January so, “Drivers that don’t have a qualifying rating today have the time they need to earn their way onto UberBlack.”