Curious Items Left Behind in Uber Rides Across Austria

In Austria, it's not uncommon for passengers to forget personal belongings in Uber vehicles, but a recent report highlights some particularly unusual items that have been left behind. According to the 2025 Lost & Found Index, items such as a turtle, a chainsaw, a DNA test kit, and even breast milk were among the surprising finds reported by Uber drivers.

The index indicates that mobile phones are the most frequently forgotten items, followed by backpacks, wallets, keys, and glasses. Interestingly, the data shows that weekends, especially late at night between midnight and 2 a.m., see the highest volume of lost items. During these hours, keys and phones are the items most commonly reported missing. On Mondays, glasses tend to be forgotten, while bags and backpacks are frequently left behind on Wednesdays.

Passengers who realize they have left something in a vehicle can easily report the lost item through the Uber app and contact their driver directly. The system's location tracking ensures that users can trace their journey and retrieve their belongings efficiently. According to Uber's General Manager in Austria, most lost items are returned to their owners within just a few hours.

Wien has been identified as the city with the highest number of forgotten items, followed by Salzburg and Graz. However, Bregenz also ranks impressively in terms of lost belongings left in rideshare vehicles. When comparing Austria to other European countries, the United Kingdom tops the list for the most forgotten items, with France and Portugal following closely behind. Austria currently holds the 14th position in this European ranking.

As rideshare services continue to grow in popularity, awareness of how to recover lost items becomes increasingly important for users. The convenience of technology allows for a straightforward process to reclaim forgotten possessions, making it easier for riders to navigate their busy lives.