Backseat Confessions: What LA Left Behind in Uber This Year
- Kasey Cahen
- Aug 4
- 3 min read
If there’s one thing Angelenos know how to do, it’s move. From back-to-back meetings in Beverly Hills to last-minute dinners in Malibu, the city thrives on momentum. And where there’s movement, there’s also misplacement. According to Uber’s 2025 Lost & Found Index, Los Angeles is one of the top cities in the nation for forgotten belongings, and we’re not just talking about phones and wallets.
Sure, the most commonly abandoned items are the usual suspects: smartphones, keys, luggage, and headphones. But in Los Angeles, where self-expression and spontaneity rule, the list quickly veers from the practical to the downright peculiar. A gallon of Grey Goose. A Viking drinking horn. A full-sized mannequin head with real human hair. These are just a few of the items that never made it to their final destination.
Uber’s annual roundup isn’t just a quirky snapshot of forgetfulness. It’s a cultural lens, offering a glimpse into what people value, carry, and occasionally lose track of during a night out or a midday errand. And when the backdrop is LA, a city known for both luxury and eccentricity, the inventory becomes part confession, part comedy.
Tech took the biggest hit this year. More than 1.7 million smartphones were reported lost globally, and Apple reigned as the most frequently forgotten brand. From iPhones and iPads to AirPods and MacBooks, it seems no amount of sleek design can protect a device from being left behind after a ride to Runyon or a night downtown. Even Nintendo Switches made the list, with more than 70 consoles disappearing into back seats.
Of course, it wouldn’t be Los Angeles without a little flair. Among the standout items left behind were ten live lobsters, a taxidermied rabbit, and a DJ’s mixing board. One rider even parted ways with a large portrait of themselves, carefully boxed and abandoned mid-journey. Because in LA, sometimes the ego arrives before the package.
To celebrate this uniquely curated chaos, we present a few of our favorite superlatives from this year’s collection:
Most Likely to Be a Spin Class Gone Wrong Pilates socks, a yoga mat, and a five-gallon bucket of beans. Someone was clearly balancing self-care with meal prep, and lost both.
Most On-Brand for LA Nightlife A gallon of Grey Goose, a fifth of Remy Martin, boba tea, and 108 eggs. It’s unclear if this was a pregame or an afterparty, but either way, someone brought farmers market vibes to bottle service.
Most Likely to Be Cursed A witches broom, fake blood, and a Ghostbusters ghost trap. Coincidentally, October 26 was the most forgetful day of the year, falling squarely on the Saturday of Halloweekend.
Most Likely to Say “I Do” or “I’m Done” A bridal bouquet, a custom wedding broom, and even divorce papers. Whether heading toward a commitment or away from one, some stories were clearly mid-chapter.
Most Likely to Be a One-Woman Show A Shrek ear headband, a pink fan that says “bimbo,” a single platform heel, and a copy of someone's headshot. The Uber may have left, but the drama stayed.
Beyond the individual oddities, broader trends emerged. Red was the most frequently lost color, with over 8,000 red items reported. Disney fans struggled to hold on to Minnie ears and Simba plushies. Eagles supporters lost more jerseys and foam fingers than any other fanbase. And beauty aficionados mourned forgotten Dyson Airwraps, Baccarat cologne, and Rhode lip gloss in the universally coveted shade of Toast.
And yes, Los Angeles cracked the top five most forgetful cities, right behind New York, Miami, and Chicago. Still, we’d argue that LA’s losses were the most stylish, the most dramatic, and certainly the most entertaining.
If you do find yourself the victim of a late-night Uber departure with one Prada scrunchie short of a complete look, there is hope. Uber’s in-app help feature allows riders to reconnect with drivers and reclaim forgotten items, as long as they remember what they lost in the first place.
Because in Los Angeles, losing something doesn’t always mean it’s gone for good. Sometimes it just means the story isn’t over yet.
By IG @kaseycahen