diff --git a/pre_commit/languages/docker.py b/pre_commit/languages/docker.py
index 4091492cc..e3ed98ba6 100644
--- a/pre_commit/languages/docker.py
+++ b/pre_commit/languages/docker.py
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import functools
 import hashlib
 import os
 from typing import Sequence
@@ -9,6 +10,7 @@
 from pre_commit.prefix import Prefix
 from pre_commit.util import CalledProcessError
 from pre_commit.util import clean_path_on_failure
+from pre_commit.util import cmd_output
 from pre_commit.util import cmd_output_b
 
 ENVIRONMENT_DIR = 'docker'
@@ -76,7 +78,28 @@ def install_environment(
         os.mkdir(directory)
 
 
+def _docker_is_rootless() -> bool:  # pragma: win32 no cover
+    returncode, stdout, stderr = cmd_output(
+        'docker', 'system', 'info',
+    )
+    for line in stdout.splitlines():
+        # rootless docker has "rootless"
+        # rootless podman has "rootless: true"
+        if line.strip().startswith('rootless'):
+            if 'false' not in line:
+                return True
+            break
+    return False
+
+
+@functools.lru_cache(maxsize=1)
+def docker_is_rootless() -> bool:  # pragma: win32 no cover
+    return _docker_is_rootless()
+
+
 def get_docker_user() -> Tuple[str, ...]:  # pragma: win32 no cover
+    if docker_is_rootless():
+        return ()
     try:
         return ('-u', f'{os.getuid()}:{os.getgid()}')
     except AttributeError:
diff --git a/tests/languages/docker_test.py b/tests/languages/docker_test.py
index b65b2235a..808bbd6d3 100644
--- a/tests/languages/docker_test.py
+++ b/tests/languages/docker_test.py
@@ -3,6 +3,188 @@
 from pre_commit.languages import docker
 from pre_commit.util import CalledProcessError
 
+DOCKER_NOT_ROOTLESS_SYSTEM_INFO = '''
+Client:
+ Debug Mode: false
+
+Server:
+ Containers: 8
+  Running: 0
+  Paused: 0
+  Stopped: 8
+ Images: 2
+ Server Version: 19.03.8
+ Storage Driver: overlay2
+  Backing Filesystem: <unknown>
+  Supports d_type: true
+  Native Overlay Diff: true
+ Logging Driver: journald
+ Cgroup Driver: systemd
+ Plugins:
+  Volume: local
+  Network: bridge host ipvlan macvlan null overlay
+  Log: awslogs fluentd gcplogs gelf journald json-file local logentries splunk syslog
+ Swarm: inactive
+ Runtimes: runc
+ Default Runtime: runc
+ Init Binary: /usr/libexec/docker/docker-init
+ containerd version:
+ runc version: fbdbaf85ecbc0e077f336c03062710435607dbf1
+ init version:
+ Security Options:
+  seccomp
+   Profile: default
+  selinux
+ Kernel Version: 5.6.14-300.fc32.x86_64
+ Operating System: Fedora 32 (Thirty Two)
+ OSType: linux
+ Architecture: x86_64
+ CPUs: 8
+ Total Memory: 15.29GiB
+ Name: carbon
+ ID: IUGE:4L5B:VVTV:JGIA:IIJN:G7MG:TVGF:XBVW:YHF7:MYRK:L524:4HBK
+ Docker Root Dir: /var/lib/docker
+ Debug Mode: false
+ Registry: https://index.docker.io/v1/
+ Labels:
+ Experimental: false
+ Insecure Registries:
+  127.0.0.0/8
+ Live Restore Enabled: true
+'''  # noqa
+
+DOCKER_ROOTLESS_SYSTEM_INFO = '''
+Client:
+ Debug Mode: false
+
+Server:
+ Containers: 0
+  Running: 0
+  Paused: 0
+  Stopped: 0
+ Images: 0
+ Server Version: 19.03.11
+ Storage Driver: vfs
+ Logging Driver: json-file
+ Cgroup Driver: none
+ Plugins:
+  Volume: local
+  Network: bridge host ipvlan macvlan null overlay
+  Log: awslogs fluentd gcplogs gelf journald json-file local logentries splunk syslog
+ Swarm: inactive
+ Runtimes: runc
+ Default Runtime: runc
+ Init Binary: docker-init
+ containerd version: 7ad184331fa3e55e52b890ea95e65ba581ae3429
+ runc version: dc9208a3303feef5b3839f4323d9beb36df0a9dd
+ init version: fec3683
+ Security Options:
+  seccomp
+   Profile: default
+  rootless
+ Kernel Version: 5.6.16-300.fc32.x86_64
+ Operating System: Fedora 32 (Workstation Edition)
+ OSType: linux
+ Architecture: x86_64
+ CPUs: 8
+ Total Memory: 23.36GiB
+ Name: laptop.centsix.taz
+ ID: 6EMS:RSJ4:NXM3:3D56:CV4N:VEUX:LBFM:KWHK:P7XA:HTCS:GVSC:UVUE
+ Docker Root Dir: /home/remote/user/.local/share/docker
+ Debug Mode: false
+ Registry: https://index.docker.io/v1/
+ Labels:
+ Experimental: true
+ Insecure Registries:
+  127.0.0.0/8
+ Live Restore Enabled: false
+ Product License: Community Engine
+'''  # noqa
+
+PODMAN_SYSTEM_INFO = '''
+host:
+  arch: amd64
+  buildahVersion: 1.14.9
+  cgroupVersion: v2
+  conmon:
+    package: conmon-2.0.17-1.fc32.x86_64
+    path: /usr/libexec/crio/conmon
+    version: 'conmon version 2.0.17, commit: bb8e273f5925c1a51737644637ef65d094a67ab1'
+  cpus: 8
+  distribution:
+    distribution: fedora
+    version: "32"
+  eventLogger: file
+  hostname: laptop.centsix.taz
+  idMappings:
+    gidmap:
+    - container_id: 0
+      host_id: 1001
+      size: 1
+    - container_id: 1
+      host_id: 200000
+      size: 65536
+    uidmap:
+    - container_id: 0
+      host_id: 105971
+      size: 1
+    - container_id: 1
+      host_id: 200000
+      size: 65536
+  kernel: 5.6.16-300.fc32.x86_64
+  memFree: 7256297472
+  memTotal: 25081421824
+  ociRuntime:
+    name: crun
+    package: crun-0.13-2.fc32.x86_64
+    path: /usr/bin/crun
+    version: |-
+      crun version 0.13
+      commit: e79e4de4ac16da0ce48777afb72c6241de870525
+      spec: 1.0.0
+      +SYSTEMD +SELINUX +APPARMOR +CAP +SECCOMP +EBPF +YAJL
+  os: linux
+  rootless: true
+  slirp4netns:
+    executable: /usr/bin/slirp4netns
+    package: slirp4netns-1.0.0-1.fc32.x86_64
+    version: |-
+      slirp4netns version 1.0.0
+      commit: a3be729152a33e692cd28b52f664defbf2e7810a
+      libslirp: 4.2.0
+  swapFree: 20372766720
+  swapTotal: 20372766720
+  uptime: 4h 46m 1.38s (Approximately 0.17 days)
+registries: {}
+store:
+  configFile: /home/remote/user/.config/containers/storage.conf
+  containerStore:
+    number: 66
+    paused: 0
+    running: 0
+    stopped: 66
+  graphDriverName: overlay
+  graphOptions:
+    overlay.mount_program:
+      Executable: /usr/bin/fuse-overlayfs
+      Package: fuse-overlayfs-1.0.0-1.fc32.x86_64
+      Version: |-
+        fusermount3 version: 3.9.1
+        fuse-overlayfs: version 1.0.0
+        FUSE library version 3.9.1
+        using FUSE kernel interface version 7.31
+  graphRoot: /home/remote/user/.local/share/containers/storage
+  graphStatus:
+    Backing Filesystem: extfs
+    Native Overlay Diff: "false"
+    Supports d_type: "true"
+    Using metacopy: "false"
+  imageStore:
+    number: 23
+  runRoot: /tmp/105971
+  volumePath: /home/remote/user/.local/share/containers/storage/volumes
+'''  # noqa
+
 
 def test_docker_is_running_process_error():
     with mock.patch(
@@ -21,3 +203,27 @@ def invalid_attribute():
         getgid=invalid_attribute,
     ):
         assert docker.get_docker_user() == ()
+
+
+def test_docker_is_not_rootless():
+    with mock.patch.object(
+        docker, 'cmd_output',
+        return_value=(0, DOCKER_NOT_ROOTLESS_SYSTEM_INFO, ''),
+    ):
+        assert docker._docker_is_rootless() is False
+
+
+def test_docker_is_rootless():
+    with mock.patch.object(
+        docker, 'cmd_output',
+        return_value=(0, DOCKER_ROOTLESS_SYSTEM_INFO, ''),
+    ):
+        assert docker._docker_is_rootless() is True
+
+
+def test_podman_is_rootless():
+    with mock.patch.object(
+        docker, 'cmd_output',
+        return_value=(0, PODMAN_SYSTEM_INFO, ''),
+    ):
+        assert docker._docker_is_rootless() is True