Lyft Driver: The Ultimate Driving Jobs Guide

How to Become a Lyft Driver

Applying to become a Lyft driver is simple!

You can apply right through the app on your smartphone.

If it’s easier for you, you can also apply to become a Lyft driver online.

Steps to Qualify for a $500 Cash Bonus

You’ll qualify for a new driver bonus of $50 – $500 when you complete 30 rides in 30 days for most markets.

1. Read this entire guide for helpful information about driving for Lyft
2. Start this Lyft Driver Application
3. Use promo code: DRIVEGYFT to qualify for the promotional bonus

Bonus amounts are determined by the location of the applying driver.  You can view the available bonuses by city below.

View New Driver Bonus Chart

Lyft Driver Application Process

It’s free…

The application will ask for information such as your name, phone number, and email address.  You can also log in through Facebook, which will input your name, picture, and email address.

You can also log in through Facebook, which will input your name, picture, and email address.

Do I have to do it all at once?

No.  You can complete as much as you want and save your progress to return later.

Once you’ve applied, you can check the status anytime at lyft.com/drivers.

Take a peek at the in-app application process below to see for yourself:

Application Step #1 – Start Application

View Step #1

 Note: Touch or Click Image to Enlarge

Application Step #2 – Personal Information

View Step #2

 Note: Touch or Click Image to Enlarge

Application Step #3 – Mentor & Welcome Ride

View Step #3

 Note: Touch or Click Image to Enlarge

After completing your application, you are ready for your Welcome Ride.

Tell me more!

The welcome ride is an interview/audition of sorts.

It must take place in a designated Lyft coverage area, and only takes about 40 minutes.

You’ll meet your Mentor, who is one of Lyft’s more experienced drivers.

A car inspection will be completed at this point.  Depending on your city, this will be performed either by your Mentor or a certified mechanic.

Through the app, your Mentor will provide photos of your license, insurance, and registration to Lyft for verification and records.

At this point, you will take your Mentor on a test drive.  This typically takes around 5-10 minutes to complete.

Some areas do not require a welcome ride, so be sure to pay attention to instructions throughout the application process for specifications.

Almost ready…

When these steps are successfully completed, all you have left is to wait for the DMV and background checks to run, and you’re good to go!

Driving Record Check

Your driving record check includes the following criteria:

• Aged 21 or older, with an active U.S. driver’s license for 1+ years
• Valid personal auto insurance that meets or exceeds state requirements
• No more than three moving violations in the past three years (e.g. accidents, traffic light violations)
• No major violations in the past three years (e.g. driving on a suspended license, reckless driving)
• No DUIs or other drug-related driving violations in the last seven years
• No extreme infractions in the last seven years (e.g. hit-and-run, felonies involving a vehicle)

Your vehicle itself must be less than 12 years old, according to the model year.

Background Check

Lyft’s background check is comprised of the following requirements, within the past 7 years:

• No violent crimes
• No sexual offenses
• No theft
• No property damage
• No felonies
• No drug related offenses

In addition, those who are registered on the National Sex Offender Registry and DOJ50-State Sex Offender Registry at the time the background check is conducted are not permitted to become drivers.  This is the case regardless of how long ago the individual was put on that registry.

This is the case regardless of how long ago the individual was put on that registry.

Tips for Preparing for Your Welcome Ride

1. Clean your car.  Scrub, vacuum, polish, etc.
2. If you aren’t matched up prior to the ride, finding a mentor is still simple.  Drive into your city’s coverage area between 7am-7pm any day.  The best areas to find mentors are those busy parts of town.
3. Be patient.  It may take 10-20 minutes to pair you with a mentor.
4. Plan ahead.  There may be a fee of $20 assessed for the 19-point inspection.  This varies from city to city.  Also, this may take a total of around 45 minutes, so plan accordingly.

Driver Requirements

Lyft driver requirements are pretty straightforward.

Here they are:

1. You must be 21 years of age or older.
2. You must drive a 4-door car with at least 5 seatbelts (including driver’s).
3. You must have been licensed to drive for at least 1 year prior to applying.
4. You must carry in-state insurance with the driver’s name on the policy.
5. You must have a valid, in-state driver’s license.
6. You must have in-state plates with a current registration.  Commercial plates are acceptable as well.
7. You must have a clean driving record and no disqualifying criminal history.
8. You must have an iOS or Android smartphone that meets the minimum requirements to run the latest version of the app.
9. Most importantly!  You must be excited to give welcoming and memorable rides.

Driver Pay

Average Hourly Guarantees

In select cities, Lyft will guarantee your average hourly pay rate!

How does it work?

First, you must opt-in during each pay period.  You will receive an email with guarantee hours available, and will be able to opt-in through a link contained within the email.

You have until 5 am local time to complete this simple step to become eligible.

These hours can change from week to week, so check your emails!

Also…

You must maintain a weekly 90% acceptance rate to be eligible.  This is calculated by taking the number of unique ride requests you’ve accepted and completed and dividing it by the number of those requests you’ve received.

Lastly, you’ll need to complete 50 hours of rides in driver mode while fulfilling your city’s requirement for completed rides per hour.

Weekly Guarantees

For new Lyft drivers, weekly guarantees are offered in some cities.

To be eligible, you must be approved to drive in an eligible city during the promotion.

You can gain this approval either by following an application link within such an advertisement or by using a referral code for the specific promotion.

Also…

You must get approved as a Lyft driver within 30 days of originally applying.

Lastly, you are required to fulfill the ride, hour, and acceptance rate requirements for that week.

Daily & Weekly Summaries

You will receive a daily summary at the end of each day detailing all of your completed rides within the previous 24-hour period (5 am-5 am).

This summary will detail the length of time, distance, and amount earned for each ride completed.

The weekly summary will be sent via email every Tuesday, which will show your final totals for each day as well as the total deposit for the week.

Pay Schedule

The pay period runs from Monday through Sunday each week.

Direct deposits begin processing each week on Tuesday; they will be received by the end of each week.

In order to receive your payments, you must set up direct deposit with a compatible checking account.

Tax Information

Lyft drivers are classified as independent contractors.  As such, Lyft will provide you with a 1099 form for tax filing purposes.

If you’re a Lyft driver who gives at least 200 rides and generates at least $20,000 in gross ride receipts within the previous year, you will receive a 1099-K.

Drivers who earn a minimum of $600 from non-driving activities such as referral bonuses, mentoring, reimbursements, etc., then you will receive a 1099-MISC.

Regardless of your status in terms of forms, Lyft’s Dashboard provides a yearly summary of a driver’s statistics including the number of rides completed, gross earnings from rides, non-ride earnings, and miles driven when in driver mode.

Prime Time

During peak times when the demand for rides outnumbers drivers available, passengers may pay an additional amount over the regular ride minimum.

This prime time pricing is meant to increase your earnings during those busy times.

Passengers will be notified prior to confirming their requested ride of the added percentage.

Prime time charges will vary based on specific supply and demand.

Drivers will not see anything different when prime time pricing is in effect, although you will see a breakdown of how much of an extra charge was added once the ride ends.

These prime time charges will also show up in green on your daily summaries.

Lyft provides real-time Heat Maps on your home screen that will show you the busiest areas where you have the best chance to receive prime time.

During some times, Lyft will provide guaranteed prime time pricing.  This may be offered during holidays, promotions, and certain events.

You could be notified of such guaranteed pricing via email or in your dashboard.

Power Driver Bonuses

Power Driver bonuses are bonuses for dependable drivers and are based upon the number of hours driven in a week.

These bonuses are deposited weekly along with the rest of your earnings.

How do I qualify?

It’s pretty simple.

You must maintain a 90% acceptance rate and drive at least 30 hours per week, 10 of which must be during peak hours.

If you drive at least 30 hours per week, you qualify for a 10% power driver bonus.

If you go above and beyond and drive at least 50 hours per week, your bonus spikes to 20%.

Good news!

There is no limit to the bonus, so you can earn as much as you want; the percentage is based on your total earnings.  So go for it!

Driving for Lyft

Driving for Lyft is easy!

Even the less tech-savvy among us can do it with ease.

How it Works:

1. Open up the app and turn on driver mode.
2. Accept a ride request.
3. Pick up your passenger and confirm your arrival.
4. Upon ride completion, the app processes payment through the passenger’s saved method.
5. You are able to rate passengers with 1-5 stars (they can rate you as a driver also).  You’ll never be matched again with a passenger you rate 3 stars or below.

Insurance Coverage

Lyft drivers are covered with some pretty great insurance options, including the following:

Commercial Auto Liability – $1,000,000 limit for bodily injury and/or property damage or passenger and/or third parties.

Contingent Comprehensive & Collision – $2,500 deductible & $50,000 maximum applied to drivers who purchase this type of coverage on their personal policy.

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist – $1,000,000 limit covering bodily injury of drivers and/or passengers and/or third parties for damages caused by an uninsured or underinsured motorist who is at fault.

These policies are applied from the time a driver accepts a ride until the ride has ended within the app.

Also…

Contingent Liability – Up to $50,000 per person/$100,000 per accident/$25,000 property damage.  Covers driver liability for bodily injury and/or property damage of passengers and/or third parties.

This coverage applies from when the driver flips into driver mode until the driver accepts a ride request.

Good to know!

If you already carry either commercial insurance or a personal policy specifically for ridesharing, then these Lyft policies will be in excess of your own insurance.

Lyft Driver Review Video

Coming Soon…

Lyft Driver Resources

• Driver Training Videos

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