Everything you need to know to become a driver for Lyft

So, you’re interested in becoming a driver for Lyft? Well, here’s everything you need to know to become a driver for Lyft.

Table of Contents

Requirements To Become A Driver

You must be at least 21 years old
Complete a vehicle inspection that covers mechanical and cosmetic condition
You must have in-state insurance with your name on the policy
Must have an in-state US driver’s license and one full year of US driving experience
In-state plates with a current registration
Pass a background check and a driving record check
Own a smartphone: iPhone 5s or newer running iOS 11+, Android devices running 7+ Comply with any local regulations in your area

Services You Can Drive For

Lyft Standard
Lyft XL
Lyft LUX

Lyft Standard Vehicle Requirements

4-door car that is year 2006 or newer. Varies in many cities
Must seat 4 passengers
No major cosmetic damage
No salvage or rebuilt title
Must pass a vehicle inspection
Driver must be listed on vehicle’s insurance policy

Lyft XL Vehicle Requirements

Must seat 6 passengers
Same model year requirements as regular Lyft
Lyft XL drivers receive ride requests for both XL and regular Lyft rides. You can’t choose to only receive XL requests

Lyft LUX Vehicle Requirements

Must seat 4 passengers
2011 or newer
Luxury vehicles from these brands: Acura, Audi, BMW, Cadillac, Infiniti, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lexus, Lincoln, Mercedes-Benz
Other vehicles qualify: Full list of vehicles eligible for Lyft Lux

What Does Lyft Check In Car Inspection?

Headlights
Tail-lights
Turn indicator lights
Break lights
Foot brakes
Emergency/parking brake
Steering mechanism
Windshield
Heat and air conditioning
Front, rear and side window
Front seat adjustment mechanism
Door controls (open, close, lock)
Horn
Speedometer
Body condition/damage
Muffler and exhaust system
Condition of tires, including tread depth
Interior and exterior rearview mirrors
Safety belts for driver and passengers

What Does Lyft For In There Background Check?

As part of your onboarding, Lyft will conduct a criminal background check with your consent. Potential U.S. drivers must provide a valid social security number in order to undergo the criminal background check, which is conducted by a third-party company, Checkr, Inc. The background check searches national and county-level databases, as well as local courthouse records, for convictions throughout your adult life. This check also searches the United States Department of Justice Sex Offender Registry and the Federal Criminal Records database.

The results of the background check are reviewed by Lyft and assessed against applicable regulations and Lyft’s internal safety criteria. You may be ineligible to drive on the Lyft platform if, at the time of your application, your background check results reveal that you:

Are listed on the National Sex Offender Registry database
Have been convicted at any time of a disqualifying violent crime (such as homicide, kidnapping, human trafficking, arson, burglary, carjacking, robbery, or aggravated assault)
Have been convicted at any time of a sexual offense (such as rape, sexual assault, or child pornography)
Have been convicted at any time of an act of terror
Have been convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs in the past seven years, or longer in some jurisdictions
Have been convicted of a disqualifying fraud-related offense in the past seven years for most jurisdictions, although this time frame may be longer, or shorter, in certain jurisdictions
Have been convicted of a disqualifying drug-related offense in the past seven years for most jurisdictions, although this time frame may be longer, or shorter, in certain jurisdictions
Have been convicted of a disqualifying theft or property damage offense in the past seven years for most jurisdictions, although this time frame may be longer, or shorter, in certain jurisdictions

Please be aware that laws governing disqualifying convictions vary significantly by jurisdiction, and the above list is not inclusive of all disqualifying convictions. You may be found ineligible to drive for Lyft based on other types of records.

If your background check reveals potentially disqualifying information, you will receive a copy of the report via email along with instructions on how to dispute the results. Keep in mind that background checks may take several weeks to process.

Click here to sign up to drive for Lyft.

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