Lyft Premier to Compete with Uber Select
Last month, Lyft announced that they are adding a new tier called Lyft Premier, similar to that of Uber Select. On Uber, they are UberX vehicles that are generally nicer, like luxury cars with leather seats.
To qualify to receive Premier requests, you must meet the following requirements:
- Drive an approved premium vehicle.
- Give at least 50 rides.
- Maintain a 4.7 rating.
There are a lot of similarities between Lyft Premier and Uber Select.
- The car list looks very similar. For Uber, the car list can be a bit different in each market, whereas Lyft has standardized the standards for every city. The year requirement is 2009 for Uber Select, whereas the model year changes depending on the model of car. The oldest car allowed on the Premier tier is 2008. The more expensive the car, the older it can be and vice versa
- The number of trips and rating is almost identical to Uber Select requirements.
The only difference I see is that Lyft doesn’t require leather seats and only a few models on the list of cars have non-leather seats as an option. Many of these vehicles have leatherette or some type of synthetic leather as the base option, but many drivers claim to have leather seats. Not very many people can tell the difference anyway.
I have spoken to many Uber Select drivers and while you don’t get many requests during the week, weekends can be lucrative. It only takes one or two trips on Uber Select to really make your night.
What is the Strategy with Lyft Premier?
I often tell drivers not to get a car just because of Uber Select or Lyft Premier, but rather sign up for it if you happen to have the car already. People who have these types of car but are not Lyft or Uber drivers should think about signing up. I wouldn’t recommend
Where is Lyft Premier available?
It is currently available San Francisco, Silicon Valley, New York City, and Los Angeles
Can I receive Premier-only ride requests?
Yes! If you have a Premier-qualifying vehicle and want the option to only receive Premier rides, just fill out this form. We will create a second vehicle profile that, when activated, only sends you Premium ride requests.
Heads up: This option is only available for Premier drivers. If your vehicle is eligible for Premier and Plus rides, you’ll receive requests for both ride types.
What is Lyft’s Commission for Premier rides?
Lyft’s commission is 30% for Premier rides, but for a limited time, it’s lowered to 25% — that’s your usual amount for classic and Lyft Line rides.
How do I opt in to receive Premier rides?
Current Lyft Drivers:
- Log into your Driver Dashboard.
- If you have a qualifying vehicle, you will be asked to confirm your seat type.
- If your vehicle meets the requirements, you will be automatically opted in to receive premium requests.
New Lyft Drivers:
- Give 50 rides and maintain a 4.7 rating*
- If your vehicle meets the requirements, you will be automatically opted in to receive premium requests.
*Note: Drivers who have completed more than 50 rides and have a 4.7 rating on other ridesharing platforms can skip this requirement by sending your previous rideshare summaries to [email protected].
Have more questions about Uber or Lyft? Head on over to our Rideshare Driver Training Course! Driver Promotions
- New Uber Drivers will get up to a $800 bonus after signing up: Sign up for Uber.
- New Lyft Drivers will get up to $800 if you sign up here using this link.
