How to Work for Lyft as a Lyft Driver in 2018
I have been a Lyft driver for more than four and a half years now and there has been so many changes to the platform. When I first started with Lyft, every applicant had to meet with a Lyft mentor before they can be approved to drive on the Lyft platform. Lyft also had the hourly guarantees back in 2013 and early 2014 to ensure that there were enough drivers on the road. There wasn’t even the feature of Prime Time Tips and all rides were charged by distance and time.
Lyft has come a long way since then and introduced many good and a few bad features into the Lyft Driver app. Below, you’ll see everything you need to know to sign up as a Lyft driver, become a Lyft driver and to maximize your earnings.
How Do You Sign Up For Lyft?
You can start by signing up to work for Lyft as a Lyft driver. You can use the below referral link and get a bonus for completing a few rides:
Sign up to Work For Lyft as a Lyft Driver with this referral link!
Also, be sure to sign up as a Lyft passenger and get $5 off your first ride!
Sign up to be a Lyft Passenger with this referral link!
When you sign up as a Lyft driver, you will need information such as your name, address, driver’s license number and social security number. Once you sign up as a driver, you will be asked to put in your car details. You will need a copy of your registration and car insurance in order to add a vehicle to your profile. You can either take a picture of these two items or load these on your phone and upload a screenshot to Lyft.
It typically takes about a week to be approved as a Lyft driver to run the background check and driving record check and pending a potential car inspection, you can be on the road in another day or two. In some states, it may take longer to get approved as a Lyft driver because of the depth of the background and driving record check.
Why Drive for Lyft as a Lyft Driver?
Driving for Lyft as a Lyft driver offers people the ability to earn money whenever they want. In most Lyft markets, you can go online with the Lyft driver app and get requests for rides and earn money. There are certain hours of the day that are busier than others, but most drivers can earn money at any time.
If you enjoy driving, being a Lyft driver is a good part time job. It is also a very good way to learn a new city and also meet all sorts of people. I usually start the ride with very basic questions about their day and I typically get people to talk to me about all sorts of things, like upcoming weddings or graduation plans.
How Do I Download the Lyft Driver App?
Make sure that you sign up for Lyft with the link above before downloading the Lyft Driver App. The Lyft Driver App is different from the Lyft passenger App so make sure you are downloading the correct application. Click the link below to download the Lyft Driver App. Make sure to confirm your request for the app and you will get the download link for the Lyft Driver app in your email!
What is Lyft?
Lyft is a Transportation Network Company that connects passengers to driver. People can sign up to be a Lyft Driver and drive passengers around with their own personal 4-door vehicles. The minimum vehicle requirements is a 4-door vehicle that can seat 5 people including the driver. Lyft also allows for minivans, SUVs and pickup trucks that can seat 5 people and have 4 doors.
What are the requirements to be a Lyft Driver?
In order to drive for Lyft as a Lyft driver, you need to be:
- At least 21 years of age
- Have your driver’s license for at least a year
- No major accidents or moving violations on your driving record
- Clean background check
Most Lyft driver applicants won’t know if they truly meet the above requirements until they apply to be a Lyft driver. The first thing they do is run a quick background check and then an in-depth check on your driving record. Most people tend to pass, but there are a few who are rejected based on their background check, driving record or a combination of both.
Will You Pass the Lyft Background Check?
Lyft checks a variety of databases to ascertain your background check. If you have never been arrested or don’t have any criminal charges against you, you should pass the background check quite easily. If you have any DUI charges from a decade ago, there is a small chance you may not pass the Lyft Background check.
To find out more about the Lyft Background Check, check out this post:
Will You Pass the Lyft Driving Record Check?
Lyft has the toughest driving record check in the industry. For those who fail the Lyft driving record check will often drive on Uber instead. If you don’t have any moving violations, then you should not have any concerns. If you have one, you will probably pass depending on the severity of the violation. If you have two or more, you may not pass the Lyft driving record check. The only way to find out is to apply for Lyft and see the results of the driving record check.
You can find out more about the Lyft Driving Record Check in the below post:
What are the vehicle requirements on Lyft?
Below are the minimum vehicle requirements to be on Lyft:
- Car at least 2004 or newer
- Car in good condition, inside and out
- Car must have at least 4 doors
- Car must seat at least 5 people, including the driver (with 5 seat belts)
- In some states, there are mileage limits on the vehicle
- In some states, a formal vehicle inspection is required
How to apply to be a Lyft Driver
After using the above referral link to get a signup bonus and confirming your phone number via text message, you will get to the vehicle information screen, seen below:
Lyft Driver Application Step 2 – Vehicle Information
You have two choices here. You can use your own vehicle or you can rent one in some markets. You can see that its priced at around $209 a week for unlimited miles or $29 a week if you hit certain ride thresholds every week.
If you choose to use your personal vehicle, you will see the below screen. You will need to fill out some information about your car.
If you picked to use an Express Rental, you will skip straight to Step 3 and you will fill out your personal information, such as drivers license number and social security number. For an Express rental, you will need to leave a deposit. If you have a debit card, it will take that deposit from your account. If you have a credit card, there will be a hold on your credit card that shouldn’t affect your payments but it will reduce your available balance.
Lyft Driver Application – Step 3 – Driver Information
If you have picked to use your own vehicle and go to Step 3, you will see this screen. You need to fill out your personal information, driver’s license number and social security number. Ensure that the driver’s license you are using has been valid for at least one year. If not, you will need to provide additional information in followup emails. If you have a second license from another state, you will receive an email with a link to upload a picture of your second license.
Lyft Driver Application – Step 4 – State Disclosures
In this step, you will need to acknowledge various state background check disclosures
You can see the full text below:
State Background Check Disclosures
In addition to the disclosures set forth on the next screen, below please find state disclosures/notices that may pertain to you.
Maryland applicants/drivers only: I consent to Lyft, Inc. sending a copy of my background check results to the Maryland Public Service Commission (PSC) for the purpose of obtaining a Transportation Network Operator (TNO) license. I also consent to the Company providing my personal information, including but not limited to my name, birth date, mailing address, phone number, email address, driver’s license number, vehicle information, Social Security number, and any other information included on this form or previously submitted to Lyft, Inc., to the PSC for the purpose of obtaining a TNO license.
Maryland, DC, and Northern Virginia applicants/drivers only: I consent to Lyft, Inc. sending a copy of my background check results to the Maryland Public Service Commission (PSC) for the purpose of obtaining a Transportation Network Operator (TNO) license. I also consent to the Company providing my personal information, including but not limited to my name, birth date, mailing address, phone number, email address, driver’s license number, vehicle information, Social Security number, and any other information included on this form, or previously submitted to Lyft, Inc., to the PSC for the purpose of obtaining a TNO license.
Virginia for-hire vehicle applicants/drivers only: If you are operating a commercial vehicle, you are authorized to operate that vehicle under the common carrier certificate you provided to Lyft. If that common carrier is an entity, you represent that you are an owner, partner, member/manager or officer of that entity and that your information was provided during the application process to allow DMV to review your criminal history and driving record information. While you are entering into an Agreement with Lyft and receiving compensation, you are doing so on behalf of the entity. Lyft acts as a broker for that entity, rather than you as an individual driver.
Minnesota applicants/drivers only: You have the right to request a complete and accurate disclosure of the nature and scope of any consumer report from consumer reporting agency SambaSafety (SambaSafety, Inc., Attn: Consumer Request, 8814 Horizon Blvd NE, Suite 100, Albuquerque, NM 87113; 888-947-2622, option 7; https://www.sambasafety.com/lyft-consumer-disputerequest-procedures/) (which provides report information relating to driving records/motor vehicle information) and/or consumer reporting agency Checkr (Checkr, Inc, One Montgomery St, Suite 2000, San Francisco, CA 94104; 844-824-3257; https://applicant.checkr.com/) (which provides report information relating to all other types of background, including criminal records).
New York applicants/drivers only: Upon request, you will be informed whether or not a consumer report was requested, and if such report was requested, informed of the name and address of the consumer reporting agency that furnished the report. Your written request should be made to Lyft, Inc., Attn: Trust & Safety, 548 Market St #68514, San Francisco, CA 94104.
Seattle/King County applicants/drivers only: By submitting this form, I consent to Lyft, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries, affiliates, other related entities, successors, and/or assigns (collectively or individually, as appropriate, the “Company”) providing my personal information, including but not limited to my background check, my driver history, SSN, and any other information included on this form or previously submitted to Lyft, Inc., to the City of Seattle and King County for the purpose of obtaining a for-hire license, as required by Seattle Ordinance 124524, section 6.310.300 (C)(4) and King County Ordinance 17892, section (G)(2).
Minnesota or Oklahoma applicants/drivers only: If you would like to receive from (as applicable) the consumer reporting agency, or the Company, a copy of the background check report(s) that Company may procure, please check this box
Please note: State background check disclosures that overlap with the disclosures set forth on the next screen are not repeated here.
(This is the of end of the state background check disclosures.)
Lyft Driver Application – Step 5 – Background Check
In this step, you will need to authorize a background check based on your social security number and driver’s license.
Below is the full text of the federal background check disclosure
Federal Background Check Disclosures & Authorization
BACKGROUND CHECK DISCLOSURES
A consumer report is a type of background check in which information (which may include, but is not limited to, criminal background, driving reports/background, character, general reputation, personal characteristics, and mode of living) about you is gathered and communicated by a consumer reporting agency to Lyft, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries, affiliates, other related entities, successors, and/or assigns (collectively or individually, as appropriate, the “Company”).
Company may obtain a consumer report on you to be used for the purpose of evaluating you in connection with your application or continued eligibility to be a driver on the Lyft platform.
BACKGROUND CHECK AUTHORIZATION
By clicking the button below, I authorize Company to procure consumer report(s) (including criminal and driving reports) on me to be used for the purpose of evaluating me in connection with my application or continued eligibility to be a driver on the Lyft platform.
Products and Apps I Use as a Lyft Driver
Below are some of the products I use as a Lyft driver on a day to day basis:
- Smart phone – this is a standard among sharing economy jobs
- Car charger – USB Quick Charge 3.0 Dual Car Charger
- Phone mount for car – Cell Phone Car Mount Holder
- 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.
