Employment at Lyft
Lyft provides those who love to drive and interact with people the chance to set their own schedules and make money with their cars. The following guide will walk you through the Lyft application process and what to expect once you submit your information.
If you are thinking about starting your Lyft application, you will need a car and a smartphone with a data plan. If you don’t have a car, Lyft offers competitive rental options, described below.
If you are interested in driving for Lyft, their online Lyft application is found online. Before starting your Lyft application, read through this guide for a smooth application process.
Lyft Online Job Application
Lyft offers an uncomplicated process for those who want to be their own boss. Their online form is a quick and trouble-free application. Before starting your Lyft application, you will want to gather the following documents:
- Driver’s License;
- Proof of Insurance (listing your name and vehicle);
- Vehicle registration.
Some states require a state inspection form from the last six months to be submitted as well. Check the website for your city’s requirements.
Once on the Lyft website, you will fill out a quick online form. If you need a car to drive, you will be directed to the rental application page. You should fill this out prior to filling out the driver application if you don’t have your own car to use.
The Lyft application will direct you to create a Lyft driver account using an email address and password that you provide. Once approved, your account will remain active unless you go 30 days or more without accepting a ride.
The Lyft Account
Once your account is created, you will provide additional personal information that Lyft will use to complete your driving record and background check. Lyft completes a thorough check to ensure driver and rider safety. Lyft is unable to answer questions regarding the results of your background checks if you are not approved to drive. Once you are approved, the process goes quickly.
While you wait for your background checks, you will be directed to meet with a Lyft representative who will present you with the ins and outs of driving for Lyft. They will complete your initial application at the end of your session, which takes between 30-60 minutes. The Lyft representative will walk you through using the Lyft Driver app on your phone and answer questions you may have about anything from your application to getting paid and promotions.
The Lyft app allows you to accept or decline ride requests. You must run the app the entire time you are driving for Lyft in your car. Only turn on the app when you are ready to accept rides. Also, close the app when you are ready to stop accepting rides for the day. Lyft does offer an in-app feature that will allow you to charge one return ride per day (driving home from a trip that took you far from your home city, for example).
Once you have the Lyft app on your phone, you can upload photos of your key documents using the website or on your mobile phone. If you have questions about your Lyft application, you can contact Lyft Support via email. Lyft team members typically respond to emails within 24 hours.
Minimum Requirements to Drive for Lyft
There are a few basic requirements for Lyft drivers:
- At least 21 years old;
- Valid Driver’s License for at least one year;
- Four-door vehicle that meets your state’s requirements;
- Use an iPhone or android phone.
Lyft Working Hours
Your Lyft representative will provide suggestions on how to manage your time as a Lyft Driver during your session. They will advise you on how to make the most of promotions and exclusive offers to make the most of your time. Taking breaks and limiting time behind the wheel is encouraged for driver safety and fatigue prevention.
To help prevent driver fatigue and over-working, the Lyft application requires a 6-hour break for every 14 hours spent in driving mode, measured by the app on your phone. Some states have their own requirements regarding how many hours drivers may spend on the road each day. Those requirements may be found on their page.
Income Expectations
The Lyft Website explains how driver pay is calculated. Lyft makes sure you are paid for not only time you spend driving, but also time you spend waiting for your clients after you arrive. You must wait at least 5 minutes for your rider to be paid for cancelling the ride yourself in the app.
Lyft determines your pay per ride using three factors:
- Base Fare: What passengers pay to reserve their ride;
- Cost per Mile;
- Cost per Minute: Calculated after the ride.
How Does Lyft Determine Driver Pay?
Short rides can be frustrating for some rideshare drivers. Lyft uses a minimum fare to make sure drivers are compensated even for quick rides. Lyft does not deduct their fees from a minimum fare.
Lyft does have a maximum fare policy that varies by state. If a rider’s route will go past the maximum fare, drivers have the right to suggest an alternative mode of transportation. State maximum fares are listed on the company’s website. Just click on your state to view applicable rates.
Passengers will be charged for tolls, service fees, and airport drop offs. Lyft does not have a contract with airports yet. So drivers are not permitted at the current time to pick up riders from airports. Lyft hopes to obtain airport contracts soon.
Lyft offers an in-app tipping service for riders who do not carry cash. Riders are encouraged to tip in the app at the end of a ride, and drivers keep 100% of their tips.
Drivers can request to be paid at any time during the week. But all drivers are paid each Monday if bank information has been provided. All payments are made via bank transfers and only take a few minutes to appear in the driver’s account.
Other Careers with Lyft
Lyft does offer job opportunities beyond driving. They have opportunities all over the United States. Their job categories are listed below
- Analytics;
- Business Operations;
- Communications/Public Relations;
- Creative;
- Customer Service;
- Data Science;
- Design;
- Engineering;
- Enterprise;
- Finance;
- Government Relations;
- Growth;
- Legal;
- Marketing;
- Operations;
- Operations Analytics;
- People;
- Product;
- Sales and Partnerships;
- Strategy.
If any of these categories interest you, visit their careers page to view and apply for current openings. These positions are more traditional in terms of their application process. You will need a resume and cover letter. Also, there will be a formal interview for most positions either in person or via phone. Some positions allow telecommuting. But most take place in a physical office.
Basic Tips for Applying for Lyft
The Lyft application process is streamlined for driver convenience and comfort. There is no formal interview to stress out about. All you need to do is submit all required paperwork and attend your information session with a Lyft representative. Once all your information is submitted and you complete your session, you can expect a driver decision within about 7 days. Most drivers receive their approval within 3-4 days. But it can take as long as 2 weeks depending on your state’s DMV check processes.
Once approved, sign into the Lyft App to let riders know you are available. Your Lyft representative will have taught you all you need to know about using the app and accepting rides. So you will be ready to make money once you have completed the Lyft application process.
Benefits of Driving for Lyft
There are many benefits to driving for Lyft. Setting your own work schedule, being your own boss, and interacting with new people are just some things that draw most drivers to Lyft. The option to tip Lyft drivers in the application is a small but significant benefit over other rideshare companies. Lyft also ensures that drivers are compensated if riders cancel rides while they are on the way. They also make sure drivers are paid for no-show riders.
Lyft offers an easy payment system where you control when you get paid the money you have earned. This allows drivers to control their finances in a way that works best for them.
Frequently Asked Lyft Driver Questions
Some of the most frequently asked questions from Lyft drivers are answered below as you consider your Lyft application.
- Is driving for Lyft safe? Lyft takes driver and passenger safety seriously. If a rider makes you feel uncomfortable, Lyft will make every effort to make sure you are never matched with that passenger again. If a passenger received a certain number of complaints, they will not be permitted to use the Lyft app.
- Do I need special insurance to drive for Lyft? Lyft only requires that you meet your states minimum insurance requirements. Please remember that if you rent, lease, or have a lien on your car, you may be required to carry additional coverage. Most insurance companies will not cover accidents that occur while driving for Lyft. Lyft does have its own insurance policy for these occurrences. But they have a large $2500 deductible that falls on the driver. There are other options for rideshare insurance that you can consider here.
- What if I don’t have a car? Lyft offers a car rental program for their drivers. You must fill out their rental application and wait for approval. Their Express Drive program is currently available in the following U.S. cities: Atlanta; Baltimore; Boston; Chicago; Dallas; Fort Worth; Denver; Detroit; Las Vegas; Los Angeles; Miami; Nashville; Orange County; Phoenix (not currently accepting new Express Drive Drivers); Portland; Sacramento; San Diego; San Francisco; San Jose; Washington, D.C.
Lyft will require a deposit to pick up your rental vehicle. Rental rates vary from $185-235 per week. These rates can decrease for active drivers who log a certain number of rides per week.
Working with Lyft
Driving for Lyft allows you to control your work hours, location, and pay schedule. You can use your car to make money and meet new people in a job that is never dull. If driving for Lyft is not what you are looking for, the company offers many other employment opportunities in their corporate offices that match a variety of skills and interests.
Lyft Drivers have a level of flexibility in their jobs that many careers don’t offer. The mobile application is simple and user friendly for drivers and riders. Lyft staff are available to answer questions you may have and help you get ready to start driving for their company. Making sure you are comfortable with the application and picking up riders is their priority. Lyft often promotes from within from a pool of highly active, highly rated drivers for special employment opportunities.
If you are a motivated self-starter ready to work for yourself and let your car work for you, Lyft is a wonderful opportunity. If you are ready to take the first step, visit their website to start your journey! Click here.
To discover other popular job applications read here: