What Are the Requirements To Drive for Uber and Lyft in 2024?
SmartFinancial Offers Unbiased, Fact-based Information. Our fact-checked articles are intended to educate insurance shoppers so they can make the right buying decisions. Learn More
To drive for Uber or Lyft, you will generally need a four-door car that meets certain age and title requirements. In addition, you may need to maintain personal car insurance, pass a background check and meet certain age and experience prerequisites yourself. Keep in mind that Uber and Lyft requirements may differ from city to city, so you should be sure to check the specific qualifications in your area.
Keep reading to learn more about Lyft and Uber car requirements plus how these companies cover you while you’re working and what your options are if you don’t own your own vehicle.
Key Takeaways
|
Uber Car Requirements
Some of the general standards your vehicle must meet if you want to drive for Uber in most regions include the following:[1]
- Has four doors
- Can carry at least four passengers
- Is no more than 15 years old
- Doesn’t have a salvaged, reconstructed or rebuilt title
- Is either owned by you or rented from an approved company
- Doesn’t have any cosmetic damage or missing parts
- Doesn’t feature commercial branding or taxi paint jobs
However, there are numerous branches of Uber that you may have the option to drive for and many of these branches come with their own set of additional requirements. Continue reading for a more in-depth look at these requirements.
UberX and UberXL
UberX and UberXL are designed for larger parties who need to ride together, so UberX and UberXL drivers must have larger vehicles. Specifically, UberX vehicles must be able to seat at least five passengers, while UberXL cars must be able to seat at least seven.[2]
Uber Select and Comfort
While the Uber website doesn’t list specific requirements for Select drivers, it does note that they have to maintain a high star rating and must be able to provide “stylish rides” for one to four passengers at a time.[3] If you are already eligible for Uber Select, you may also become eligible for Uber Comfort by driving a larger vehicle that can provide passengers with more legroom, maintaining a star rating of at least 4.85 on the Uber app and completing at least 100 trips for Uber.[2]
Uber Black and Uber Black SUV
Uber drivers who have at least a 4.85 star rating and their own commercial insurance may be eligible for Uber Black or Uber Black SUV. To drive for Uber Black, your vehicle can be no more than seven years old and it must have a black exterior and black or vegan leather on the interior. Meanwhile, you could upgrade to Uber Black SUV if you drive a sports utility vehicle that qualifies for Uber Black but can also carry at least six passengers.[2]
Uber Eats
Uber Eats generally has less stringent vehicle requirements for its food delivery drivers. For example, you can deliver using a car that has two to four doors, a motorized scooter or a bicycle. In some cities, you can even deliver food on foot for Uber Eats.[4]
Uber Car Inspection
Uber vehicle inspection requirements vary from region to region. For example, Los Angeles drivers are required to pass an inspection before they begin picking up customers for Uber and must have their cars inspected again every year or every 50,000 miles they drive, whichever comes first.[5] Conversely, drivers in Greensboro, North Carolina, don’t have to undergo an inspection at all unless their vehicles are registered out of state.[6]
If your city requires car inspections for Uber drivers, you can generally expect your inspection to last less than 30 minutes. You will have to pay out of pocket for any car repairs or maintenance needed to pass the inspection. Afterward, you must upload your completed inspection form and receipt to your Uber account.[5]
Applying for Uber Without a Vehicle
Even if you don’t own a car, you can still work for Uber if you rent one from an approved rental car partner such as Avis, Hertz, KINTO or Getaround. Rideshare car rentals from these companies automatically come with insurance, no mileage restrictions and potentially other perks. Prices start at $260 per week for Uber drivers.[7]
Uber Car Insurance Requirements
Uber requires all drivers to maintain the minimum car insurance coverage types and limits required by law in their state. This means that drivers need liability insurance in every state and potentially other coverage types like uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM), personal injury protection (PIP) and medical payments coverage (Medpay) depending on where they live.[8]
You should note that, although car insurance is not legally mandatory for drivers in New Hampshire or Virginia, both states’ governments have set minimum standards for drivers who do opt to buy coverage.[9][10] In addition, drivers in both states are required to carry personal auto insurance to drive their own vehicles for Uber.[11][12]
Uber Driver Requirements
While driver requirements also vary based on your location, individuals looking to drive for Uber will generally need to comply with guidelines such as these:[13]
- Meet the minimum age requirement for your area (25 and older for new drivers in California but can be lower in other states)
- Have at least three years of driving experience since getting your driver’s license if you are younger than 25 or one year of driving experience if you are older than 25
- Have a driver’s license that is valid in your state
- Be able to show proof of residency in your state
Remember that driver requirements may be different if you want to drive for one of Uber’s offshoot programs. For example, you only need to be 18 or 19 years old to deliver for Uber Eats depending on the type of vehicle you plan on using.[4]
Lyft Car Requirements
All vehicles used to drive for Lyft must have four doors and five to eight seat belts but, beyond this, car requirements largely depend on the city you work in.[14] For example, drivers in Chicago must use a vehicle produced in 2009 or later, while drivers in New York City must drive one produced in 2007 or later. However, you are ineligible to drive for Lyft in both cities if your car has a salvage, non-repairable or rebuilt title.[15][16]
Lyft Car Inspection
Similarly, car inspection requirements for Lyft depend on where you will be driving. For example, drivers in Minneapolis, Minnesota, must undergo an inspection before they start driving for Lyft and once per year afterward, while drivers throughout Florida are not required to pass an inspection at all.[17][18]
Applying for Lyft Without a Vehicle
Like Uber, Lyft hires drivers who don’t own a car as long as they rent from an approved partner like Hertz or Flexdrive through the Express Drive program. Express Drive rentals come with insurance, coverage for standard maintenance and roadside assistance. Starting prices include $189 per week for a midsize sedan and $194 per week for a hybrid.[19]
Lyft Car Insurance Requirements
Lyft is also similar to Uber in that it requires all drivers to maintain a personal auto insurance policy that meets their state’s minimum requirements, even though personal car insurance coverage doesn’t apply while you are driving for Lyft.[20]
Lyft Driver Requirements
To be eligible to drive for Lyft, you will generally need a valid driver’s license and must meet your region’s minimum age requirement, which ranges from 21 to 25 years old in many regions. Prospective drivers must also complete Lyft’s Community Safety Education program. In addition, drivers in the following eight states need at least one year of licensed driving experience before they can drive for Lyft:[21]
- California
- Hawaii
- Illinois
- Massachusetts
- Minnesota
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Vermont
Can You Get Insurance To Drive Through Uber or Lyft?
Both Uber and Lyft offer complimentary car insurance coverage to drivers while they are on the job. Read below for an overview of how this coverage works and what its limitations are.
Uber Car Insurance
While you are online and waiting to receive a ride request, Uber provides you with $50,000 worth of bodily injury liability coverage per person, $100,000 worth of bodily injury liability coverage per accident and $25,000 worth of property damage liability coverage per accident along with any other coverage types that are required by law in your state.[8]
However, once you are on your way to pick up a customer or are actively driving them, the bodily injury and property damage liability coverage limits both jump up to $1 million per accident. During this phase, you may also receive contingent comprehensive and collision coverage, meaning they only apply if your personal auto policy includes physical damage coverage. You should note that comprehensive and collision claims through Uber come with a $2,500 deductible.[8]
Uber also offers drivers in California free injury protection coverage that takes care of their own medical expenses if they are injured in a covered accident at any point while they are online. Outside of California, you may have the option to purchase injury protection coverage if Uber doesn’t offer free PIP or Medpay in your state.[8]
Lyft Car Insurance
Lyft’s insurance coverage is similar to Uber’s in that it generally includes liability insurance with 50/100/25 coverage limits while you are logged in and $1 million worth of liability coverage, contingent comprehensive and collision insurance and other state-mandated coverage types while you are en route to a customer or are already carrying a passenger to their destination. However, Lyft only provides liability insurance with 25/50/20 coverage limits when you are in between ride requests in Arizona and Nebraska.[20]
Another similarity Lyft shares with Uber is that it offers another complimentary coverage type that is unique to California. Lyft’s variant of this coverage type is known as occupational accident coverage and it covers your medical expenses and disability benefits if you are injured on the job due to a covered accident.[20]
Rideshare Insurance
You may also want to consider purchasing your own commercial rideshare insurance as either a standalone policy or an endorsement for your existing car insurance policy before you start driving for Uber or Lyft. Personal auto insurance policies generally exclude coverage for commercial activities.
What Can Disqualify Me From Driving for Uber or Lyft?
In general, rideshare drivers for Uber and Lyft must pass a background check and keep their cars in acceptable condition and may be disqualified from working for these companies if they fail to do so. Examples of things that could disqualify you from driving for Uber include the following:[2][22]
- Aftermarket modifications
- Cosmetic damage on the interior or exterior of your vehicle
- Convictions for impaired driving, violent offenses or identity theft
- Community guideline violations
Meanwhile, you cannot drive for Lyft if you only have a commercial vehicle such as a limo or taxi.[16] In addition, Lyft may reject drivers depending on their prior convictions and how long ago those convictions were. See the below table for an overview of potentially disqualifying offenses.[21]
Offense |
Time Frame |
---|---|
At least four minor moving violations (e.g. running a red light) |
Within the past three years |
One major moving violation (e.g. driving with a suspended license) |
Within the past three years |
Driving under the influence (DUI) or drug-related driving offense |
Within the past seven years |
Other drug-related offense |
Within the past seven years |
Serious driving-related conviction (e.g. hit-and-run) |
Within the past seven years |
Fraud-related offense |
Within the past seven years |
Theft or property damage offense |
Within the past seven years |
Violent crime (e.g. aggravated assault) |
May be disqualifying no matter when the conviction was |
Sexual assault or any other offense that requires you to register as a sex offender |
May be disqualifying no matter when the conviction was |
Act of terror |
May be disqualifying no matter when the conviction was |
What Are the Benefits of Driving for Uber and Lyft?
Some of the benefits of driving for Uber and Lyft include a flexible work schedule and free commercial insurance coverage while you’re on the job. These gigs may also be appealing due to their minimal job requirements, as you may only need to be a certain age, have a certain type of car and, in some locations, have a certain amount of experience on the road to be qualified.
In addition, drivers may be eligible for certain additional perks. For example, Uber drivers can receive discounts on new cars, while Lyft drivers can receive up to 10% cashback after paying for gasoline through the Lyft Rewards program.[23][24]
How To Get Insurance To Drive for Uber or Lyft
If you’re interested in extra coverage to protect you while you’re picking up passengers for Lyft or Uber, you may want to compare quotes from three to five car insurance companies that can offer you a policy with rideshare coverage. You’ll need to give each insurer information like your age, the make and model of your car, your driving record and more.
To make this process easier, try using an insurance marketplace like SmartFinancial. After you fill out a brief questionnaire about your coverage needs and budget, we can match you up with insurance agents who are prepared to help you secure quotes, sometimes in only a few minutes. Click here if you’d like to talk to an agent about getting a car insurance quote today.
- Insurance quotes /
- Auto /
- Uber Lyft Car Requirements