Driving with Lyft Requirements

Age requirements

You must be at least 21 years old* with an active U.S. driver’s license for at least 1 year to apply to be a Lyft driver.

*You can create a passenger account at 18.

You must be licensed to drive for at least a year prior to applying. There are some cases where you may see an error message on your application regarding your driving history — if your license was recently reissued, or your state does not provide the issue date. Get the details on how to handle these issues.

*In New York City, DMV and criminal background checks are conducted by the Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) according to their licensing standards, instead of through Lyft.

Driving record check and background check

Every potential driver is required to undergo both a driving record check and a criminal background check. Lyft reviews the results of the checks and disqualifies individuals who fail to meet the standards set by both Lyft and local regulations.

DMV check

Lyft uses a third party to check every potential driver’s driving record. You are ineligible to drive on the Lyft platform if any of the below are found on your driving record:

• More than three moving violations in the past three years (e.g. accidents, traffic light violations)
• A major moving violation in the past three years (e.g., driving on a suspended license, reckless driving)
• A DUI or other drug-related driving violation in the last seven years
• Any driving-related convictions in the last seven years (e.g. hit-and-run, felonies involving a vehicle)

Background check

Every driver is screened for criminal offenses and driving incidents. Lyft’s criminal background check is provided by a third party and includes national and county-level databases, and when necessary, local courthouse record checks stretching back a minimum of 7 years for review of convictions in California, and longer in some other jurisdictions. You will be ineligible to drive on the Lyft platform if, among other things, the background check results reveal:

• A violent crime
• A felony
• A drug-related offense
• A sexual offense
• Certain theft or property damage offenses

In New York City, DMV and criminal background checks are conducted by the Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) according to their licensing standards, instead of through Lyft.

More restrictive standards may apply based on local requirements specific to ridesharing. Lyft reserves the right to disqualify a driver at any time should either their driving record or background check reveal any of the above items, or for any other safety-related reason at Lyft’s discretion.

If you do not pass your background check, you'll receive a copy via email and instructions for how to contest the results.

Vehicle standards

The driver's vehicle must meet the list of Lyft standards as well as all local government standards.

Current smart phone

You must have a smart phone in order to drive on the Lyft platform. Since the app requires a cellular connection, we do not support tablets or wifi-only devices, such as iPads.

iOS 9 and Android 6 or newer are necessary for smooth operation of the Lyft app. Although earlier versions may be supported, they may not provide the best user experience.