What are Lyft’s Vehicle Requirements?
Lyft is the second-largest ridesharing company in the U.S. Before becoming a Lyft driver, your vehicle must meet specific Lyft vehicle age requirements. Lyft car requirements for auto insurance may vary in each state. Upgrading to a rideshare policy is the best way to assure that your vehicle and its passengers will be covered.
Free Auto Insurance Comparison
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
|
Written by
Leslie Kasperowicz
|
|
Reviewed by
Daniel Walker
|
UPDATED: Apr 29, 2022
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right coverage choices.
Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident auto insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one auto insurance provider and cannot guarantee quotes from any single provider. Our partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from many different companies please enter your ZIP code on this page to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about auto insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything auto insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by auto insurance experts.
- Lyft suggests its drivers upgrade their qualified personal auto insurance policy to rideshare insurance
- Most states require that vehicles used for Lyft service must be at least 15 years of age or newer
- With GEICO’s Rideshare Policy for Lyft drivers, you can earn an extra $0.25 per eligible ride
Are you considering a part-time driving career with Lyft? Before getting started, it’s essential to know what the Lyft car requirements are so that you can ensure your vehicle’s eligibility. One of the most significant decisions you will have to make is to choose between rideshare insurance or a personal auto insurance policy. Everything from your vehicle’s age to how many car doors your vehicle has contributes to whether or not you will be able to become a Lyft driver.
This article will explore all of the most critical Lyft vehicle requirements for 2021-2022.
While learning about Lyft auto requirements, don’t forget to research prices. Enter your ZIP code for a free auto insurance quote today.
Table of Contents
Lyft Vehicle Requirements for Auto Insurance
According to Statista, Lyft is the second-largest ridesharing service provider in the United States. When it comes to the Lyft car requirements for auto insurance, drivers must have a personal auto insurance policy that fulfills the minimum requirements in their state. According to Kelly Blue Book, the average cost of auto insurance is projected to rise to about $1,706 a year. Depending on which state you currently reside in, you may already be responsible for paying more than the average rate for car insurance.
Since there are many gray areas between what your auto insurance policy will cover when the Lyft app is off versus when it is on, it is encouraged for you to upgrade your complete auto insurance policy to rideshare insurance.
Free Auto Insurance Comparison
Enter your ZIP code below to view companies that have cheap auto insurance rates.
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
Is rideshare insurance a Lyft requirement?
If you want to become a Lyft driver, part of your acceptance will rely on appropriate vehicle coverage. Lyft requires drivers to have a personal car insurance policy, which can vary in price depending on your location. While this is all that Lyft needs, your state and your car insurance company may have a different set of rules in place. When some insurance companies find out that you are using your vehicle for Lyft services, they may increase your auto insurance rate, or worse, terminate your auto insurance policy altogether.
Getting rideshare insurance can provide Lyft drivers with peace of mind knowing that they are adhering to the regulations in place and protecting themselves and their passengers when on the road.
What is rideshare insurance?
Rideshare insurance is a particular type of commercial auto insurance policy designed to cover Lyft drivers when they turn on the app and start accepting passengers. For example, let’s say you just picked up a new passenger, and as you are signaling to get back onto the road, another vehicle strikes your car, leaving a dent in the driver’s door. Even though this took place while you were on the clock, there is no guarantee that your insurance provider will cover the damage without rideshare insurance.
Companies that offer rideshare insurance include:
- Allstate
- GEICO
- Farmers
- Liberty Mutual
- Progressive
- State Farm
- USAA
If you decide not to switch to rideshare insurance, just know that it is a choice made at your own risk. However, Lyft does offer potential drivers a few additional insurance options.
All-in-One Auto Insurance for Lyft Drivers
If you want to assure that you have the required auto insurance to become a Lyft driver legally, Lyft highly recommends GEICO’s Rideshare Policy. With this policy, Lyft drivers can be confident that they are covered — whether the app is on or off. All-in-One Auto Insurance provides an array of benefits for Lyft drivers.
- You can receive an additional $0.25 on every eligible Lyft ride provided.
- You can get a deductible for as low as $250 on coverage when driving to and with a passenger.
- You can reduce your deductible with a trusted rideshare policy.
While GEICO’s Rideshare Policy includes benefits like these for Lyft drivers, the rideshare coverage you receive can vary by insurance company.
Lyft Vehicle Age Requirements
Your vehicle must meet specific age requirements for you to qualify as a Lyft driver. Most Lyft car requirements specify that a car must be at least 15 years old or younger. However, this typically varies per state and city.
State Age Requirement
Alabama 2004 or later
Alaska 2007 or later
Arizona 2003-2005 or later (varies by city)
Arkansas 2003-2005 or later (varies by city)
California 2003-2005 or later (varies by city)
Colorado 2004 or later
Connecticut 2007 or later
Delaware 2003 or later
Florida 2003-2007 or later (varies by city)
Georgia 2007 or later
Hawaii 2003 or later
Idaho 2004-2005 or later (varies by city)
Illinois 2003-2009 or later (varies by city)
Indiana 2003-2005 or later (varies by city)
Iowa 2003 or later
Kansas 2003-2005 or later (varies by city)
Kentucky 2003 or later
Louisiana 2003-2011 or later (varies by city)
Maine 2004 or later
Maryland 2007 or later
Massachusetts 2003-2004 or later (varies by city)
Michigan 2006 or later
Minnesota 2003-2009 or later (varies by city)
Mississippi 2003-2005 or later (varies by city)
Missouri 2003-2007 or later(varies by city)
Montana 2004 or later
Nebraska 2003-2005 or later (varies by city)
Nevada 2003-2009 or later (varies by city)
New Hampshire 2003 or later
New Jersey 2004 or later
New Mexico 2003-2005 or later (varies by city)
New York 2004 or later for NY State (NYC qualifications vary)
North Carolina 2003-2005 or later
North Dakota 2003 or later
Ohio 2003 or later
Oklahoma 2003-2009 or later (varies by city)
Oregon 2003-2009 or later (varies by city)
Pennsylvania 2004 or later (less than 350k miles)
Rhode Island 2004 or later
South Carolina 2003 or later
South Dakota 2009 or later
Tennessee 2003-2005 or later (varies by city)
Texas 2003-2005 or later(varies by city)
Utah 2005 or later
Vermont 2009 or later
Virginia 2003-2005 or later (varies by city)
Washington 2004-2009 or later (varies by city)
West Virginia 2003-2005 or later (varies by city)
Wisconsin 2003-2005 or later (varies by city)
Wyoming 2005 or later
Another factor that may play into how old a vehicle has to be for you to qualify as a Lyft driver is the type of Lyft service you will be providing.
Types of Lyft Services
In addition to traditional Lyft services, there is the Lyft Preferred option. This ride type offers passengers at least 37 inches of legroom. Lyft vehicle age requirements for this ride type typically require a vehicle model from 2015 or later.
Luxury ride services are also available. Lyft offers three different luxury ride modes, and the Lyft vehicle age requirements can vary upon each option.
Lyft Lux
This luxury ride service provides a lavish SUV or Sedan with leather (or leather-like) interior that can seat at least three passengers. An example of a Lux Black vehicle includes a BMW X3, Lexus ES, or a GMC Yukon Denali. Lyft vehicle age requirements for this ride type typically require a vehicle model from 2014 or later.
Lux Black
This luxury ride service provides a very high-end Sedan or SUV with a black leather (or leather-like) interior that can seat at least three passengers. An example of a Lux Black vehicle includes a BMW 5-series car, Lexus LS, or a Cadillac Escalade. Lyft vehicle age requirements for this ride type typically require a vehicle model from 2016 or later (Varies by city).
Lux Black XL
This luxury ride is spacious in nature, and it is typically a high-end luxury vehicle that can seat at least five passengers. An example of a Lux Black XL can include a Lincoln Navigator, BMW X5, or a Cadillac Escalade. Lyft vehicle age requirements for this ride type typically require a vehicle model from 2016 or later.
Free Auto Insurance Comparison
Enter your ZIP code below to view companies that have cheap auto insurance rates.
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
Other Important Lyft Vehicle Requirements
You discovered that your vehicle meets all of the age and auto insurance credentials — now what? All Lyft drivers are required to pass a vehicle background check. During the background check, your tires, A/C and heating system, lights, horn, and seat belts, among other things, will be inspected. If you follow the Lyft car requirement for 2021-2022, it can increase your chances of getting accepted to become a Lyft driver.
Now that you are familiar with the Lyft car requirements, it’s about time you compare car insurance rates. Enter your ZIP code to receive a free insurance quote today.