You might not get hired by Lyft if ...

Becoming a Lyft driver is a pretty easy process, but there are a few things you can do to botch the process and ruin your chances of getting hired. If you’re looking to drive very soon, you don’t want to delay the process or sabotage your chances of getting hired by making an easily-avoidable mistakes.
Lyft’s website doesn’t make the driver application process 100% clear, so I can understand why some drivers take awhile to get hired.

The Lyft driver application process can be broken down to three steps

1. The online application. This is where you’ll submit your information: Name, car, location, insurance info, drivers license, etc. 

1. The Mentor Session Welcome Ride. You go on a test ride with a working Lyft driver who checks out your car and makes sure you’re not crazy. Read about the Lyft mentor session in detail. 
2. The background check and driving record check. After you complete your Mentor Session, Lyft runs these two checks and then lets you know if you’re hired or not.

You won’t make it past the Lyft driver application if… You don’t meet the requirements!

To make it past the first stage of the process, you’ll have to meet these requirements: 

• You must be at least 21 years old 
  
• You must own a 4 door car that is year 2003 or newer (2005 in some cities) 
• You must have in-state insurance with your name on the policy 
• Must have an in-state license In-state plates with a current registration (commercial plates are acceptable as well)
• Have a clean driving record and pass a background check

Lyft says: “Prove it!” You must upload documentation that proves you meet the requirements. Basically that just means snapping pictures of your drivers license, your auto insurance, your registration, and your car. After you consent to a background check, Lyft will make sure you’re not a terrible driver or a seasoned felon. 

If you're shopping around for insurance, you might be able to find a better rate with this insurance provider:

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Note: Some insurance providers won't cover you if you say you drive for Uber or Lyft.

You need to pass the ‘Mentor Session’ to get hired

On the last page of the Lyft application, you’ll be asked to schedule a “Mentor Session” with a Lyft Mentor. Lyft Mentors are drivers who inspect your car and take you on a test ride called the Welcome Ride. When you request your Welcome Ride, you’ll receive a ride request from the mentor. You accept the request, drive to the mentor, then the mentor inspects your car using a special features of the Lyft app.

You and the Lyft Mentor will go on a brief test drive so the mentor can see if your car is up to Lyft standards (the standards aren’t super high, to be honest). 

 You won’t pass the Mentor Session if… 

• Your car is a damaged, dirty, busted, broken-down hooptie 
  
• You’ll probably fail the Welcome Ride if you didn’t bother to clean your car, or if the air conditioning doesn’t work, or if there are huge dents and dings and paint damage on your car.
• Parking lot scrapes and dings are fine, a bumper lashed onto your car with bungee cables is not fine. 
• You’re a bad driver If you don’t use your turn signals, don’t pay attention to the road, ignore road signs, etc, you’ll fail. 
• Just don’t be a bad driver and you’ll pass. 

 You or your Mentor don’t show up 

If you don’t show up to the Mentor Session, you’ll have to reschedule it. A Mentor should reach out to you to reschedule, but do your best to make it happen the first time! 

You will get hired as a Lyft driver if…

• You have all of your information in order, and you meet the requirements 
• If your car is in decent condition and you take your Lyft Mentor on a pleasant, uneventful Welcome ride 

Need help getting hired? Have questions?

If you have any questions about the hiring process, leave a comment below and I’ll get back to you asap. You can contact Lyft support, but expect to wait a few days before you get a response. There’s also an active community of Lyft, Uber, and other ride sharing drivers who have vrious Facebook and twitter presences. These often have message boards and helpful forums. Once you understand all of the driver requirements you’ll need to meet and you get all of your documentation in order, getting hired by Lyft and giving your first ride can take only a few days.