We value our editorial independence, basing our comparison results, content and reviews on objective analysis without bias. But we may receive compensation when you click links on our site. Learn more about how we make money from our partners.
Drive with Lyft
Looking to make some extra cash? Get your side hustle on by driving with Lyft.
Last updated:
Lyft employs more than 100,000 drivers across the country looking to make extra money shuttling passengers. But you’ll be an independent contractor, not an employee, which means you aren’t eligible for the benefits that come with a full-time job.
How it works
As a Lyft driver, you get the perks of choosing your own work hours — as few or as many as you like — while earning extra money. Whether you want to work for an hour during your lunch break or for five hours during peak times, you’re completely in charge.
Once you’ve signed up to become a driver, you open Lyft’s user-friendly smartphone app and turn driver mode on. Then you can begin accepting ride requests, picking up passengers and earning money.
Applying to drive with Lyft
To sign up to drive with Lyft, complete the simple online application with provide your full name and email address, city you want to drive in and your mobile phone number (either iPhone or Android).
To ensure the safety of its passengers, Lyft also requires your Social Security number and driver’s license number for a background check. Your car may also be subject to state-specific Lyft requirements.
Basic personal and vehicle requirements include:
- You must be at least 21 years old.
- Your car must have four external door handles and five seatbelts.
- Your car can pass a 19-point inspection before you start driving.
Pros and cons of driving with Lyft
Pros
- Flexible schedule
- Work as much or as little as you want
- Get paid weekly
- Keep 100% of your tips
Cons
- Drivers are independent contractors, which means you won’t get benefits
- Taxes aren’t deducted from your pay, so you’ll have to pay your taxes directly to the IRS
Bottom line
Driving with Lyft can be a solid way to supplement your income or to earn spending money in your spare time. No matter your situation, you can typically fit Lyft into your schedule. You may even find it an opportunity to meet cool people, like other drivers report.
Frequently asked questions
Rates last updated October 20th, 2019
Where is Lyft available?
Lyft is available in all 50 states, but it’s not yet available in all rural areas and small towns. Lyft has been increasing coverage over the last several years, and adds new towns regularly.
| City | State |
|---|---|
| Alabaster | Alabama |
| Auburn | Alabama |
| Birmingham | Alabama |
| Huntsville | Alabama |
| Mobile | Alabama |
| Montgomery | Alabama |
| Tuscaloosa | Alabama |
| Anthem | Arizona |
| Apache Junction | Arizona |
| Casa Grande | Arizona |
| Cave Creek | Arizona |
| Chandler | Arizona |
| Flagstaff | Arizona |
| Florence | Arizona |
| Fountain Hills | Arizona |
| Glendale | Arizona |
| Goodyear | Arizona |
| Kingman | Arizona |
| Lake Havasu City | Arizona |
| Laveen | Arizona |
| Maricopa | Arizona |
| Mesa | Arizona |
| Oro Valley | Arizona |
| Peoria | Arizona |
| Phoenix | Arizona |
| Prescott | Arizona |
| San Tan Valley | Arizona |
| Scottsdale | Arizona |
| Sun City | Arizona |
| Surprise | Arizona |
| Tempe | Arizona |
| Tucson | Arizona |
| Wickenburg | Arizona |
| Yuma | Arizona |
| Alameda | California |
| Antioch | California |
| Bakersfield | California |
| Berkeley | California |
| Burbank | California |
| Carlsbad | California |
| Chico | California |
| Concord | California |
| Corona | California |
| Cupertino | California |
| Daly City | California |
| Davis | California |
| Dublin | California |
| El Centro | California |
| Elk Grove | California |
| Fairfield | California |
| Fresno | California |
| Gilroy | California |
| Hayward | California |
| Healdsburg | California |
| Huntington Beach | California |
| Inglewood | California |
| Irvine | California |
| La Jolla | California |
| Laguna | California |
| Lancaster | California |
| Livermore | California |
| Lodi | California |
| Lompoc | California |
| Long Beach | California |
| Los Angeles | California |
| Los Banos | California |
| Manteca | California |
| Merced | California |
| Mill Valley | California |
| Milpitas | California |
| Mission Viejo | California |
| Modesto | California |
| Monterey | California |
| Moreno Valley | California |
| Morgan Hill | California |
| Newport Beach | California |
| Oakland | California |
| Oceanside | California |
| Oxnard | California |
| Palm Springs-Palm Desert | California |
| Palo Alto-Menlo Park | California |
| Pasadena | California |
| Paso Robles | California |
| Pleasanton | California |
| Poway | California |
| Rancho Cucamonga | California |
| Redding | California |
| Redlands | California |
| Richmond | California |
| Riverside | California |
| Roseville | California |
| Sacramento | California |
| Salinas | California |
| San Bernardino | California |
| San Diego | California |
| San Francisco | California |
| San Jose | California |
| San Leandro | California |
| San Luis Obispo | California |
| San Mateo | California |
| San Rafael | California |
| Santa Barbara | California |
| Santa Clara | California |
| Santa Clarita | California |
| Santa Cruz | California |
| Santa Maria | California |
| Santa Monica | California |
| Santa Rosa | California |
| Simi Valley | California |
| Sonoma | California |
| South Lake Tahoe | California |
| South San Francisco | California |
| Stockton | California |
| Sunnyvale | California |
| Thousand Oaks | California |
| Truckee | California |
| Vallejo | California |
| Ventura | California |
| Victorville | California |
| Walnut Creek | California |
| Watsonville | California |
| Yuba City | California |
| Aurora | Colorado |
| Boulder | Colorado |
| Centennial | Colorado |
| Colorado Springs | Colorado |
| Denver | Colorado |
| Fort Collins | Colorado |
| Fountain | Colorado |
| Loveland | Colorado |
| Bridgeport | Connecticut |
| Danbury | Connecticut |
| Greenwich | Connecticut |
| Groton | Connecticut |
| Hartford | Connecticut |
| Litchfield | Connecticut |
| Middletown | Connecticut |
| New Haven | Connecticut |
| New London | Connecticut |
| New Milford | Connecticut |
| Norwich | Connecticut |
| Stamford | Connecticut |
| Tolland | Connecticut |
| Waterbury | Connecticut |
| Windham | Connecticut |
| Dover | Delaware |
| Washington D.C. | District Of Columbia |
| Boca Raton | Florida |
| Bonita Springs | Florida |
| Boynton-Delray Beach | Florida |
| Bradenton | Florida |
| Cape Coral | Florida |
| Clearwater | Florida |
| Daytona Beach | Florida |
| Deltona | Florida |
| Florida Keys | Florida |
| Fort Lauderdale | Florida |
| Fort Myers | Florida |
| Fort Pierce | Florida |
| Gainesville | Florida |
| Homestead | Florida |
| Jacksonville | Florida |
| Key Largo | Florida |
| Kissimmee | Florida |
| Lakeland | Florida |
| Miami | Florida |
| Naples | Florida |
| North Port | Florida |
| Ocala | Florida |
| Orlando | Florida |
| Ormond Beach | Florida |
| Palm Bay | Florida |
| Panama City | Florida |
| Pensacola | Florida |
| Port Charlotte | Florida |
| Port St. Lucie | Florida |
| Punta Gorda | Florida |
| Sanford | Florida |
| Sarasota | Florida |
| St Petersburg | Florida |
| Tallahassee | Florida |
| Tampa Bay | Florida |
| Titusville | Florida |
| Venice | Florida |
| West Palm Beach | Florida |
| Winter Haven | Florida |
| Alpharetta | Georgia |
| Athens | Georgia |
| Atlanta | Georgia |
| Augusta | Georgia |
| Brunswick | Georgia |
| Columbus | Georgia |
| LaGrange | Georgia |
| Macon | Georgia |
| Marietta | Georgia |
| Savannah | Georgia |
| Big Island | Hawaii |
| Hilo | Hawaii |
| Honolulu | Hawaii |
| Kahului | Hawaii |
| Kailua | Hawaii |
| Kaneohe | Hawaii |
| Kauai | Hawaii |
| Kihei | Hawaii |
| Kona | Hawaii |
| Lahaina | Hawaii |
| Lihue | Hawaii |
| Maui | Hawaii |
| Wailua | Hawaii |
| Waipahu | Hawaii |
| Boise | Idaho |
| Cour d’Alene | Idaho |
| Idaho Falls | Idaho |
| Post Falls | Idaho |
| Bloomington | Illinois |
| Champaign | Illinois |
| Chicago | Illinois |
| Decatur | Illinois |
| Evanston | Illinois |
| Kankakee | Illinois |
| Naperville | Illinois |
| Normal | Illinois |
| Rockford | Illinois |
| Springfield | Illinois |
| Carmel | Indiana |
| Bloomington | Indiana |
| Evansville | Indiana |
| Fort Wayne | Indiana |
| Gary | Indiana |
| Indianapolis | Indiana |
| Lafayette | Indiana |
| Muncie | Indiana |
| South Bend | Indiana |
| Terre Haute | Indiana |
| Ames | Iowa |
| Cedar Rapids | Iowa |
| Davenport | Iowa |
| Des Moines | Iowa |
| Dubuque | Iowa |
| Iowa City | Iowa |
| Sioux City | Iowa |
| Waterloo | Iowa |
| Kansas City | Kansas |
| Lawrence | Kansas |
| Manhattan | Kansas |
| Topeka | Kansas |
| Wichita | Kansas |
| Bardstown | Kentucky |
| Bowling Green | Kentucky |
| Elizabethtown | Kentucky |
| Lexington | Kentucky |
| Louisville | Kentucky |
| Baton Rouge | Louisiana |
| Lafayette | Louisiana |
| Lake Charles | Louisiana |
| New Orleans | Louisiana |
| Augusta | Maine |
| Bangor | Maine |
| Biddleford | Maine |
| Freeport | Maine |
| Lewiston | Maine |
| Portland | Maine |
| Saco | Maine |
| Baltimore | Maryland |
| Bethesda-Silver Spring | Maryland |
| College Park | Maryland |
| Frederick | Maryland |
| Gaithersburg | Maryland |
| Hagerstown | Maryland |
| Ocean City | Maryland |
| Salisbury | Maryland |
| Towson | Maryland |
| Amherst | Massachusetts |
| Boston | Massachusetts |
| Brockton | Massachusetts |
| Cambridge | Massachusetts |
| Cape Cod | Massachusetts |
| Fall River | Massachusetts |
| Holyoke | Massachusetts |
| Leominster | Massachusetts |
| Lowell | Massachusetts |
| Newton | Massachusetts |
| Pittsfield | Massachusetts |
| Springfield | Massachusetts |
| Worcester | Massachusetts |
| Ann Arbor | Michigan |
| Detroit | Michigan |
| East Lansing | Michigan |
| Farmington Hills | Michigan |
| Flint | Michigan |
| Grand Haven | Michigan |
| Grand Rapids | Michigan |
| Jackson | Michigan |
| Kalamazoo | Michigan |
| Lansing | Michigan |
| Midland | Michigan |
| Mt. Pleasant | Michigan |
| Saginaw | Michigan |
| Troy | Michigan |
| Warren | Michigan |
| Duluth | Minnesota |
| Mankato | Minnesota |
| Minneapolis | Minnesota |
| Rochester | Minnesota |
| St. Cloud | Minnesota |
| St. Paul | Minnesota |
| Biloxi | Mississippi |
| Gulfport | Mississippi |
| Hattiesburg | Mississippi |
| Jackson | Mississippi |
| Oxford | Mississippi |
| Oxford | Mississippi |
| Tupelo | Mississippi |
| Chesterfield | Missouri |
| Columbia | Missouri |
| Florissant | Missouri |
| Jefferson City | Missouri |
| O’fallon | Missouri |
| Springfield | Missouri |
| St. Charles | Missouri |
| St. Louis | Missouri |
| Bellevue | Nebraska |
| Lincoln | Nebraska |
| Omaha | Nebraska |
| Henderson | Nevada |
| Las Vegas | Nevada |
| Reno | Nevada |
| Summerlin | Nevada |
| Concord | New Hampshire |
| Derry | New Hampshire |
| Manchester | New Hampshire |
| Nashua | New Hampshire |
| Camden | New Jersey |
| Cherry Hill | New Jersey |
| Hoboken | New Jersey |
| Jersey City | New Jersey |
| Montclair | New Jersey |
| Morristown | New Jersey |
| Newark | New Jersey |
| Trenton | New Jersey |
| Albuquerque | New Mexico |
| Gallup | New Mexico |
| Las Cruces | New Mexico |
| Santa Fe | New Mexico |
| Taos | New Mexico |
| Nassau County | New York |
| New York City | New York |
| Southampton | New York |
| Suffolk County | New York |
| Westchester County | New York |
| Asheville | North Carolina |
| Cary | North Carolina |
| Chapel Hill | North Carolina |
| Charlotte | North Carolina |
| Concord | North Carolina |
| Durham | North Carolina |
| Fayetteville | North Carolina |
| Goldsboro | North Carolina |
| Greensboro | North Carolina |
| Greenville | North Carolina |
| Hickory | North Carolina |
| Huntersville | North Carolina |
| Jacksonville | North Carolina |
| Matthews | North Carolina |
| Outer Banks | North Carolina |
| Raleigh | North Carolina |
| Salisbury | North Carolina |
| Wilmington | North Carolina |
| Winston-Salem | North Carolina |
| Bismarck | North Dakota |
| Fargo | North Dakota |
| Grand Forks | North Dakota |
| Akron | Ohio |
| Bowling Green | Ohio |
| Cincinnati | Ohio |
| Cleveland | Ohio |
| Columbus | Ohio |
| Dayton | Ohio |
| Marietta | Ohio |
| Toledo | Ohio |
| Youngstown | Ohio |
| Broken Arrow | Oklahoma |
| Lawton | Oklahoma |
| Moore | Oklahoma |
| Norman | Oklahoma |
| Oklahoma City | Oklahoma |
| Stillwater | Oklahoma |
| Tulsa | Oklahoma |
| Beaverton | Oregon |
| Portland | Oregon |
| Salem | Oregon |
| Allentown | Pennsylvania |
| Altoona | Pennsylvania |
| Erie | Pennsylvania |
| Harrisburg | Pennsylvania |
| Johnstown | Pennsylvania |
| King of Prussia | Pennsylvania |
| Lancaster | Pennsylvania |
| Lebanon | Pennsylvania |
| Lehigh Valley | Pennsylvania |
| Mt. Lebanon-Bethel Park | Pennsylvania |
| Philadelphia | Pennsylvania |
| Pittsburgh | Pennsylvania |
| Reading | Pennsylvania |
| Scranton | Pennsylvania |
| State College | Pennsylvania |
| Williamsport | Pennsylvania |
| York | Pennsylvania |
| Newport | Rhode Island |
| Pawtucket | Rhode Island |
| Providence | Rhode Island |
| Charleston | South Carolina |
| Clemson | South Carolina |
| Columbia | South Carolina |
| Greenville | South Carolina |
| Myrtle Beach | South Carolina |
| Spartanburg | South Carolina |
| Aberdeen | South Dakota |
| Pierre | South Dakota |
| Rapid City | South Dakota |
| Sioux Falls | South Dakota |
| Chattanooga | Tennessee |
| Clarksville | Tennessee |
| Germantown | Tennessee |
| Johnson City | Tennessee |
| Kingsport | Tennessee |
| Knoxville | Tennessee |
| Memphis | Tennessee |
| Nashville | Tennessee |
| Abilene | Texas |
| Amarillo | Texas |
| Arlington | Texas |
| Austin | Texas |
| Beaumont | Texas |
| Brownsville | Texas |
| Bryan | Texas |
| Cedar Park | Texas |
| College Station | Texas |
| Conroe | Texas |
| Corpus Christi | Texas |
| Dallas | Texas |
| Denton | Texas |
| Edinburg | Texas |
| El Paso | Texas |
| Ft. Worth | Texas |
| Galveston | Texas |
| Garland | Texas |
| Georgetown | Texas |
| Harlingen | Texas |
| Houston | Texas |
| Killeen | Texas |
| Laredo | Texas |
| League City | Texas |
| Lubbock | Texas |
| McAllen | Texas |
| Mesquite | Texas |
| Midland | Texas |
| Odessa | Texas |
| Pearland | Texas |
| Pflugerville | Texas |
| Plano | Texas |
| Rockport | Texas |
| Round Rock | Texas |
| San Angelo | Texas |
| San Antonio | Texas |
| San Marcos | Texas |
| Sugar Land | Texas |
| Texas City | Texas |
| The Woodlands | Texas |
| Tyler Area | Texas |
| Victoria | Texas |
| Waco | Texas |
| Wichita Falls | Texas |
| Logan | Utah |
| Park City | Utah |
| Provo | Utah |
| Salt Lake City | Utah |
| St. George | Utah |
| Taylorsville | Utah |
| Burlington | Vermont |
| Colcheter | Vermont |
| Essex | Vermont |
| Montpelier | Vermont |
| Alexandria | Virginia |
| Arlington | Virginia |
| Blacksburg | Virginia |
| Charlottesville | Virginia |
| Fredericksburg | Virginia |
| Hampton | Virginia |
| Harrisonburg | Virginia |
| Lynchburg | Virginia |
| Newport News | Virginia |
| Norfolk | Virginia |
| Richmond | Virginia |
| Roanoke | Virginia |
| Tysons Corner | Virginia |
| Virginia Beach | Virginia |
| Bellingham | Washington |
| Everett | Washington |
| Kent | Washington |
| Longview | Washington |
| Seattle | Washington |
| Spokane | Washington |
| Tacoma | Washington |
| Vancouver | Washington |
| Wenatchee | Washington |
| Charleston | West Virginia |
| Huntington | West Virginia |
| Martinsburg | West Virginia |
| Morgantown | West Virginia |
| Parkersburg | West Virginia |
| Vienna | West Virginia |
| Appleton | Wisconsin |
| Eau Claire | Wisconsin |
| Fond du Lac | Wisconsin |
| Green Bay | Wisconsin |
| Janesville Area | Wisconsin |
| La Crosse | Wisconsin |
| Madison | Wisconsin |
| Milwaukee | Wisconsin |
| Sheboygan | Wisconsin |
| Waukesha | Wisconsin |
| Cheyenne | Wyoming |
| Jackson | Wyoming |
| Laramie | Wyoming |
Ask an Expert