Does Lyft Hire Felons In 2024?

If you have a felony conviction and are looking for a a driving job, consider working for Lyft – the company is known to offer jobs for felons, depending on your criminal record.

Lets take a closer look at home a felon can land a job at Lyft.

Lyft Background Check

A criminal record can impact your life in various ways. Employment is probably the area with the most significant challenges in this regard since employers are legally entitled to turn away candidates with tarnishes on their records.

If you’re considering driving for Lyft, you might be wondering if the company is willing to hire felons.

Keep reading to find out if a criminal conviction automatically bars you from being hired by Lyft and learn more helpful information about the company.

Here is the company’s official stance on criminal records and background checks for new drivers:

Every driver is screened for criminal offenses and driving incidents.

You will be ineligible to drive on the Lyft platform if, among other things, the background check reveals convictions for any of the following in the past seven years:

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

So as you can see – if you had a felony conviction (or others listed above) in the last 7 years, you will most likely fail the background check and won’t get the job.

However – if your felony is OLDER than 7 years, you should have a much higher chance of being hired, and can start earning pretty good money.

That being said, there are a lot of instances, where felons were denied employment at Lyft for crimes committed more than 20-30 years ago. Moreover, many applicants have been rejected because of minor misdemeanors, which are not even considered felonies, if these showed up in the check.

This unfortunately depends on where you live, becomes is some states background checks have no time cap, and the hiring company can gain access to your entire history.

Drug related felonies, if they happened a very long time ago are a particularly common reason for denying a felon employment.

You can read the full list of requirements on the Lyft website.

Keep in mind that if you don’t get a job at Lyft, you can try to apply for a job with Uber or Uber Eats.

List of approved Lyft cars for prospective drivers

Also, Lyft has an approved list of cars that you can drive. In most cities your car must be no older than 2004… in some cities 2006 or newer.

If you don’t have a car, don’t fret! Lyft has Renting/Leasing program for approved drivers, where you can pay a fixed weekly rate for a brand new or fairly new car for just $209/wk – All-inclusive rentals with unlimited mileage, while Lyft takes care for the rest (with limitations of course).

Bottom line, even if you are carless, or have an old clunker, you can still drive for Lyft!

I’ve taken a Lyft ride recently, and the driver said he did not own that car (it was rented from Lyft), and that it was relatively inexpensive ($209/wk, including insurance!), and he was still making pretty decent pay, even with rent payments!

Does Lyft Hire Felons?

Unfortunately, there isn’t a yes or no answer to this question. Generally speaking, Lyft can hire drivers with felony records. However, certain categories of felony will automatically disqualify you as a candidate.

Besides the felony type, the time since the offense was committed is another crucial factor in Lyft’s decision-making process.

When you apply for a job at Lyft, you consent to a criminal background check. Background checks can take up to several weeks, and they will determine your driver eligibility. Lyft won’t hire you if any of these offenses appear on your record:

A violent crime, such as homicide, human trafficking, kidnapping, aggravated assault, burglary, robbery, carjacking, and arson.

A sexual offense, such as sexual assault, rape, and child pornography. Being listed on the National Sex Offender Registry database is also grounds for disqualifying your job application.

An act of terror.

There are other offenses that might prevent you from getting a job at Lyft, provided they occurred within a specific period.

While the time frame can vary based on regional jurisdictions, it’s usually seven years. These time-dependent offenses include:

-Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, regardless of whether it’s a felony DUI.
-A serious driving-related conviction, such as a hit-and-run or a felony involving a vehicle.
-A disqualifying drug-related offense.
-A disqualifying fraud-related offense.
-A disqualifying theft or property damage offense.

It’s also worth noting that some traffic violations can stop you from getting hired if they took place within three years of your job application.

These include:

-More than four moving violations, such as traffic light violations or accidents.
-A major moving violation, such as reckless driving or driving on a suspended license.

Did you know? Lyft performs ongoing background checks and reserves the right to disqualify a driver at any point of their employment. If you want to remain on the platform and keep your job, make sure your record stays clean.

It’s important to note that keeping your criminal record clean isn’t all that it takes to get hired by Lyft. You and your vehicle must meet several requirements before you can get hired by the ridesharing company.

What Are the Driver Requirements for Lyft?

Applying to be a Lyft driver is pretty straightforward, provided you and your vehicle meet the company’s hiring requirements.

While these requirements might vary depending on your city or state, the basic principles are identical throughout the U.S.

Basic Requirements

Before diving into the more nuanced requirements, make sure all of the following elements are valid and current:

-Your driver’s license
-Vehicle registration plates
-Insurance

Some regions will require you to have your name on the insurance policy. Suppose your name is missing from the document. In that case, you’ll need a declaration page from the insurance company with your name printed on it.

Age Requirement

You must be at least 21 to start driving for Lyft. However, some regions have an even higher minimum age requirement of 25. You can check the age requirement for your area on Lyft’s website.

Vehicle Requirements

Since your vehicle is arguably the most crucial aspect of the job, it must also meet specific criteria.

-Have four doors
-Have five to eight seatbelts

Meet all your city or state requirements, including the minimum vehicle age requirement
While Lyft accepts rentals and subcompact vehicles, you won’t be accepted on the company’s platform if you own a taxi or a stretch limousine.

Just keep in mind that you can only rent vehicles through Lyft’s Express Drive program.

Driving History

You’ll need at least one year of driving experience if you live in one of these states:

-California
-Pennsylvania
-Minnesota
-Massachusetts
-Illinois
-Vermont
-Oregon
-Hawaii

What Do Lyft Employees Say About The Company?

Employee reviews for Lyft are generally positive. Most reviews praise the following aspects:

-Good pay during prime time
-The possibility of working in between jobs
-Flexible working hours
-Location flexibility

But not all employees are satisfied with their experience. Negative reviews mostly single out the following disadvantages of working at Lyft:

-Low pay
-No benefits or paid time off
-Poor communication with the management

Unsurprisingly, these employee reviews align with the general pros and cons of working for Lyft.

What Are the Pros and Cons of Working for Lyft?

Working as a ridesharing driver has become one of the most popular ways of earning money. Driving for Lyft can be a relatively easy way to supplement your income.

Of course, you can also commit to it full-time. Regardless of your choice, you’ll be working as an independent contractor. As such, you are guaranteed the following:

-You can decide how many hours per week you want to work.
-You can choose when and where to work during the day. You’re not bound to a 9-to-5 schedule or an office setting.
-You can take breaks wherever you feel like it.

Here are some other benefits that might encourage you to apply for a job at Lyft:

-You can earn by completing trips, earning bonuses for hitting specific quotas, and receiving tips.
-You will get paid instantly through a debit card.
-You can ride in other cities and states. The Lyft app will guide you wherever your destination.
-Lyft can help you rent a car, allowing you to start driving without owning a vehicle.
-You can qualify for an initial sign-up bonus.

The company provides up to $1,000,000 third-party auto liability coverage.

Unfortunately, there are also some downsides to driving for Lyft.

You cover all your vehicle expenses, including fuel, maintenance, and repairs. These can take up a significant portion of your earnings.

-You must have commercial rideshare insurance.
-Lyft frequently changes its terms of service.
-Your salary might not always reflect the work you do and the hours you put in.
-Most Lyft drivers don’t have health insurance and other employee benefits.

What Is the Average Salary For a Lyft Driver?

When it comes to a Lyft driver’s salary, there’s no single answer. The amount of money you’ll earn depends on many factors:

-Trip time
-Distance
-Working hours
-Location
-Tips
-Bonuses
-Gas prices

On average, Lyft drivers earn around $24 per hour nationally. This figure can vary significantly depending on your area. These variations are all the more drastic when it comes to calculating the annual salary estimate.

Pro Tip: Maximize your Lyft earnings by driving during peak hours and in Bonus Zones. These zones appear in real-time on your map. After driving into them, you’ll unlock a bonus for your next ride.

The lowest annual salary reported across job recruiting websites was around $14,000. The highest is as much as $97,000. On average, Lyft drivers report earning around $30,000 yearly.

Working For Lyft May Be An Ideal Job For A Felon

Hopefully, our guide has given you all the answers you need to determine whether you want to work as a Lyft driver.

If you meet the company’s hiring requirements and like what you’ve read about the working conditions, there’s nothing left to do but apply and start driving.