Looking forward to becoming a Lyft driver? One of the frequently asked questions is how old do you have to be to drive for Lyft, a question which we will address here. Becoming a driver for Lyft allows you the chance to have a flexible earn where you decide when to work and how much income you can earn. There is no schedule. You make your own schedule. Essentially, you become your own boss.
While becoming a Lyft driver provides such an amazing opportunity, you can’t just apply, get approved and start driving for the company. There are requirements, personal and vehicle requirements, that a would-be driver must meet. Age is a requirement so we are going to talk about
How Old Do You Have to Be to Drive for Lyft?
You just turned 18 recently. And now, you want to make money for yourself by becoming a driver for Lyft. The bad news is, as good as it might sound becoming a Lyft driver is not a job for everyone.
Even though the job description might seem simple, like many other occupations, there is an age requirement to be a Lyft driver.
Alright, so how old do you have to be to drive for Lyft? The answer is 21. Yes, age 21 is the minimum age requirement to apply to be a Lyft driver.
If you are 18 years old or older but haven’t turned 21 years old yet, this age requirement might seem arbitrary and rather unnecessary to you.
Actually, it is neither arbitrary nor unnecessary. The requirement is there for good reasons.
Why Should be 21 Years Old to Become a Lyft Driver?
There are three reasons why 21 is the minimum age requirement. These reasons are driving experience, maturity, and insurance.
All three are important to ensure the safety of not just passengers but also the driver themself. We get into the details below.
Have a Driving experience
First, driving experience. Let’s say you just turned 18. How many years of experience you have as a driver with a license?
Two years, at maximum. Although you might feel it is already long enough, in the grand scheme of things, it isn’t. In terms of experience, two years is not that much. You still need more.
A less experienced driver has a higher risk of lower passenger confidence and having an accident. Both are detrimental to Lyft.
As a ridesharing company, Lyft has to ensure that the passenger confidence is high and the ride is safe for both passengers and drivers. Hence, the age requirement.
Age Maturity To Drive For Lyft
Second, age maturity. You might think that you are more mature than your 18-year-old peers. We can understand that.
After all, you are looking forward to becoming a Lyft driver and want to get ahead in your life. That is quite mature and admirable.
That being said, in general, 18-year-old teenagers are immature, impetuous and in many cases, reckless.
These are not the kind of individuals a company wants to transport passengers, especially if the passengers are intoxicated. No company could afford such a dangerous risk.
Having an Insurance Police
Third, insurance. It is known that Lyft, as a ridesharing company, insures all the drivers when they are transporting passengers.
As such, we can imagine that the costs of insurance that Lyft has to cover would be more expensive if the company allows individuals below 21 to drive for it.
The average cost of insurance for young drivers can be higher than older drivers. This is a well-known fact.
Lyft is a ridesharing company and just like any other company, its purpose is to gain profits and minimize expenses.
Higher rates of insurance mean more expenses and fewer profits, so having 21 as the minimum age requirement is also a smart business decision besides the safety factors.
