Uber & Lyft Rules & Regulations for Drivers & Passengers
Uber: Uber driver-partners are allowed to refuse fares that include non-service dogs but are required by law to allow service dogs with their owners. Lyft: Lyft allows drivers to refuse passenger requests if those passengers are accompanied by non-service dogs.
While Lyft and Uber are allowed in the 100 largest cities in the United States, there are other places that don’t allow the companies to carry passengers. Oregon is the only state that explicitly prohibits Lyft and Uber operations in the vast majority of its counties. Riders in Portland can use these services but the companies cannot operate elsewhere […]
Uber and Lyft do not allow drivers to use their apps for pickups outside of their assigned states without switching home states. Drivers are limited to their home states because licensing, insurance, and other regulations vary from state to state.
Uber and Lyft conduct background checks on all applicants who want to drive using their apps. These background checks include reviews of driving records and criminal histories. Both companies also request occasional background checks on current drivers to ensure compliance with driver guidelines.
Uber and Lyft allow their drivers to accept or refuse passengers with non-service animals including cats. Both companies encourage riders to contact drivers prior to pick-up to learn about their policy on cats.
Uber: Uber maintains five levels of cleanup fee assessments ranging from $0 for minor water spills to $150 for bodily fluid disposal and air vent cleaning. Lyft: Lyft charges riders up to $200 per confirmed incident with the exact price determined after an investigation of the vehicle.
Uber: An Uber driver will wait at least five minutes for a rider if no cancellation request has been submitted. Uber can cancel the ride after this waiting period and assess a cancellation fee. The waiting period is reduced to two minutes for uberPOOL users. The cancellation fee depends on the type of service requested, vehicle […]
Uber and Lyft do not list citizenship as a requirement for its applicants. The companies require valid driver’s licenses that can be obtained by citizens and permanent residents with rules varying by state.
New York City’s Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) licenses Lyft and Uber drivers to comply with local regulations. Uber and Lyft drivers are required to hold TLC licenses to drive in the city’s five boroughs.
Uber’s background check policy indicates that driving violations typically disqualify applicants from working for the company. Lyft says that they may disqualify applicants with DUIs within seven years of their application date. Both companies may adjust these policies to comply with local and state laws.