The rise of the sharing economy presents a unique opportunity for people who have cars to earn cash driving for companies like Uber and Lyft, but what about everyone else? You may be surprised to learn that you don’t have to own a vehicle to make money with Lyft. There’s an exciting program called Express Drive that could be just the thing to get that side hustle going.
What is Express Drive?
Express Drive is Lyft’s way of opening up its services to people who do not own their own car. Potential drivers can sign up and rent a vehicle through Lyft. This lets them get a reliable set of wheels while they begin earning. It’s convenient for anyone who needs to earn cash fast or who wants to save up for their own vehicle and still have a way to get around.
Where is Express Drive Available?
The Express Drive program is only available in select cities at this time. Anyone who is interested should check with Lyft to find out if new locations have been added. Current cities are:
- Atlanta
- Baltimore
- Boston
- Chicago
- Dallas/Fort Worth
- Denver
- Detroit
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Miami
- Nashville
- Orange County
- Phoenix
- Portland
- Sacramento
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Washington, D.C.
Sign Me Up
If you are interested in signing up to be an Express Driver, you will need to register using the Lyft website. There, you can find a registration form for the program (as long as it is available in your area). You must meet all of Lyft’s standard driver requirements and provide a refundable deposit. If you are 21 years or older, you can rent through GM Maven. If you are 25 years or older, you can rent through Hertz. Once your application is approved, you can schedule your rental car pickup.
If approved, you will be eligible for insurance coverage under both Lyft and your chosen rental agency. Lyft provides primary auto liability coverage when you’re logged in and working. Insurance coverage provided by the rental company kicks in when you are not in driver mode. Each company has different policies, so make sure you know what’s covered. Each vehicle rental includes unlimited mileage, and you can use your vehicle for personal travel when you’re not logged into the app.
How Much Does Express Drive Cost?
You will be required to pay a refundable $150 deposit when signing up for Express Drive. The deposit will be returned to you if you do not pass the DMV/background check, if you request to end the program before picking up your rental vehicle, or when you stop using Express Drive and return your car.
Rental costs will be applied to your weekly ride earnings, and waived completely if you hit a weekly ride level. These include the weekly base fee, applicable taxes, and other fees like cleaning fees, cost of replacement keys, and Vehicle Damage Surcharge. The weekly base fee is part of a tiered pricing structure, which means you can pay less by driving more often for Lyft.
Express Driver Perks
There are perks available for Express Drivers. You can receive a sign-on bonus and a weekly guarantee when using a code to register. You can also receive referral bonuses for introducing new drivers to the program.
You don’t have to wait until you have a car to make money driving. Let Lyft help you grow your bank account and get a set of wheels that you can take anywhere! Sign up for Express Driver today and start saving for your financial goals.