Becoming a Lyft or Uber Driver-Partner in Los Angeles
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Speaking from personal experience, driving in Los Angeles is overwhelming, congested and frustrating. When I lived there, I took full advantage of opportunities where others drove me from point A to point B, and that included ride hailing services. If you are familiar with the area and have access to a vehicle, driving with Lyft or Uber is a great opportunity to increase your earnings and meet new people.
LA Driving Stats
- Lyft driver Los Angeles averages $14 to $17 per hour1
- Driving with Uber in Los Angeles averages $13 to $15 per hour2
- Of the 200 largest cities in the United States, LA ranked 193rd for best drivers in 2016, which is a drop from 191st in 20153
- People living in LA average 6.3 years between insurance claims compared to the national average of 10 years
- In 2015, drivers in the LA-Long Beach-Santa Ana area spent an average of 81 hours idling on freeways (LA was the worst in the U.S. with highest idle time)4
- Residents in Southern California are more concerned about traffic than they are about personal safety, housing costs and retirement
- Los Angeles was the worst city in the world for hours spent in congestion at 104 hours in 2016, which cost LA drivers $2,408 each (costs may include fuel and time wasted for personal vehicles plus freight and other business fees for company automobiles) 5
Los Angeles Driver and Vehicle Requirements for Lyft and Uber
To drive with Uber Los Angeles or Lyft, you and your vehicle must meet certain requirements. Below are some specific stipulations for Los Angeles but be sure to read the general list of requirements for each company also, so you are fully prepared.
Lyft Driver Requirements Los Angeles
Click Here to Apply to Become a Lyft Driver
Lyft, Line, Plus, Premier, Lux and Lux SUV are all available in LA.
- 2004 or newer vehicle
- 4 doors
- At least 5 seat belts
- Driver must be 21 years old
- Pass background checks
- Have an iPhone or Android smartphone
Read this full list of requirements to drive for Lyft Los Angeles.
Uber Driver-Partner Requirements Los Angeles
Sign Up to Become an Uber Driver-Partner
UberX, Pool, UberSelect, UberXL, UberBlack, UberSUV and UberLux are all available in Los Angeles.
- 2002 or newer vehicle
- 4 doors
- Pass vehicle inspection
- Vehicle insurance
- Liability insurance
- Driver must be 21 years old
- Pass background checks
- Have a smartphone
Read a list of requirements to be an Uber driver-partner in Los Angeles.
Best Places to Drive with Uber and Lyft in Los Angeles
The neighborhoods and venues below generate many trip requests and, thus, are good places to increase your earnings.
Popular Neighborhoods
- Downtown LA
- Hollywood
- West Hollywood
- Santa Monica
- Manhattan Beach
- Hermosa Beach
Popular Venues
- Dodger Stadium
- The Greek Theatre
- Rose Bowl Stadium
- Santa Anita Park
- The Wiltern Theater
- The Getty Center
- Santa Monica College
- LAX Airport (read these regulations)
- Other area airports (Ontario (ONT), John Wayne in Orange County (SWA), Burbank (BUR), Long Beach (LGB))
10 Tips for New Uber and Lyft Drivers in LA
Although this video is specifically targeted toward Uber driver-partner, many of these tips apply to Lyft drivers as well.
Good Luck and Hit the Road!
Driving in Los Angeles can be overwhelming and intimidating, but that’s why it’s such a great opportunity to make money because tourists and locals are deterred from driving themselves. This is also why becoming a driver here could prove very lucrative. Yes, there’s some crazy traffic in Los Angeles, but if you know how to navigate your way through the different neighborhoods, we’re sure you’ll do great. Plus, Uber Surge and Lyft Prime Time are common in the LA area so you can make 1.5 times what you’d normally make on a ride due to the increased demand. If you are still unsure of which company to drive for, read our Lyft vs Uber comparison for drivers.
Do you want to drive with Uber and/or Lyft?
Sources: [1] Glassdoor, [2] Glassdoor, [3] AllState, [4] LA Times, [5] INRIX