Lyft is a ridesharing app that allows you to drive people around your city. You can set your hours and make money on your schedule. Many people enjoy driving for Lyft because they have flexible schedules and meet new people daily. Unfortunately, there are times when things don't go as planned. When this happens, Lyft will deactivate your account until you address the issue(s). The good news is that if you get deactivated, there are ways you can appeal this. Here’s what you need to know about getting deactivated from Lyft and how to get reactivated as a driver.
If you want an easy way to try to get reactivated with minimal effort, Driverly can help you. There are so many ways Driverly helps gig workers and rideshare drivers. One of their most popular resources Driverly Premium Members get is their Reactivation Services. They'll help you through the entire appeal process and handle it for you. Sign up now to become a member!
Why would Lyft deactivate my account?
If you're a driver, there are many reasons why Lyft can deactivate your account. The most common reasons are:
1. Low ratings
Lyft's rating system is based on both rider and driver feedback. While your overall rating determines whether or not you can drive for Lyft, there are other reasons you're deactivated. If you consistently receive low ratings from riders, your account may temporarily deactivate until you can improve your rating.
2. Canceling too many rides
While canceling a ride for any reason is against the Terms of Service, it happens occasionally. Unfortunately, if you cancel multiple rides without providing a reason or contacting the passenger, Lyft may consider this abuse and deactivate your account.
3. Fail a background check
Lyft has a strict policy on background checks and will deactivate your account if you fail the background check. The company performs a National Criminal Records Check and a Social Security Trace to ensure you are eligible. If your name is flagged, you might have an outstanding warrant or pending case against you. Lyft will activate your account once the issue is resolved and cleared from their system.
4. Unsafe driving
If you are reported for unsafe driving by other drivers or passengers, your account will likely be deactivated. Lyft has very strict rules about how its drivers should operate their vehicles; any violation of these rules could result in the deactivation of your account.
5. Discriminating against a rider
Lyft has a zero-tolerance policy for discrimination, including race, color, national origin, disability, religious affiliation, sex, sexual orientation, or age. They will investigate and take appropriate action if you are accused of discrimination by a rider or driver.
6. Driving with a companion in the car
Lyft wants passengers to feel safe while riding with you and your safety while driving for Lyft. As such, they have rules against driving with a companion in your car while on duty as a driver on Lyft.
7. Violating the Lyft TOS in any other way
The TOS includes provisions prohibiting drivers from using their vehicles as commercial vehicles, including driving with more than one passenger at a time or transporting passengers for compensation without authorization. Your account may be deactivated without notice if you violate these provisions.
8. Fraud
Fraudulent activity on your part can lead to the deactivation of your account with Lyft. Examples include providing false information about yourself or the vehicle you use during sign-up or operating a vehicle that is not registered and insured according to state law requirements.
If you want to become a better Lyft driver and hopefully avoid deactivation, check out this video with 11 tips for drivers!
Can I get my Lyft driver account reactivated?
The best way to get your account reactivated it by contacting customer service. You can do this via phone, email, or their online chat feature.
If your account has been deactivated because of a low star rating, there are ways to improve that rating over time. You can also contact Lyft and ask them to reevaluate your account based on how long it's been since the last ride.
While it is possible for a driver's account to be reactivated after some time has passed since the last activity on their account, this is not guaranteed and will depend on whether or not they have followed the steps required by Lyft's Terms of Service and Community Guidelines before submitting an appeal request. Drivers who need to demonstrate good faith efforts towards compliance with these terms may find themselves rejected by Lyft's review team.
Driverly can also help with Lyft reactivation. They will handle the entire appeal process for you so you don't have to. You can gain access to Driverly's Reactivation Services by signing up to be a Driverly Premium Member.
At what rating does Lyft deactivate drivers?
When you're a professional driver, getting a bad rating from a passenger can be a major blow to your livelihood. It's even more important to be mindful of ratings as Lyft drivers because some penalties are too low for ratings. If you've been driving for Lyft for a while and consistently received ratings below 4.8, there's a good chance the company will deactivate you if your rating continues to fall. Of course, lower ratings don't necessarily mean automatic deactivation, but it's something to be aware of if you notice your rating has been dropping.
Can I have 2 Lyft driver accounts?
The answer is no; you cannot have two Lyft driver accounts. You will be prompted to choose your account when you sign up. If you have multiple email addresses, you can use those to sign up for separate accounts. However, there are some benefits to having a single account:
One person cannot have multiple Lyft driver accounts on the same email. You can have as many new accounts as possible if the email address tracks them.
If you want to continue driving for both Uber, it might be better to log in with one account at a time and switch back and forth easily instead of having two separate apps open at once.
Can you get banned from using Lyft?
The short answer is yes. You can be banned for various reasons, including having a low star rating and being accused of harming another passenger.
Lyft has a zero-tolerance policy for passengers who assault drivers or other passengers. The company says it will ban violent or abusive customers from its drivers. In addition, Lyft has a policy against riders who use racial slurs or make racist comments while riding with the service.
A person's first strike on their account would result in a warning email that they have violated one or more of the company's policies. If this happens again, they will receive another warning email. If they violate the same policy again within 30 days of receiving their previous warning email, they will immediately be permanently banned from using Lyft's services.
Conclusion
The best way to get re-active to Lyft is to improve your rating! That's the first step in Lyft reactivation. You need a more perfect and professional driving record while riding with Lyft. You should read updates by Lyft on their safety and passenger convenience guidelines. Go through all these updates and try to fulfill them. Reactivation time depends on various factors such as - how and when you were deactivated, how many times you were deactivated, how close your recent rides are at the time of review, etc.
And again, if you need help with your gig driver deactivation, you may want to consider Driverly and getting help with Driverly. To see a list of Driverly Premium memberships, you can see a list here:
Reactivation Services (All Major Gig Apps)
New Driver Education
Exclusive Content for Drivers
Exclusive Ways to Earn More
Driver Tax Preparation
Gas Discounts for Drivers
1 on 1 Driver Support