Lyft driver and vehicle requirements in Canada

If you’re interested in becoming a Lyft driver, here you’ll find what the Lyft driver requirements are and what the sign up process looks like.

Lyft driver general qualifications in Canada

To become a Lyft driver, you’ll need to meet the following criteria:

• Lyft age requirement is 25 years or older
• Car requirements: A 4-door vehicle (between 5 to 8 seats)

You must provide the following documentation:

• A photo to use in your driver profile
• A valid driver's licence
• Auto insurance
• Two pieces of government photo identification
• Proof of work eligibility
• GST/HST number to collect and remit taxes

You must go through Lyft's background check that asseses criminical and driving history.

Finally, check you below for additional requirements that may apply depending on your province and city.

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Lyft vehicle general requirements in Canada

You must have a 4-door vehicle that has at least 5 seatbelts. It cannot be a taxi or stretch limousine. Certain regions may require a vehicle inspection.

You’ll also need a smartphone to use the Lyft app to offer rides. Although most mobile plans include a large data plan, you should anticipate using several gigabytes (GB) of data every month.

British Columbia (BC) driver requirements

Driver requirements: 

• Valid class 1, 2, or 4 commercial driver’s license
• 3 years of driving history in Canada

Document requirements:

• ICBC vehicle registration
• Commercial Vehicle Inspection Report
• Commercial driving record

Vehicle requirements:

• 2015 or newer
• BC licence plate

An important note: As of September 3, 2024 new legislation will take effect where Lyft drivers in BC will:

• Earn a minimum hourly wage of $20.88
• Receive coverage for job-related injuries through WorkSafeBC
• Have a 35- to 45-cent minimum per-kilometre allowance to help workers cover their vehicle expenses

Alberta (AB) driver requirements

Driver requirements: 

• Valid class 1, 2, or 4 Alberta driver’s licence

Document requirements: 

• Personal or contingent vehicle insurance policy (pink slip)
• Alberta Class 1-55 vehicle registration
• Vehicle inspection in Calgary and Edmonton
• Alberta 3-year Standard Driver Abstract
• Police Information Check (PIC) with Vulnerable Sector Check (VSC)
• Transportation Network Driver’s Licence and Driver Training Certification (Calgary only)
• Business licences in Chestermere and Stony Plain

Vehicle requirements: 

• Calgary: 2014 or newer
• Edmonton: 2004 or newer
• AB licence plate
• Cannot be a salvaged, non-repairable or rebuilt vehicle
• Cannot be a rental vehicle

Ontario (ON) driver requirements

Driver requirements: 

• Valid Ontario driver’s licence that is a Class G or higher
• Temporary licences are acceptable

Driving history:

• Ottawa: 1-year driving history
• Kitchener-Waterloo or Niagara: 2 years driving history 
• Greater Toronto Area: 3 years of driving history 

Drivers in Toronto must follow rules about dashcams, phone mounting, and stickers on bikes and scooters.

Document requirements: 

• Ontario Vehicle Registration
• Personal Vehicle Insurance
• Safety Standards Certificate (SSC)
• Vulnerable Sector Check (VSC) (Ottawa and Windsor)
• Rideshare driving training (Toronto)
• Rideshare driver's licence (Toronto and Niagara)

Vehicle requirements: 
Vehicle age

• Ottawa: 11 years or newer 
• Kitchener-Waterloo, Windsor, and London: 10 years or newer
• Toronto: 8 years or newer 
• Greater Toronto Area: 7 years or newer 

Vehicle also cannot be a salvaged, non-repairable or rebuilt vehicle. If you’re a driver in Kitchener-Waterloo, the vehicle must be registered in the driver’s name.

We recommend you always check the latest on requirements from Lyft here. If you need to check whether Lyft is available near you, do so here.

How to sign up and what to expect

Signing up goes like this:

Step 1: Apply to become a Lyft driver online. Download the Lyft driver app from either Apple App Store or Google Play.

Step 2: Submit your documents and pass the background check. It should take less than 30 minutes to complete.

Step 3: Approval and possible vehicle inspection. Expect this to take a few days.
You may need to pass a vehicle inspection which is required in some regions.

Step 4: You're all set and can start picking up rides!

Pros and cons of becoming a Lyft driver

If you're still on the fence about signing up with Lyft, here are a few things to consider:

Pros

• You get to create your own schedule and work as many hours as you like.
• As an independent contractor, it can be a great way to earn extra income.

Cons

Some of these everyone will have thought of, but not always, so these are likely more important than the pros:

• The job is not as social as you might think; if you want to maximize earnings, it's a good idea to not engage much with most rides (or learn to read them).
• You tend to get better at the job with time, and your earnings will reflect that in the beginning.
• You will incur vehicle expenses such as fuel, maintenance and repairs. 
• Customer demand will vary depending on the time of day, day of the week, or region, and so will your income.
• You can be bored while driving a car.
• You’re not eligible for health benefits.

The decision is entirely personal, of course. We hope this little guide helped a bit!