Need a Lyft vehicle inspection? Find locations & schedule an affordable appointment

Drivers in most states must complete a vehicle inspection at a state-certified facility to qualify to drive for Lyft.

The inspection examines vehicle safety features like brakes, tire tread, lights, window glass, mirrors, and seat belts.

You can schedule an inspection in the Lyft driver app, or you can print out the form and go to any state-certified mechanic in your area.

The 4 ways to get a Lyft vehicle inspection

• Use the driver app to schedule an inspection with a local auto shop ($20–$30)
• Print out the inspection form and go to any state-certified mechanic ($20–$30)
• Go to a Lyft Driver Center

Article contents

• Lyft vehicle inspection FAQs
• How to schedule an inspection
• How to do an inspection at any mechanic
• Find and download the Lyft inspection form
• Can your car have paint & body damage?
• How to do one inspection for Lyft & Uber

Lyft vehicle inspection FAQ

How much do inspections cost? Most mechanics charge around $30 for a Lyft vehicle inspection. The inspection covers essential safety equipment like tires, brakes, seat belts, and lights.

Can you get a free inspection? Lyft no longer offers free inspections at Hubs & Driver Centers. You may be able to find free promotional inspections at independent mechanics around town, but Lyft does not directly offer a free option.

Not all states require an inspection. Watch for instructions from Lyft when you apply to drive to see if inspections are a driver requirement in your area.

Schedule a Lyft inspection in the driver app: Go to Menu > Account > Documents > Rideshare vehicle inspection

• View the Lyft inspection form (California)
• Lyft vehicle requirements

How to schedule a Lyft vehicle inspection

You can schedule an inspection in the Lyft driver app, at Lyft.com, or you can directly call local mechanics.

The app doesn’t list the inspection price for each location, but most locations charge $20–$30.

Note that you may need to print your own inspection form. Call the inspection location to ask—some supply the forms, but many don’t.

Schedule an inspection in the Lyft Driver app

Go to Menu > Account > Documents > Rideshare vehicle inspection. You’ll find an option to schedule an appointment, or upload a completed inspection form.

Select the schedule option to see a list of recommended local inspection locations. You can use the app to schedule an appointment, or you can call the location to make the appointment yourself.

You can browse a list of inspection locations, or toggle a map option.

Schedule an inspection at the Lyft.com dashboard

Head to Lyft.com/login, then click Vehicles in the left menu. Find the Vehicle Inspection section and look for the Schedule/Update button. If free inspection centers are available in your city, they will be listed there.

How to do an inspection at any mechanic

You don’t have to use the Lyft driver app to schedule your inspection. Any state-certified mechanic can complete the inspection, so many drivers choose to print out the inspection form and go to their own mechanic that might not be listed in the app.

Most independent mechanics charge $20–$40 for an inspection.

All you have to do is print out the form and bring it to your mechanic, then upload the completed form to the driver app.

How to find and download the Lyft inspection form

To get the download form for your city or state, head to the list of state and city requirements and find your state.

If your area requires an inspection, you’ll find a section with a link to the form and more info about the inspection.

How to upload your completed form

After you pass your inspection, the mechanic will give you a signed form. The next step is to upload a photo of the form to your profile and wait for approval from Lyft.

To upload the form, go to: Account > Documents > Rideshare vehicle inspection > ‘Yes, inspection completed,’ then upload a clear photo of the form.

Can a vehicle pass the inspection if it has body damage or bad paint?

The inspection primarily focuses on the condition of mechanical safety features, but significant body damage can also cause your vehicle to fail.

The condition of your vehicle’s bumpers, headlights, taillights, windshield, and exterior mirrors are all listed on the inspection form. Damage to those components could cause your vehicle to fail.

But the inspection form doesn’t specifically mention body damage like dents, dings, missing pieces or mismatched/damaged paint.

You can pass a mechanical inspection with some body damage, but significant damage might cause passenger complaints and low ratings that can lead to your account being deactivated.

A good rule of thumb is that baseball-sized dents and scratches are ok, but anything bigger can cause issues.

How inspections work for Express Drive rentals

The rental agency is responsible for inspection documentation when you rent a vehicle through Lyft’s Express Drive program,  You don’t need to have the rental inspected.

Some rental agencies—like Hertz—require a periodic in-person inspection to check on the condition of your rental. It’s not the same inspection as the Lyft vehicle inspection, and you will get a notification from the rental company if you need to do an inspection.

How to do one inspection for Uber and Lyft

If you drive for both Lyft and Uber, you might want to find a way to do one inspection that covers both apps.

You can try to upload a Lyft inspection form to your Uber profile, or your Uber inspection form to your Lyft profile, but there’s a good chance that it will be rejected.

Even though Uber & Lyft inspections have the same criteria, each company has been known to reject inspection forms from the other.

If you drive for Uber and Lyft but don’t want to go through the hassle of two inspections, you have two options.

1. Go to an independent mechanic — Get both forms filled out at the same time

If you go to an independent mechanic and bring paper forms, you can have the mechanic fill out both forms at the same time.

Then, upload the completed paper form to each app. The inspections are nearly identical, so most mechanics are happy to fill out both forms for you at no extra charge.

2. Use Rideshare Mechanic — Video chat inspection for both apps

Rideshare Mechanic offers video chat inspections for both Uber & Lyft. Your inspector will fill out both forms and send you a photo of each.

Filling out your own forms is risky. Don’t get deactivated!

Some drivers brag that they skip the cost & hassle of real inspections by filling out their own inspection forms. It can work, but Lyft considers it fraud, and you risk deactivation if Lyft finds out.

Faking your forms is not a good idea if you rely on Lyft for income.

• Deactivated by Lyft? What you can do