Applying to drive for Uber and Lyft is as easy as filling out an online application, but finding out if you were accepted or rejected isn’t always so easy.
Your application can get stuck in limbo, with weeks going by without a word from Uber or Lyft about the status of your application.
And if Uber or Lyft rejects you, they may not tell you exactly why or if there is a way to reapply.
It is possible to reapply to Uber and Lyft, but you typically have to wait ~6 months and your chances of being accepted following a rejection are low.
There is no official reapplication process, but you can contact Uber or Lyft and ask to reapply.
How to find out if you were accepted or rejected by Uber/Lyft
Uber and Lyft don’t always make to easy to know the status of your application.
Both companies give a vague answer about how long the process will take. Uber says 7–10 days, and Lyft says the process could take up to several weeks.
Uber will send an app notification and email when you are accepted or rejected. But you might not hear anything at all if you were rejected. In that case, you must contact Uber and ask for an answer.
Lyft will also send an app notification and email when they make a decision about your application. If you’re not accepted, they will send a message that lets you know that they chose not to approve your application.
Check your application status in the Uber or Lyft driver app
The best way to find out your current status is to log into the Uber Driver app or the Lyft driver app and check for updates. Both apps will show you if there are still more steps to complete.
If it’s been more than 10 days since you applied without hearing back from Uber or Lyft, check the driver app and consider contacting the company.
Why applicants get rejected by Uber or Lyft
The most common reason for a rejection is usually issues with your criminal background or driving record.
- Issues on your background check — Uber and Lyft can reject you for just about any issues on your background check, even if the timing of your charge falls outside their stated guidelines. Pending issues and arrests without convictions are also common causes of rejection.
- Issues on your driving record check — Generally, more than than 3 minor violations or one major violation will trigger a rejection. Offenses for driving on a suspended license or driving without insurance on your record will almost always cause a rejection
Uber and Lyft reserve the right to reject you for just about any reason, and their final decisions aren’t always consistent.
Background check issues are a common reason for rejection
More reading on Uber and Lyft requirements
- Will you pass the Uber background check?
- The Lyft background check
- Fired by Uber: Why drivers get deactivated, and how to get reactivated
- Deactivated by Lyft? Steps to get your account back
Accepted by one company but not the other: Why?
If you’re accepted by one company, you might expect to be accepted by the other because they both have similar requirements.
But some drivers are surprised when they get accepted by one, but rejected by the other.
The final hiring decision is made by a human, which can cause some inconsistency.
There are also market forces at play: If demand for new drivers on one app is very high in a particular city, they might loosen their standards while the other company keeps its standards the same.
Neither company publishes the specifics of their hiring policies for drivers, so there’s no way to prepare for this or work around the differences in hiring practices.
You can reapply to Uber and Lyft, but you have to wait. And odds of success are low
It is possible to reapply to drive for both companies, but neither company gives direct guidelines on when you can reapply.
There is no special application for reapplicants or other systems to process reapplicants.
In emails with support staff from both companies, I’ve gotten answers varying from “We take it on a case-by-case basis” to “rejected applicants can reapply after X time goes by.”
- Uber: Try to reapply after 3 – 4 months
- Lyft: Try to reapply after ~6 months
How to reapply to Uber
Uber does not provide a method for rejected applicants to directly reapply, but it is possible. To reapply to Uber after being rejected, contact Uber support and ask if they can reconsider. Let them know you want to reapply and ask if there’s anything you need to do.
Some drivers have found success with this method, especially if enough time has passed to allow a driving issue to drop off the motor vehicle record.
Don’t fill out the normal online application a second time because you’ll only get an error message saying you already have a driver account.
How to reapply to Lyft
It is possible to reapply to Lyft. Like Uber, Lyft doesn’t provide a unique application for reapplicants or instructions on how you can reapply.
To reapply to Lyft after being rejected, contact Lyft support and ask to reapply. Lyft will only consider your reapplication if it’s been around 6 months since your rejection.
If you try to fill out the driver application a second time, you’ll get an error message saying that you already have an account.
The reality: Your chances of acceptance are low if you’ve been rejected
Even though it’s possible to reapply with both companies, your chances of being accepted following a rejection are low.
If you were rejected due to your background, it’s very unlikely that either company will reconsider your application.
But it’s worth trying if you are motivated to drive for Uber or Lyft. Other rejected or deactivated drivers have been accepted, so it’s worth contacting Uber or Lyft now and then to try your luck.
Can’t drive for Uber or Lyft? Try these apps instead
There are many other ways to earn with your car. These companies offer similar work and compensation, and may have more lenient standards for drivers.
- DoorDash — On-demand delivery apps that have easier requirements and accept younger applicants
- Instacart — Grocery delivery
- Amazon Flex — Use your car to deliver packages
- Other delivery apps
Sue says
I waited years and tried reapplying to Uber, but they won’t run a new background check.
aescobedo says
i have apply for deliveries on a bikie for uber like 6 years ago and till this day i cant get a rerun background check
KADIR mohamed says
I also agree how can we petition for such change. We need these food delivery service to have 6 month bans on accounts. It not only gives the worker time to understand the penalty, but also so the apps itself can understand that most to all are not severe reasons for permanent bans.
Most locations have hardly any gig workers due to distances and most penalties are not very criteria serious ex: canceling, acceptance rate and loss and preventions which are severe. The work force actually benefits with a 6 month max ban and not permanent.
Khalil says
Find another way to make money and stay away from these garbage companies that do nothing but abusing the drivers and give them peanuts from the enormous profits they made, but its a matter of time until they get hit big watch it.
F Uber and left.