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
Peter Tramo says
Recently indefinitely deactivated for an Uber selfie check that the computer and Human experts stated that it was not me.
I carried a 4.98 rating just shy of being with them for Five Years. Last year was acknowledged as 2018 Preferred Driver. I drive a 2018 Black Luxury SUV, that people rave about in the rating remarks, but permanently deactivated for a Selfie, poor Judgement on Uber’s part. I have heard that there may have been a lot of drivers in the same situation on that date(8/30/19) with selfies that failed. Anxious to hear!
DougH says
I’m sorry to hear that happened to you. That’s the kind of issue that might be corrected by a visit to a Greenlight Hub. An actual in-person human should be able to clear this up
Tyra Long says
I thought I only had to hold my license for a year to work for uber. so when that year was up i applied and was rejected due to provisional license restrictions. Come to find out I had to hold my license for 18 months for my license to be converted into full. Now I hope I can reapply in a few weeks.
DougH says
Thanks for the info. That may have a been a local difference in requirements.
Sandra Davidson says
I was deactivated because? Several reasons given 1) too many issues? I actually reported the riders they lashed back with accusations. Had video 2) safety I had the safety issue rider attacked me 3) zero tolerance 4) racist remarks ( that never happened I’ve got video
5 ) safety issue oh the 1st was problematic behavior it was my reporting the riders behavior
Jon says
I have a class 3 misdemeanor for harassment that is 21 years old (1998). Only time I have been arrested in my life. Uber hires me and Lyft says no way. Wtf Lyft !
DougH says
Sorry to hear it. If you’re looking for other work similar to Uber, consider delivery apps
Duncan Bracey says
Same here, my charges were over 25 years old. Passed for uber denied for lyft
adam charles says
That doesn’t work for Lyft. You can email them all you want and they’ll ignore every email. They blocked me on Facebook, they don’t reply on Twitter, and the last time they did respond they said one denial is an automatic ban for life and it’s not possible to re-apply. Uber and everyone else cleared me.
Tiffany Brown says
I was able to work for uber for a week until they said there was an issue with my background i have a driving on suspended license from three years ago and state of az wont take it off my record but they can take robbery off others just not my charge what shall i do
Kalin P says
I was rejected by both Lyft and Uber for a felony on my record from 6 and 1/2 years ago. I waited until it was exactly 7 years from my disposition date the contacted bth companies about possibly being considered for an opportunity to reapply. Somebody said If for you get rejected then you are banned for life. NOT TRUE. Uberu and Lyft both emailed back talking about the original background check having a discrepancy and that’s why I’m rejected. But Lyft had a different person email me a day later saying that he resubmitted my background check and to wait for that. It still came back with the felony on it, but it’s now older than 7 years old. Lyft approved me now, and I still haven’t heard from Uber. BTW I’m in California. Have hope people!
adam charles says
You got lucky. I had a larceny show up for me from 1994 for keeping a laptop I found. That was Lyft’s reason for not hiring me,