What’s the Difference Between Lyft, Lyft XL, Shared, and Lux?

When you open up the Lyft app and type in your destination, you’ll see a big list of options that might be confusing.

There are 6+ ride types, each with a different cost, passenger capacity, and purpose. So how can you tell which ride type is right for you?

TLDR: A regular Lyft has room for 4 passengers. Lyft XL seats 6 passengers. Lyft Lux, Black, and Black XL are higher-end services when you want to pay more for a nicer car.

Read on for more details about each ride type and how Lyft works.

The difference between Lyft, Preferred, Lyft XL, Shared, and Lyft Lux

• Lyft seats up to four passengers. The standard service
• Preferred has newer vehicles with more legroom and highly-rated drivers
• Lyft XL is a minivan or SUV that seats up to 6 passengers. More expensive than regular Lyft
• Lyft Shared pairs you with other Lyft passengers traveling along the same route. The cheapest ride type
• Lyft Lux is a high-end sedan that seats 4 passengers
• Lyft Black & Black XL is the most expensive Lyft option. New luxury sedans & SUVs with highly-rated drivers

If you’re in a group of 4 or fewer, request a regular Lyft. If your group is 5 or more, request a Lyft XL. Use Lyft Shared if you’re looking for the cheapest possible ride.

How to select between Lyft ride types

On the home screen, input your destination to see all available ride types and see a fare estimate.

Scroll to see different options and tap 0n the ride type you want.

The text in the request button will change to your selected ride type, which is a good way to confirm that you’re getting the ride you want.

Lyft: The standard ride

A Lyft is the standard service that offers a personal ride with seating for 4.

It is the default type when you open the app. As one of the cheapest ride types, it’s a popular option for Lyft users.

The only ride type cheaper than Lyft is Lyft Shared.

Lyft Priority Pickup and Wait & Save

In some markets, the Lyft ride type offers extra options called Lyft Priority Pickup and Wait & Save.

With Priority Pickup, you pay more to get a faster pickup time. The app will let you know how much faster the wait time will be.

Typically Priority Pickup costs a few dollars more than a standard Lyft.

With Wait & Save, you get a discount for waiting longer for your ride to arrive.

Lyft Preferred: Newer cars, more control over your experience

Lyft Preferred is a premium service that offers newer, spacious cars and highly-rated drivers. Preferred cars must be model year 2015 or newer with more legroom than smaller sedans.

Preferred drivers must maintain a 4.9-star average, so you can expect a more professional experience.

Preferred also gives you more control over the ride experience. For example, you can select your temperature preference and choose an option to let the driver know that you prefer a quieter ride.

Lyft XL: For larger groups

Lyft XL can accommodate groups of up to 6 passengers in a minivan or SUV. It is a good option for large groups or transporting luggage.

Lyft XL costs more than a regular Lyft. Lyft XL drivers receive ride requests for both regular Lyft requests and XL Lyft requests, so you may get an XL vehicle even if you request a regular Lyft.

Lyft Shared: Get a discount for carpooling

With Lyft Shared, you share your ride with another passenger heading in the same direction. Shared Lyft prices can be significantly lower than regular Lyft rides.

Lyft promises at least a 12% discount, but the Shared ride discount can be as high as 30%. It is similar to UberX Share.

Your driver might pick up and drop off other passengers along the way, so be aware that a Shared Lyft may take longer than a normal Lyft.

• What is Lyft Shared? Our complete guide

Lyft Lux: Entry-level luxury

Lyft Lux is a higher-end option that gives you a ride in a newer luxury sedan with a leather interior (think Audi, Mercedes, BMW, Jaguar, Lincoln, etc).

Drivers must maintain a high average customer rating to qualify for Lyft Lux, so expect premium customer service.

It is one of the more expensive Lyft services, and it’s comparable to Uber Premier or Uber Select.

Lyft Lux is not available in every market, so head to Lyft.com/cities or check the Lyft app to see if you can request a Lux.

Lyft Lux Black and Lux Black XL: A high-end experience

Lyft Lux Black and Black XL are the most luxurious and expensive services that Lyft offers.

Only high-end luxury sedans and SUVs qualify for Lux Black and Lux Black XL.

Lyft Black drivers must maintain an average rating of 4.7 stars or higher, which is higher than the standard required driver rating of 4.6.

Lyft Black is comparable to Uber Black and SUV.

Lyft Lux Black and Lyft Black XL are not available in every city, so check the Lyft app or Lyft.com/cities to see if Lux Black and Black XL are available in your location.

Lyft Bike & Scooter

With Lyft scooter and bike, you can rent an electric scooter or bicycle to ride around town.

It is similar to other scooter companies like Bird or Lime:  You use the Lyft app to locate and rent scooters.

• What is Lyft scooter? Is it better than Bird or Lime?

Lyft ride types compared to Uber ride types

Lyft and Uber each offer several similar services, but they use different names that can make it hard to compare them to each other.:

• Lyft is similar to Uber X
• Lyft Preferred is similar to Uber Comfort
• Lyft XL is similar to Uber XL
• Lyft Shared is similar to UberX Share
• Uber Select is similar Lyft Lux
• Lyft Black and Black XL are similar to Uber Black and Black SUV

Read about the differences between all the Uber services.

How does Lyft calculate ride prices?

Lyft prices are calculated based on an algorithm that factors mileage, time, fees, and local market demand.

Lyft gives an upfront price estimate for every ride. All you have to do is enter your destination to see the exact price for the ride. 

• How much does Lyft cost? Get a Lyft fare estimate

Lyft will honor the upfront price as long as your ride isn’t significantly longer than the estimate.

Prices are typically competitive with Uber X, so it’s smart to bounce between the apps to find the best price.

How to schedule a Lyft ride

You can schedule a Lyft if you prefer to arrange your ride in advance.

To schedule a ride, input your pickup and drop-off locations, then tap the ‘schedule’ button that appears near the “Select Lyft” button.

Pick a date and time for your pickup, then confirm your details.

How to cancel a scheduled ride

After you schedule a ride, a new calendar icon will appear in the top corner on the home screen of the Lyft app.

Tap the calendar icon to view and manage your scheduled rides. Find the cancel button listed beneath each scheduled ride.

One word of warning: Cancellation fees are higher for scheduled rides, so make sure to cancel a scheduled ride long before a driver is on the way to pick you up. Learn more about Lyft cancellation fees.

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