Did you know that Lyft has 5 ride types in some cities? Each ride type has a different cost, a different maximum passenger capacity, and a different purpose.
So, how can you tell which ride is right for you? Read on to learn the difference between every ride type and the best use for each one!
The difference between Lyft, Lyft XL, Extra Comfort, and Lyft Black
- Lyft seats up to four passengers. The standard ride
- Lyft XL seats up to 6 passengers in a minivan or SUV. More expensive than regular Lyft
- Extra Comfort is a ride in a newer car with more legroom and you can personalize your temperature and noise preferences
- Lyft Black & Black SUV is the most expensive Lyft option. New luxury sedans & SUVs with highly-rated drivers
- Lyft Green is a ride in a hybrid or electric car
- Ride types with more amenities cost more than the standard Lyft ride
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How to select between Lyft ride types
On the home screen of the Lyft app, input your destination to see all available ride types and a fare estimate.
Scroll to see different options and tap 0n the ride type you want to use.
The text in the purple 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
Lyft is the standard service that offers a personal ride with seating for 4. It is the default ride type when you open the app. As one of the cheapest ride types, it’s a popular option for Lyft users.
Lyft Priority Pickup and Wait & Save
In some markets, the Lyft ride type has extra options called Lyft Priority Pickup and Wait & Save.
With Priority Pickup, you can pay more for 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 can get a discount for waiting longer for your ride to arrive.
Lyft XL: For larger groups
Lyft XL is for groups of up to 6 passengers. When you request a LyftXL, the vehicle will be a minivan, small SUV, larger crossover, or full-size SUV. It is a good option for large groups, transporting luggage, or trips to the airport.
Lyft XL costs more than a regular Lyft. Lyft XL drivers receive ride requests for both regular Lyft requests and XL Lyft requests, so it’s possible to get an XL vehicle even if you request a regular Lyft.
Extra Comfort: Newer cars, more room, & control over temperature and noise
Extra Comfort is an upgraded service that offers newer, more spacious cars and highly-rated drivers. It costs around 20–25% more than a standard Lyft.
The cars that qualify for Extra Comfort must be model year 2018 or newer with more legroom than smaller sedans. Drivers must maintain a 4.85-star average, so you can expect a more professional experience.
Extra Comfort gives you control over the ride experience. You can select preferences for the car’s temperature and, you can let your driver know if you prefer a quieter ride.
With Extra Comfort, you can set preferences before you request the ride
Extra Comfort replaced Lyft Preferred and Lyft Lux in 2023.
Lyft Black and Black SUV: A luxury experience
Lyft Black and Black SUV are the most luxurious and expensive services that Lyft offers. Only high-end luxury sedans and SUVs qualify for Black and Black SUV.
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.
Expect a higher level of professionalism from Lyft Black drivers. They will help you with your luggage and typically provide the best customer service.
Lyft Black is comparable to Uber Black and Uber Black SUV.
Lyft Black and Lyft Black SUV are not available in every city, so check the Lyft app or Lyft.com/cities to see if Black and Black SUV are available in your location.
Lyft Green: Hybrid and electric vehicles
With Lyft green, you will be matched with an EV or hybrid vehicle for the same price as a standard Lyft.
Lyft Green: Rides in an EV or hybrid vehicle
Lyft Pet
Need a ride with your pet? When you choose the Lyft Pet ride type your driver can accommodate one well-behaved animal. Your animal should ride at your feet, on a blanket, or in a carrier.
Service animals are always welcome in any Lyft ride type, so you don’t need to pay extra for Lyft Pet if you have an animal required due to a disability.
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: You use the Lyft app to locate and rent scooters.
Lyft vs Uber ride types
Lyft and Uber both offer similar ride types. Here’s a quick comparison guide.
- Lyft is similar to Uber X
- Extra Comfort is similar to Uber Comfort
- Lyft XL is similar to Uber XL
- Lyft Black and Black SUV are similar to Uber Black and Black SUV
Read about the differences between all the Uber ride types.
Discontinued ride types
Many ride types have come and gone over the years. The ride types below are no longer available.
- Lyft Shared — Share your ride with another passenger heading in the same direction as you and get a discount
- Lyft Preferred — Similar to Extra Comfort. Vehicles were newer, roomier, and allowed you to customize your ride preferences
- Lyft Lux — A premium ride in a newer luxury sedan, but not as expensive as Lyft Black. Similar to Uber Premier
About Lyft pricing: How Lyft calculates ride prices
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.
Lyft prices are calculated based on an algorithm that factors mileage, time, fees, and local market demand.
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.
If you’re ever overcharged by Lyft, you can request a fare review in the help section of every ride receipt.
How to schedule a Lyft ride
You can schedule a Lyft up to 30 days 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.
To cancel a scheduled ride, tap the Trips button in the bottom menu, find the scheduled ride, select Edit ride, then select Cancel.
One word of warning: Cancellation fees are higher for scheduled rides, so make sure to cancel more than one hour before your scheduled pickup time. Learn more about Lyft cancellation fees.
Which Lyft ride type is best for the airport or trips with luggage?
Getting the correct ride type is especially important when you’re traveling with luggage. A standard Lyft should be able to accommodate 2–3 passengers with carry-on luggage.
A Lyft XL is the best option if you have large checked bags or a group of more than 4 people.
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Give Lyft a try! If you’ve already requested a Lyft, try one of our tricks for existing users to get more free Lyft credits.
Dana says
I agree I’m an Uberdriver and I do not Lift people’s bags unless they are extremely too old to do it themselves and out of courtesy I will help an elder.
Barb says
My husband has a standard push wheelchair that fits in the trunk of our 2014 Toyota Avalon, even with the large hybrid battery in the trunk. Will the Preferred cars have trunks large enough to accommodate a wheelchair?
DougH says
There’s no guarantee. But it would likely fit in most XL vehicles
Lana Choy says
I wanted to schedule a Lyft for me and 3 friends. We live in 4 different locations. I could not figure out how to enter 4 pickup locations.
DougH says
I believe Lyft only allows 2 stops. You could vocally direct the driver to the other stops.
Hendy says
I drive for Lyft. If passenger needs multiple stops, I dont do it. It causes drivers to lose money.
nick says
NOPE! Drivers do not get paid to do that, unless maybe you put a $20 spot in their hand per additional pickup! We don’t work for free.
We should be paid for both shipping and handling, just like the mail service.
Greg says
Driver’s are lifting heavy bags sometimes passengers order XL with 5 people and they all have bags and expect you to move them, just because they ordered XL. As a driver Lyft should start charging an Airport Fee to all passengers and stop taking advantage of the driver. The. Minimum airport trip should be at $20. I am getting $7 or less on short trips to the airport and required to lift heavy bags….please!
Hendy says
Drivers are not supposed to lift passengers luggage. You lift there luggage for luxury service.
I only place there luggage in my vehicle because passengers have no respect for your vehicle. I was taught as a child never throw or drag anything in someones car… It rips and scratches the vehicle.
Lisa says
Can my son use Lyft Lux to go to and from his prom?
DougH says
Unaccompanied minors aren’t allowed to use Lyft. It’s possible that a driver would accept the ride, but it’s also possible that they would decline to drive minors
Shorty says
Agree,
I drive a prius and I always load / unload bags as well as open the door at the airport.
As the platform gains more drivers, it’s getting more and more difficult to stay busy and earn a living.
Jeniffer Ford says
Hi, I need to be at work at the same time everyday. sometimes I struggle to get a car on time or arrive 2 hours early. Is there a way to set a schedule? It’s becoming a major problem, especially for my Saturday shift
DougH says
You can schedule rides. When you set up the ride, look for the schedule button right about the big ‘select lyft’ button.
David says
When you do the schedule they will cancel in the middle of the night. I am sorry to hear that. What state do you live in
Jennifer says
I love scheduled rides I’d rather have those than random rides
Jen says
Find a good, reliable driver & eliminate the driver app. You can offer to pay with Zelle, cash app or what ever you and your favorite driver decide works for you both.
You should get a google phone number do your not giving out your true phone number to any driver but there’s a way to work this out where you and your favorite driver get better “service” 😉 (just simply ask your drivers before you exit the vehicle or get too close to your destination to allow the driver time yo think it over & to discuss it with you.
David Gramlow says
This equals an UNINSURED ride, and your driver will be operating as an illegal taxi. Just a couple CONS to the idea of doing cash rides with an Uber/Lyft driver, for basic ride service. Those drivers are ONLY insured while doing a trip ON THE APP! Do this at your own risk.
Gene. Just “Gene.” says
At the heart of it, setting up something the way Jen described it isn’t something you’d typically arrange with a complete stranger.
Say, a person uses Uber/Lyft daily and manages to get in with the same driver, and these two become acquaintances and build rapport. If the discussion ever comes up, it would be no different than a friend asking for a ride somewhere and is offering gas money for the effort.
How many times have your friends asked you for a lift to some place? Did you tell them you couldn’t give them a ride because it’d be like an uninsured taxi? Do you look at it as something you need to do at your own risk? How quick to forget that before rideshare apps existed it was friends giving friends a lift somewhere.
Example: a regular rider of mine was throwing an event at his house and he had his guests parking off-site. He wanted a steady shuttle of sorts to operate between the parking area and the venue. I knew several other rideshare drivers and talked them into turning the app off on a Saturday night with me.
Each of us were provided free food, courtesy of the event, plus compensation for being “on call” as a luxury shuttle from an hour before the event until one hour after it ended.
Realistically each of us did maybe 2-3 hours of work, but were compensated for 7, along with individual rider tips. In one evening, I personally made enough to cover 2-3 months’ worth of rent.
Would I do this with someone I just met right then and there? Common sense says no, which is why I didn’t assume Jen was talking about arranging this with a complete stranger.