Can I Use a Car Rental For Lyft?

Driving for rideshare or food delivery services is a great way to make extra money.

But if you don’t own a car, you might feel limited in your potential.

Many apps require that you own the vehicle and check your status with proof of insurance.

The rideshare industry is constantly evolving, and thankfully that includes their flexibility on the use of rental cars.

Read on to find out how you can use a car rental for Lyft to make money driving.

Can I Use a Rental Car for Lyft?

The short answer is yes and no.

You can use a certain rental car company to drive for Lyft.

But you can’t just rent a car from any company and drive it around for your side hustle.

When you apply as a rideshare driver, you have to give the company your car make and model.

You also have to prove you have insurance for the vehicle.

If you’re using a rental, you don’t always have the same car for your drives.

And you won’t have proof of insurance for a rental car.

There are also some legal constraints when you rent a car.

Many rental cars have a clause in their contracts that forbids people from using the car to carry passengers and charge fares.

Can I Use a Loaner Car for Lyft?

Again, the answer is yes and no.

You must meet some requirements to drive for Lyft, such as having insurance for the car you’re driving.

If you’re driving a vehicle that isn’t yours, you still have to be on the insurance policy.

This example might apply if you’re driving your parent’s or spouse’s car and share an insurance policy.

Since you have to register a car when you apply to Lyft, you can’t borrow a friend’s car for one shift, then take your brother’s ride the next day.

So informal loaner cars won’t let you pick up rides through the app.

Renting vs. Leasing a Car for Lyft

It’s possible to drive a rented or leased car for Lyft.

Renting is less of a commitment because you can rent for a couple of days or a few weeks.

A lease is a long-term agreement, often lasting a year or two through dealerships.

Our Suggestion: Get a Rental Car for Lyft

Both renting and leasing a car are cheaper than buying your own.

In addition to the cost of the car itself, you have to pay for registration and insurance.

Regular maintenance will also add up, making car ownership expensive.

Because renting is more affordable, we recommend using a rental car when you drive for Lyft.

That way, you can turn in the car when you’re not working for an extended period, then rent another as needed.

With a lease, you’ll have the car for the set period agreed upon in the contract.

You might be responsible for a car for a year, even though you only need to drive for Lyft periodically.

The best part of getting a rental option for Lyft is that there are certain partner companies you can use.

These businesses make it easy to rent a car and immediately pick up rides through the app.

Where to Get a Rental Car for Lyft

There are six major companies that have partnered with rideshare and delivery services.

They register their cars with the apps, and then drivers can come rent the cars.

The driver attaches their license and insurance to the rental car, which Lyft has already approved for service.

1. HyreCar

HyreCar is a car rental service where drivers can loan their idle cars to make passive income.

It connects car owners with Lyft drivers who don’t have a vehicle.

Both parties win in this situation.

How HyreCar Works

HyreCar lists cars that Lyft has approved for rideshare services, so you don’t have to get that information approved when you rent the vehicle.

Once you rent from HyreCar, you can start working for Lyft within 24 hours.

HyreCar Car List

Because real people are posting their cars for rent on HyreCar, you’re sure to find a variety of options.

The most popular rentals include:

• Dodge Grand Caravan
• Ford Fusion
• Honda Accord

Since the car owners set the pricing, your cost may vary according to location, vehicle, and demand.

HyreCar Availability

HyreCar expanded its reach in 2018 and is now available in all 50 states.

HyreCar Insurance

Renting from HyreCar includes insurance for $10 each day.

This policy covers you while you’re driving the car but not working.

Lyft’s insurance covers you when your app is on, whether you’re waiting for a passenger or have one in the car.

2. Lyft/Hertz Express Drive Program

The Lyft Express Drive Program is a partnership that lets you rent a car and work for Lyft immediately.

If you’re an approved Lyft driver, you can rent a car through the “Vehicles” section of the app’s dashboard.

How Lyft/Hertz Express Drive Program Works

The rental policy with Lyft Express Drive is very flexible.

You keep the car for a minimum of seven days, but you can renew it for three weeks after that.

Since everything goes through the app, your rental fees come out of your Lyft earnings instead of getting deducted from your bank account or charged to a credit card.

Lyft/Hertz Express Drive Program Car List

Renting from Lyft Express Drive gives you the chance to drive any type of car Hertz rents, including:

• Chevrolet Impala
• Nissan Versa
• Toyota Corolla

Lyft Express Drive base prices are as long as $200 per week, but your rental price may vary depending on the car type.

Lyft/Hertz Express Drive Program Availability

This partnership is only available in select cities, including:

• Atlanta
• Boston
• Chicago
• Denver
• Los Angeles

Lyft is continually expanding the Express Drive program, so keep checking to see if it’s an option in your market.

Lyft/Hertz Express Drive Program Insurance

Renting through Lyft/Hertz Express Drive includes insurance, though coverage varies depending on your situation.

If you’re driving the car alone, you have personal coverage.

When you’re waiting for a passenger or taking them to your destination, you have more comprehensive coverage.

3. Turo

Turo is a peer-to-peer car rental company.

The rental service is only for personal use, so the owner rents to an individual who uses the vehicle for their own needs, not to earn money.

How Turo Works

How Turo works is fairly simple.

The platform has a variety of cars, and owners set their own rental prices, so you can get a good deal.

But the company strictly prohibits the use of their rentals for services like Uber and Lyft, whether you’re earning money from passengers or food deliveries.

Turo Car List

Since car owners list their vehicles on Turo, you’ll have a variety of options to choose from, including luxurious and rare cars, like:

• Porsche 911
• Tesla Model 3
• Volkswagen Camper Van

When you’re searching for a rental, you can set filters for vehicle type, make, year, safety features, and more.

Turo Availability

Turo is available in more than 7,500 cities in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.

Turo Insurance

Turo rentals include a protection plan that covers your trip.

If you have personal insurance, Turo will supplement the claim if necessary.

However, if Turo discovers that you’ve used the rental for Lyft passengers or delivery services, they won’t cover any of your insurance claims.

4. Fair

The Fair app is a car rental agency that is getting revamped.

The company used to partner with Uber, but a rocky 2020 made them pull their app from the market.

How Fair Works

Fair has reinvented itself as an option for drivers to lease cars online without dealing with salespeople in person.

Fair gets the cars from a dealership but holds the registration while you lease it from them for as long as you need it.

Fair Car List

Fair gets cars from different dealerships in each market.

Therefore, you have access to many kinds of vehicles, such as:

• Ford Focus
• Nissan Versa
• Toyota Camry

Fair Availability

Since Fair is still transforming its mission, it’s slowly expanding its reach.

For now, you can use this service in cities like:

• Denver
• Los Angeles
• New York City
• Philadelphia
• San Francisco Bay Area

Fair Insurance

You need to have your own insurance policy before leasing a car from Fair.

After choosing your vehicle, you must add it to your insurance within seven days and upload proof to the app.

5. Rideshare Rental

Rideshare Rental makes renting cars for side hustles simple.

The app connects you to fleets of Lyft-approved vehicles from dealerships.

How Rideshare Rental Works

Drivers who are already working through the Lyft app are ready to rent from Rideshare Rental.

Book a car through the app, and the owner will provide the Lyft inspection and insurance.

Rideshare Rental Car List

Because Rideshare Rental outsources the inventory of dealerships, they have a variety of vehicles for rent.

Their most popular Lyft cars include:

• Chevrolet Malibu
• Honda Civic
• Toyota Prius

Depending on the car you choose, rentals can cost as little as $29 a day.

Rideshare Rental Availability

The service is currently available in limited cities, including:

• Chicago
• Las Vegas
• Miami
• San Diego
• Seattle

You can check the featured locations on their site to see if it’s available in your area.

Rideshare Rental Insurance

When you rent through Rideshare Rental, they provide paperwork and insurance so you can get to work.

Your Lyft rental fee includes insurance, maintenance, and unlimited miles.

How to Add a Rental Car to My Lyft Account

To add a Lyft rental car to your driver account, first, open the Driver Dashboard.

When you click the “Vehicles” option, you’ll be able to add a vehicle.

You need to upload the vehicle inspection and your insurance information.

If you’re renting from the companies on this list, they provide these documents for you.

The Lyft/Hertz Express Drive program lets you add a car directly through the app, making the process even more streamlined.

After you submit the new vehicle, Lyft requires 24 hours to look it over and approve it.

You’ll get a notification about your status when you’re ready to work.

How to Change a Vehicle on the Lyft Driver App

Once you’ve added multiple vehicles to your Lyft account, you can switch between them relatively easily.

On the Driver Dashboard, you’ll see the different cars that you’ve gotten approved.

You can click on the one you’re using that day, and Lyft will use that information to notify your passengers.

Frequently Asked Questions

There are a lot of small details you need to be aware of if you’re driving a Lyft rental.

In case you have some lingering questions, check out this extra information.

Wrapping Up

Driving for Lyft is a great way to earn money, but owning and maintaining your own car can get expensive.

Since there are so many options to use a rental car for Lyft, you should check out the companies on this list and get your side hustle started.