Ride pricing and charges (2024)

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  • Upfront pricing

    • Fare estimates

    • Included fees

  • ‘Pending’ charge

  • Payment frequency

    • How it works

    • Opting out

  • Resolving charge issues

    • Finding ride charges on your bank statement

    • Charged for a ride I canceled

    • Charged for a ride driver the canceled

    • Shared payment methods

    • Dispute unfamiliar ride charge

Upfront pricing

When you request a ride the Lyft app will show the ride’s upfront price. This price may vary depending on:

  • Ride type.

  • Time.

  • Traffic.

  • Driver availability.

The final price of a ride could differ from the upfront price because there was a:

  • 10 second or more delay before requesting a ride.

  • Destination added after requesting a ride.

  • Longer than estimated trip.

  • Tip added.

Lyft fare is based on ride route and ride type, as well as ride availability and demand. When many passengers in your area request a ride at the same time, ride prices will likely be higher than normal. You can expect higher demand during commute hours, big events in town, and when bad weather hits.

Fare estimates

Lyft shows you fare estimates before you request a ride, so you know what to expect. To calculate the cost of your next Lyft ride, enter your pickup and drop-off location into the app before requesting a ride.

Fare estimates don't reflect any discounts, traffic delays, or factors like adding a stop or changing your destination. Any changes to your ride will cause your final ride price to be different from your fare estimate.

Included fees

The following fees are included in your upfront price:

  • Lyft fare: Based on ride route, ride type, ride availability, and demand.

  • Tolls: Covers any tolls your ride passes through.

  • Service fee: Flat amount based on the region.

  • Third-party fees: Includes any local fees like rideshare taxes, surcharges, and airport fees.

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'Pending' charge

A Lyft transaction marked as ‘pending’ isn't a charge. ‘Pending’ transactions are temporary authorizations from the Lyft app to make sure your payment method works.

Once your bank provider processes the transaction, the temporary authorization will either disappear completely or appear as a refund within 5-7 business days.

You may see a pending transaction on your payment method when you:

  • Create a Lyft account.

  • Request a ride.

  • Update your payment method.

  • Change your destination.

  • Add a stop on your route.

  • Rent a Lyft Bike or Scooter.

The temporary authorization amount depends on the ride cost, region, and selected ride type. Once your payment method is successfully charged, Lyft immediately releases the temporary authorization.

However, your bank may take 5–7 business days to release temporary authorizations on your account.

If the temporary authorization causes your account to overdraft, you’ll need to contact your bank or financial institution for next steps.

Learn more about temporary authorizations.

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Payment frequency

If your payment frequency is set to daily,you’ll pay once for all your rides that day. This simplifies your charges while giving you the same cost breakdown for each ride.

For example, if you take a ride to work for $25, then back to your house for $15, you’ll be billed one time for $40. You’ll still see the cost breakdown for each ride in your receipt.

See all final ride charges (individual or combined) in the ‘Ride history’ tab of the app.

How it works

You now have the option to receive either:

  • One final charge for multiple rides taken in a day.

  • Individual charges after each ride.

If you choose to receive one charge, you’ll see a breakdown of the fare after the ride. You’ll also see a reminder that the ride charge will be combined in your daily payment. We'll send you individual ride receipts and an itemized daily receipt for all rides.

This feature isn’t available for business accounts or rides paid with PayPal, Venmo, or online banking.

Ride pricing and charges (1)

Opting out

You can change your payment frequency at any time.

To change your payment frequency:

  1. Open the Lyft app’s main menu, then tap ‘Payment.’

  2. Tap ‘Payment frequency.’

  3. Choose your preferred payment frequency.

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Resolving charge issues

If you see multiple charges, overcharges, or unrecognized charges, follow the instructions below to resolve.

Finding ride charges on your bank statement

The description of a final charge on your bank statement includes the number of rides taken and the charge date. The transaction will look like this: Lyft *3 rides 3/16 lyft.com/charges

A Lyft transaction marked as ‘pending’ isn't a charge. ‘Pending’ transactions are temporary authorizations from the Lyft app to make sure your payment method works.

Once your bank provider processes the transaction, the temporary authorization will either disappear completely or appear as a refund within 5-7 business days.

You may see a pending transaction on your payment method when you:

  • Create a Lyft account.

  • Request a ride.

  • Update your payment method.

  • Change your destination.

  • Add a stop on your route.

  • Rent a Lyft Bike or Scooter.

The temporary authorization amount depends on the ride cost, region, and selected ride type. Once your payment method is successfully charged, Lyft immediately releases the temporary authorization.

However, your bank may take 5–7 business days to release temporary authorizations on your account.

If the temporary authorization causes your account to overdraft, you’ll need to contact your bank or financial institution for next steps.

You can see all final ride charges (individual or combined) in the ‘Ride history’ tab of the app.

Charged for a ride I canceled

You may be charged a cancellation fee if you cancel:

  • More than 30 seconds after the driver accepts your ride.

  • After your driver arrives.

  • 3 or more rides in a 15-minute timeframe.

These fees go towards compensating your driver for their time and gas, and may vary based on how busy it is.

Note: You can cancel a ride within the first 5 minutes after pickup if someone else took your ride or if there’s another critical issue.

If you request a ride for someone else, you’ll be charged any cancel or no-show fees for that ride.

For Lyft Scheduled rides, we may charge a cancellation fee if:

  • You cancel the ride within 1 hour of pick-up time, and a driver has been matched.

  • The driver is on their way to pick you up.

  • The driver is scheduled to arrive within the designated pickup window.

Charged for a ride the driver canceled

You may be charged a no-show fee if your driver:

  1. Arrived to pick you up.

  2. Waited the allotted time or longer.

  3. Attempted to contact you, or you contacted your driver.

These fees go towards compensating your driver for their time and gas, and may vary based on how busy it is.

Shared payment methods

If your payment method is on a family account or was added to a friend’s Lyft account, following up with friends or family is the only way to resolve the issue.

Dispute unfamiliar ride charges

You can dispute the charge directly in your app, and it will be reviewed automatically.

To dispute a charge:

  1. Open the Lyft app’s main menu.

  2. Tap the ‘Ride history.’

  3. Tap the ride that you need help with.

  4. Tap ‘Get help’ at the bottom of the screen.

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See also:

  • Pending charges

  • How to estimate the cost of a Lyft ride

  • How to add or update payment info

  • Promotions, ride discounts, and Lyft credit

  • Cancel and no-show policy for riders

Ride pricing and charges (2024)

FAQs

How do I estimate the cost of a Lyft ride? ›

Lyft shows you fare estimates before you request a ride, so you know what to expect. To calculate the cost of your next Lyft ride, enter your pickup and drop-off location into the app before requesting a ride.

How much is Lyft per mile in Chicago? ›

Chicago Area Ride Costs
Lyft XL
Base Fare$3.28
Cancel Penalty‡Varies
Cost Per Mile$1.85
Cost Per Minute$0.35
7 more rows

Does Lyft charge you before or after the ride? ›

You are not charged until the ride is completed. Lyft cancellation policy applies to scheduled rides, though. But, as long as you cancel with plenty of notice you can cancel it with no charge. If, for example, the driver is already on his/her way to pick you up, you may be charged a cancellation fee.

How much does Lyft cost per mile in California? ›

Los Angeles Area Ride Costs
Lyft
Cost Per Mile$1.10
Cost Per Minute$0.18
Maximum Fare$400.00
Minimum Fare$2.83
6 more rows

How does Uber calculate the cost of a ride? ›

How are prices determined? Many data points go into calculating an upfront price, including the estimated trip time and distance from origin to destination, as well as demand patterns for that route at that time. It also includes any applicable tolls, taxes, surcharges, and fees (with the exception of wait time fees).

What time of day is Lyft the cheapest? ›

Zimmer said requests for Lyft typically wane between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., picking up around 5 p.m. During periods when drivers outnumber passengers requesting rides, fares will drop between 10% and 50%.

Does Lyft go by miles or time? ›

How Much Does a Lyft Ride Cost? Depends on where you're headed and when. There is a base charge and a cost per mile and per minute, with extra added on when your pickup point is in Prime Time, which happens during higher-than-normal demand to encourage drivers to get on the road.

Can I pay Lyft with cash? ›

Go to the 'Payment' tab in the Lyft app and tap 'Add cash'. Tap 'Find a store' to see locations near you. Show your barcode or ID number to the store cashier, add cash, and your Lyft Cash balance will be instantly updated. Now you're ready to ride.

Does Lyft do long distance? ›

You can take a Lyft outside of the coverage area as long as the ride doesn't exceed a distance 100 miles total. Lyft does not support crossing international borders. Drivers have the right to deny these kinds of passenger requests.

Why did Lyft charge me 80 dollars? ›

$80: Moderate messes such as biowaste and large messes from food or spills, on the vehicle's interior. $150: Major damage such as extensive damage to the vehicle's interior or exterior.

Why did Lyft charge $3? ›

The Service Fee is an additional fee added on a per-ride basis. The fee helps support the Lyft Platform and related services, including a broad spectrum of operating costs and safety measures like insurance and background checks.

What is the most expensive time for Lyft? ›

Lyft sets different times (usually when they expect high demand like commute time or special events/holidays) where they add a percentage to your fare. You also see a lot of surge pricing when the bars close on the weekends or at special events. Typically, the peak hours are from 7am–9am and 5pm–7pm during work days.

Why is Lyft so expensive? ›

The present state is that there are more riders now than the available drivers. The rideshare companies had to increase the cost of each ride to be able to fund the various strategies it is putting in place to encourage drivers to return.

Why is Lyft charging me twice? ›

Any extra pending transaction on your bank statement is likely a temporary authorization. You may see several temporary authorizations on your bank statement if you request more than one ride.

What does Lyft pay drivers per mile? ›

Enjoy guaranteed earnings

You'll earn at least 120% of the minimum wage, including 34¢ per mile whenever you're booked with a passenger.

How much is a 20 minute Uber ride in Nashville? ›

How much does a 20-minute Uber ride typically cost in Nashville? On average, you can expect to pay around $18.40 for a 20-minute Uber ride in Nashville. It's important to note that this cost is an average estimate and can fluctuate.

What is the rideshare price comparison app? ›

Obi compares all taxi, rideshare and black car prices in real time. So you always get the cheapest ride. Obi compares ride prices across multiple apps, so you don't to. And it's completely free to use.

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