Requirements, payout speed, and reported pay for Uber (rides) and Lyft side by side, from each company's own pages.
| Uber (rides) | Lyft | |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum age | 23–25 by city | 25 (19 in NYC) |
| Background check | Background check | Background check |
| Vehicle | Car required | Car required |
| Payout | Instant | Instant |
| Reported pay | $23.88/active hr | $22.45/active hr |
| Pay source | Gridwise 2025, gross, excludes wait time | Gridwise 2026, gross, excludes wait time |
| Worker type | Contractor | Contractor |
Rideshare driving. New drivers must be 25 in California and some other cities, 23 in others, with 1 year of US driving experience (3 if under 25).
Source: Gridwise 2025, gross, excludes wait time. Gas and wear typically cut this 25–40%.
Rideshare driving. Lyft raised its minimum age to 25 in most markets.
Source: Gridwise 2026, gross, excludes wait time. Gas and wear typically cut this 25–40%.
Uber (rides)
Lyft
Last checked November 2026. Requirements and pay change often, so confirm on each company's site before you sign up. More comparisons.