Becoming a Lyft or Uber Driver in Boston

Many Bostonites opt to take public transit over driving themselves because Boston drivers are known for being aggressive. This can add to a person’s travel time, which means people may be showing up late to places or wasting their time commuting. This means the demand for Uber and Lyft drivers is high. Keep reading to find out how you can become a Lyft or Uber-partner driver in Boston, Massachusetts.

Boston Driving Stats

Boston is #8 in the best places to live in the U.S.A. Read the stats below to see what its drivers are like.

• Allstate Insurance carriers living in Boston average 3.7 years between claims compared to the national average of 10 years.
• Bostonites are 167.6% times more likely to report a claim compared to the national average.¹
• Of the 200 largest U.S. cities, Boston ranks last at 200 for best drivers in 2015 and 2016. On the “bright” side, that means they rank first for being the worst drivers in the largest 200 cities, although that’s not really a stat that most cities want to be associated with.
• 75% fewer people drive to work in Boston than the national average.
• 8,206 Uber and Lyft Greater Boston area drivers were rejected out of 70,789 ranging from crimes to suspended licenses.²
• Uber drivers average an hourly wage of $14 to $26 in Boston.³
• Lyft drivers average a base pay of $18/hour in Boston.⁴

Boston Driver and Vehicle Requirements for Lyft and Uber

Below are the requirements for driving in Boston with Lyft and Uber. Some people drive for both companies as long as their schedule allows and their vehicles fit the guidelines.

Lyft Driver Requirements Boston

Click Here to Apply to Become a Lyft Driver

Lyft and LyftPlus are available in Boston.

• Vehicle cannot be older than a 2004 model
• Must have 4 full doors
• Must be seat belts for driver and 4 passengers
• Car cannot have any damage or dents
• Taxis and stretch limousines are not allowed
• Must display Lyft emblem while in driver mode
• Driver must maintain vehicle insurance

Read the full list of Lyft driver requirements.

Uber Driver Requirements Boston

Sign Up to Become an Uber Driver-Partner

Driving for Uber in Boston can put money in your pocket and help you meet tons of new people. UberX, uberXL and uberTAXI are all available in Boston.

• Vehicle is less than 15 years old
• Must have 4 full doors
• Must be seat belts for driver and 4 passengers
• No commercial branding or taxi color paint jobs allowed
• No cosmetic damage
• No heavy duty trucks or large passenger vans
• Either official or temporary registration documents (vehicle can be registered in someone else’s name)
• Must display Uber placard while online
• Driver must maintain vehicle insurance

Read a full list of Uber requirements here to become an Uber driver in Boston.

Best Places Drive with Uber and Lyft in Boston

We looked up some of the areas in Boston that have a higher demand for drivers. Below is a list of neighborhoods and cities in the Boston area, so if you decide to start driving for a ride-hailing service you may want to cruise around the streets in these neighborhoods. (List is in no particular order.)

• Dorchester
• Roxbury
• Jamaica Plain
• Brookline
• Chestnut Hill
• Brighton
• Allston
• Longwood/Mission Hills
• Northeastern University
• Fenway Park
• Boston University
• Back Bay
• South End
• South Boston (Southie)
• Fort Point
• Bay Village
• Chinatown/South Station
• Financial District/Downtown
• Beacon Hill
• West End
• North End
• Cambridgeport
• Kendall/MIT
• Harvard
• West Cambridge
• Porter Square
• Prospect Hill/Spring Hill
• Union Square
• Inman Square
• Central Square
• East Cambridge
• Charlestown
• Sullivan Square

Boston Venues

While an event is going on, these venues can see an increase in demand for Uber and Lyft drivers.

• Agganis Arena
• Blue Hills Bank Pavillion
• Fenway Park
• Gillette Stadium
• House of Blues
• Hynes Convention Center
• Orpheum Theatre
• TD Garden
• Wang Theatre
• Xfinity Center

10 Tips for Uber and Lyft Drivers in Boston

This driver has some tips for those of you driving in the Greater Boston area and throughout Suffolk County.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=35rU-AbwJiQ

What’s Your Reason to Drive?

Driving for Uber or Lyft doesn’t have to be a full-time job — it can be whatever you want it to be. Many people drive for one of these companies while they’re in between jobs or saving up for a vacation. The unemployment rate for Boston is only 3.5% but we bet that some of these people seeking work may have the qualifications to be a driver for Lyft or Uber.

Which ride-booking company would you prefer to drive with, Lyft or Uber?

Sources: [1] Allstate, [2] Boston Globe, [3] GlassDoor, [4] GlassDoor