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Cancel and no-show policy for riders

Get help for a ride
We hope that all rides are seamless, but sometimes things go wrong. You can dispute a ride charge instantly, and report anything we should know about a ride or a driver.
Lose something during a ride?
If you no longer need your scheduled or requested ride, feel free to cancel it. You may be charged a cancellation fee in certain conditions.
To cancel a ride in the Lyft app:
  1. Edit the ride
  2. Tap ‘Cancel ride’
Note: You can cancel a ride within the first five minutes after pickup.
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Health Safety cancellations
The CDC recently updated its guidance for transportation, and masks are now optional in all rides.
Drivers and riders aren’t required to wear a mask during rides, but you can keep wearing one if it makes you more comfortable.
Although you won’t be able to report a rider or driver for health safety reasons, you can still report a ride if you feel unsafe.
'Pending' charge for cancelled ride
If you cancelled a ride or we couldn't match you with a driver, you may see a pending transaction for the ride’s original price.
We’ll never charge you this amount.
Once your bank processes the transaction, the temporary authorization will either disappear completely or appear as a refund within 5-7 business days.
Cancellation fee
You may be charged a cancellation fee if you cancel:
  • More than 30 seconds after a driver accepts your ride.
  • More than 30 seconds after requesting a Wait and Save 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.
No-Show Fee
You may be charged a no-show fee when your driver:
  1. Arrived at your pickup location
  2. Waited the required time or longer
  3. Attempted to contact you (or you contacted them)
These fees compensate your driver for their time and gas and may vary based on demand.
Dispute a fee
If you think you were wrongly charged a cancel or no-show fee, you can dispute the charge in the app.
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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