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Rate card earnings

In most regions, driver earnings are based on Upfront Pay. Driver earnings are based on a rate card if Upfront Pay isn't available or a ride changes significantly.
Note: Upfront Pay isn't currently available in Toronto.
To see your ride earnings for a ride, go to the ‘Driving History’ tab in your Dashboard.
Your ride earnings are calculated based on your Rate Card, which includes a base fare, time, and distance. Your ride earnings also include any tips or bonuses for the ride.
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Ride earnings calculations when a rate card applies
When your ride earnings are calculated based on your Rate Card, the rates are based on the ride mode and the region where the passenger is picked up.
This calculation includes a base fare, time, and distance.
  • Base fare: the amount you earn for starting a ride
  • Time: the amount you earn for every minute you drive
  • Distance: the amount you earn for every kilometre you drive
The calculation for your earnings starts one minute after you tap ‘Arrive’ in your app. If you pick up a passenger within one minute of arriving, the calculation starts when you tap ‘Pick up.’
After you cancel or drop off a ride, we no longer track the time and distance of the trip. If you accidentally cancel or end a ride early, you should ask your passenger to request a new ride.
Check out The Driver’s Guide to Pay to learn how to maximize your earnings.
Tips and bonuses
Tips
You receive 100% of your tips from passengers.
Passengers can tip in their Lyft app after the ride ends. It’s also fine for them to tip with cash.
Bonuses
Some bonuses are added directly to your ride earnings for certain rides, such as Ride Streaks or Personal Power Zones.
Your Lyft app will let you know if you’re eligible for a bonus. Follow the instructions in your app to get the bonus.
Passenger payments
Passengers are charged an upfront price for their rides. This amount is based on the estimated time and distance of the ride, plus any applicable tolls.
This upfront price also includes Lyft’s fees and any third-party fees. These fees don’t impact the amount you earn, and won’t be reflected in your ‘Driving History.’
Passengers may also be charged for cancellations and no-shows.
Minimum & maximum fares
There’s a minimum and maximum fare limit for every ride. These limits are based on the Rate Card for the region where you pick up the passenger.
The minimum fare is the lowest amount you can earn for a ride. If a trip is very short, your earnings will be rounded up to this amount.
The maximum fare is the highest amount you can earn for a ride. The Lyft app prevents passengers from requesting a ride if it would exceed the maximum fare.
Passengers should choose a different form of transportation for long-distance travel. Unusually long rides may be subject to review.
Subregion rates
Some cities have subregions with different rates. If you pick up a ride in a subregion, your ride earnings will be based on those rates.
You can see any subregion rates for your area in your Rate Card.
If a bonus requires a certain number of rides in your region, rides that start inside a subregion will also count toward the requirement.
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