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Pennsylvania Driver Information

This page provides information about vehicle, driver, and document requirements, state regulations, insurance coverage, and city-specific requirements, needed to drive with Lyft in the state of Pennsylvania.
To apply to drive in Pennsylvania, submit an application online or in the Lyft Driver app –– download it from the App Store (iOS) or the Google Play store. To be approved to drive, applicants must meet these requirements.
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What you need to drive with Lyft in Pennsylvania
Drivers are required to maintain current documents. Failing to update a required document before the expiration date results in temporary deactivation.
Use your Lyft Driver app to upload your documents. To add documents in the app, tap 'Account' in the main menu, then 'Documents.
Vehicle requirements
  1. 2009 or newer
  2. Fewer than 350,000 miles
  3. 4 doors
  4. 5-8 seatbelts, including the driver's
  5. Not a taxi, stretch limousine, or non-Express Drive rental vehicle
  6. Not titled as salvage, non-repairable, rebuilt, or any other equivalent classification
See if your vehicle qualifies for premium ride types to earn more on each ride.
In select cities, you can rent a car through Express Drive with standard insurance included. Rental vehicles must be rented through the Express Drive program to be approved for use on the Lyft platform.
Driver requirements
  1. Valid driver’s license — Temporary or out-of-state licenses are also acceptable.
  2. You must be 25 years or older to drive.
  3. Pass a driver screening, which reviews your driving history and criminal background check. Learn more about driver screenings.
  4. Any smartphone that can download and run the Lyft Driver app. See phone software recommendations.
Document requirements
  1. Driver profile photo: Learn how to take the best photo
  2. Vehicle registration
  3. Personal vehicle insurance
  4. Vehicle Inspection Sticker 
Vehicle Inspection Sticker
Drivers must provide a photo of their vehicle's state inspection sticker.
We accept inspection stickers from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, or New York State:
We also accept inspections from all Pennsylvania licensed mechanics (including NTB, Pep Boys, and Jiffy Lube). You can find inspection stations in Pennsylvania here.
We don’t cover the cost of annual inspections or inspections for existing drivers.
Inspections are valid until the marked expiration date.
Go to your Lyft Driver app to upload a photo of your inspection sticker. To add documents in the app, tap 'Account' in the main menu, then 'Documents.
Pennsylvania PennDOT windshield sticker
If your car is registered in Pennsylvania, it already undergoes this inspection every year and your mechanic puts a vehicle inspection sticker next to the emissions sticker on your front windshield. You can upload a photo of your annual inspection sticker in the Lyft Driver app.
Here’s where your you’ll find your Pennsylvania inspection sticker:
This image showd proper PennDOT sticker placement in the lower driver's side of the windshield.
Here are some examples of what the sticker looks like:
This image shows a PA Emission Sticker Example
New Jersey windshield sticker
Upload a photo of your most recent New Jersey vehicle inspection sticker in the Lyft Driver app. To add documents in the app, tap 'Account' in the main menu, then 'Documents.
Here are some examples of what the sticker looks like:
Example NJ inspection sticker
NJ Inspection Sticker Example Image
Delaware license plate with expiration date sticker
Upload a photo of your rear Delaware license plate with a valid expiration sticker in the Lyft Driver app. To add documents in the app, tap 'Account' in the main menu, then 'Documents.
Here’s an example of what the plate looks like:
This is an example of a Delaware sticker
New York State inspection sticker
Upload a photo of your most recent New York State vehicle inspection sticker in the Lyft Driver app. To add documents in the app, tap 'Account' in the main menu, then 'Documents.
Here are some examples of what the sticker looks like:
This image shows a NY State Safety Emissions Certificate Sample
Emblem requirements
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Lyft trade dress emblem
If you drive in Philadelphia, local laws require drivers to always display two Lyft emblems when in driver mode: one on the front windshield and the other on the rear windshield. See the image below for placement instructions. Failure to display your Lyft emblems may result in citations or a fine, so make sure to display them every time you drive with Lyft.
Heads up: You will still need to display a rear emblem even if you have a tinted rear windshield.
If you drive in any other Pennsylvania city, drivers are required to display one Lyft emblem in their front windshield while in driver mode.
Example of front and rear windshields for purpose of illustrating emblem placement.
Image of the Lyft emblem.
After you’re approved to drive, your Lyft emblems will arrive within 1-2 weeks. If you didn't get your emblems or need new ones, place an order in your Lyft Driver app or Dashboard. You can also print temporary emblems while waiting for the official ones to arrive.
Airport displays
Keep a Lyft emblem displayed at all times while giving Lyft rides at any Pennsylvania airport.
If you’re giving a non-Lyft ride at the airport, make sure to remove your Lyft emblem before entering airport property.
View driving requirements for specific airports in Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania driver regulations
Be sure to follow these rules when giving rides in Pennsylvania, and keep an eye on your email for important updates from Lyft.
In Pennsylvania, Lyft is regulated by the Pennsylvania Public Utilities Commission (PUC).
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Hourly driver mode limits
In Pennsylvania, Lyft’s standard time limit for driver mode applies.
Philadelphia’s Public Health Emergency Leave (PHEL)
In compliance with Philadelphia’s Public Health Emergency Leave (PHEL) ordinance, you may be eligible to temporarily request paid time off until December 31, 2020. This only applies to drivers in Philadelphia.
Paid leave eligibility
You are eligible for PHEL paid time off if you have worked at least 40 hours giving rides using the Lyft platform since January 1, 2020, in the City of Philadelphia. You must also meet one or more of the following criteria:
  1. You have been subject to a federal, state, or local quarantine or isolation order related to a public health emergency
  2. You have been advised by a health care provider to self-quarantine due to a public health emergency
  3. You’re experiencing symptoms related to the public health emergency and are seeking a medical diagnosis
  4. You have been caring for an individual who is subject to a quarantine or isolation order or who has been advised to self-quarantine due to a public health emergency
  5. You have been caring for a child if the school/child care facility has closed in response to the public health emergency
  6. You’re experiencing any other substantially similar condition to COVID-19, as specified by the U.S. Secretary of Health & Human Services in consultation with the U.S. Secretary of Treasury and U.S. Secretary of Labor
If you have received funds through the Lyft Driver Fund, it may be deducted from this paid time off.
The amount of paid time off you're eligible for will be determined based on the hours you've worked and your total earnings in the last six months.
Accruing and requesting PHEL paid time off 
You will receive an email with information on how much time you are eligible for. To request PHEL paid time off, open the Lyft Driver app and follow these steps:
  1. Tap ‘Support & Safety’ in the main menu.
  2. Tap ‘Get Help.’
  3. Tap 'Earnings and Bonuses.'
  4. Select ‘Philadelphia Paid Time Off (PHEL).’
  5. Choose the number of days.
  6. Submit your request.
PHEL paid time off is paid out as a bonus in your account on your next scheduled payout date, or within 14 days. Paid time off payout amounts are located in your Recent Driver Earnings statement. You may only request payment one time. Any remaining balance will be not available for future use.
Driving at Pittsburgh International Airport
To operate at Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT), all drivers are required to complete an airport lesson and quiz. You can access the quiz in your Lyft Driver app or Driver Dashboard.
Hands-free laws
Drivers giving rides in Delaware must abide by the hands-free cell phone laws, which say that you must use a hands-free device when you are talking on a cell phone. Driver must also never use a PDA, laptop, or any other electronic device while operating a car.
Important Lyft policies
Zero tolerance policy
Lyft has a zero-tolerance drug and alcohol policy for drivers. Learn more.
Passengers are encouraged to contact Lyft's Critical Response Line if they suspect a driver is under the influence of drugs or alcohol; to contact us, click the contact us button on this page. Lyft will immediately suspend the driver’s access to the app platform pending an investigation.
Anti-discrimination policy
Lyft drivers are to provide services to the public in a nondiscriminatory manner, regardless of geographic location of the departure point or destination, once the driver and rider have been matched through the app. Our platform-wide anti-discrimination policy can be viewed in full here.
Report concerns
In addition to reporting concerns directly to Lyft, passengers in Pennsylvania can file reports with the following organizations:
Philadelphia
Philadelphia Parking Authority
All other Pennsylvania cities
Public Utility Commission's Bureau of Consumer Services
Driver resources
Defensive driving course
Although not a requirement to drive in Delaware, the Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles offers a Defensive Driving Program both online and in a classroom setting. Find a course here.  
Philadelphia cleaning service
24/7 on-demand mess clean up is available through Aeyes Mobile Detailing (215-778-8720).
If you’ve used Aeyes’s cleaning service, let us know by selecting ‘Contact Support’ below, and provide the promo code 'CLEANPHI' in your message.
Aeyes Mobile Detailing is not affiliated with Lyft, and Lyft is not responsible for any damage resulting from the cleaning service.
Workforce and Career Pathways
Per Philadelphia Ordinance 9-5600, Lyft must notify drivers that the City of Philadelphia has created this Workforce and Career Pathways Information Sheet. Please note that drivers are defined separately from employees under this ordinance, and Lyft’s provision of this notice to drivers should not be construed as evidence of an employment relationship with Lyft.
Best practices
  1. Display all required emblems and placards
  2. Always have your required documents with you
  3. Follow all airport rules
  4. Don't accept street hails
  5. Don't accept cash for rides
  6. Don't wait in taxi lines
Know your insurance
  1. Review Lyft's coverage here
  2. View Certificate of Liability Insurance for Pennsylvania
Moving to or from Pennsylvania
If you're already a driver in a different state, and you're moving to Pennsylvania, contact us with the following info:
  1. The date you're moving
  2. Your new shipping address
  3. A clear photo of your vehicle registration. If you were already required to upload your vehicle registration when you became a driver, you do not need to send it in again.
To drive with Lyft in Pennsylvania, you’re required to obtain a Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, or New York State vehicle inspection sticker.
Moving from Pennsylvania to a different state? Find your new market here to see what steps you’ll need to take.

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