Lyft allows nearly anyone over 23 and with a Facebook to become a driver. Whether you’re fist bumping from the driver or passenger seat, find out why you need to be using this app.

What is Lyft?

Lyft is a taxi app that allows users to ride or drive, all using app users’ cars.

Riders need only request a driver within their participating area, and within minutes, they’ll be off to their destination. At the end, a “suggested donation” window shows up on the rider’s app. This “suggested donation” is how Lyft gets around to allowing anyone to drive.

Drivers can apply if they are 23 or older, have their name on the car’s insurance, have a Facebook to supplement a background check, and have a year 2000 or newer 4-door clean car. Once accepted, they need to pass a test drive with a current Lyft driver.

Some ways to confirm that the driver is really who they say they are is through the company’s signature fist bump greeting, a GPS app or device mounted on the left side of the windshield, and lastly, a giant, pink mustache attached to the front grill.

What makes it so cool?

As a driver, it allows nearly anyone to make quick cash. Passengers can efficiently get to and from under these hours of operation: Monday-Thursday: 7am-1am; Friday: 7am-3am; Saturday: 9am-3am; Sunday: 9am-1am.

The company gives off a cotton candy and sugar pop vibe in its informational videos. One can only be hope this vibe will translate positively to its employees and users.

Lastly, if users don’t pay their driver, the driver will always receive a flat rate of anywhere between $15-20 (at least in this editor’s SoCal town), and the user will be banned from ever using the app ever again.

On top of the guaranteed payment rule, both users and drivers are encouraged to rate each other out of five stars. If either chooses three or below, they’ll never be paired up again. Drivers always pick the hours that they want to work.

Downsides to Lyft?

Safety. Although the app isn’t yet making headlines for bad things happening once inside strangers’ cars, it’s only a matter of time before someone pushes the limit on what’s allowed between driver and passenger.

However, this is a danger also associated with official taxi drivers.

Taxis in general can always be pricey, and unfortunately, Lyft isn’t any different. Price is calculated via distance traveled and time spent in the car. Typically, a 10-block ride in a city will cost a user around $15.

Hot competitors?

The user-based Taxi app business continues with the Uber/UberX app. This app is much pricier, but offers a cheaper “UberX” mode (cars aren’t as fancy as they are in the usual Uber app). Overall, it fits the concept of Lyft to a T, other than the requirement of using company cars.

Read more about the effects apps like Uber and Lyft are having in the greater LA area from LA Weekly, and a specific experience editor Matt Novak had using UberX on Paleofuture.

Lastly, Sidecar is a less popular earlier iteration of Lyft.

Where do I go for more information?

Sign up to be a Lyft driver/user here and Uber user here. Learn more about Sidecar here.

To see the cities currently participating in Lyft, check out this list.

Will you sign up to be a driver/passenger on Lyft?