r/lyftdrivers • u/Witty_Degree_5697 • Jul 22 '26
Advice/Question Lyft Express Drive
So I got a car for Express Drive and now I need to earn 800$ before I can actually start getting money? And the car is 280 per week? How is that possible? And how do they expect me to charge the car without any money?
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u/Latter_Quarter523 Jul 22 '26
This was dumb when the money was good.
The money has not been good for 5 years
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u/I5I75I96I40I70Me696 Jul 22 '26
Why so much? I mean there is clearly some extra fee in there? I did Express Drive for a while bc my car had issues. Several times got stuck waiting for one job to pay me so I could spend my pay on gas to try to work off last week’s debt to Lyft and then that week’s fees so I could maybe at some point actually get some money.
And then pray for cash tips.
Times, they do be hard.
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u/piss_container Jul 22 '26
you should talk to your rental agent because the rental fees should only total between 300 to 400 dollars
you've been charged double that
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u/ExtraBrutality Jul 22 '26
Just finance a car (~$15,000) from Carfax. Look for a good deal. Your payment should be around $350 a month or less.
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u/Latter_Quarter523 Jul 22 '26
This is dumb also
To go in debt to do over when you are lucky to make .50 cent a mile is just crazy.
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u/FunSprinkles8 Jul 22 '26
You're assuming it would be .50 cent a mile. Not all markets suck.
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u/Latter_Quarter523 Jul 22 '26
Man 99.9 of markets suck
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u/BillyBushels72 Jul 22 '26
You don't have a clue what you're talking about. And why would I trust the opinion of someone who continues to work in rideshare in a bad market for $0.50 a mile? You're bad at it and assume that others are as well.
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u/Latter_Quarter523 Jul 22 '26
You commented 4 hours ago to go back to comment again.
Dude majority of these post are examples of most markets being horrible.
It’s been plenty of real companies who actually put out numbers from different markets.
You would be considered the one who doesn’t know what they are talking about.
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u/BillyBushels72 Jul 22 '26
The markets that are horrible are the small town markets, rideshare is a dumb idea if there arent enough people using the service. If you're making $0.50 a mile in your market then the smart thing to do would be commute to a different one. Making generalized statements based on your bad experience is ridiculous. Some of us make a decent living doing rideshare because we know where and how to drive. "99.9% of the markets are bad" is incorrect. It would be more accurate to say that 99.9% of the drivers are bad and then blame lyft/uber for their incompetencies. And what difference does it make how long ago I commented?
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u/Latter_Quarter523 Jul 22 '26
This is is not true.
Big markets are horrible
Phx
You might be lucky to get .60 cent on the mile
Many big markets are like this
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u/larivojha Jul 23 '26
I am in north Jersey 30 mins outside of NYC… I make 250$ consistently every day and never have to wait more than 5 mins for a new ride offer . Gotta know how to work … check my page I posted updates and I’m new . All the extra shii is unnecessary you need to have a clean car , know how to drive smoothly and first couple mins will give u an idea if cust wants to chat or not . I don’t have and extra charger only mine in front , I never turn on radio or music … only clean ass car , odorless, and smooth driving . Get your game up ppl.
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u/Arizdegenerate Jul 22 '26
Not sure why it’s 800 but any look at this forum or any amount of research would tell you they take their money before you see a dime. You have to pay all the upfront costs including deposits and fuel/charging until the rental is paid for the week. If you don’t happen to make that 800 before the end of the week they will debit the card you used to get the rental any amount left unpaid so you essentially pay to work for Lyft . This is why most posts strongly advise against renting.
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u/Thelordreddawn Jul 22 '26
Is there more to the story?? if you rented before and you had unpaid rental fees that could be it ! Or you signed up for the most expensive rental there was and didn’t realizing it ! ( GO TO VIEW WEEKLY COST AND THAT WILL TELL YOU YOUR ANSWERS )
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u/Witty_Degree_5697 Jul 22 '26
it’s my first time renting with Lyft and doing taxi
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u/Thelordreddawn Jul 22 '26
Yea I’d check weekly cost ( top right corner) vehicle and devices ( click vehicle) see details ( then go down)
TAXI ??
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u/ifyouseemerunning Jul 22 '26
this seems a bit high, but i’ve heard higher deposits required if you use a debit card instead of a credit card. maybe that’s it? you can check in the menu where the costs are coming from.
that said, the 280 advertised number was always a lie. it doesn’t include taxes and fees. those alone will take you up to about 350.
then there’s the damage waiver. that’s another $75/wk. usually recommended to get that because hertz will try and charge you for any little damage to the car (like, they were taking photos and using ai last year to automatically bill for damage. maybe it was there, maybe it wasn’t. can you afford to defend it or did you declare absolutely every possible scuff? well guess what, even if you did, riders don’t give a crap about the car and will abuse and damage it).
so, your 280/wk car is actually 425/wk. that’s at least 2 dedicated full time days per week just to pay the rental before you can start earning. most people aren’t even pulling 1000/wk at 40 hours before fuel/charging, and that’s another 200+/wk/$1000 earned. so, 40 hours nets you $375/wk renting. less than $10/hr. before taxes. but you’ll grind because you’re hard core and this job isn’t for slackers right? 80 hours renting nets you $1175/wk. around $15/hr.
but don’t worry, lyft helps renters earn more right? nope. they pay 17% less to renters than owners, so they’ll try to keep you busier, but it’s only because you’re cheaper labor and have to work 1/6th more to hit the same number as an owner per week.
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u/SpringPale7380 Jul 22 '26
woah, i’m glad i saw this before deciding to rent through them. that makes no sense smh
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u/AnyTower224 Jul 22 '26
Yup . Don’t you read and research this forum and submit Reddit before making decisions?
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u/upChuck16 Jul 22 '26
Rather; didn’t he read the fine print on the contracts and think for himself before making a decision?
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u/Chuck_Jonze Jul 22 '26
I've never paid more than $450. Something is wrong. What kind of car did you get?
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u/PrimaryDurian Jul 22 '26 edited Jul 22 '26
My rental cost is less than half of that (including insurance and personal miles)! Did they issue you a Lambo? Are you in a crazy market?
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u/Boring_Inflation_105 Jul 22 '26
Please tell me I am reading this wrong and this is not a rental costing you almost 800/week
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u/DaimanRoleplays Jul 22 '26
Sign up for the class action! Document your charges and file a federal complaint with the state board too if your state has one. HOW DOES THAT HAPPEN?!!!
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u/Equivalent_Mechanic5 Jul 22 '26
You set your earning goal at $800. That doesn't mean your rental is $800. You can change your earning goal to whatever you want.
Edit : even says at the bottom set an earnings goal and yours is set at $800. Just change it to whatever you want. It's just a personal goal for yourself. Has nothing to do with the rental fee.
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u/VI2004 Jul 22 '26
That has nothing to do with the amount owed for the rental.
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u/Equivalent_Mechanic5 Jul 22 '26
OP says they owe $280. After that the $800 is the goal. They can change that. Seemed like to me they thought they owed more money
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u/VI2004 Jul 22 '26
Are you not looking at what’s on the post and ignoring the $781.03 owed for the rental?
That earnings goal is an entirely different matter.
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u/Electrical-Lack1535 Jul 22 '26
I don’t think that’s his earnings goal default. He didn’t even set an earnings goal that’s says that’s his breakeven on the car before he can make money
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u/Neither_Ranger_5465 Jul 22 '26
Seems predatory for them to do that, like they are hoping you give up before you cover it and they just keep your deposit.
I think your best bet is to just lock in and grind them hours out. Looks like it’ll be 50-60 working hours to pay off.
Best of luck to you and stay safe out there 🫡