Many parents wish that ridesharing apps like Uber and Lyft would help them to ferry their children around town to soccer practices, art lessons, and more. It would save them hours spent sitting in traffic to get their kids to all of their activities or home from school on time. However, there currently is a lot of difficulty in pinning down a good system that would allow this sort of thing.
Do Uber drivers check the passenger’s ID?
If a driver suspects that a passenger is under the age of 18, they may request that the passenger present a driver’s license or alternative form of ID to prove that they are of age. This is to ensure the rules are being followed that kids need to be assisted by an adult.
Minors getting into taxis has always been debated, as there are always dangers for children or teens to go somewhere, they shouldn’t or to be lost or stranded without their parents around.
We’ve collected a lot of information on the protocols of this subject and have listed them here for you below!
Table of Contents
When Are Uber/Lyft Drivers Required to Check Passenger ID?
All riders who use the popular ridesharing platforms like Uber and Lyft must be legal adults. In order to begin a ride or even request one through the app, they must be at least eighteen years of age. This is an important rule for the safety of the passengers, and drivers are expected to do their part to uphold this rule.
If a driver suspects that a rider is underage, they should first request to see some identification in the form of a driver’s license or another state-issued form of identification.
Check carefully to ensure that the passenger is eighteen years old, at a minimum.
Sometimes, drivers will find that their rider is indeed underage.
- Whenever this is the case, drivers should apologize and refuse to begin the ride.
- You should never allow someone underage to become a passenger in your vehicle unless they are accompanied by someone over the age of eighteen.
It can be a bit tricky to determine whether a passenger is going to be underage before arriving at the pickup location. Riders are not required to enter their birthdates into the platform when creating an account, even though the full terms of service do state that you must be eighteen years of age.
Very few people take the time to read this all the way through.
Another reason that it is hard to tell whether your passenger is going to be a minor is due to family share plans. In this type of plan, payment information and history are shared among multiple people, and rides can be dispatched for multiple members of the family. For example, parents may hail rides for their children.
Many parents use these ridesharing apps to get their children where they need to be. Unfortunately, they do not realize that minors cannot take these rides on their own. Older teens may appear to be over the age of eighteen and may not be asked for their ID by some drivers, but younger children will be denied rides based on their age.
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How Old Do You Have to be to Use Uber/Lyft?
To use the popular Uber and Lyft rides, you must be at least eighteen years of age.
Younger children and teenagers may join adults in a vehicle on the ridesharing apps, but they cannot take a solo trip.
If you make an account with either of these programs, you will find that you must be eighteen years old, as specified in their terms of service.
Do Uber/Lyft Drivers Care Whether You’re Over 18?
The rule for both Uber and Lyft is that you cannot ride alone in the car unless you are over the age of eighteen. There are many reasons for this rule, but the primary one is to ensure the safety of minors. Unfortunately, it is a little hazy who exactly is responsible for enforcing this minimum age policy.
When you create an account for both Uber and Lyft, you are asked to create a ride profile that includes your name, email address, phone number, and a unique password. The most obvious criterion appears to be missing: your birthdate. Many teenagers create profiles for Uber and Lyft rides without reading the full fine print, which states that you must be at least eighteen years old to make an account.
It is completely up to the driver to determine whether a rider looks like they are over the age of eighteen.
A teen who looks a few years older may get away with taking a trip across town with one driver while another driver requests to see identification.
Drivers should care whether passengers are over the required age because they can be banned from the apps. For drivers who are desperate to make some extra money using these side hustles, they must enforce the underage policy to ensure that they can continue driving for Uber and Lyft.
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Can You Drive for Uber/Lyft with Someone Else’s Phone or Account?
Some people find that they need a few quick dollars to help cover an unexpected expense. They do not have the time required to go through the full screening process to become approved as a Lyft or Uber driver. Is it possible for them to drive for a couple of nights using someone else’s phone number or account?
The short answer is no, but there are several factors why this is a bad idea.
- First, the driver’s photo is displayed through the app. This gives passengers a heads-up of who to look for when they are searching for their vehicle. They are bound to notice that you are not the driver who is pictured when their ride is scheduled.
- Second, your presentation and the experience that riders have with you play a huge role in the rating that drivers receive. The person whose account you are using may receive poor scores as a result of your driving, personality, or other factors. It could potentially ruin their driving record.
More than that, you may not be protected if there were any major problems such as a car accident.
Passengers can potentially sue you for injuries, and even the ridesharing platforms could press charges for fraud. The legal ramifications of borrowing someone else’s phone number or account can reach far and wide.
Not to mention, the damages of any car accident in someone else’s vehicle may not be covered. You would then be responsible for the legal trouble as well as the repair cost to your friend’s car. Driving someone else’s vehicle under their Uber or Lyft account is never a good idea financially.
Can Rideshare Drivers Refuse Trips Based on ID Checks?
Rideshare drivers have the right to refuse trips based on ID checks. Both Uber and Lyft have a policy in place that denies rides to minors who are not accompanied by a guardian. If the passenger is not of age to ride in the car on their own, a driver can refuse to begin the trip.
Not all rideshare drivers are diligent about checking identification for their passengers.
Some choose to turn a blind eye to minors while others may genuinely be surprised to find that they are transporting a sixteen or seventeen-year-old.
The line regarding who should be carded upon entering the vehicle is a little blurry. If a driver does check the ID and find that the passenger is a minor, they can refuse the trip. More than that, the driver can report the minor to the app and have their account suspended so that they cannot try their luck with another driver.
What Happens if Uber/Lyft Drivers Drive Minors?
The policy for both Uber and Lyft is that minors must be accompanied by a guardian over the age of eighteen. Drivers are expected to enforce this policy on each one of their rides. It is completely up to their discretion who they choose to card. If they suspect that a passenger may be underage, they must check identification before beginning the trip.
If a driver is reported to be giving rides to minors, he or she could be at risk of losing access to the apps altogether.
- Drivers who depend on Uber and Lyft to help make ends meet should carefully consider whether it is in their best interest to request ID when ferrying around young adults.
- Losing access to the app could mean losing an important income stream.
Of course, drivers are not the only ones that are suspended from the platform. Minors who attempt to schedule rides on their own also face account suspension when drivers report them.
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Final Thoughts
Getting from point A to point B is relatively easy if you’re over the age of eighteen. These ridesharing apps have a lot to offer adults who want to traipse across the city. However, there are not many options for those who are under the age of eighteen.
Responsible drivers should do their part to keep kids safe by always checking the ID when someone appears to be close to the age of eighteen. While it may be inconvenient or even awkward, it is always best to be safe rather than sorry.
The safety of the child in your vehicle could rest in your hands.