Want to know what rideshare drivers have to say about all the latest news? Check out our new weekly newsletter on LinkedIn, Rideshare Drivers React, where we cover the latest news and your top commentary. Visit the first installment of Rideshare Drivers React on LinkedIn here.

Recently, RSG readers in Florida reached out to us about new driver requirements from Lyft. Senior RSG contributor Jay Cradeur breaks down what these new requirements are, if they’re here to stay and if they’ll roll out nationwide below. 

We have been hearing some unusual news from the state of Florida.  Lyft in Florida is requiring that all drivers submitting vehicles for approval after July 15, 2019, must have cars which are the year 2017 or newer.

If you submitted your car for approval prior to July 15, then the old requirements remain intact.  In other words, if you drive an older vehicle that was approved before July 15, you won’t have to swap out your car for a new one.  But when you do submit another vehicle, it will have to be a 2017 or newer.

This article will provide documentation for this new policy and provide some rationale for Lyft’s sudden change in policy, currently only in effect in Florida.

Need a car to drive with Uber? Try FAIR

CA drivers: Fair is the official vehicle partner for Uber and is a great option for drivers in need of an eligible rideshare vehicle. Click here to sign-up! Not a California driver? Fair has options nationwide, and you can sign up here and get $100 off the start-up fee when you use the code 'RSG100'.

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One of the potentially most time-consuming aspects of becoming an Uber driver is the vehicle inspection. You have to get the correct forms and information, take your car to be inspected, upload your documents and… wait. It can trip new Uber drivers up, so we had RSG contributor Chonce Maddox Rhea outline everything you need to know about your Uber vehicle inspection.

Uber vehicle inspection is mandatory and it’s even common that current Uber drivers will be asked to get an updated inspection each year.

I’ll show you where to get your inspection, including free options.

• If you’re not yet signed-up as an Uber driver, click here to get your new driver bonus.
• Not sure your vehicle will pass and want a hassle-free rental option that includes maintenance and unlimited mileage, check out Fair.
• Need repairs before driving for Uber, we recommend Rideshare Mechanic.

Uber vehicle inspection information

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It seems pretty obvious: without a car, you can’t be a rideshare driver. But how, when, and what type of car to get for rideshare driving is more complicated, involving money and time. Sounds like you need a car buying guide for Uber/Lyft drivers! In this Throwback Tuesday Classic, senior RSG contributor Jay Cradeur walks us through the steps of what you need to know when you’re considering buying a car for rideshare.

The single most important tool every rideshare driver must work hard to maintain and improve is his or her mind.  The more you know, the more you will maximize your revenue.  And the better you are at reading your passengers, listening and talking when appropriate, the more “stars and tips” you will receive.

But the second most important tool is your car.  You will spend hours and hours driving in your car. How you obtain your car is important as well, lease versus purchase.  After renting a car with Fair for a couple months, I recently decided to purchase a car and ran into many opportunities and many roadblocks.   This article will share the several potholes you can avoid if you decide you want to make a car purchase.

Looking for a car and don’t want to buy your own? Check out our Vehicle Marketplace.

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A lot of RSG readers have questions about insurance deductibles, including what are they? How much do I have to pay? When do I pay it? Insurance is never clear, so RSG contributor Gabe Ets-Hokin wades into the swamp to try and pull out some answers.

CRUNCH!

It’s a sickening sound, and if you haven’t heard it already, you’re going to hear it someday. It’s the sound of your car physically interacting with something in a dramatically personal and destructive manner. The odds of you making it through your entire rideshare-driving career without hearing it are slender.

Luckily, you’ve got insurance specifically designed for rideshare drivers (you do have insurance specifically designed for rideshare drivers, right? If not, get it now) and it covers you in instances such as this.

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