It’s been a while since we last did a sign up bonus update, but that’s because we like to provide you with accurate, up-to-date information – which is exactly what we have for you today! Curious what the sign up bonus for Lyft is in your city? We’ve got all the info here!
As always, I recommend drivers sign up for a couple services (Uber, DoorDash, and more here) since it only takes a few minutes plus can help you stay busy and profitable during your drive time. It all depends on the time: the midday hours (11 a.m.-2 p.m.) are usually pretty slow on Uber and Lyft, but for drivers on DoorDash, Postmates, et al., lunchtime can be a cash cow. If you’re looking to get the most out of ridesharing, adding services to your repertoire can help maximize profits and minimize downtime.
Ready to sign up with Lyft? Click here to use my affiliate link (that’s how you get your bonus!)
Here at The Rideshare Guy, I get a lot of questions about updated bonus amounts by city – but it can be very difficult to know exactly what the bonuses are by city, as bonuses change by month and even by season. So what’s the latest on Lyft’s new sign up bonuses?
Lyft’s New Driver Bonus Structure
Early last year, Lyft changed its sign up bonus structure so that new Lyft drivers can earn on a per-ride basis vs. an all-or-nothing structure. In other words, you’ll receive a few extra dollars for every ride you complete in your first month, up to a certain amount. This change means that new drivers will earn their bonuses incrementally, instead of in an all-or-nothing structure.
More importantly, let’s say you’re only able to accomplish 90% of your “required rides” bonus. Does this mean you get nothing? Not with Lyft! With Lyft, you’ll still be paid 90% of the bonus offered in your city. That way you still get something extra for all the work you put in.
From what we’ve seen, total new driver bonuses from Lyft have been holding fairly steady. The cap on the per-ride bonuses seem to match up with the old all-or-nothing bonus amounts, which is definitely a welcome sight – Lyft has been known to offer some of the best bonuses in the industry. Lyft is also a great platform to get started with ridesharing, and equally great for supplementing earnings from Uber.
Just keep in mind that Lyft still does not offer retroactive referrals. If you’re a brand new driver, you need to use an affiliate link in order to qualify for the bonus. You can use mine here!
Lyft Bonuses By City & Requirements
Below is a chart of Lyft bonuses by city (as of 4/10/18) plus the number of rides you’ll need to give as a new driver to get the full bonus amount – remember, you’ll still get a percentage of what you complete even if you don’t give 100% of the rides.
How to read the chart: search for your city, earn $X amount for giving X number of rides in X number of days.
| City | Give | Rides | Days |
| Baltimore | $375 | 210 | 30 |
| Chicago | $250 | 160 | 30 |
| Cleveland | $350 | 150 | 30 |
| Charlotte | $500 | 200 | 30 |
| Columbus | $350 | 150 | 30 |
| Arlington | $500 | 410 | 60 |
| Denver | $550 | 390 | 60 |
| Dallas | $350 | 195 | 30 |
| Detroit | $300 | 210 | 30 |
| Honolulu | $350 | 150 | 30 |
| Houston | $250 | 185 | 30 |
| Indianapolis | $500 | 200 | 30 |
| Las Vegas | $250 | 160 | 30 |
| Los Angeles | $525 | 370 | 60 |
| Orlando | $175 | 135 | 30 |
| Miami | $175 | 135 | 30 |
| Milwaukee | $175 | 100 | 30 |
| Minnesota | $275 | 200 | 30 |
| Kenner | $500 | 200 | 30 |
| New York City | $325 | 185 | 30 |
| Orange County | $275 | 185 | 30 |
| Portland | $225 | 185 | 30 |
| Philadelphia | $325 | 200 | 30 |
| Phoenix | $275 | 160 | 30 |
| Pittsburgh | $800 | 350 | 60 |
| Richmond | $600 | 240 | 30 |
| San Diego | $450 | 170 | 30 |
| San Antonio | $500 | 175 | 30 |
| San Bernadino | $350 | 150 | 30 |
| Seattle | $550 | 200 | 30 |
| San Francisco | $525 | 435 | 60 |
| San Jose | $550 | 200 | 30 |
| Salt Lake City | $100 | 100 | 30 |
| Sacramento | $400 | 310 | 60 |
| Tampa | $50 | 50 | 30 |
Delivery Options Abound
Delivering food is a great way to diversify your income – and get a break from making small talk with passengers. Now is a great time to get into the business: ordering in becomes an overwhelmingly popular option during the cold winter months, so you’ll be sure to stay busy. And although most delivery outfits’ sign-on bonuses pale in comparison to those available from Lyft or Uber, they can still put some extra cash in your wallet.
If you’ve driven for Uber before, you’ve likely been invited to participate in UberEATS – Uber’s food delivery service. If you’re an existing Uber driver, there’s no sign-up bonus for UberEATS, but you can still add it as an option to your profile.
If you’re brand new and looking to only do food delivery with Uber, you can get a sign up bonus for UberEATS using this link.
Another popular delivery company is DoorDash. With DoorDash, you’ll work in blocks – not on-demand like with Uber and Lyft. The good news is, you’re free to drop and reschedule blocks as needed. There are no sign-up bonuses for DoorDash using our link but you may be able to find one online – just make sure to verify the amount ahead of time with DoorDash.
Related: DoorDash Updates Its Pay Structure
Do you drive for delivery in addition to rideshare driving? Which one do you prefer – delivery or rideshare?
Make Every Mile Count
Did you know that every 1,000 business miles can generate $535 in tax deductions? Never miss another mile with the new QuickBooks Self-Employed automatic mileage tracker.-Harry @ RSG
