Rejected! What to Do if You are Rejected from Uber or Lyft

Most people are fairly confident that they can work for Uber or Lyft when they apply, but the truth is, there are a number of reasons your application might be declined. Applying for Uber and Lyft is quite easy, but getting accepted isn't always simple. Oftentimes, it takes weeks to get an answer on your application, and it is disheartening when you have waited all of that time only to find out that your application was rejected. Fortunately, there is good news. It is possible to reapply to both Uber and Lyft, but you must go about it in the right way. For instance, you have to wait several months before you try again. Here are some things you should know if you are rejected from Uber or Lyft after applying:

How Do You Know if You Were Rejected by Lyft or Uber?

Both Uber and Lyft are quite vague about how long it takes to find out if an application is accepted or rejected. Uber says it takes up to 10 days, and Lyft says it can take several weeks. Even after that time, you might not even realize that your application has been accepted or rejected. Uber is typically good about reaching out to accepted drivers with a text and/or email. These congratulate new drivers and welcome them to Uber. However, if you are rejected from Uber, people don't often realize. So, if you apply to Uber and you don't hear from them after 10 business days, it's a good idea to send the company an email. With Uber, you can also sign in and look at your profile to see your status. If your status is listed as “Active,” it means you are accepted and able to start rides. If it says “Onboarding,” it means your application documents are being reviewed. You might also see “Waitlisted.” This likely means that there is an issue with your documents. Finally, if you see “Consider,” it means that the company has to look at your application more closely. It's likely that there is a potential issue with the application. Lyft is usually better at informing applicants of their status. Like Uber, Lyft sends a text or email about your application. If a person is not accepted, they receive a message from Lyft informing them of the company's decision.

Why Do Ridesharing Services Reject Applicants?

Unfortunately, Uber and Lyft do not specifically tell applicants why they were rejected. You might get a vague reason, but not the exact reason. For instance, Lyft does not tell you that you failed the session with a mentor. However, there are a few common reasons that most people get rejected. They are:

Issues with Your Background Check

Lyft and Uber can reject an applicant for almost anything, even if it was many years in the past. For instance, if you have a charge for underage consumption from college that happened 10 or 15 years ago, it's still possible that you could be rejected for either company.

Issues with Your Driving Record

Both companies might also reject an applicant if there are issues with their driving record. For instance, if you have a charge of driving without insurance or a suspended license at any point, it's likely that your application will be rejected. Though both companies have a policy about minor violations, those, too, could be a recipe for rejection.

The Lyft Mentor Session

Finally, and this is only with Lyft, you might be rejected during the Lyft Mentor Session. The mentors ultimately make the final decision after this session. If the mentor didn't like you for some reason, or there was an issue with your vehicle that they noticed during the session, this could cause a rejection of the application.

Can You Be Accepted by One and not the Other? Yes!

It might sound strange, but it is possible to get accepted to one rideshare company and not the other. If you get hired at one, you might believe that you can be hired by both, but that's just not the case. Remember, the final hiring decision is done by a human. So, you might find some variation. Another thing that might affect a person getting accepted by one company and not the other is the specific market. For instance, Uber is operating in more cities than Lyft, but Lyft is expanding. So, if you live in one of those markets, you might get accepted to Lyft, since it needs more drivers, but declined by Uber, because it doesn't require as many drivers. Reapplying to Uber and Lyft Both Uber and Lyft allow rejected applicants to reapply. However, they don't make it easy. In fact, the companies don't seem to have a set policy on this. Instead, people report that it is a case-by-case basis, or that a specific period of time has to pass before applying again. In either case, you must wait a few months, from two to six, depending on the company. Though neither Uber nor Lyft give specific instructions on how to apply again after rejection, but it is possible. However, don't try to do it via the website or app. Instead, you have to contact support for each company and ask them what the next step is. Email consistently until you get a response. Now the bad news: even though it is possible to apply after a rejection and work with both Uber and Lyft, the chances aren't great that you will get accepted. This is especially the case if the reason for rejection is due to your criminal or driving background. Here's the bright spot, though: with Lyft, if you were rejected due to the Mentor Session, it's possible, of course, that someone else would give you a pass. Keep your driving record clear, and within three to six months, contact Lyft again. What should you do if you reapply to both companies and still can't get in? You have to think of other jobs to do. For instance, you can use your car for on-demand delivery services like DoorDash and Postmates. These have easier requirements than Uber or Lyft. Also, Amazon has a service called Amazon Flex, which you can use to deliver packages.