Written by Background Check Repair
Background Checks | October 6, 2023
Table of Contents
In the past few years, rideshare and delivery companies such as Lyft or Uber, have seen an increase in personnel inquiries and consequently, the questions about what’s involved in a Lyft background check have increased.
Since the company is continually updating safety requirements for both drivers and users, there are a few things to know before you apply. One of those things is the 100% rule.
Unlike other jobs were a background check is good for five years or more, the 100 percent rule, as it applies to a Lyft background check, refers to the fact that the screening process NEVER STOPS for a Lyft driver.
That’s right…
But, to ensure that you’ll pass the check with flying colors, find out what shows up on a background check by running your own and requesting a copy of your own MVR report.
And, before applying to become a lyft driver, you should know the following facts.
Lyft has approximately two million drivers in the United States and Canada and around twenty million riders. Because ridesharing has become such an indispensable service, it is more important than ever for rideshare companies to do their job in ensuring the quality of their drivers and safety of their customers.
So what is Lyft’s 100% rule??? Aside from the extensive background checks conducted for employment purposes (discussed in depth elsewhere in this article), Lyft has also undertaken the mission of running continuous screening (a.k.a. background monitoring) of drivers on the platform.15
Continuous criminal record screening was rolled out in April 2019, and continuous driving record screening was implemented in December of that same year as part of Lyft’s commitment to increase the safety and security of their services.13,14 Now, the company can receive near-instant notifications if a driver is convicted of a disqualifying offense or a traffic violation that may pose a danger to riders.11
Hence, since the close of 2019, 100% of Lyft’s drivers are monitored 100% of the time.
Yet, while continuous background monitoring offers a look at an individual’s most current driving and criminal behavior, it does not provide the in-depth look at the individual’s past criminal and driving history that a comprehensive background check can.
This is where the Lyft background check comes in. As part of the application process to drive for Lyft, all prospective drivers must undergo thorough criminal background checks and DMV checks.15
Lyft works in concert with third-party background check company, Checkr, to conduct all prospective and current employee background checks.1,15 Lyft contracts with the third-party company Safety Holdings, Inc. for DMV checks (MVR reports).
The background check conducted by Checkr is a comprehensive, social security number (SSN) based check of:1,11
Anyone wondering what shows up on a social security background check should know that at minimum, the last seven years of an individual’s criminal history are examined for potentially disqualifying offenses.23
To be eligible to drive with Lyft, an individual must meet a minimum age requirement ranging from 21 to 25 years old with few exceptions (state/city/region dependent).18 Additionally, at least nine states, including California, Hawaii, and Washington require one year of licensed driving experience to be employed by Lyft.
If an individual meets these basic eligibility requirements, they are likely to reach the Lyft background check stage of the application process. For the background check to be conducted, an individual must provide authorized consent for the screening and a valid social security number.
Checkr should return background checks within ten days or so, and eligible individuals can begin driving. According to Lyft’s help site, ineligible individuals may be disqualified for any of the following reasons:1,15
Lyft background checks typically take between three and ten days to complete, but this period may be lengthier due to several factors:11
If a background check takes longer than two to three weeks, log in to the associated Lyft account and reach out to Lyft support for guidance.16
The third-party company, Checkr, Inc. conducts Lyft background checks.15 Checkr has an online candidate portal that allows individuals to check the status of their background checks as they wait.5 Candidates can use Checkr’s online contact system to address concerns or issues with the background check.2
Continue reading to learn about the various status conditions in the Checkr background check process.
One of the most common status codes individuals inquire about is ‘background check pending.’ The term ‘pending’ implies that the screening is still in progress. According to Checker’s help site, the two most common reasons why a background check may be prolonged or delayed are:6
After ascertaining that all necessary candidate information has been submitted, an individual may wonder why their Lyft background check is still pending. When background checks are still pending after one to two weeks and the candidate has insured that driver and vehicle requirements are satisfied, there are still a few explanations:7,22
When all relevant background information has been collected and aggregated, Checkr posts the completed report to the Checkr Dashboard where it can be reviewed by the employer or customer. If any of the domains are flagged for review by the employer, the background check is sent to the hiring team for further evaluation.3
‘Consider’ is Checkr’s official status to denote that a background report is being reviewed by the hiring team. It indicates that the completed report has some flagged information that the employer needs to look at and evaluate before making a decision.
A background check may be flagged for inconsistent or inaccurate employment and education information, significant criminal findings, or MVR report findings. Per the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC),27 the hiring team should access a ‘Consider’ report and assess each finding’s relevance to the job in question before determining whether to pass a candidate or initiate adverse action.4,6
Sometimes, an individual’s background check may be denied or declined. Some reasons why this may occur include:24
When any of these is the case, an employer must notify the candidate that adverse action is being initiated. The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA)26 mandates that employers provide candidates with a copy of the background check report, including disqualifying information, thus allowing the candidate to check the accuracy of the information and decide whether to dispute or accept the determination.
| Lyft Background Check Common Issue | What It Means |
| Lyft Background Check Requirements | Drivers must have a minimum age from 21 to 25 years, depending on their region. To perform a background check, the candidate must provide signed authorization and their SSN. |
| Lyft Background Check Time | Lyft background checks usually take between two and ten days but may take several weeks to complete. |
| Lyft Background Check Status | Background check status is the term which indicates the progress of the background check. There are several statuses which are associated with various stages of the process (see below). |
| Lyft Background Check Pending | A pending status can mean that information is still being collected or more documentation is needed from the candidate. |
| Lyft Background Check Still Pending | If a background check is still pending after several weeks, it may indicate that further documentation is required, that the courts are delayed in returning information, or that the candidate has resided in multiple residences. |
| Lyft Background Check Under Review | This status indicates that the background investigation is complete, and the report has found information that requires the employer’s review. |
| Lyft Background Check Consider | This status is the official review status and may indicate the final level of review of adverse information by a hiring manager. |
| Lyft Background Check Denied | An individual’s background check may be denied (a.k.a. rejected, ineligible) if disqualifying offenses are identified during the investigation. |
Most standard background checks take anywhere from two to five days to completion, but Lyft background checks reportedly require two to ten days to finalize. Some individuals report wait times of up to two months.9,11
There are several factors that can contribute to longer wait times for a Lyft background check. These include, but are not limited to:11
If a background check takes longer than two weeks to process, the candidate should contact the company for more information.
Lyft has upped their security standards in recent years, seeking to keep the most updated information on their drivers. Aside from the comprehensive pre-employment background check conducted for hiring purposes, Lyft conducts follow-up background checks at least yearly and sometimes more often.12,17 Furthermore, since 2019, Lyft has partnered with various companies to run continuous background monitoring on its drivers.9
Lyft conducts repeat background checks to ensure the safety of their customer base, their reputation, and the driving community.11
It is possible to appeal a lyft background check. Per FCRA26 mandates, applicants must receive copies of any background reports resulting in adverse action. They can address any perceived errors in their reports by contacting Checkr directly through the candidate portal.5,15
If the report appears accurate, but the individual wishes to dispute the final decision, they can follow Lyft’s instructions for initiating an appeal.11 Log in to the user account and contact Lyft support for guidance.16
Driver’s for Lyft are required to pass a pre-employment background check before hire. Repeat background checks occur periodically after hiring. The timeline is not exact, but individuals can expect to undergo a thorough background check at least once annually.12 Individuals will be notified of the need for an updated background check through their Lyft app. Driving may be suspended temporarily until the background check is completed.10
A Lyft background check is actually very similar to an Uber background check, as both companies have contracts with the third-party background check service Checkr, Inc., and both companies now conduct continuous monitoring of criminal and driving records.15 Since Uber and Lyft are both ridesharing companies with similar expectations for employee integrity, they also have similar disqualifying offenses (e.g. violent crimes, sex crimes, poor driving record, etc.).11
Some sources indicate that, compared to Uber, Lyft provides more regular communications and updates to drivers during the application and screening processes.12
Driving for rideshare companies such as Lyft and Uber has become a way for people to make money on the side of their usual ventures. It’s more important than ever that companies such as Lyft take proper measures to ensure the quality and integrity of their drivers. This is why Lyft’s 100% rule and the Lyft background check are crucial tools in this expanding industry.
Lyft uses a third-party background check company, Checkr, Inc. to conduct all pre-employment background checks for the company. Checkr is a secure, trusted and verified service used by many well-known companies.
Per local mandates, all Lyft background checks for drivers in New York City must be conducted by the Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC)25
A Lyft background check typically takes between two and ten days to complete, though it may occasionally take longer depending on the records (and states) that need to be searched.
Some individuals have reported waiting over a month for Checkr to return results for their background checks. If a background check takes longer than two weeks, contact Lyft and Checkr for more information. Remember that background check status can be checked through the Checkr Candidate Portal, as well.
There are various reasons why Lyft may deny an individual’s application, and these are the most common:
If a candidate was denied employment because of a background check, it may be because of inaccurate or unverifiable information in the application, disqualifying criminal offenses, or a poor driving record.
Aside from the regular comprehensive background checks conducted by Lyft, the company also conducts continuous background monitoring of criminal and driving records. Individuals are sometimes notified of this via the Lyft app with a notification ‘Background Monitoring Required.’ Sometimes, some quick action is required on the driver’s part to initialize the monitoring process.
Lyft automatically conducts automatic and continuous criminal and driving background monitoring on all its drivers. This monitoring cannot be deactivated and is necessary to drive with Lyft. Drivers receive a notice in the app to activate background monitoring.8
Lyft also has a function for riders called ’Background location sharing’ which allows Lyft to monitor your location when the Lyft app is open. This function can be disabled by following these steps.
Toggle ‘Background location sharing’ to OFF.
Many aspiring Lyft drivers have reported waiting multiple months for the background check to clear.19 Even with the most comprehensive background check, this length of time is unusual and should be addressed directly. Contact Lyft’s support team to ensure that all necessary information has been submitted or log in to Checkr’s Candidate Portal for status updates.
Many states, cities, or regions have their own requirements for rideshare drivers, and background check requirements may also differ. Drivers might undergo another background check after relocating to ensure they are in compliance with local laws.
Although Lyft and Uber use the same third-party background screening service, Checkr, Inc. to conduct their background checks, each company has its own team of individuals who review the completed reports and make the final determination on hiring. So while the reports will be the same for both companies, the persons reviewing said reports are not. The reason why an individual can be hired for one company and not the other may be as simple as the hiring manager’s discretion.
Most background checks go back seven years, depending on the state, and the same is true for Lyft background checks for drivers.
1Bestreferral Team. (2022, June 24). Lyft Background Check – What is This Step of the Application and How to Pass the Screenings. Best Referral Team. Retrieved June 28, 2022, from <https://bestreferraldriver.com/lyft-background-check.html>
2Checkr, Inc. (2022). Contact Us. Checkr. Retrieved June 28, 2022, from <https://checkr.com/contact>
3Checkr, Inc. (2022). How Do Background Checks Work? Checkr. Retrieved June 28, 2022, from <https://help.checkr.com/hc/en-us/articles/216102167-How-do-background-checks-work->
4Checkr, Inc. (2022). Review a Completed Report. Checkr. Retrieved June 28, 2022, from <https://help.checkr.com/hc/en-us/articles/216553188-Review-a-completed-Report>
5Checkr, Inc. (2022). Welcome to the Candidate Portal. Checkr Candidate Portal. Retrieved June 28, 2022, from <https://candidate.checkr.com/view#login>
6Checkr, Inc. (2022). What Does the Status of a Report Indicate? Checkr. Retrieved June 28, 2022, from <https://help.checkr.com/hc/en-us/articles/216553468-What-does-the-status-of-a-report-indicate->
7Checkr, Inc. (2022). Why is My Background Check Still Pending? Checkr. Retrieved June 28, 2022, from <https://help.checkr.com/hc/en-us/articles/360036779733-Why-is-my-background-check-still-pending->
8Consumer Attorneys. (2021, July 26). What Does Lyft Look For in a Background Check? Consumer Attorneys. Retrieved June 28, 2022, from <https://consumerattorneys.com/article/what-does-lyft-look-for-in-a-background-check>
9Dough. (2022, April 19). Will You Pass the Lyft Background Check & Driving Record Check? Ridesharing Driver. Retrieved June 28, 2022, from <https://www.ridesharingdriver.com/heres-what-lyft-looks-at-in-your-background-check-driving-record-check/>
10Gridwise. (2020, June 24). Things to Know About the Lyft Background Check. Gridwise. Retrieved June 28, 2022, from <https://gridwise.io/blog/rideshare/things-to-know-about-the-lyft-background-check/>
11Helling, B. (2022, February 22). Lyft Background Check: Will You Pass? Disqualifying Factors You Should Know. ridester. Retrieved June 27, 2022, from <https://www.ridester.com/lyft-background-check/>
12HyreCar. (2020, February 15). Lyft Background Checks: Everything You Need to Know. HyreCar. Retrieved June 18, 2022, from <https://www.hyrecar.com/blog/lyft-background-checks/>
13Lyft, Inc. (2019, April 15). Lyft’s Commitment to Safety. Lyft. Retrieved June 28, 2022, from <https://www.lyft.com/blog/posts/lyfts-commitment-to-safety>
14Lyft, Inc. (2019, December 16). Lyft Now Conducts Nationwide Continuous Driving Record Screening. Lyft Blog. Retrieved June 27, 2022, from <https://www.lyft.com/blog/posts/continuous-driving-checks>
15Lyft, Inc. (2022). Driver Requirements. Lyft. Retrieved June 27, 2022, from <https://help.lyft.com/hc/en-us/driver/articles/115012925687-Driver-requirements>
16Lyft, Inc. (2022). Log In to Contact Us. Lyft. Retrieved June 28, 2022, from <https://help.lyft.com/hc/ru/all/requests/loginprompt?ticket_form_id=724707>
17Lyft, Inc. (2022). Safety First. Safety. Retrieved June 27, 2022, from <https://www.lyft.com/safety>
18Lyft, Inc. (2022). State and City Requirements. Lyft. Retrieved June 28, 2022, from <https://help.lyft.com/hc/en-us/all/sections/115003494688>
19Reddit. (2017). Lyft Background Check Taking Forever. Will I Get Promotion? Reddit. Retrieved June 28, 2022, from <https://www.reddit.com/r/Lyft/comments/67sj6z/lyft_background_check_taking_forever_will_i_get/>
20Reddit. (2019). Just Moved Cities, Background Check Questions. Reddit. Retrieved June 28, 2022, from <https://www.reddit.com/r/Lyft/comments/csvcj3/just_moved_cities_background_check_questions/>
21Reddit. (2021). Background Check. Reddit. Retrieved June 28, 2022, from <https://www.reddit.com/r/Lyft/comments/qib5f0/background_check/>
22Rideshare Central. (2017, November 4). What Does it Mean if Your Uber or Lyft Application Stalls? Rideshare Central. Retrieved June 28, 2022, from <https://ridesharecentral.com/lyft-uber-application-pending>
23Rideshare Promo Codes. (2020). Lyft Background Check | How it Works & What to Expect. Rideshare Promo Codes. Retrieved June 28, 2022, from <https://ridesharepromocode.com/lyft-background-check.html>
24Smith Marco, P.C. (2018). Denied a Rideshare Job Because of a Background Report. Smith Marco, P.C. Attorneys at Law. Retrieved June 28, 2022, from <https://protectingconsumerrights.com/employment-background-report-errors/denied-a-rideshare-job-because-of-a-background-report/>
25NYC. (2022). TLC Data Hub. NYC Taxi & Limousine Commission. Retrieved July 2, 2022, from <https://www1.nyc.gov/site/tlc/index.page>
26United States Government. (2022). Fair Credit Reporting Act. Federal Trade Commission. Retrieved July 2, 2022, from <https://www.ftc.gov/legal-library/browse/statutes/fair-credit-reporting-act>
27United States Government. (2022). Home. U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Retrieved July 2, 2022, from <https://www.eeoc.gov/>
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