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What Are the Uber Car Requirements in Florida?

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Uber is a popular option for people who want to make extra money on their terms. However, if you are considering becoming an Uber driver in Florida for the first time, having a car that meets the requirements is essential. Otherwise, you will not qualify to use the platform to find passengers.

What Are the Uber Car Requirements in Florida?

In most cases, people who are getting ready to start with Uber will be joining the UberX program. This is the basic Uber service.

Florida drivers interested in driving for UberX need a qualifying vehicle. Here are the Uber car requirements in Florida:

  • 15-year-old vehicle or newer
  • At least four independently opening doors (not including hatchback doors or trunks)
  • Seating for at least four passengers (5 total factory-installed seats with seat belts)
  • Working windows
  • Working air conditioning
  • Good condition with no cosmetic damage
  • No commercial branding

All cities in Florida follow these requirements, including:

  • Central Atlantic Coast Cities
  • Florida Keys
  • Gainesville
  • Jacksonville
  • Miami & South Florida
  • Orlando
  • Panama City
  • Pensacola
  • Tampa Bay
  • Tallahassee

Plus, your vehicle must continue to meet those standards if you are going to drive for Uber, including the age requirements. This means, if you have a 2004 vehicle, you could potentially use it to drive for Uber in Florida during 2019. However, in 2020, your car might not qualify any more, so you would become ineligible unless you replaced your vehicle with something newer that also meets the other requirements.

What Are the Uber Driver Requirements in Florida?

If you want to drive for Uber in Florida, you need more than just a suitable vehicle. You will also need to meet a few other standards.

First, you will need a valid US driver’s license. It has to be a full-fledged license and not a learner’s permit or something similar.

Second, you have to be the minimum age to drive in your city unrestricted and have at least one year of driving experience if you are 23 or older. Drivers under the age of 23 need at least three years of driving experience.

Third, you need to be able to provide specific documentation. This includes your driver’s license, proof of residency, proof of insurance for your vehicle, and a driver photo.

Finally, all drivers need to pass a screening process. Uber will run your driving record and check your criminal history. You can be disqualified if your background check reveals issues that do not align with Uber’s standards.

On the driving record sign, this usually means you cannot have any major moving violations, like reckless driving or a DUI, within the past seven years. Additionally, you may be limited to only three minor moving violations during the past three years. This usually includes offenses like speeding or failure to obey certain traffic laws. Having recent accidents also hurts your chances of becoming approved as an Uber driver.

For the criminal history, anyone one with a felony, sexual offense, or violent crime in the last seven years is not eligible to drive for Uber. Individuals who are required to register as a sexual offender are also disqualified automatically.

Other Requirements to Drive for Uber

Yes, one of the biggest additional requirements is having a smartphone that can run the Uber app. Without that, you cannot connect to the system to find riders.

Additionally, if you want to drive for specific Uber services, like UberXL, UberSELECT, UberBLACK, UberSUV, or UberLUX, then your vehicle needs to meet the standards for those options as well.

Here is an overview of the additional vehicle requirements for Uber services aside from the basic UberX:

  • UberXL – vehicle must be able to carry at least 6 passengers
  • UberSELECT – vehicle must be an entry-level luxury sedan and have a leather or synthetic leather interior
  • UberBLACK – vehicle must be a higher end sedan and have a black leather or synthetic leather interior and black exterior. The driver must maintain commercial insurance
  • UberSUV – vehicle must be a full-size SUV with black exterior and black leather or synthetic leather interior and seating for at least six passengers
  • UberLUX – must be a high-quality luxury brand vehicle with a leather or synthetic leather interior. The driver must maintain commercial insurance and have a rating of 4.7 or higher.

Model year, condition, and other requirements for the Uber services above may also be more stringent than for the regular UberX service, so it is important to keep that in mind if you are hoping to join those programs.

Uber will inspect the details of your vehicle to determine which (if any) programs you are eligible to join. Then, once you are approved for at least the basic UberX option, you can start earning money as an Uber driver.

Do you drive for Uber in Florida? Tell us about your experience in the comments below.

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Is the Post Office Open on Presidents’ Day 2019?

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is the post office open on presidents day
Presidents’ Day (officially known as Washington’s Birthday from the congressional act which created it as a federal holiday) is the third federal holiday of 2019 and celebrated on the third Monday each February. In 2019, the holiday lands on February 18. Since it’s a federal holiday, a question some people have is, “Is the post office open on Presidents’ Day?”

Like many other federal holidays, there can be confusion about what is and isn’t open. This is because in the U.S., these holidays aren’t national holidays. Federal holidays only apply to federal workers, and not all workers in the U.S. get the day off. However, the United States Postal Service (USPS) is part of the federal government, and it observes Presidents’ Day as part of their holiday schedule.

Is the post office open on Presidents’ Day?

No, the post office is closed on Presidents’ Day. The USPS observes Presidents’ Day and all post offices across the country will be closed on February 16. Mail service won’t be active and no letters or packages will be delivered to your home or business through the standard mail.

Is the post office open on Valentine’s Day?

Yes, the post office is open on Valentine’s Day. Each year, Valentine’s Day lands near or on Presidents’ Day weekend. Since a lot of people want their Valentine gifts to arrive on that day, they worry if the postal service will be open and delivering mail. Mail will be delivered as it would be on any other Friday or Saturday, as long as your local post office has regular Saturday hours.

Is the Post Office Open on the Sunday of Presidents’ Day Weekend?

No, the post office is closed on Presidents’ Day weekend Sunday. The post office is typically closed on Sundays, and over Presidents’ Day weekend is no exception. There will also be no standard mail delivery on February 15.

While the USPS will be closed February 15 and 16 over the Presidents’ Day weekend, it still may be possible for you to take advantage of basic postal services. More and more post offices have installed postal machines which allow you to weigh packages, letters, and other mail, and get the appropriate postage for them. The services available during closed hours will depend on your local post office branch, but it makes sense to check and see since this knowledge can prove helpful on days the post office is closed.

Those who need to send a letter or package on Saturday or Sunday and don’t have access to a self-serve postal machine, FedEx or UPS may be an option.

Is Federal Express (FedEx) open on Presidents’ Day?

Yes, FedEx is open on Presidents’ Day. FedEx doesn’t observe Presidents’ Day. They operate on February 18 as they would on any typical Monday, with all pickup and delivery services available on that day. FedEx offices will be open as well.

Is United Parcel Service (UPS) open on Presidents’ Day?

Yes, UPS is open on Presidents’ Day. While UPS does recognize Presidents’ Day, it doesn’t observe it. The company will run under its normal Monday schedule on February 18, and will deliver and pick up packages as usual. UPS stores will be open for business.

(Photo courtesy of UCFFool)

102 Ways to Make Some Extra Cash

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ways to make some extra cash

People often ask me if I know of any ways to make some extra cash. And, although there are tons of ways you can make more money, some of them might take a little longer than others. If you need some ideas for generating some extra money right now, here are 102 quick ideas – particularly if you pick more than one from the list. Below is my list of (relatively) fast and easy ways to come up with a little extra cash in your pocket.

1. Sell your old gold.

2. Collect aluminum and other metals and sell them to a metal recycler. A metal detector makes this easier if you have one. You can also collect cans from your employer if they don’t already have a recycler.

3. Consider driving for Uber or delivering food with UberEats.

4. Do what you do for a full-time job on a freelance basis.

5. Clean out the house and cars and put all the money you find aside. It might surprise you how much small change is lying in the back of drawers, in ashtrays, and between seat cushions.

6. Walk dogs or petsit.

7. Babysit

8. Have a yard sale or open a booth at the flea market.

9. Sell your junk on eBay, Craigslist, Amazon or any of the other good used marketplace websites.

10. Make crafts and sell them on Etsy or at local craft shows.

11. Clip coupons out of the paper and sell them on eBay (yes, people do this).

12. Take online surveys or join rewards programs.

13. If you must spend money, use a rewards credit card that pays cash back and cash out as soon as you’re eligible to do so.

14. Return items you bought but haven’t used for a refund.

15. Pawn something.

16. Rake leaves/shovel snow/cut grass/clean gutters for others.

17. Rent out a room in your house.

18. Start a blog and put ads on it using Google’s AdSense.

19. Become a freelance writer.

20. Become a temporary worker.

21. Become a medical guinea pig or sign up for clinical trials of drugs.

22. Donate plasma.

23. Sell your hair to a wig maker.

24. Sell your eggs to a fertility specialist.

25. Donate sperm at a sperm bank.

26. Start vegetable plants and sell the starter plants for a fraction of what nurseries charge.

27. Drop services you don’t need like cell service, cable, lawn/pool service, or Internet and free upwards of $100/month.

28. Conserve energy and water aggressively and lower those bills to free up extra cash.

29. Return cans and bottles for the deposit if it’s available where you live.

30. Teach something that you are good at to others, either through a community school or private lessons.

31. Sew/make alterations for others.

32. Help the elderly. Offer to do the shopping and take them to appointments, for a small fee.

33. Offer handyman services.

34. Collect ink cartridges from friends and coworkers (and your office if they don’t recycle) and give them to places like Office Depot or Staples for cash back.

35. Wash/detail cars.

36. Wash/detail pets.

37. Sell your stuff to a consignment shop. Here are some tips.

38. Sell food to workers at a construction site.

39. Sell your wedding china to Replacements Ltd.

40. Cash out any “points” you have lying around. Whether it’s from credit/debit card reward programs, store/product loyalty programs, gas rewards, or rewards sites, cash in everything you can and use the cash or gift cards to cover household expenses.

41. Tutor kids.

42. Take a part-time job.

43. Use equipment you already own to make money (power washing, snow blowing, etc.)

44. Help someone move.

45. Act as a driver for the schools. Some public and private schools take on private drivers to go where buses can’t or won’t go.

46. Turn a hobby into profit (photography, cake decorating, scrapbooking, etc.)

47. Use your skills to enter and win contests that pay cash (bake-offs, craft contests, state fairs, etc.)

48. Change people’s oil for them.

49. Use your van or truck to haul heavy things for people.

50. Take any overtime your regular job offers.

51. Clean houses

52. If you have a lot of land, open some up for RV or boat storage at cheap rates.

53. Quit smoking/drinking.

54. Go through drive-through lanes and parking lots after hours and pick up the spare change you find.

55. Use programs like CVS Extra Care and coupons to get toiletry and cleaning items for free. Sell them at your next yard sale.

56. Use coupons and add what you save to your cash stash.

57. Refinance your mortgage. If you can swing the closing costs and you can save a point or two on your interest rate, it may be worthwhile to lower that monthly payment (particularly if you’re carrying PMI and can get out of it by refinancing). Just don’t cash out the equity.

58. Collect old cell phones from friends. family and co-workers and sell them to recyclers such as Greephone.com.

59. Become a human or car billboard. Places will pay you to decorate your car with their logos or wear their logos to popular events.

60. Become a mystery shopper.

61. If there’s a big event coming to your area like a major sports tournament or convention, rent out your house.

62. Panhandle, if it’s legal, or wash windshields at a busy intersection.

63. If you have more than one vehicle, sell one.

64. Unload any tickets you’re holding. If you’ve got season sporting tickets or tickets to the upcoming concert, sell them (just don’t scalp them for more than face value).

65. Test drive for cash. Some car dealers will give you cash or gift cards to come in and test drive a vehicle with no obligation.

66. Drop unnecessary insurance coverage.

67. Drop any “double” services you find. For example, do you have AAA and an insurance policy that provides roadside assistance? Either don’t renew AAA or drop the roadside from your insurance coverage and save the money.

68. Check your state’s unclaimed property office to see if you are owed any money.

69. Cash in any savings bonds you have lying around. You’d be surprised how many people have them gathering dust in a drawer or safe deposit box.

70. Try to negotiate a lower interest rate on any credit card debt you have to lower the monthly payment.

71. Don’t renew magazines, gym memberships, club memberships or any other subscription/membership when it comes up. Let it go and pocket the cash.

72. Use your own ATM. Don’t pay transaction fees at another bank’s machine.

73. Sell any gift cards that you can’t/won’t use on eBay or swap them for ones you will use.

74. Write a book and sell it through LuLu or as a digital download.

75. Make music, art, computer themes, canned websites or clipart and sell them online.

76. Look into bundling the services you need to keep. It might lower the monthly bill.

77. Call all your service providers and ask if you can get a discount because you’re a good customer, always paid on time, or if you’re a member of a certain union or organization. Negotiate a discount if you can.

78. Brown bag your lunch instead of eating out.

79. Actually complete and send in those rebate forms you’ve been meaning to do.

80. Sell your double stuff. Have you digitized your music or video collection to the point where the discs never see the light of day anymore? Sell them.

81. Scrounge the local trash piles for good, intact items and sell them on Craigslist or eBay.

82. You can question the ethics of this one, but people do it all the time: Buy (or acquire for free) items from sites like Freecycle or Craigslist, or at the local thrift shop, and then resell them for a profit.

83. Be a plant/garden sitter. You water and tend to the plants while the owners are away.

84. Become a paid guide at a search website like ChaCha.com.

85. Get paid to submit video reviews of products at sites like ExpoTV.

86. Open a bank account that will pay you a cash bonus for opening the account.

87. Become a focus group participant. Look on Craigslist or in the want ads for postings in your area. Research companies are often listed in the Yellow Pages, as well.

88. Enter contests that give out physical prizes and sell any prizes you win.

89. Send in your FSA or HSA claims. Don’t wait until the end of the year, go ahead and get your money back.

90. Check your health insurance plan for any rebates you’re entitled to. Some reimburse wellness materials like gym memberships or weight loss programs. If you’re paying out of pocket, check and see if you can get the money back.

91. Use a site like Ebates or another rewards program to get cash back on online shopping. Pocket the difference.

92. Ask for a raise at your regular job. It might happen and it never hurts to ask. Even in this economy, you might get it if you’re a valuable employee.

93. If you have a vacant office, room, or garage in your home, rent it out as studio space to artists or musicians whose only alternative is to pay for expensive time in a “real” studio.

94. If you are popular on a message board, ask about a moderator gig. Some are paid a tiny bit each month.

95. Get free samples from sites like StartSampling.com, WalMart.com or many others. It’s not outright cash, but every sample you get and can use or sell reduces the amount of money you have to spend on products.

96. Add affiliate links to your website or blog and get paid when people buy products through your links.

97. Get back anything you’re entitled to. If you replace your car battery yourself, be sure to take the old one back and get the core charge refunded. Get price adjustments on items that go on sale within the store’s specified time frame. Get your security and utility deposits back when you move. Don’t leave any money on the table.

98. Deliver newspapers.

99. Rent out parking spaces. If you live in an area with little parking or near a big event center/arena and you have a little extra space, rent it out for parking.

100. Sign up with Mechanical Turk (Mturk.com) from Amazon.com and take on tasks that interest you.

101. If you have old electronics that won’t sell, try trading them in. There are several stores/websites that offer trade-ins or take backs for cash or gift cards.

102. Stop spending on stuff you don’t need. Seriously. This is the best way to free up cash.

Note that none of these tips require incurring additional debt or cashing out any savings like home equity or raiding a retirement plan. Those are courses of last resort. Try generating extra cash first. If you really want to make some extra money, try turning something you like into a home-based business. There are a lot of ways to generate extra cash if you’re willing to put forth the effort. Use your imagination and draw on your expertise and you can find several ways to bring in some extra money.

1000 ways to make $1000

Finally, if you are serious about finding ways to make extra cash get and read a copy of One Thousand Ways to Make $1,000. This book is reputed by Warren Buffett’s biographers to be one of the major influences on the legendary investor’s business acumen. After pulling a copy of One Thousand Ways off a shelf at age eleven and devouring F.C. Minaker’s practical advice, Buffett declared that he would be a millionaire by the time he was in his 30s. Written in a plain and conversational style this book is full of inventive ideas on how to make money through hard work, excellent salesmanship, and resourcefulness. Get it from Amazon.com here.

Do you have any ideas for making extra cash? Share with us in the comments below!

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What’s Open and Closed on Valentine’s Day 2019?

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What's open and closed on Valentine's Day
February 14, Valentine’s Day, is a day that many people celebrate, but it is not a federal holiday. What gets a bit confusing is Valentine’s Day sometimes lands on a weekend and it’s always near President’s Day weekend. Presidents’ Day (officially known as Washington’s Birthday) is a federal holiday, so many establishments close. For those who will be out and about, here’s what’s open and closed on Valentine’s Day this year.

Stores

Retail stores are open on Valentine’s Day. For all those who didn’t find the time to get their significant other a Valentine’s Day gift, you’ll be happy to know all major retailers will be open on February 14, so you can pick up a last minute gift. For those who love chocolate, it’s good to remember Valentine’s chocolate will be reduced by half or more on Sunday, and it can be a great time to pick up premium chocolate at a huge discount.

Restaurants and Eating Establishments

Restaurants and eating establishments are open on Valentine’s Day. Restaurants and other eating establishments will be open for business on February 14. In fact, some will have special Valentine’s Day menus to take advantage of all the couples celebrating the day. If you plan to eat out, it’s worthwhile to call ahead and make reservations. Valentine’s Day is one of the most popular evenings for people to eat out, so getting a seat without reservations may be difficult.

Stock Market

The stock market is open Valentine’s Day. The New York Stock Exchange and the NASDAQ composite both close on Saturday, and since Valentine’s Day lands on a Saturday, both will be closed this year. The stock markets are closed these days in 2019.

Libraries

Libraries are open on Valentine’s Day. Public community libraries will be open their normal hours on February 14, so you’ll be able to check out as many books as you’d like.

Public Schools

Schools are open on Valentine’s Day. Most public and private schools are open as usual.

National Parks

National Parks are open on Valentine’s Day. Take your sweetheart to a nearby National Park.

Federal Government Offices

Government offices are open on Valentine’s Day. Because Valentine’s Day isn’t a federal holiday, most government offices are open.

State and Local Government Offices

State and local government offices are open on Valentine’s Day. Much like the federal government, the majority of state and local government offices are open on Valentine’s Day.

Banking Institutions

Banking institutions are open on Valentine’s Day. While the vast majority of financial institutions, like banks and credit unions are closed on Sunday (with some exceptions), Valentine’s Day 2019 falls on a weekday, so banking institutions will be open.

Mail Delivery

You will get your mail delivered on Valentine’s Day.

For those who want gifts and cards to arrive on February 14, the post office will deliver mail on Valentine’s Day as it regularly. Both Federal Express (FedEx) and UPS will deliver packages on their typical Saturday schedules.

Grocery Stores

Grocery stores are open on Valentine’s Day. Grocery stores will be open for business on the 14th, and they can be a great place to get last minute Valentine’s Day gifts, candy and flowers.

(Photo courtesy of Dave)

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Am I Eligible for the Uber Sign Up Bonus?

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Am I Eligible for the Uber Sign Up Bonus

Today, Uber does not need to entice people to drive for them as they did in the beginning. As a result, they do not offer the same sign-up bonuses as they once did. However, that does not mean you can’t get some extra cash in your pocket by taking the proper steps; namely, by taking advantage of the referral program’s sign-up guarantee.

How to Become Eligible for the Uber Sign-Up Bonus

Many companies compensate people for referring their friends, and Uber is no different. Drivers can share their referral codes with friends, family, or even strangers, giving both themselves and the new driver a chance to earn some extra money.

One way to become eligible for the Uber sign-up bonus is to use a referral code. This means you would need to connect with someone who already drives for the company or conduct a quick internet search to find a code.

Luckily, whose code you use doesn’t matter. They do not have to be in your city, and you do not have to know them personally. The important part is to find a code. Once you have a referral code, you need to complete the Uber driver application. Make sure to input the referral code in the right blank.

It is important to note that, if you use a referral code, that person earns a bonus off of your driving. Since that is the case, you may want to track down one from a person you like, as you are essentially putting free money in their pocket.

However, a referral code is not your only option. If you want to sign up without a code and get the guaranteed earnings offer, you can. Just head over to the Uber New Driver Guarantees Page, and you can get started.

How the Uber Sign-Up Bonus Works

The Uber sign-up guarantee isn’t a traditional bonus. They do not just hand over a specific amount of cash to thank you for joining as a driver. Instead, you gain access to a program that can make your start with Uber more lucrative.

As you sign up, you will see an offer. Usually, it says you can earn X amount of money for completing Y number of trips in Z days.

For example, yours might say, “Earn $300 guaranteed for completing your first 30 trips,” followed by, “Trips must be completed within 90 days of sign up.”

Exactly what your offer looks like may depend on a number of factors, though your location is the biggest one. The sign-on guarantees vary by city, so new drivers in Seattle will see something different than a new driver in Miami.

Now, what the verbiage means is universal. You are not getting an “extra” amount of money (like the $300 mentioned above). Instead, the total amount you make from your first trips will be at least that amount.

Continuing with the example above, that $300 would mean that you would earn at least $10 for each of your first 30 trips ($300 / 30 trips = $10 per trip) as long as you finish them all in 90 days. If you do not finish them in 90 days, the $10 per trip guarantee only applies to those you drive during those 90 days.

Essentially, no matter how much the trip would normally make you, you will earn at least $10.

Maximize Your Uber Sign-Up Guarantee

If you are eligible for a sign-up guarantee, then you want to make the most of it. Just how do you do that? By driving the cheapest (usually, the shortest) rides possible, that’s how.

The goal is to find trips where you would earn less than $10, allowing you to bank more for less work. For example, with the guarantee in place, a $5.60 trip lands you $10, so you get an extra $4.40 thanks to the guarantee. In contrast, a $10.50 trip is already over $10, so you lose out on the benefit of the guarantee for that trip (but it still counts as one of your first trips, meaning it is a missed opportunity).

Now, Uber drivers do not get full control over the rides they land. Once you are signed on and ready to drive, you often have to take what is available.

However, by adjusting when and where you drive, you can increase your odds of getting shorter trips. For example, avoiding early mornings (when people are commuting to work or more commonly heading to the airport), you might avoid long trips.

Instead, by driving later at night, when the bar scene is hopping, you might find people moving between bars or around their own neighborhood, which are typically shorter jaunts. Midday can also work, especially if you connect with people heading to lunch near their workplaces or running errands close to home.

Along the way, you also want to keep your expenses as low as possible. The cost of gas and impact of mileage on your vehicle cut into your profits, so you do not want to drive around a lot between rides looking for short ones or drive a long way to get to a place where there are short rides. If you did, you would burn through fuel and increase wear and tear during times you were not making anything, which is not cost-effective.

Find Out About Your City’s Sign-Up Guarantee

The Uber sign-up guarantee for any city can change frequently. If you want to find out about the current offer, you will need to head over to Uber’s site and see what is available.

Luckily, you can check out the guarantee in advance by heading to the guarantee page and inputting your city. You can also review the terms that go along with the guarantee, giving you a chance to plan ahead to make sure you can make the most of the opportunity.

What About Uber Eats?

If you prefer working for Uber’s food delivery service, Uber Eats and still hope to get a sign on bonus, well you’re in luck.  You can use an invite (referral code) from another driver to get signed up and receive a bonus. Just remember, you must complete a certain number of rides in order to receive the bonus. Read the invite information prior to signing up and happy driving!

Do you drive for Uber? Did you get a sign-up bonus? Tell us about your experience in the comments below.

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What Are the Car Requirements for Lyft Plus?

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Lyft Plus car requirements

Lyft has multiple tiers for the company’s rideshare service. Along with basic Lyft, there is Lyft XL (formerly Lyft Plus), Lyft Lux, and Lyft Lux Black. By having a vehicle that qualifies for one of the categories beyond the basic Lyft, drivers can earn more for each trip. However, not every vehicle is eligible. Here is what you need to know about Lyft XL.

Car Requirements for Lyft Plus / Lyft XL

The vehicle requirements for Lyft XL are pretty simple. First, your vehicle must have at least four doors, not including jump doors. Second, you need to have at least six passenger seats available – a minimum of seven total, as you would need one for a driver. Usually, this means a car will not qualify. Instead, you would need to drive a minivan, SUV, or something similar.

Additionally, there are vehicle age requirements, though they vary by location. Here is an overview of the vehicle age requirements, based on the state:

  • Alabama – 2004 or newer
  • Alaska – 2007 or newer
  • Arizona – 2003 or newer (2005 or newer for Eastern Arizona, Lake Havasu City/Kingman, Northern Arizona, Yuma)
  • Arkansas – 2003 or newer (2005 or newer for Fayetteville)
  • California 2003 or newer (2005 or newer for Bakersfield, Eastern Sierras, Fresno, Inland Empire/San Bernardino, Lake Tahoe, Los Angeles, Modesto, Monterey, Napa & Sonoma, Orange County, Sacramento, San Diego, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz, Stockton, Ventura; 2004 or newer for San Francisco, Silicon Valley/San Jose)
  • Colorado – 2004 or newer
  • Connecticut – 2007 or newer
  • Delaware – 2003 or newer
  • Florida – 2003 or newer (2007 or newer for Bradenton, Jacksonville, Miami/South FL, Naples, Orlando, Port of Charlotte, Sarasota, Tampa; 2004 or newer for Daytona Beach, Florida Keys, Fort Myers, Lakeland, Ocala, Port St. Lucie)
  • Georgia – 2007 or newer
  • Hawaii – 2003 or newer
  • Idaho – 2005 or newer for Coeur d’Alene, Idaho Falls; 2004 or newer for Boise
  • Illinois – 2003 or newer (2004 or newer for Chicago; 2009 or newer for Bloomington; 2005 or newer for Decatur, Kankakee)
  • Indiana – 2003 or newer (2005 or newer for Gary, Muncie, Terre Haute)
  • Iowa – 2003 or newer
  • Kansas – 2003 or newer (2005 or newer for Manhattan, Topeka, Western Kansas)
  • Kentucky – 2003 or newer
  • Louisiana – 2003 or newer (2011 or newer for New Orleans; 2006 or newer for Baton Rouge; 2005 or newer for Monroe)
  • Maine – 2004 or newer
  • Maryland – 2007 or newer
  • Massachusetts – 2003 or newer (2004 or newer for Cape Cod, Springfield, Worcester)
  • Michigan – 2006 or newer
  • Minnesota – 2003 or newer (2004 or newer for Minneapolis/St. Paul, though 2008 or older vehicles much has less than 150,000 miles on them; 2009 or newer for Duluth)
  • Mississippi – 2003 or newer (2005 or newer for Gulfport-Biloxi)
  • Missouri – 2003 or newer (2007 or newer for St. Louis; 2005 or newer for Springfield)
  • Montana – 2004 or newer
  • Nebraska – 2003 or newer (2005 or newer for Western Nebraska)
  • Nevada – 2003 or newer (2009 or newer for Las Vegas Area)
  • New Hampshire – 2003 or newer
  • New Jersey – 2004 or newer
  • New Mexico – 2003 or newer (2005 or newer for Las Cruces, Roswell, Taos)
  • New York – 2004 or newer (All NYC vehicles requirements are governed by the city’s Taxi and Limousine Commission)
  • North Carolina – 2003 or newer (2005 or newer for Outer Banks)
  • North Dakota – 2003 or newer
  • Ohio – 2003 or newer
  • Oklahoma – 2003 or newer (2009 or newer for Ardmore, Woodward)
  • Oregon – 2004 or newer (2009 or newer for Portland; 2003 or newer for Medford)
  • Pennsylvania – 2004 or newer, and fewer than 350,000 miles
  • Rhode Island – 2004 or newer
  • South Carolina – 2003 or newer
  • South Dakota – 2009 or newer
  • Tennessee – 2003 or newer (2005 or newer for Cookeville, Jackson, Johnson City)
  • Texas – 2003 or newer (2005 or newer for Abilene, Amarillo, Tyler, Victoria)
  • Utah – 2005 or newer
  • Vermont – 2009 or newer
  • Virginia – 2003 or newer (2005 or newer for Fredericksburg)
  • Washington – 2004 or newer (2009 or newer for King County/Seattle/Tacoma, Olympia)
  • Washington DC – 2009 or newer
  • West Virginia – 2003 or newer (2005 or newer for Martinsburg)
  • Wisconsin – 2003 or newer (2004 or newer for Green Bay; 2005 or newer for Janesville, Madison, Milwaukee, Sheboygan-Fond du Lac Area)
  • Wyoming – 2005 or newer

It’s important to note that these requirements may change. States may alter the oldest model year that is acceptable, potentially annually, to keep the maximum age in line with their standards.

Additionally, the Lyft Lux Black XL program has additional requirements. Namely, that the vehicle needs to be a black SUV and ultra-high-end, including leather or leather-like seats. Some examples of qualifying Lyft Lux Black XL vehicles are:

  • BMW X5
  • Cadillac Escalade
  • Lincoln Navigator

Becoming a Lyft XL Driver

Signing up as a Lyft XL driver is incredibly simple. If your vehicle meets the requirements, Lyft opts you into the program automatically. You do not have to take any additional steps if the qualifying vehicle is on the platform.

However, if you were driving for Lyft with a smaller car before, you will need to adjust your profile to qualify for Lyft XL. The company only allows one vehicle to be approved on an account, so you will need to add details about your larger one so you can make the switch.

To make the change, head over to your Driver Dashboard in the Vehicle section of the app. There, you can add details and upload documentation (inspection, insurance, and possibly registration information) for your bigger vehicle. Typically, it takes no more than 24 hours for the new vehicle to be approved by Lyft, suggesting what you submitted is complete and meets the company’s requirements.

If you want to be a Lyft Lux Black XL driver, you also have to maintain a driver rating of 4.7 or higher. New drivers have to build that rating through other programs before being eligible.

Do you drive or use Lyft Plus? Tell us about your experience in the comments below.

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