Rideshare Rental Guide: How to Rent a Car for Uber or Lyft 7

Rideshare Rental Guide: How to Rent a Car for Uber or Lyft

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When you start doing rideshare or delivery, youโ€™ll want to make sure you have a reliable, durable, and attractive vehicle. The best car for Uber and Lyft might not be the one you own. If youโ€™re struggling to figure out the โ€œrideโ€ part of rideshare, it might be time to check out these rental options for Uber and Lyft Drivers. We’ve gathered the rideshare rental options that are still available, and we note the ones that have shut down so you don’t waste time on them.

Because rental programs change quickly, always confirm prices and rules with the company before you commit.

What kind of rental vehicle do I need to look for?

Rental car companies make it easy to select a car that will meet an app’s vehicle requirements. In general Uber and Lyft require:

  • 5-8 seats (including the driverโ€™s seat)
  • 4 doors

The specific qualifications vary city-to-city and state-to-state. Uber and Lyft also have vehicle age requirements, depending on where you plan to drive (i.e. your vehicle must be X years or younger to signup). Check out the conditions in your city before you start shopping.

Before you book any rental, confirm three things in the Uber or Lyft driver app: the car’s model year is accepted in your market, the vehicle is not a salvage or rebuilt title, and the rental company allows rideshare use in your state. A rental that does not meet these rules can leave you paying for a car you cannot drive for, so a few minutes of checking up front can save you a week of rent.

Choosing Between Rideshare Rental Companies

Every rideshare rental company is different. It’s important to find the best fit for you and your rideshare business. Here are some questions to help narrow down your search:

  • Availability: How often do you plan to drive? Are there mileage caps on the vehicle you’re looking at?
  • Fees: Are there any hidden rental fees? Does the company take a cut of your rideshare earnings?
  • Eligibility: Are you old enough to rent from the company? Is your driving record clean? Most rental companies have age requirements and will check your motor vehicle records.
  • Perks: What kind of perks can you get when signing up? Will the company waive certain fees?
  • Insurance: Does the rental include coverage while you are online and carrying passengers? Ask for the details in writing, including the deductible.
  • Deposit and cancellation: How much is held up front, when is it returned, and what does it cost to end the rental early?
  • Maintenance: If the car breaks down mid-week, who pays, and do you get a replacement vehicle?

Top Rideshare Rental Companies

Today, the main options are Turo, the Uber vehicle marketplace and Lyft Express Drive. HyreCar, Getaround and Fair have all ended their rideshare rental programs.

In short: Lyft Express Drive bundles insurance and maintenance into one weekly price, the Uber marketplace gives you several partners to compare, and Turo offers the widest choice of cars but has the strictest limits on where rideshare use is allowed. The best fit depends on how many hours you plan to drive and how long you want to rent.

HyreCar (no longer available)

Hyrecar was a rental marketplace built for Uber, Lyft and delivery drivers. Getaround bought the company in 2022, and the Hyrecar service has since closed, so you can no longer rent a car through it. Our Hyrecar review is kept for reference only. Turo, below, is the closest alternative for delivery drivers.

What Happened to HyreCar

  • Status: Closed. Rentals are not available.
  • Alternatives: Turo, the Uber vehicle marketplace or Lyft Express Drive.
  • History: Hyrecar let owners list rideshare-ready cars, and renters paid a weekly rate plus insurance and a service fee.

Getaround (U.S. Service Ended)

Getaround was an Uber rental partner known for hourly rentals and app-based unlocking. The company shut down its U.S. service in early 2025, so these rentals are no longer available. Uber’s vehicle marketplace, below, now lists other rental partners.

What Happened to Getaround

  • Status: U.S. service ended in February 2025.
  • Alternatives: Turo, the Uber vehicle marketplace or Lyft Express Drive.
  • History: Renters booked by the hour or by the week and unlocked the car with the app.

Turo

Turo is a carsharing marketplace with everything from economy cars to luxury models. Hosts list their vehicles and guests book them, usually for a minimum of one day.

Turo’s rules on professional use have changed. It now allows rideshare and delivery driving in many states, but not in California, Minnesota, New York or Oregon. Read Turo’s current policy before you book, and confirm that the car meets Uber and Lyft vehicle requirements in your city.

You can also list your own car on Turo to earn income when you aren’t driving. Check your insurance first, since personal policies often exclude car sharing.

Tips for renting on Turo: look for hosts who offer weekly or monthly discounts, read recent reviews from other long-term renters, and ask about mileage limits before you book. Pick a host who responds quickly, because a slow reply on a delayed pickup costs you driving days.

Turo Rental Breakdown

  • Price: Daily rates vary a lot by city and vehicle. Check the cars available in your area here.
  • Mileage Caps: Each listing sets its own daily limit, and overage fees vary by vehicle.
  • Fees: Guests pay the trip price, a trip fee, and a protection plan chosen at booking.
  • Rideshare Use: Allowed in some states only. Confirm before booking.

Fair (Discontinued)

Note: Fair ended its rideshare rental program in 2020 and no longer offers it.

Fair was a car subscription service and an official Uber rental partner. It worked like a lease with no long-term contract. Fair stopped offering rideshare rentals in 2020, so it is no longer an option.

Rideshare Rental Guide: How to Rent a Car for Uber or Lyft 4

What Happened to Fair

  • Status: Discontinued for rideshare drivers.
  • Alternatives: The Uber vehicle marketplace, Lyft Express Drive or Turo.
  • History: Fair charged a monthly payment based on a soft credit check, and it worked more like a lease than a weekly rental.

Rideshare Rentals through Uber and Lyft

Uber Rental Marketplace

You can’t rent a car directly from Uber. Instead, the Uber vehicle marketplace shows rental and lease offers from partner companies, based on your city. Partners change often, so check the app for current options.

  • Weekly rentals in many cities run roughly $265 to $290, though prices vary by location and vehicle.
  • Insurance and maintenance terms depend on the partner, so read them before you commit.

To see what is available, sign up to drive and choose โ€œI donโ€™t have a car.โ€

Tip: compare at least two partners in the marketplace, and ask each one about mileage limits, the deposit and what happens if the car needs repairs.

Lyft ExpressDrive

Lyft’s Express Drive program helps drivers get on the road faster. You rent a vehicle for a weekly fee and agree to give a minimum number of Lyft rides each week. There is no long-term commitment, and insurance and maintenance are included in the rental cost. Your Lyft earnings can go directly toward the weekly payment, and you can use the car for personal trips.

Looking for an all-inclusive rideshare rental? See if Lyft Express Drive is available in your city.

Express Drive is a good fit if you plan to drive full-time for a few weeks or months and want one predictable price. It is less useful if you also drive for Uber or delivery apps, since the ride minimum applies to Lyft rides only.

Lyft ExpressDrive Breakdown

  • Weekly rates are typically around $250 to $350, depending on the city and vehicle
  • No long-term commitment (drive for as many weeks as you want)
  • A minimum number of rides each week is required (it has been 20 in the past)
  • A refundable deposit of about $150 is typical
  • Drivers usually must be at least 25 years old
  • Insurance and maintenance included in weekly cost
  • Weekly earnings go toward rental payments

Note: Terms, fees and availability vary by city and change often. Confirm the current details in the Lyft Driver app before you commit.

Before you sign anything, ask what happens if you want to return the car early, and whether the weekly price changes if you drive fewer rides than required.

Do I need rideshare insurance?

If youโ€™re renting a car to drive for a rideshare app, youโ€™ll be spending a lot of time on the road. This will undoubtedly increase your risk of accidents. Itโ€™s important to read the fine print of your rentalโ€™s auto insurance policy to understand just how covered you are if you happen to find yourself in a tough situation. Youโ€™ll also want to make sure you have your own insurance in case there are gaps in your rental insurance policy. Many rentals include only basic liability, which may not fully cover you in the period when you are logged in and waiting for a ride request. Ask the rental company how its policy treats each phase, and compare the cost of a rideshare endorsement if you are renting for several months. Check out our Rideshare Insurance Guide to figure out what works best for you and your vehicle.ย 

Do I need to get my rental vehicle inspected?

Before you start picking up passengers, youโ€™ll need to get your rental vehicle inspected. There are a lot of choices when it comes to vehicle inspection.ย  Most states allow you to get inspected by a certified mechanic. But, some states have very strict rules about inspections. Rideshare Mechanic offers a virtual inspection that is accepted by Uber & Lyft in several markets across the U.S. You only need a smartphone. Rideshare mechanic allows a certified mechanic to inspect your vehicle through a video call.

Ask the rental company whether the car has already passed an inspection that Uber or Lyft accepts. Many Express Drive and marketplace cars are prepared for rideshare use, while a car rented on Turo usually is not, so budget time and money for an inspection before your first trip.

Should I just buy a car instead?

In a rideshare business, a car is an asset. The more you drive, the more your maintenance and repair costs will grow. If youโ€™re considering buying a new or used vehicle, you can use our New vs. Used Car Buying Guide to make sure you find the right option for you and your budget.

If youโ€™re a new driver, you might want to consider renting for the first week or two. Using services like Turo, the Uber vehicle marketplace or Lyft Express Drive will let you get a feel for a vehicle before you purchase it. If you plan to drive for a rideshare service full-time, youโ€™ll want to make sure the car youโ€™re selecting is the right one for you. In other words, think of your week-long rental as an extended test drive.

If you do decide to buy a car, consider renting it out to other drivers on Turo, where rideshare use is allowed in your state. That way, you can earn income even when you arenโ€™t driving.

Whatever you choose, keep the first rental short. One or two weeks is enough to learn your real mileage, your fuel costs and how many hours you want to drive, and those numbers make a purchase decision much easier.

Making Your Decision

Overall, the best thing about renting a car is that you can return it after a week or two. A quick way to decide is to compare costs. A rental at roughly $300 a week costs about $3,900 over three months, and that includes insurance and maintenance on many plans. Add up what your own car would cost over the same period, including depreciation, repairs, tires and insurance, and compare the two figures. See how much gas and mileage adds up to and decide if it’s worth it to put all of that wear and tear on your own car.ย  You can try each service to see which one works best for you. If you buy a car for rideshare, you’re stuck with it. Do your researchย to make sure you’re not in a losing situation in a few years with a loan balance on a worn out car.

We may receive a referral fee for recommending some of the products, apps or services listed on this website.  This article is for informational purposes only. Prices, fees and availability change often, and the details above were reviewed in November 2026.

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