Cancel and no-show fee policy for drivers
Lyft uses cancel and no-show fees to make sure you’re paid for your time and effort.
You’ll either get paid a minimum cancel fee or receive earnings based on the time and distance you drive, whichever is greater.
You can see your per-minute and per-mile rates for each ride on your rate card.
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Cancelation info
Your cancel fee is calculated with your rate card, based on your time and distance on the way to the passenger.
There’s a minimum cancel fee amount to make sure you’re paid for your time and effort. You can view your cancel fee minimum in your rate card.
Your acceptance rate isn’t affected if your passenger cancels, or if they’re a no-show.
Washington drivers need to meet more specific requirements to receive a no-show fee. See the Washington Driver Information page to learn more.
Acceptance rate
Canceling a ride after you’ve already accepted it affects your acceptance rate.
Your acceptance rate isn't affected if a passenger cancels or is a no-show.
If a passenger contacts you and says they don't need a ride, ask them to cancel the ride in their app.
Passenger canceled the ride
Passenger cancellations don’t affect your acceptance rate.
If your passenger cancels the ride, you’ll receive a cancel fee as long as you meet both of these requirements:
- The passenger’s cancellation window has passed.
- You’re on track to arrive by your original estimated arrival time (ETA).
Note: The original ETA is the ETA given when you first accept the ride.
The minimum cancellation fee amount varies based on the area.
Scheduled rides
Passenger cancellations don’t affect your acceptance rate.
If your passenger cancels the ride, you’ll receive a cancel fee as long as you meet both of these requirements:
- The passenger’s cancellation window has passed.
- You’re on track to arrive by your original estimated arrival time (ETA).
Note: The original ETA is the ETA given when you first accept the ride.
The minimum cancellation fee amount varies based on the area.
Scheduled rides have a higher cancel fee minimum than normal rides. Check your rate card for more info.
Shared rides
For Shared rides, you’ll only receive a cancel fee if the first passenger cancels or you mark them as a no-show.
If other passengers cancel, you’ll still earn for that time and distance as part of your ride earnings, but you won’t receive a cancel fee.
Passenger no-shows
If your passenger isn’t at the pickup location, you’ll receive a cancel fee as long as you:
- Tap to arrive at the pickup location.
- Wait for the timer to count down to 0:00 without moving from the pickup location.
- Contact the passenger or respond to the passenger contacting you.
- Cancel the ride by tapping 'Passenger is no-show' and then tap 'Confirm no-show.'
Note: If you miss any of these steps, you won’t be eligible for a cancel fee.
You won't get a no-show fee if you're:
- Too far from the pickup location.
- More than five minutes past the estimated arrival time.
Washington drivers need to meet more specific requirements to receive a no-show fee. See the Washington Driver Information page to learn more.
Find more information in the Lyft Terms of Service.
I canceled the ride
There may be times when you have to cancel a ride for reasons outside your control.
Always ask your passenger to cancel their ride if:
- Your passenger has luggage or other items that can’t fit in your car.
- You have a technical issue where you can’t tap to arrive or pick up.
- Roadwork or drawbridges prevent you from reaching the pickup location.
Some other reasons why you might cancel a ride include (but aren’t limited to):
- You or a loved one has an emergency.
- You feel unsafe completing the ride.
- You've looked for your passenger, tried contacting them, and still can’t see them.
- Your passenger is under the age of 18 and not accompanied by an adult.
- Your passenger didn’t bring a car seat for their child.
- There were too many passengers to fit in your vehicle.
To cancel a ride:
- Swipe up on the bottom panel.
- Tap ‘Cancel,’ and then select the option that fits your situation.
Lyft's community is diverse, representing differing generations, ethnicities, gender, sexual orientations, and religions. We encourage open-mindedness and mutual respect. Before canceling a ride, please read more about our Anti-Discrimination Policies.
Health safety cancellations
The CDC updated its guidance for transportation, and masks are now optional in all rides.
Drivers and riders aren’t required to wear a mask during rides, but you can keep wearing one if it makes you more comfortable.
Although you won’t be able to report a rider or driver for health safety reasons, you can still report a ride if you feel unsafe.
Too many Shared ride passengers
In most regions, Shared ride requests can now have up to 2 passengers per pickup. If one of your pickups has 2 passengers, the other pickup will have only 1.
We’ll never put more than 3 passengers in your car at one time.
If there are more passengers at a pickup than expected, cancel the ride and tap ‘Too many passengers.’ This won’t affect your acceptance rate, driver rating, or any Ride Streaks.
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