Lyft launches teen ride-hailing service in 200 U.S. cities

Lyft launched teen accounts on Monday, a product that allows minors as young as 13 to hail rides without an adult. The service is available in 200 U.S. cities, including Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, and New York. The official launch comes two weeks after Lyft CEO David Risher announced plans on X to open the ride-hailing service to teenagers.

Like its rival Uber, Lyft has established several safety guardrails for the underage service. Only a parent or guardian can create a teen account. To sign up, parents select their profile in the app, tap “Lyft Teen,” enter the teen’s contact information, and add a shared payment method. The teen then receives a unique sign-up link via text message. Once active, the service utilizes safety features including:

• PIN verification, audio recording, and real-time tracking.
• Drivers matched with these passengers must meet additional criteria and pass yearly background checks.
• Teens are permitted to bring guests along for the ride if a parent has given permission.

The launch puts Lyft in direct competition with Uber and Waymo, both of which already offer teen accounts. Lyft is playing catch-up in this segment; Uber tested teen accounts as early as 2017 but did not roll out a commercial product until spring 2024 in more than a dozen cities in the U.S. and Canada. Uber has since expanded to other U.S. markets, dozens of other countries, and began testing the service in several cities in India last year. Meanwhile, Waymo offers teen accounts within its robotaxi service area in Phoenix.

The teen service is part of a broader expansion strategy under Risher, who has introduced multiple new products since becoming CEO. Lyft has established several autonomous vehicle partnerships, working with May Mobility, Austrian manufacturer Benteler, Holon, Tensor Auto, and autonomy provider Mobileye. Additionally, the company recently pushed into Europe through its $197 million acquisition of German multi-mobility app Freenow from BMW and Mercedes-Benz Mobility, opening up the European market to Lyft for the first time.

Why it matters

This expansion signals Lyft’s push to capture new demographics and close the feature gap with Uber, while diversifying its business through autonomous partnerships and international acquisitions.