Roadmap to Ride-Hailing Licensing

Are you looking to turn your driving hobby into a career? Perhaps you also want to meet some great people along the way? Becoming a rideshare driver may be the next step for you!

Let us walk you through the licensing steps and help get you started on your new journey!

Location, Location, Location

Currently, BC’s lower mainland offers both Lyft and Uber ridesharing services. These services have been expanding since they landed in BC, making transportation as accessible as possible to those affected by the pandemic – even more reason to become a rideshare driver! Lyft services are now available as far north as Lions’ Bay, including Bowen Island, and as far east as Aldergrove. This includes Vancouver, Surrey, Richmond, Langley, Coquitlam, and Maple Ridge. Uber doesn’t go quite as far north, stopping at Cypress Provincial Park, but goes a bit further east to cover Abbotsford. At this time, neither services offer ride-hailing in Mission.

With ride-hailing availability spreading throughout the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley, the accessibility for drivers and riders alike has grown tremendously. No matter where you are located, you can become a ride-hailing driver!

Get Licensed!

Now that you know which municipalities you could work in, let’s talk about licensing.  British Columbia rideshare drivers need a minimum valid class 4 restricted licence in order to drive with Lyft and Uber. This is different from the typical class 5 licence you use to drive your everyday vehicle, so ensure you budget enough time and funds to study, train for, take and pass your new license.

The first step to becoming a ride-hailing driver is to take the class 4 knowledge test with ICBC. You can book your knowledge test appointment online, and we recommend booking that as soon as possible as ICBC can be heavily booked! To prepare for the knowledge test, you can take free online practice tests or even book some one-on-one tutoring with a class 4 Instructor. One-on-one tutoring can help clarify the subject material, driving situations, and word definitions used by ICBC in their driving guides and manuals and knowledge tests!

After you have successfully completed the class 4 knowledge test, you can start training for your road test! The class 4 restricted road test is one-hour in length, and consists of a pre-trip inspection and an on-road driving portion, and can be completed in any car or pick-up truck. During the road test, you will need to demonstrate the following skills competently:

• starting and stopping
• shifting gears, if applicable
• turning
• steering
• backing up
• parking
• merging with highway traffic
• exiting from highways
• driving in traffic

Once you have successfully completed the class 4 restricted road test, you will receive a medical form from ICBC to be filled out by your doctor and returned to ICBC within 45 days.

Get Hired!

Now that you’ve got the licence, it’s time to get yourself out there! Lyft will require you to purchase a licence insurance fee directly through them. This further protects the safety of you, your vehicle and your passengers – a positive ride-share experience is always the number one goal for all people involved! Before you’re interviewed with Uber, create a Driver Profile online to let your potential employer know a little bit more about you – include some personal details and let them know why exactly you’d be a good fit.

We also recommend you include your BC driver’s abstract for both Lyft and Uber in your application – show more than 3 years of driving experience and you will already be ahead of the game! In terms of hiring, treat the interview just as you would treat any other. Be professional, courteous and prepared. Each company will also have some vehicle and documentation requirements to meet, including a criminal record check, proof of work eligibility, and vehicle inspection reports. You can see their full requirements and eligibility at our Becoming a Lyft or Uber Ride-Hailing Driver blog!

Why do you want to get into rideshare driving? Is it for the money, the flexible hours, the community, the perks or the freedom? Let your potential employer know and show them why you’re the best person for the job. Driving for a rideshare organization can be more than just getting people from point A to point B — it’s a source of connection, socialization, and conversation for many people who use it. Having well-developed people skills and a knack for building rapports can help you immensely when interviewing and applying.

—

Prove that you are a responsible, understanding and determined person who is willing to go above and beyond for your clients and once you nail that interview and complete your requirements, you’ll be ready to go! Being a rideshare driver means committing to a career of adventure – and there are only a few small steps to take to get there!