Lyft Introduces Teen Accounts: Ride-Hailing Service Now Available for Users Aged 13+ Across 200 U.S. Cities
Lyft has officially launched its teen accounts feature on Monday, enabling minors aged 13 and older to independently request rides across 200 U.S. metropolitan areas, including Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, and New York. The rollout follows a public announcement made two weeks prior by Lyft CEO David Risher via social media regarding plans to extend platform access to teenage users.
Following the market precedent set by competitor Uber, which previously deployed similar functionality, Lyft's teen account implementation incorporates multiple safety protocols and parental controls. Key features of the service include:
• Parental Authorization: Only verified parents or legal guardians can establish teen accounts through the platform
• Enhanced Driver Vetting: Drivers matched with underage passengers must satisfy additional qualification criteria and undergo annual background verification processes
• Guest Passenger Policy: Teens may travel with companions, subject to explicit parental approval
• Safety Mechanisms: PIN verification protocols, audio recording capabilities, and real-time GPS tracking enable parents to monitor their teen's journey status
The account setup workflow requires parents to navigate to their profile section within the Lyft application, select the 'Lyft Teen' option, input the minor's contact information, and configure a shared payment method for ride expenses. Upon confirmation, the teen receives an SMS containing a unique registration link to activate their account.
This launch positions Lyft in a competitive catch-up scenario with both Uber and autonomous vehicle operator Waymo, which currently offers teen accounts within its Phoenix robotaxi service area. Uber initially piloted teen accounts in 2017 before commercializing the product in spring 2024 across multiple U.S. and Canadian markets, subsequently expanding to dozens of international territories, including test deployments in several Indian cities.
The teen accounts feature represents one of several strategic initiatives introduced under CEO David Risher's leadership. Recent company developments include:
• Strategic partnerships with autonomous vehicle providers including May Mobility, Austrian manufacturer Benteler, Holon, Tensor Auto, and Mobileye
• European market entry via the $197 million acquisition of German multi-mobility platform Freenow from BMW and Mercedes-Benz Mobility
• Expansion of autonomous vehicle integration across the Lyft platform
These initiatives collectively demonstrate Lyft's strategic focus on market diversification, technological advancement, and demographic expansion within the ride-hailing sector.
