Can You Pay Cash with Lyft

Lee Stanton May 6, 2021

If you’re wondering how to pay cash for your Lyft ride – you are out of luck. This option isn’t even available. In today’s modern world, outdated taxi-style driving services are being replaced by new transportation companies, such as Uber, CAR:GO, and Lyft – that don’t accept cash as a form of payment anymore.

In this guide, we will go through the different payment methods that Lyft accepts. We will also answer some common questions regarding Lyft’s payment policy.

Lyft Payment Methods

Lyft is a US-based mobile app that offers various vehicle services, such as car rides, the option to rent a car, and motorized scooters. Lyft also offers a bicycle-sharing system and food delivery services. Once you create an account on their mobile app or website you can apply for any of these options.

You can request various types of rides – not only cars, but bikes and scooters too- and you can even request a ride for someone else. While you’re using Lyft’s services, you can increase your safety by sharing your location with your friends and family. These are just some of the useful features that Lyft has to offer.

When it comes to payment methods that are available on Lyft, there are a few options to choose from. While you can’t pay cash for your Lyft ride, you can pay with your Lyft account, your debit/credit card, or use a Lyft gift card.

In this guide, we will go through each of these payment methods step by step.

Add Cash to Lyft Cash Account

After each Lyft ride, you will be asked to rate your driver and give feedback about your ride. After you’ve finished, your driver will ask you to confirm your payment method.

You can set your default payment method to your Lyft account, which is also called “Lyft Cash.” To use any of Lyft’s transportation services, you need to have money in your Lyft account, which is directly linked to your bank account. You can transfer money from your bank account to your Lyft account in a matter of seconds, which will automatically be used for your current Lyft ride.

If you want to add cash to your Lyft Cash account, follow the steps below:

Open the Lyft app on your phone.
Go to your menu in the upper-left corner of your screen.
Find the “Payment” tab and tap on it.
Go to “Lyft Cash Card.”
Select the “Add cash” option.
Type in the amount of money you want to add to your Lyft Cash account.
Select “Done.”
Tap on the “Check Out” option.
Choose your preferred payment method to pay for the Lyft ride.
Select “Purchase.”

That’s all there is to it. When your payment has been finalized, you will receive an email with a receipt, along with the payment information. Your payment will also be immediately submitted to Lyft’s system.

You can repeat these steps every time you run out of cash on your Lyft Cash account. If you’re wondering what happens when you don’t have enough money on your Lyft Cash account to cover the full expense of the ride, the difference will be taken from your default payment method – your bank account.

If you want to manage your Lyft Cash account, you can use the “Auto refill” option. If you activate this feature, your Lyft Cash account will be automatically refilled once there are less than $15 dollars on your account. Lyft does this by taking the balance from your default payment method.

To activate this feature, simply go to Payment, and toggle the “Auto refill” switch. If you change your mind, you can turn this feature off at any time.

You also have the option of adding your gift cards to your Lyft Cash account. This is how it’s done:

Open Lyft.
Tap the three horizontal lines in the upper-left corner of your screen.
Go to “Payments.”
Find the gift card icon on the menu and tap on it.
Type in your gift card code and the PIN.

Using your gift cards is simple, and you can repeat this process every time you receive a new gift card.

Add Cash to a Prepaid Credit Card for Lyft Rides

If you don’t want to use Lyft Cash, you can pay for Lyft’s services with credit cards, debit cards, bank accounts, prepaid cards, retailer, and digital gift cards. On the other hand, Lyft doesn’t allow you to pay for their services using commuter cards, Google Pay, Venmo, PayPal, and Apple Pay.

A prepaid credit card isn’t connected to your bank account; instead, you only have the option to spend money that you have added to the prepaid card in advance. You can add cash to a prepaid card in a couple of ways:

Deposit a payment to your prepaid card.
Transfer cash from your bank account, or other prepaid cards.
Purchase a “reload pack” to add money to your prepaid card.

After you’ve added cash to your prepaid credit card, this is how you can set it as a default payment method on Lyft:

Open your Lyft app.
Tap the three horizontal lines in the upper-left corner of your screen.
Go to “Payment.”
In the “Payment methods,” section, find “Add Card” and tap on it.
Type in your prepaid card’s number and other information.
Select “Save.”

Now you will be able to use your prepaid credit card to pay for Lyft’s services.

Add Cash to Your Bank Account and Use Your Bank Card for Lyft

Another method of payment for your Lyft ride is with your bank account. Lyft accepts all types of credit cards – MasterCard, Visa, and Discover. For you to use this payment method, you need to have actual cash in your bank account. Adding cash to a bank account usually includes going to your bank, or transferring the money from a different account.

Once you have added cash to your bank account, follow the steps below to use your bank card as the default payment method for Lyft:

Open the Lyft app on your phone.
Tap the three horizontal lines in the upper-left corner of your screen.
Go to the “Payment” tab.
Find the “Payment methods” option.
Tap “Add card.”
Insert your bank card details into the fields.
Tap “Save.”

That’s all there is to it. You can use this method every time you want to update your payment methods on Lyft.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can You Tip the Driver With Cash?

If you want to tip your driver, you can give him/her cash, or you can use the Lyft app. If you opt for the latter, you have two options. You can either tip the driver right away or do it later.

If you want to do it sooner rather than later, be careful; you only get two hours This method is only possible if you still haven’t paid for the ride and if you haven’t rated the driver. If you want to tip your driver at the same time you pay for your ride, all you need to do is type in the total amount on your Lyft app. This includes the cash for the Lyft services and the additional amount for the tip.

If you want to do it later, you have to find your driver in the “Ride History” tab. Once you find your driver on the list, choose the “Tip driver” option. You only have 72 hours for this method. However, in-app tips must amount to under $50.

Why Can’t You Pay Cash for Lyft Rides?

Paying cash for Lyft services simply isn’t available. As with CAR:GO, Lyft only accepts payments in the form of credit and debit cards or any other cards linked to a bank account.

I don’t see the option to add Lyft cash. What’s happening?

If you followed the instructions above but do not see the Lyft cash option that’s because it isn’t available to all riders just yet. The company has not given us an estimated time that the feature will become available. You can still purchase a gift card and add funds to your Lyft account that way.

Choose the Payment Method That Works for You

Now you know how to pay for Lyft’s transportation services. You have the option of using your Lyft Cash account, gift cards, or simply linking your account to your bank card. You also know how to update your default payment method and tip the driver.

How do you usually prefer to pay for a Lyft ride? Do you use any of the methods outlined in this article? Let us know in the comments section below.