Lyft has quietly begun charging late fees to customers who keep their drivers waiting.
The company outlines a policy in a recently published support document that will see it add wait time fees to trips where drivers arrive at a pickup location and wait for more than two minutes for a passenger to get into their car.
The fees will not apply to Shared, Access, Assisted, or Car Seat rides, and if a driver cancels on you due to a no-show, you will not be charged a wait time penalty in addition to a cancellation fee.
Lyft also provides a five-minute grace period for Lux Black and Lux Black XL rides. If a driver arrives early, the clock will not begin to tick until after the original estimated pickup time.
When did Lyft start charging a wait time fee?? Like sorry I took a minute to come downstairs? pic.twitter.com/Q46cAWKERM
— Marq 🐸 (@themarkweaver) January 23, 2023
“Wait time fees help keep our platform running smoothly – try to be on time and ready to meet your driver when they arrive at the pickup location,” the company says. “Additional wait time charges may apply to your trip depending on how busy it is. Wait time fees vary by location.”
Users with disabilities, as well as those who frequently accompany people who may require more time to board a car, can request a fee waiver from Lyft. Customers can also request refunds for any previous wait fees, according to the company.
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The change brings Lyft in line with Uber’s wait time policy, which has been in effect since 2016. Among these are terms designed to accommodate riders with disabilities.
Uber reached a settlement with the US Department of Justice last year after the agency accused the company of overcharging disabled passengers.
