Using Lyft and Uber in Florida

Ride-sharing apps have become more prevalent over the years due to their convenient features. In Florida, Uber and Lyft are two of the leading ridesharing apps. Both apps offer several advantages of carpooling technology such as cab selection, upfront pricing, access to ratings and booking history, estimated time and arrival, and many more. Are you traveling to Florida soon and don't want to spend extra on car rental services? Or do you just want to know which app suits your needs best?

Check out the points that we have laid out below to see which company you should book a ride with.

Pricing

Uber and Lyft pricing rates are relatively close as both are dependent on the location. An upfront price is always declared, and you are provided with an online tool to estimate fares before requesting a ride. Both companies start at around $1 with a $1.50 cost per mile and $0.25 cost per minute. Uber's pricing includes a base rate, booking fee, waiting time, and an additional rate when the demand is high. This is still similar to Lyfts' pricing which is a combination of the service fee, the base fare, cost per mile, and cost per minute. Just like Uber, the prices increase with demand. Additional charges such as airport pick up or drop off fees, venue fees, tolls, and cancellation fees may also be charged. The differences between the two in terms of pricing is evident in how the additional rate is calculated during busy times. In Uber, this is called surge pricing and has been known to multiply fares by as much as seven or eight times. Lyft, on the other hand, includes prime time percentages on top of the base fare. As of the moment, Lyft does not have any cap on their prime-time percentages.

Safety

All Uber and Lyft drivers have to go through a background check, proper inspection, and registration following Florida's necessary regulatory framework for transportation network companies. Ridesharing apps in Florida are required to meet the same set of insurance and background check requirements as mandated by House Bill 221. 

This means that you are required to be protected with a $1 million insurance coverage each time you take an Uber or Lyft. If you get involved in an Uber or Lyft accident, for example, you may be entitled to different kinds of compensation. You can read more about economic and non-economic damages to further understand how accident victims can be compensated. Also, it is highly recommended that you seek legal advice immediately if you ever get involved in a ridesharing accident so you can be properly compensated.

Passenger Experience

Lyft is known for offering passengers a fun and casual atmosphere. Whereas, Uber, is known to have a more corporate and professional feel. If you are not the chatty type, both ridesharing apps have also added a feature that allows you to alert the driver beforehand that you do not want to engage in small talk. In Uber, this is called “silent mode” while Lyft calls this “Zen mode”.

Once you have booked your ride and you are still nowhere to be found, your Uber or Lyft will wait for you for five minutes. Uber will charge you a waiting fee after 2 minutes while Lyft will immediately charge after a minute. Both also offer a wide array of vehicles to choose from as well as an opportunity to rate or tip your driver after each ride. Sharing a ride with other passengers and multi-stop rides (multiple drop off and pick up) are also made available on both platforms. Wheelchair-accessible rides are also offered by Uber. 

In-App Experience

Another factor in choosing between taking an Uber or Lyft is the in-app experience. Uber will provide you with an estimated arrival time before booking a ride while Lyft requires you to book a ride first to get an estimated arrival time. You can edit your ride information mid-trip on both apps, but only Uber allows you to split the fare with your friends in-app. Lyft integrates Google Maps while Uber has a customized, branded navigation platform where you can save your favorite destinations for convenience. For a more personalized experience, some Lyft drivers may also have an electronic dashboard sign which displays your name and color on your Lyft app. 

Choosing between taking an Uber or Lyft depends on a variety of factors such as pricing, additional features, range of vehicles and more., Ultimately, it is all a matter of personal preference when it comes to choosing the right ridesharing app for you.