Lyft Offers Drivers Additional Cash Back Amid Rising Gas Prices

Lyft has announced a 60-day program designed to provide relief to Lyft drivers who are facing rising gas prices.

The program will include an additional 2% cash back for Elite tier drivers and an additional 1% cash back for Gold and Platinum tier drivers who use a Lyft Direct business debit card at eligible U.S. gas stations; an additional 14 cents through Upside; and the ability to redeem existing shop points for $5 off their next fill-up, the company said in a Wednesday (March 25) blog post.

Some offers are not available in some jurisdictions, per the post.

The estimated savings generated by these offers, combined, can range from between 23 cents and 47 cents per gallon for drivers who don’t belong to a tier, to between 70 cents and 98 cents per gallon for drivers who belong to the Elite tier, the post said.

The program will run from Friday (March 27) through May 26, per the post.

“Drivers are feeling the cost of rising gas prices, which ultimately impacts their earnings,” Yuko Yamazaki, vice president and head of driver at Lyft, said in the post. “When costs spike, we want drivers to choose Lyft because they feel like the platform works for them, not against them.”

AAA reported Thursday (March 19) that the national average gas price had risen by nearly $1 over the previous month. That day’s national average gas price was $3.884, up from $2.929 a month earlier and $3.102 a year earlier.

By state, the most expensive gasoline market was California, at $5.61 per gallon, while the least expensive was Oklahoma, at $3.24 per gallon, according to AAA.

Another gig economy firm, DoorDash, announced Monday (March 23) that it launched a program to provide its delivery drivers with assistance dealing with the rising price of gas.

The program offers these Dashers 10% cash back on gas when they use the DoorDash Crimson Visa Debit Card as well as weekly fuel relief payments based on miles driven.

DoorDash said drivers who qualify for both offerings could save between $1.40 and $1.90 per gallon. The company’s program will last until April 26.