Lyft has launched teen ride accounts across the USA, rolling out a feature that allows passengers aged 13 to 17 to book rides independently while giving parents greater oversight.
The move comes as Lyft looks to narrow the gap with rival Uber and strengthen its position in a ride-hailing market where safety features are becoming a key point of competition.
The company had been preparing the launch for months and confirmed earlier this year that teen accounts would be introduced across hundreds of cities.
On Monday, Lyft officially made the service available nationwide across the USA, marking a significant expansion of its offerings for families.
Safety and account controls
Lyft says teen ride accounts have been built around additional safety safeguards compared with standard rides.
Trips include pin verification at pickup, real-time location tracking, and the option to record rides.
Parents are able to follow trips as they happen and receive alerts, while teens can travel without needing access to an adult account.
Driver eligibility is more restrictive for teen rides. Lyft said only drivers with high star ratings can participate, and drivers who have been blocked by a significant number of riders are excluded.
The company has said these requirements were shaped by discussions with parents and teens during the development process.
Lyft has framed the slower rollout as a deliberate decision to refine the product before launch, positioning the feature as focused on communication and oversight rather than rapid expansion.
Catching up with Uber
The USA rollout highlights Lyft’s effort to catch up with Uber in a segment where it has been behind.
Uber introduced teen ride accounts across the USA in May 2023 and later expanded the feature to more than 50 countries, establishing an early lead among families seeking structured ride options for teenagers.
By introducing teen accounts, Lyft is targeting younger riders who could remain on the platform over time.
The company is also aiming to attract parents who may prioritise safety tools when choosing ride-hailing services for their households.
Expansion beyond core markets
The teen accounts launch comes as Lyft continues to broaden its business beyond its traditional footprint.
Last year, the company bought European taxi app Freenow for about $200 million and acquired a global chauffeuring service, signalling a push into international and premium transport markets.
This expansion is taking place as competition intensifies from autonomous vehicle services, which are increasingly operating alongside traditional ride-hailing platforms.
Autonomous competition builds
Driverless rides are becoming a growing challenge across the sector.
Waymo has expanded operations in major US cities, including San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Phoenix, and launched its own teen ride offering last summer.
The company has also begun testing vehicles in New York City with a human in the driver’s seat.
Uber has partnered with Waymo and signed a six-year robotaxi deal with Lucid and autonomous vehicle startup Nuro.
Tesla launched a robotaxi pilot in Austin last year and has begun testing drives without a human safety monitor.
Lyft has partnered with Mobileye and is working with Tensor Robocar, powered by Nvidia technology, with plans to launch services in 2027.
It also plans to roll out Waymo rides in Nashville this year.
Lyft has said autonomous adoption remains at an early stage and faces regulatory and technical hurdles, adding that it would be extraordinary if autonomous rides accounted for 10% of its business by 2030.
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