Texas sets four statewide requirements every Uber and Lyft driver must meet to qualify and stay eligible: age, a valid license, proof of insurance and registration, and a background check. These rules apply the same way across the state, and Uber and Lyft can add their own stricter requirements on top.
What Are the Basic Requirements to Drive for Uber or Lyft in Texas?
Under Section 2402.107 of the Texas Occupations Code, a rideshare company checks four things before a driver can log in, starting with the Uber driver age requirements:
- Age: At least 18 years old. Uber and Lyft can set (and usually do set) a higher minimum than the state floor.
- License: A valid driver’s license from Texas, another state, or the District of Columbia.
- Registration and insurance: Proof for the vehicle being driven.
- Background check: A passed background screening.
These four rules set the state’s floor for eligibility for an Uber driver. Uber and Lyft can add stricter rules of their own on top of them.
License, Insurance, and Vehicle Registration Requirements
A license from Texas, another state, or the District of Columbia all qualify, so a driver who just moved to Texas doesn’t need to get a new one issued locally.
Insurance works differently. Under Section 2402.101 of the Texas Occupations Code, the Texas Insurance Code’s rideshare coverage rules kick in the moment you log in to the app, not just when you have a passenger in the car.
How Much Insurance Coverage Is Actually Available After a Rideshare Crash?
The coverage available depends on what the driver was doing in the app at the moment of the crash. While the driver is logged in but hasn’t accepted a ride yet, Texas law requires at least $50,000 per person, $100,000 per accident, and $25,000 in property damage coverage. Once the driver accepts a ride, through drop-off, that jumps to $1,000,000 in total liability coverage.
This tiered structure, set by the Texas Insurance Code, is why the driver’s app status at the time of a crash matters so much to a claim.
What Shows Up on a Background Check for Uber and Lyft in Texas?
Before you can log in, Uber and Lyft must run a background check covering three things:
- Criminal history: A search through a commercial multistate and multijurisdiction criminal records locator.
- Sex offender registry: A check against the national sex offender public website.
- Driving record: A review of your driving history.
Texas law requires a new check every year, not just a one-time screen at sign-up, and disqualifies a driver with certain recent convictions, including DWI, violent offenses, and fraud.
Does Houston Have Its Own Uber and Lyft Driver Rules?
No. Under Section 2402.003 of the Texas Occupations Code, regulating rideshare companies and drivers belongs only to the state.
Houston and every other Texas city cannot add their own driver rules on top of what the state already requires. Airports and cruise terminals can set their own reasonable pickup and drop-off rules, but even that narrow exception can’t add new driver requirements beyond the state’s age, license, and background-check standards.
What Happens If a Driver Wasn’t Logged In or Qualified at the Time of a Crash?
In Texas, a rideshare driver’s insurance coverage and a company’s intoxication policy both depend on whether that driver was logged in to the network at the time.
Texas law bars a driver from any amount of intoxication once logged in, and the company must suspend access while it investigates a complaint.
These rules are background, not a conclusion about any case. A rideshare accident claim after a crash has more to check than whether the driver qualified that day.
Frequently Asked Questions About Rideshare Accidents in Texas
Are Uber and Lyft Drivers Considered Employees or Independent Contractors Under Texas Law?
Under Section 2402.114 of the Texas Occupations Code, Texas law treats a rideshare driver as an independent contractor, not an employee. That status holds only if the company does not do the following:
- Set fixed hours for the driver.
- Limit the driver’s territory.
- Block the driver from using other rideshare networks.
- Restrict the driver from other outside work.
Both sides must also sign a written agreement saying so.
What if I Was Hurt by a Rideshare Driver Who Didn’t Actually Meet These Requirements?
An Uber or Lyft driver who caused a crash might not have been properly licensed, insured, background-checked, or logged in as the law requires. If that happened, the gap can matter to your claim, and Mokaram Injury Lawyers is available 24/7 to look at what happened, including whether a car accident claim makes more sense than a rideshare-specific one.
Talk to Mokaram Injury Lawyers About Your Rideshare Accident
Mokaram Injury Lawyers handles the calls, paperwork, and medical coordination for rideshare-accident clients while they recover. We take cases on contingency, so there is no fee unless we win. Case expenses such as filing fees, expert costs, and medical record fees are generally advanced by our firm and repaid from your settlement or award.
Contact Our Personal Injury Lawyers in Houston for a Free Consultation
If you or a loved one was injured in an accident in Houston, Texas, our team is ready to fight for the compensation you deserve. Contact our experienced personal injury attorneys at Mokaram Injury Lawyers and request your free, no-obligation consultation today.
We proudly serve Harris County and its surrounding areas:
Mokaram Injury Lawyers
Address: 2500 W Loop S #450, Houston, TX 77027
Phone: 281-222-2222
Hours: Open 24/7
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