Lyft rolling out feature to favourite drivers

Lyft is rolling out a new feature that allows users to favourite drivers if they like the experience.

How it works is after the ride, riders can tap the favourite icon if they enjoyed the driver, or made a connection with them. The driver will be notified when users add them to their favourite list.

For future scheduled rides, Lyft will prioritize matching riders with the drivers on their favourite list if possible, which Lyft points out creates more earning opportunities for top drivers who build connections with passengers.

This new feature aims to give “you more control over your ride experience,” Lyft notes in its press release. “You can build relationships with drivers who get your vibe, whether that’s keeping the car cool for your commute or knowing when you need quiet time before a big meeting.”

Lyft isn’t the only rideshare company to try this, as Uber added a similar “favourite drivers” feature for Canadians in 2020. At the time, it was only tested in major cities like Toronto, Vancouver, Ottawa, and others.

Lyft has added similar features within the last few years to improve driver comfort. In September 2023, Lyft introduced Women+ Connect in the U.S., which sought to match women and non-binary riders and drivers if available. In July, the rideshare company teamed up with King’s Trust, a national charity founded by King Charles III, aiming to support young people impacted by barriers. This partnership offered free rideshare credits to help with career searches by getting youth to network events, interviews, training, and more.