TechZerg is reader supported. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn a commission.
Ride-hailing services like Lyft are all about convenience, and that includes the ability to cancel a ride you no longer need.
If you suddenly changed your mind and decided to cancel a Lyft ride for whatever reason, you can cancel your Lyft ride with just some quick taps in the app.
But you have to be quick about it; otherwise, you will incur a cancellation fee of $10 depending on your region. You have the grace window to cancel a ride before the driver accepts your request, usually within two minutes when you made the request. Once the driver accepts your request, then the cancellation window has passed.
Cancel a Lyft ride you just booked
- Once you decide to cancel a Lyft ride, tap Edit Ride at the bottom-left of the screen.
- Tap Cancel ride.
- Confirm the cancellation by tapping on Cancel Ride.
Cancel a scheduled Lyft ride
- Tap the “calendar icon” on the top-right of the Lyft app (homepage).
- Tap the x above “Cancel ride.”
- Tap Cancel again to confirm the cancellation.
If you get hit with a cancellation fee, you can request a review if you feel you have a strong case for a refund. To ask for a review, follow the steps below:
- Tap the “menu icon” in the top-left of the Lyft app.
- Tap Ride history.
- select the Lyft ride you were charged for.
- Scroll down and tap Get help. You might be asked to write a brief explanation of what actually happened.
Cancel Lyft ride (FAQs)
Answer to related questions people also ask:
Do I get my money back if I cancel Lyft? / How can I get a refund from Lyft?
If you cancel a Lyft ride, you won’t get your money back according to the Lyft refund policy. All Lyft charges are non-refundable, irrespective of the circumstance. On the contrary, Lyft will charge you a cancellation fee if you cancel a ride or don’t show up for a scheduled ride. However, you do have a grace window (to avoid any fees) if you cancel a ride before the driver accepts your request.
While Lyft is clear on its no-refunds policy, they also allow you to dispute fees and charges that may show up in your account and possibly get your money back. To dispute a charge, click on “Get Help” in your Lyft account.
Can I contact Lyft by phone? / How do I communicate with Lyft?
Unfortunately, Lyft doesn’t have a direct customer service phone number, but you can still get in touch with Lyft via the help center or call 631-201-LYFT (631-201-5938) to directly request a ride from a Lyft agent without using the app. Additionally, the Twitter handle @asklyft is usually available 24/7 to answer your questions.
What happens if you cancel a scheduled Lyft?
You can schedule a Lyft ride for up to a week and then cancel the ride without incurring any charge if you cancel before you’re matched with a driver. If you cancel a scheduled Lyft ride after being matched with a driver, the Lyft cancellation fee policy will apply.
Why did Lyft charge me for a ride I didn’t take? / Why did Lyft charge me a penny?
The most reason is temporary authorization, which is used to confirm that the payment method you provided is valid and has enough funds to cover the cost of your ride. You will not be charged for authorizations, and they will show up as ‘pending’ transactions in your bank account.
Once your payment method is successfully verified and charged, Lyft will release the authorization. Expect between 5 to 7 business days for the authorization to appear back on your account.
How do I file a complaint with Lyft?
Go to your ‘Ride history’ and find the particular ride, tap on it, and scroll down to the bottom of the ride page. Next, tap the “Get help” or “Request Review” button and follow the prompt to file your complaint.