A rideshare vehicle inspection checklist is a standardized list of safety and mechanical checks that every Uber and Lyft driver must pass before they can accept ride requests. The inspection covers 19 key areas, from brakes and tires to seat belts and windshield condition, and must be completed by a certified mechanic or an approved digital inspection platform like Chex.AI.

If you drive for Uber, Lyft or any other rideshare platform, passing your vehicle inspection is the biggest barrier between you and your first trip. Fail it and you're stuck rebooking, repaying and losing days of potential earnings. Pass it the first time and you can be on the road within hours.

This guide gives you the complete rideshare vehicle inspection checklist, links to the official Uber and Lyft inspection forms, a breakdown of costs, and every option for getting inspected, including how to complete your rideshare inspection online from your phone with Chex.AI.

What is a rideshare vehicle inspection?

A rideshare vehicle inspection is a safety assessment that platforms like Uber and Lyft require before a driver can be activated. It confirms that a vehicle meets the minimum safety standards for carrying passengers, covering everything from engine performance and brake condition to lighting, mirrors and interior cleanliness.

Uber and Lyft both require this inspection at signup and then every year (or more often, depending on your state). The inspection has to be recorded on an official rideshare inspection form signed by a licensed mechanic, a certified inspection center or a digital inspection platform.

Key facts about rideshare inspections:

•         Required for all Uber and Lyft drivers before activation

•         Must be renewed every year in most states (some require it every 6 months)

•         Covers 19 standardized checkpoint areas

•         Can be completed in person at a mechanic shop or online through platforms like Chex.AI

•         Vehicles older than 15 years (Uber) or 12 years (Lyft) are typically ineligible regardless of condition

The complete rideshare vehicle inspection checklist

Whether you're preparing for an Uber vehicle inspection or a Lyft vehicle inspection, the core car inspection checklist is nearly identical. Here is every item your inspector will evaluate, grouped by category.

Exterior checks

Mechanical checks

Interior and safety checks

Pro tip: The single most common reason drivers fail their rideshare inspection is an active Check Engine light. If yours is on, get it diagnosed before booking your inspection. Even a loose gas cap can trigger it.

Uber vehicle inspection form: What you need

The Uber vehicle inspection form (officially called the "Uber Vehicle Inspection Report") is a one-page document that your mechanic fills out after running through the 19-point checklist above. Without this signed form uploaded to your Uber driver account, you can't go online.

How to get the Uber inspection form

You have three ways to get and complete your Uber inspection form:

1.       Download the PDF directly. Uber provides the standard inspection form in the driver app under Documents > Vehicle Inspection. You can also search for "uber inspection form pdf" and download it from the Uber help center.

2.       Get it at an inspection center. Shops like Jiffy Lube, Pep Boys, Meineke and Firestone keep the form on site. Ask for the "Uber rideshare inspection form" when you book your appointment.

3.       Complete it digitally with Chex.AI. Instead of printing, driving to a shop and waiting, Chex.AI lets you complete your Uber vehicle inspection entirely from your phone. The AI-powered platform walks you through each checkpoint, captures photo evidence, detects damage across 163 vehicle parts with 95–99% accuracy, and generates a signed digital inspection report that Uber accepts, all in under 20 minutes.

What the Uber inspection form includes

The standard Uber car inspection form asks for:

•         Vehicle information: Year, make, model, VIN, license plate, mileage

•         Inspector information: Name, shop name, mechanic license number, signature

•         19-point checklist: Pass/fail for each item in the checklist above

•         Inspector declaration: Confirmation that the vehicle meets rideshare safety standards

•         Date: In most states, the form is valid for one year from the inspection date

Once your mechanic or digital platform has completed the form, upload it to your Uber driver account under Documents → Vehicle Inspection. Uber usually reviews and approves it within 24–48 hours.

Lyft vehicle inspection form: Requirements by state

The Lyft vehicle inspection form follows the same 19-point checklist as Uber, but Lyft has its own form template. The good news: in most states, Lyft accepts Uber's inspection form and the other way round, so if you drive for both platforms you usually need only one inspection.

How to get the Lyft inspection form

As with Uber, you can get the Lyft inspection form through:

1.       The Lyft driver app. Open your Driver Dashboard and download the form under Vehicle Information.

2.       A printed Lyft inspection form PDF. Available on Lyft's help center under "Vehicle inspection requirements."

3.       In person at a partner shop. Many Jiffy Lube, Pep Boys and Firestone locations carry the Lyft car inspection form.

4.       Online with Chex.AI. Chex.AI's Lyft inspection produces a completed digital inspection report that Lyft accepts, with no shop visit.

Does Lyft accept an Uber inspection?

Yes. In most states, Lyft accepts a passed Uber inspection form, and Uber accepts a passed Lyft inspection form. The 19-point checklist is standardized across both platforms. There are a few exceptions, though:

•         California: Requires a separate state-specific inspection regardless of platform

•         New York City: A TLC inspection is required, separate from the platform forms

•         Massachusetts: Has its own state vehicle inspection requirement on top of the rideshare form

When in doubt, upload your existing inspection form to both platforms. If one rejects it, the app will tell you what extra documentation is needed.