What happens to a Lyft account when someone dies
Lyft publishes no process specific to a deceased person's account; a written request goes in through Lyft's support ticket system.
Lyft decides what happens to a Lyft account after a death case by case; its terms promise no transfer.
Lyft publishes no process specific to a deceased person's account; a written request goes in through Lyft's support ticket system. The request takes 5 documents.
How to request a transfer
- •Choose "None of the above" when it asks whether the sender is a rider, a driver or an applicant.
- •State at the start that the account holder has died, that you are the estate's representative, and what is enclosed, since front-line Support handles rides.
- •Keep the account and its ride history while the estate is opened.
- •Send the ride history and receipts the estate needs.
- •Turn off the Lyft Cash automatic refill.
- •Cancel any Lyft Pink membership before its next renewal.
Required Documents
- Death certificate for the account holder
- Letters testamentary or letters of administration: Documentation showing your authority over the estate; Lyft handles these requests through general Support.
- The email address and phone number associated with the Lyft account
- Government-issued photo ID of the person making the request
- Receipts or card statements showing purchases of Standard Lyft Cash: if the estate intends to raise the balance with Lyft or with a state unclaimed-property office
What Lyft, Inc.'s terms say at death
- The terms
“No portion of Lyft Cash may be transferred to another party. Except to the extent required by law, Lyft Cash is not refundable. All Standard Lyft Cash purchases are final.”1
What Lyft, Inc. says happens6
- Balances, payouts and refunds
Lyft describes Standard Lyft Cash as a gift card issued by Lyft, Inc., and states that Lyft Cash is not redeemable for cash.1
- Closing the account
Deleting the account results in the irrevocable loss of any Lyft Cash balance remaining at the time of deletion, except where Lyft is required to provide a refund by law.1
Lyft Cash Rewards are forfeited immediately when the Lyft account is terminated.2
Self-service account deletion is available only to the signed-in account holder, so an executor asks Lyft Support to close the account.3
Lyft aims to respond to an account deletion request within 30 days and, if it needs more time, informs the requester of the reason and the extension period in writing.3
- Deletion and data retention
A deletion request cannot be undone once "Delete account" is selected; it applies to both the rider and driver accounts, and partial deletion of the account or data cannot be requested.3
Ride history is account data and is gone once the account is deleted. In some cases related to trust, safety or fraud, Lyft is unable to delete the account.3
- Restoring a deleted account
There is currently no way to restore a deleted Lyft account.3
- Subscriptions and billing
With automatic refill on, Lyft charges the saved payment method for a new purchase of the pre-selected amount each time the Lyft Cash balance falls below $15 USD, and the refill stays on until it is turned off.1, 4
Refill purchases are not refundable or revocable, except where required by law.1
Lyft Pink auto-renews against a credit or debit card and ends when the membership is cancelled or the account closes.5
Cancelling Lyft Pink does not refund payments already processed; the cancellation takes effect for the next billing cycle, and benefits run through the end of the current billing cycle.5
- Passwords and login
Under the Terms of Service the account holder is the sole authorized user of the account, may not allow other persons to use it, and may not use it on behalf of any third party.6
Other companies and product lines involved1
- Lyft Driver
Driver earnings, driver tax documents and any driver bereavement payout3
Not in Lyft's published guidance8
- A process for a deceased account holder
- How long a request takes
- A mailing address for a written request
- A phone number for this
- A form for estate requests
- A path to refund a balance to the estate
- A transfer of the account, balance or membership to a relative or heir
- Any terms addressing death or unclaimed property
Sources6
- 1.Lyft Cash Terms and Conditions, Last Updated July 13, 2026
- 2.Lyft Cash Rewards Terms and Conditions, Last Updated July 13, 2026
- 3.Delete my account
- 4.Lyft Cash
- 5.Lyft Pink Terms and Conditions, Last Updated April 7, 2022
- 6.Lyft Terms of Service, Last Updated February 9, 2026
A written request to Lyft can ask it to preserve the account while the estate is opened, provide purchase and transaction records for the estate inventory and close the account.
Digital Assets Recovery Letter for Lyft drafts that request from the estate's details.
Sources
Data sourced from Lyft, Inc. primary sources (9 pages reviewed). How we research.
More from Lyft
Is this your situation?
Get a complete guide for your specific circumstances.
Forms for Settling an Estate
Free forms for settling an estate: the probate petition, small estate affidavit, notice to creditors, inventory, and closing forms.
Affidavit of Death
Put a joint owner's or a transfer on death deed owner's death on the land records with the affidavit your state's statute names, laid out for recording.
IRS Form 56
Notify the IRS that you are the fiduciary of an estate, a trust or a person, or end a notice filed before, on the official form.
Digital Assets Recovery Letter
Prepare a letter requesting a deceased person's online accounts, points, and balances from the program that holds them.
Petition for Probate and Letters
Open probate and ask the court to appoint you and issue Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration.
Notice to Creditors
Notify estate creditors and start the claim period — the published notice plus mailed copies for known creditors.
Renunciation of Executor
Decline an appointment as executor named in a will — the writing filed with the court before anyone is appointed.
Tools for Settling an Estate
Free tools for settling an estate: whether probate is needed, executor and trustee pay, creditor deadlines, and inheritance taxes.
How Many Death Certificates Do I Need?
Calculate how many certified death certificates you need and see ordering info for your state.
Do I Need Probate?
Find out if an estate needs probate or qualifies for simplified procedures.
What Happens to Jointly Owned Property When an Owner Dies?
See what your state records when a joint tenant with right of survivorship dies: an affidavit, the death certificate or a new deed.
Do I Have to File Tax Returns for Someone Who Died?
Find out which tax returns need to be filed after someone dies and whether tax clearance is required.
How Do I Settle an Estate?
Personalized plan for settling an estate after someone passes away.
What Do I Do When Someone Dies?
A step-by-step checklist for the days, weeks, and months after a death, with state rules noted where they apply.
