New Background Check Requirements for Ride-Share Drivers

By Aline Miranda on November 20, 2017

Uber’s introduction of a “safe rides” fee a few years ago angered lots of customers who thought they should not have to pay an extra fee for their safety. That fee generated more than $449 million in revenue for Uber over the last two years, according to a report from Bloomberg.

According to Uber’s Website

“The background check includes a Motor Vehicle Record review as well as a criminal background check.

Local laws and regulations often establish the specific background check criteria that Uber applies, and these criteria can vary significantly from state to state. In general though, in order to pass the background check, drivers must have:

• At least one year U.S. licensing history (if under 23-years-old, must have at least three years licensing history)
• A valid driver’s license and Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) that shows:
• No major moving violations, such as DUIs or reckless driving, within the last seven years
• No more than three minor moving violations in the past three years, such as speeding tickets or failure to obey traffic laws
• A criminal record that does not include a conviction for a felony, violent crime, or sexual offense within the last seven years, among other things such as a registration on the U.S. Department of Justice National Sex Offender Public Website.

The background check is private, secure, and completely free for potential driver partners. Background checks are performed by Checkr, Inc., a third party background check provider that is accredited by the National Association of Professional Background Screeners. Periodically, we re-run background checks for current driver partners. The background check does not include a credit check.”

As of November 9, 2017, California’s Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) issued a new order to intensify background checks requirements for Transportation Network Companies (TNCs) such as Uber and Lyft.

TNCs now will be required to use companies credited by the National Association of Professional Background Screeners when conducting background checks on drivers. Background checks will be required before any rideshare driver is allowed to drive on the app and background checks will now be conducted yearly. The CPUC hopes these changes will provide additional security and peace of mind for passengers.

More information regarding the CPUC changes can be found here:

http://www.esrcheck.com/wordpress/2017/11/13/california-public-utilities-commission-strengthens-background-checks-of-drivers-for-transportation-network-companies-such-as-uber-and-lyft/

http://docs.cpuc.ca.gov/PublishedDocs/Published/G000/M198/K780/198780048.pdf