We’ve found assistance with transportation all over the United States! If you are low income and need help getting to work, doctor’s appointments and more, then you can’t afford to miss this!
It’s no surprise that so many people are searching for assistance with transportation. The Leadership Conference Education Fund found that low income people typically spend 42% of their income on transportation costs. That’s a huge burden for low income people across the United States!
Contents:
You may be able to get a free car.
Many public transportation systems have low income discounts.
Many bike share programs have low income discounts.
Medicaid can help you get to doctor’s appointments.
Disabled veterans can get free rides from the DAV network.
Lyft offers specific transportation assistance for low income people.
TANF may offer assistance with transportation.
Local organizations may have volunteer driver programs.
You may be able to get a free car.
We have found several ways that low income people can get a free car. Personally, this is my favorite way to get assistance with transportation because it gives you a lot more freedom than some of the other options… and I know they work, because my family won one back in 2017! Here’s everything we know about legitimate free vehicle giveaways and how to replicate our success.
Many public transportation systems have low income discounts.
Bus passes, train tickets and other public transportation systems can get really expensive when you rely on them. However, many of these systems offer free or discounted services to low income residents. You will need to contact your local public transit system or Department in charge of social services for more information, because this information varies depending on where you live.
Bike share and electric scooter share programs have popped up all over the country. Users pay a certain amount of money to use this equipment and anyone can use them in the service area. It’s actually really cool – but my favorite part is that many of these providers offer low income discounts. If you live in an area with a bike share or scooter share program, check out our complete discount list.
Medicaid can help you get to doctor’s appointments.
Medicaid provides free healthcare for low income people – and Medicaid benefits include assistance with transportation to and from doctors appointments!
According to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, “Federal regulations say that Medicaid beneficiaries can get rides to and from providers when necessary… Depending on your needs and your State’s rules, rides might be by taxi, car, van, public bus or a subway. You might share your ride with others. You have to call to set up your ride in advance.”
If you receive Medicaid benefits and you need help getting to an appointment, call either your caseworker or the office in charge of Medicaid in your area.
Disabled veterans can get free rides from the DAV network.
Disabled American Veterans, or DAV, offers free volunteer rides for medical or dental needs. This service is run by volunteers and cannot cover every community. However, the DAV website says that they have donated over 3,500 vehicles for this program so it does cover many areas. See if it’s available in your area at DAV.org.
Lyft offers specific transportation assistance for low income people.
A 2019 Lyft study revealed that almost half of all Lyft rides started or ended in a low income area. As a result, they have created several LyftUp programs that offer assistance with transportation in low income areas.
First, the Jobs Access program helps low income workers commute to job interviews, job training, and transportation for the first three weeks of employment.This program is available in several cities, including Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, New Jersey, New York, Oakland, Philadelphia, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Tacoma, and Washington DC.
This program is offered through a partnership with Goodwill and the United Way. In order to get a free rideshare, bike or scooter ride, you will need to contact the company in advance. You cannot just book a Lyft and expect it to be free. You’ll need to apply for the LyftUp Jobs Access Program on Lyft.com.
Lyft has also offered a Grocery Access Program that appears to still be operating, but I could not confirm what areas participated. Historically, they have also provided free transportation to polling locations for elections, transportation to essential services and resources in underserved communities, and more. Visit their LyftUp Programs list for details.
TANF may offer assistance with transportation.
TANF, or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, is a low income program that provides cash benefits to families who qualify. The program is designed to help families transition out of poverty. I was able to uncover multiple reports that indicated that TANF funds can be used to help low income people with transportation to and from work.
Specifically, I found several reports indicating that transportation was a key problem that TANF was designed to solve. One report reads, “In some areas, there is a mismatch between where most entry-level and service sector jobs are located and where most welfare recipients live. Two-thirds of new jobs are in the suburbs, but three of four welfare recipients live in rural areas or central cities, with few recipients owning reliable cars. Many entry-level jobs require evening or weekend hours in areas that are poorly served by existing transit routes or are not within a reasonable commute time. Even in metropolitan areas with extensive transit systems, studies have shown that less than half the entry-level jobs are accessible by transit.”
As a result, states were urged to find a way to help low income TANF participants with transportation, especially for work. If you need assistance with transportation, I strongly recommend that you contact your state agency in charge of TANF.
Local organizations may have volunteer driver programs.
Many nonprofits and charities have recognized the transportation crisis that low income people face and have created volunteer driver programs. Over the years that I’ve been running Low Income Relief, I’ve found countless senior centers, community centers, congregate meal sites and other organizations that offer transportation services for their clients, guests and community members.
However, these are all very local. You would need to call 211 or call around to organizations in your area to see if they assist with transportation.
Nicole Thelin
Nicole is the owner and lead researcher for Low Income Relief. She has over 20 years of professional research and writing experience, and she has been solely dedicated to investigating low income topics for the last 10 years. Nicole started Low Income Relief after a personal experience with poverty. When her husband was medically discharged from the US Army, their family experienced tremendous financial hardship. Nicole was able to gather help from multiple community agencies and move into a nearby low income housing unit in just two weeks!Since then, Nicole has been dedicated to helping low income families in crisis. She regularly spends hundreds of hours combing through countless resources to make sure that Low Income Relief has the most comprehensive and complete resource directories on the internet today. Prior to starting Low Income Relief, Nicole worked as a novelist, journalist, ghostwriter and content creator. Her work has been featured in various print and online publications, including USA Today, The Daily Herald, The Chronicle and more. Her work has also been featured by Google for Publishers and other leading industry publications.
FAQs
How do you get free rides on Lyft? ›
In select cities, you can refer your friends to Lyft and each get a free ride. The rider you refer must be new to Lyft, meaning they've never requested a ride before. To refer a new rider, open the Lyft app main menu and tap 'Refer a friend.
What is the code for free Lyft ride? ›All you need to do to get your first Lyft ride free is enter the Promo Code: LYFTPTM into your Lyft app under the Promos tab located on the left hand side menu.
How to get a free Lyft or Uber? ›- Click the menu within the app on the top left side of the screen.
- Select the option from the drop-down menu that says “free rides”
- Send out your referral code to friends and family right through the app.
- Once they take their first free ride, you will see a free ride credit appear in your account.
Pay for your next purchase at Lyft in 4 installments over 6 weeks when you check out with Zip.
Can you use Lyft with no money? ›If there is insufficient funds, it will not let you request the ride. So, if you don't pay for the ride, it will not let you request the ride. Consider updating your payment source to ensure sufficient funds. Does Lyft charge before or after a ride?
How do I get my first ride free with Uber? ›It's really that simple. All you need to do to get your Uber first ride free is enter the Uber Promo Code: R2VUCAYHUE into your Uber app.
How do I use a promo code on Lyft? ›Open the Lyft app's main menu, then tap 'Rewards. ' Tap 'Enter promo code,' then add your promo code. Tap 'Apply.
What is the cheapest way to use Lyft? ›Split the fare: Lyft and Uber allow you to split the fare right there in the app. Avoid the surge: Apps will increase prices during popular times, days and areas. If you can grab a ride an hour before or hour after, try. Apps can also increase prices when you're in a popular location and a lot of people want a ride.
Whats cheaper Uber or Lyft? ›To put these price differences in perspective in Los Angeles, you will pay a higher cost per minute for Uber than for Lyft. If you take a ride in heavy traffic and are forced to sit for a while, taking an UberX will cost you more than taking a Lyft.
Can I pay later with Uber? ›Pay for your next purchase at Uber in 4 installments over 6 weeks when you check out with Zip.
Can I pay Uber with cash? ›
Can I pay for Uber with cash? Yes, you can pay with cash. Before requesting a ride, go to the Payment section in the app and select Cash. At the end of your trip, pay cash directly to your driver.
Is it cheaper to order a Lyft ahead of time? ›Do Scheduled Rides Cost More Than Regular Rides? You won't pay any additional amount to schedule a ride. Lyft bases its trip fares on distance, time, and traffic congestion, which applies equally to on-demand and scheduled trips.
How to get a free Uber ride without credit card? ›To get a free ride with Uber:
Open the Uber app. Tap the menu button, and then tap Free Rides. Tap Invite Friends. Select a method such as text message, email, social media, or any other option you're given.
Getting started with Lyft Cash is as easy as 1-2-3. Find Lyft Cash in the Payment tab of the app menu and tap 'Add cash. ' Choose the amount you want to add to your Lyft Cash balance: $25, $50, or $100.
Is your first Lyft free? ›Lyft New Rider Promo Code
Usually it's a $5 free ride credit toward the first ride. The promotional ride credit may vary from time to time and market to market. Click the Sign-up button below to apply and find out the discount amount toward your first Lyft ride.
Freebird is a cashback app that will reward you for taking Uber or Lyft rides. It is indeed a legit app since it will really send back a portion of what you paid for your Uber or Lyft ride.