We did not find independent, published incident figures that compare Uber and Lyft in British Columbia, so we do not rank them. What can be compared is what each requires of drivers and what each puts in the app. On those points the two are close, and your own precautions matter more than the logo on the app.
What both services must do in BC
Ride-hail companies need a licence from the Passenger Transportation Board, and their drivers go through criminal record and driving record checks under provincial rules. The same checks apply to taxi drivers, so a ride-hail trip is not set apart from a taxi trip on that point.
Safety tools in the apps
Uber lists these tools for riders in Canada:
- Share My Trip, which sends your location, the driver’s name and photo and the licence plate to a person you choose.
- An emergency button that helps you reach 911 and shows your location and trip details.
- RideCheck, which uses the phone’s sensors to notice an unexpected long stop and asks if you are all right.
Lyft also builds safety tools into its app. Open its safety page or the app’s safety menu to see the current list, since features change, and compare it with the Uber list above rather than trusting a summary written by someone else.
Precautions on any ride
- Match the licence plate, the car and the driver photo to what the app shows before you get in.
- Ask the driver who they are picking up instead of offering your name first.
- Share your trip with someone you know, and learn where the emergency button is before you need it.
- If the driver takes a route you did not expect, ask about it politely. If something feels wrong, end the ride in a public, well-lit place and report it in the app.
- Late at night or alone, wait for your car inside a building where you can.
If you drive for a ride-hail app
Check that your vehicle and documents meet the provincial requirements, confirm who gets into the car, and use the app’s trip sharing and emergency tools in unfamiliar areas. Do not carry on with a passenger who behaves in a way that worries you.
More on the same question
Our shorter guide, is Lyft safer than Uber, covers what to check before you ride and when a taxi is the better choice. For prices, try the Uber estimate calculator or the Lyft and Uber comparison. This page is general information, not advice for a specific trip. If you are in danger, call 911.