How to Get City of Dallas Transportation for Hire Driver and Vehicle Permits for Uber and Lyft

City of Dallas and DFW Airport Permit Process

On May 29, 2017, Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed a statewide rideshare bill that overrides all Texas city permit regulations. Currently, Dallas / Ft. Worth drivers still need the DFW Airport permit to pick up at DFW Airport. This permit is free and can be obtained at the DFW Airport Ground Transportation Office.

Directions to DFW Airport Ground Transportation Office
https://www.dfwairport.com/gt/P2_122001.pdf
Office Hours: Monday – Thursday 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Friday 8:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Main Phone: 972-973-4078

DFW Airport staging: Terminal A, infield lot. Follow the truck route to enter.

DFW Pickup at the “Passenger Pickup” signs, white sign w green letters on upper level in Terminals A, B, C, E.

For Terminal D, pickup at the “Passenger Pickup” signs on the lower level, blue sign w white letters.

Love Field
No permit is required to pick up at Love Field Airport.

Love Field staging: Please make sure to stage along the side streets of Aubrey Ave. Pickup at the lower level “Transportation Network Area”, the yellow zone.

Old info below, kept for reference.

Beginning May 1, 2015, the City of Dallas requires all Uber and Lyft rideshare drivers to have (2) two permits, a driver permit and vehicle permit. One for the driver and one for each car used for rideshare. Also, if you intend to pickup at DFW Airport, you will need a 3rd DFW Airport specific permit. In order to legally drive in Dallas and pickup at DFW and Love Field Airports, you must have these permits or risk getting fined. Please follow the steps below to apply for and obtain these permits.

You must have (3) three permits:

1) Driver’s Permit – City of Dallas (cost $53)
2) Vehicle Permit – City of Dallas (inspection cost $40-50 + decal fee $3)
3) Vehicle Permit – DFW Airport (free)

IF YOU FOLLOW THE STEPS BELOW, THE TOTAL OUT OF POCKET COST WILL BE $40~50 ONLY. UBER DRIVERS READ BELOW TO SEE HOW TO GET THE DRIVER PERMIT FEE REFUNDED AND UP TO ANOTHER $500

LYFT DRIVERS LEARN HOW TO GET UP TO ANOTHER $500 BONUS HERE

**PLEASE JOIN MY FACEBOOK GROUP TO GET UP-TO-DATE PERMIT INFO, TIPS TO INCREASE PROFITS WITH SURGE, MAJOR EVENT UPDATES, BEST TIMES/LOCATIONS TO DRIVE AND OTHER DRIVING STRATEGIES TO MAXIMIZE YOUR INCOME. https://www.facebook.com/groups/dfwdrivers/ **

HOW TO GET A DRIVER’S PERMIT

FOR ACTIVE DRIVERS BEFORE APRIL 2015

If you were a driver for Uber or Lyft before April 2015, you most likely already have a driver’s permit and vehicle permit issued. These permits for existing drivers were free of charge. Please follow these steps to verify.

1) CHECK YOUR EMAIL inbox for an email from transportationregulation@dallascityhall.com dated around April 29, 2015 to May 2, 2015. Your driver’s permit is attached in a pdf document. The birthdate will be incorrect. Please print this and keep with you.

If you have deleted the email or can not locate it, please follow below:

1) Visit the City of Dallas Transportation for Hire Portal here https://dallascitytx.portal.fasttrackgov.com/Common/ApplicationLinks.aspx

2) Click “Apply for or renew a Driver’s Permit” on the right side.

3) Login using your TEMPORARY login

Temporary User Name: lastname followed by drivers license #, (ie: smith12345678)

Temporary Password: drivers license #

If you have a zero as the first digit of your drivers license number, please try using the same format and omitting the zero.

ie: drivers license is 01234567, user name would be “smith1234567”

password would be “1234567”

Occasionally there are typos in the temporary login. If the above does not work, click “Forgot User Name” under login box. Enter your email address. You will receive an email with your user name. The password will be the numbers after your last name.

4) Once you are logged in, you must CREATE A PERMANENT LOGIN and update your details.

5) You will receive an email to VERIFY your email address. Click that link.

6) Now you can view your existing driver’s permit under “Apply for or renew a Driver’s Permit”.

7) UPDATE your personal details under “Maintain Contact Information” at the top menu.

If you need to change your birthdate, at the top left menu, click “Update Driver Permit, Contact and/or Address Information”. Start new application and select “Driver Information Change”. Follow the steps to submit the change.

8) At the top left menu, click “Request a REPLACEMENT Driver’s Permit”

9) “Start a New Application” to request a replacement and “Submit” the request.

10) If the temporary login methods above do not work, you will need to call or visit the Transportation Regulation Office to confirm an existing account. If you don’t have one, you will need to follow the steps below for a new account.

FOR NEW DRIVERS STARTING APRIL 2015 AND LATER

You will have to apply for the driver’s permit yourself.

1. Visit the City of Dallas Transportation for Hire Portal here https://dallascitytx.portal.fasttrackgov.com/Common/ApplicationLinks.aspx
2. Click “Apply for or renew a Driver’s Permit” on the right side.
3. “Register Now” on the right side and setup your account.
4. Verify your email by clicking the link sent to you.
5. Under “Menu” at the top left, click “Apply for or renew a Driver’s Permit”
6. “Start a New Application” and fill out all required info with red *
7. Under question #5 select “Rideshare Vehicle”
8. Select “Yes” for question #6 and have the City of Dallas conduct their background check.
9. Click “Review Fees” at the bottom, confirm the $53 total, and select “Submit and Pay Now” (LEARN HOW TO GET THE $53 REFUNDED TO YOU BELOW)
10. Follow the prompts to PAY for the permit and print your receipt.
11. The process takes a couple days to a couple weeks time. Check the status by clicking “Apply for or renew a Driver’s Permit” and viewing the pending application. You may need to call the Transportation Regulation Office for manual verification of your background check results if your status has been “Pending Background Check” for over a week.
12. Once the status is “PENDING BADGE ISSUE”, the permit is ready to be picked up at the Transportation Regulation Office. You can request for it to be mailed by calling them. Note it may take 2-3 weeks to receive by mail. Alternatively, they will automatically email the permit after one week. I recommend stopping by the office to pick it up in person.

HOW TO GET UP TO ANOTHER $500 BY DRIVING FOR LYFT AND GET THE DRIVER PERMIT FEE REFUNDED*

1. If you are a Lyft driver, Lyft will reimburse your driver permit fee.
2. If you are not a Lyft driver yet, RECEIVE UP TO A $500 BONUS when using this signup link: https://www.lyft.com/drivers/DRIVEDFW
3. Alternatively enter promo code “DRIVEDFW” in the promo code box on the signup screen. MUST BE ENTERED ON 1ST PAGE TO RECEIVE UP TO $500 BONUS.
4. Please go here: https://help.lyft.com/hc/en-us/requests/new
5. Select “DRIVER”, then “LOCAL REGULATIONS”, then “FOR-HIRE LICENSE” in the drop down menus
6. Send Lyft a message and attach a screenshot of the receipt.
7. Lyft will credit you $53 in 1-2 pay statements.

IF YOU ONLY DRIVE LYFT, GET UP TO A $500 BONUS FOR SIGNING UP FOR UBER.*
(The highest bonus available)

1. Give at least (1) ride on Lyft
2. Follow this link: https://get.uber.com/cl/rideshare500/?invite_code=674dm or enter “674dm” in the invite code box.
3. Once you are approved, give 30 rides.
4. After you complete the rides, send an email to
   drive@dfwdrivers.com

HOW TO GET A VEHICLE PERMIT

FOR ACTIVE DRIVERS BEFORE APRIL 2015

1. In most cases, you already had one mailed to you.
2. If you did not receive one, most likely, they have an outdated address for you or a typo in the address. Please call or visit the Transportation Regulation Office to request a reissue of your vehicle decal, assuming you already have a driver’s permit.
3. If there is no record of a vehicle decal issued or if you have a new vehicle to register, you will need to follow the steps below for a new application.

FOR NEW DRIVERS STARTING APRIL 2015 AND LATER

1. You must have a driver’s permit before you can apply for a vehicle permit.
2. Visit the City of Dallas Transportation for Hire Portal here https://dallascitytx.portal.fasttrackgov.com/Common/ApplicationLinks.aspx
3. Click “Register or Renew Vehicle Decal (Permit)” on the bottom left.
4. “Start a New Application” and select “New Motorized Vehicle Registration”
5. Fill out all required info and “Submit”.
6. Take your vehicle for inspection at one of the city approved inspection stations here. http://dallascityhall.com/departments/codecompliance/Pages/Vehicle-Inspection.aspx

This is a CITY REQUIRED INSPECTION separate from your state inspection.

The cheapest inspection station on the list is a pair of car dealerships charging $40. They are also the strictest. They fail the majority of cars for minor things such as door dings, scratches and scuff marks. I would not take my car there for inspection unless it is new or in pristine condition.

I recommend the inspection station below. Cost is $50 but you save more in the long run. They are quick, professional, and no hassle. Tell them Arthur sent you for fast, friendly service.

J T Automotive
3538 Singleton Blvd
Dallas, TX 75212
214-630-4646

7) For LYFT-ONLY drivers, wait one day and take your car registration receipt, inspection paperwork and drivers license to the Transportation Regulation Office to have your vehicle decal issued. Pay $3 for the decal. The vehicle decal goes on the bottom corner passenger side of the front windshield.

For UBER drivers, take your inspection paperwork and driver’s permit to one of the Uber Dallas offices below. They will issue you a vehicle permit and deduct it from your pay.

Uber Offices:

Dallas
1801 N Lamar St #130
Dallas, TX 75202
Office Hours: M-F 11am-5pm, Sat 10am-2pm

The driver’s permit is valid for 2 years from the date of issue.

In most cases, the driver’s permit expires on the anniversary of the date you applied to Uber or Lyft.

The vehicle permit is valid for 1 year. In most cases, the vehicle permit expires in the same month as your vehicle state registration.

Dallas Transportation Regulation
3448 W Mockingbird Ln
Dallas, Texas 75235
Phone: (214) 670-3161 Fax: (214) 670-6968
Email: transportationregulation@dallascityhall.com
Office Hours: M-F 8:30a-4p

HOW TO RENEW A VEHICLE PERMIT

1. You do not need to register again online, since your vehicle is already in the system. You will get a notification that your car is already registered if you try.
2. Take your vehicle for inspection at one of the city approved inspection stations here. http://dallascityhall.com/departments/codecompliance/Pages/Vehicle-Inspection.aspx See the no-hassle recommended inspection station above.
3. Follow the steps above depending if you drive Lyft-only or Uber.

HOW TO GET A DFW AIRPORT PERMIT / DECAL

1. You MUST HAVE BOTH the city of Dallas driver’s and vehicle permits before you apply for the DFW airport permit.
2. Bring the car you wish to apply for, with city of Dallas vehicle permit affixed to the windshield, and your driver’s permit to the DFW Ground Transportation Office below. Your vehicle permit must be directly affixed to the windshield, not on any removable object.
3. Fill out the application. The permit is FREE!
4. The office personnel will affix the decal to your windshield in-person.

Directions to DFW Airport Ground Transportation Office
https://www.dfwairport.com/gt/P2_122001.pdf
Office Hours: Monday – Thursday 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Friday 8:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Main Phone: 972-973-4078

*Bonus amounts change frequently. You will be qualified for the highest bonus currently available.