Uber, Lyft offer car rental, lease options to lure drivers; critics call prices predatory

The deals have caught regulators’ attention. The California Public Utilities Commission is probing whether some of the leasing and renting arrangements run afoul of its requirement that ride share drivers use a “personal vehicle.” Uber and Lyft say the programs serve people who are eager to work for a ride-sharing company but do not have a vehicle or don’t have one that qualifies. Requirements of many traditional leases, such as mileage limits or long-term contracts, don’t work well for their drivers. Uber and Lyft declined to say how much money they earn from the deals. Uber said its focus is getting drivers on the road, while Lyft said its program is designed in a way that “makes sense” for Lyft, GM and the drivers.