Driving a truck is a dream job for some, but not everyone wants to be that far away from home. But what if you could get paid while driving in the city where you live?
In this blog post, I’m going to share the top ways to get paid as a driver for rideshare companies like Lyft or Uber.
That’s the idea behind companies like Uber and Lyft. Ride-share drivers don’t have to go through the training that truck drivers do, they can work whenever they want and wherever they want, and there are no limits on how many hours or trips you can make. It sounds too good to be true – but it isn’t! In this blog post I will show you the many ways to drive for extra money.
The opportunities are endless and can be done on your own time with flexible hours! Whether you’re looking for a part-time gig or something full-time, there’s a way to make it happen. To learn more about how these jobs work and what they pay take a look at the rest of my article below. Happy reading!
Do you need your own car?
Most of the time, you do need to supply your own car.
Whether you are a Uber driver or food delivery person, having a car does help you get your work done throughout the seasons.
Though, fair enough, sometimes you could get away with using a bike, scooter or public transit, but only if your task involves delivering food or packages as a delivery driver.
If you’re going to ship people around, you’ll need a car.
I mean, you could also go find a taxi company who has a rental fleet that you can use. That way, you won’t have to own you car but it ain’t no free car!
Some Uber and Lyft drivers also lease their cars which means that they are more or less renting them. That’s pretty useful but keep in mind that leased vehicles usually come with mileage charges once you go beyond a certain mileage.
Otherwise, you could try finding a rental company or peer to peer rental service that allows you to use their cars for commercial purposes. This really depends from location to location so there are no guarantees as to whether you’ll find one.
Logistics of becoming a driver
Learning how to get paid to drive is a bit of work because there are a few additional layers of paperwork and logistics required to make it happen.
First, of course, you’ll have to download the app that you want to use. That’s going to be the tip of the iceberg because if you are ferrying passengers, you might need to have a special commercial license.
States and municipalities have different rules on where you can operate, what you are required to have and other rules and regulations.
There’s the requirement to insure your vehicle
Then once you’re on the right side of the law, there’s the rules that you’ll be required to follow to join the app.
If you’re going to drive, of course you need a valid driver’s license. Then, you’ll need a background check, car insurance and other documents. You might also need a clean driving record.
There are different requirements for vehicles too. But generally, you need a four-door car of a certain age. This can vary a lot. For example, Lyft requires a driver in Toronto to have a 2014 or newer car but in San Francisco, you only need a 2001 or newer car.
The biggest benefit
Uber was running some ads a while ago which showed a musician who endorsed Uber because it allowed him to drive whenever he wanted and make money whenever he wanted… so he could focus on music.
I suppose this is similar to how college students have side jobs serving or something, except there’s no requirement to work unless you want to.
Some apps like Uber and Lyft incentivize you to drive during peak periods such as holidays and late at night after last call at a bar.
This
Uber is not just a ride share service.
The name “Uber” is much better known as a taxi service than anything else but the truth is, the Uber app is a gateway to a lot of options to monetize your new car.
Uber has a huuuuuuuuge list of services that you can do with your own car.
You can be a rideshare driver through Uber Pool. That’s kinda fantastic because people can get to your destination and only pay a portion of the fare, since things are split.
Then, there are the regular services that match a user to a car, and you can request to drive for different classes of vehicles depending on what your car qualifies for.
Got a brand new car that’s luxurious? You can qualify for Uber Lux, Uber Black or Uber Black SUV (literally, it must be black) luxury car service. Uber Lux does require you to be a top rated driver to qualify.
On the other hand, if you have a big car, you can apply for UberXL. You need a car that seats six, though.
If you have a car that’s equipped to serve wheelchair users, you can use Uber WAV.
Then, there’s also UberEats. If you want to deliver food, this could be an avenue for you to explore.
The Uber Eats app connects you with a broad range of local restaurants, so that the best food can be delivered by you right to the customer’s doorstep at the tap of a button.
Payment for drivers is done through Uber’s Flex Pay method which requires you to use the app to transfer cash to your linked banked account (fulfilled in one to two business days). You can cash out via this method once a day.
Your deposits are otherwise also automatically transferred weekly. You just need to add a bank account via the app.
Be a Lyft driver
Of course, the next biggest alternative is to consider working for Lyft.
Uber and Lyft used to have different target markets but they have since become more or less the same in most people’s minds.
There’s a bunch of requirements depending on where you’re from. They are broadly categorized as having a requisite amount of driving history, a background check, a DMV check, drivers’ license, license plates and insurance. To drive with Lyft, you must also go through the Community Safety Education program.
And just like Uber, different regions have different requirements for your vehicle’s age. Your car must have four doors and it must have at least five seatbelts including the driver’s seatbelt.
For every 12 hours in driver mode, you must take a six hour break. This is a minimum and might be extended by state or city requirements.
Payment is the sum of time, distance, tips and bonuses. Lyft describes their payment methods and schedules as, “
There are a few ways to get paid with Lyft: Direct Pay, Express Pay, and Weekly Pay. With Lyft Direct, you can use Direct Pay and get paid instantly after each ride is complete. With Express Pay, you pay a $0.50 fee to have your earnings transferred to your account within a short time. And with Weekly Pay, your earnings are transferred into your account every Tuesday morning — and arrive within two business days.”
You can make more pay during peak demand periods such as “happy hour, rush hour, and evening party hours,” and on holidays such as St. Patrick’s Day, Halloween, and New Year’s Eve. On the Lyft app, you can tell when’s the best earning opportunities for that week when traffic is the highest.
DoorDash
DoorDash is a food delivery app that is available in over 4,000 cities in the United States, Puerto Rico, Canada and Melbourne, Australia.
Sign up takes a few minutes and you can start earning within days of approval.
In order to become a DoorDash driver, you will need a smartphone and a mode of transportation that doesn’t have to be a car. You can also use a bike, scooter or motorcycle. Or walk. Different modes of transportation are available to people in different markets.
Unlike Uber or Lyft, there are no requirements as to what kind of car you must have. Your car can be as old as you’d like it to be and it can be a two door car.
There’s nobody to ferry around either so it’s a lot safer.
There are some requirements. According to their FAQ, “You must be 18 years old and have an iPhone or Android smartphone. You can use any car to deliver, as long as you have a valid driver’s license, insurance, and a clean driving record.”
Furthermore, DoorDash provides commercial auto insurance that covers up to $1,000,000 in bodily injury and/or property damage to third parties arising out of accidents while making a DoorDash delivery in the United States.
A typical delivery involves going to the restaurant, picking up the food and then going to the customer’s to drop off the food.
You will see where it is and how much you will make, and you will can choose to reject or accept the delivery job.
Grubhub
Grubhub requires you to be at least 19 years old, have a car (or bike in certain areas), have a valid driver’s license and auto insurance, valid ID or driver’s licence for bike riders and a smartphone.
Payment is the sum of mileage per order, time, tips and special offers.
You can get paid by direct deposit every Thursday or you can get Instant Cash Out, as outlined below.
Grubhub says “We’ve collaborated with Chase to bring Grubhub Instant Cash Out to the Grubhub for Drivers app. Connect a Chase checking account to get your money in moments with no Instant Cash Out fees, or use another bank for a small $0.50 fee per transaction.”
You can deliver based on a scheduled block of time or deliver based on a schedule-free basis. The former gives you the opportunity to receive more orders and potentially higher earnings.
Tapingo
If you’re in college and want to deliver around your campus, Tapingo is probably something to cosnider.
To become a courier with Tapingo, you simply need a reliable vehicle that you can operate such as a car or bicycle, car insurance and clean driving record.
You need a smartphone and the app, pass a criminal record background check.
SkiptheDishes
SkiptheDishes is another app based delivery service that you can participate in.
To deliver, Skip says that “you’ll need a reliable vehicle, a valid driver’s license, vehicle insurance, vehicle registration, and a background check. You’ll also need to have a smartphone, a data plan, a phone charger and thermal bags. In Canada, you’ll also need to provide documentation that you’re legally able to work, such as a Canadian passport or work permit.”
You can deliver by bicycle but only in select markets.
If you take a cash order, you will collect the money from the customer once you complete the delivery. Earnings from online orders are paid to your account on a weekly basis.
Other local delivery firms
If you visit restaurants often, you might want to keep track of what kind of stickers they have on their front door.
That usually tells you what kind of delivery apps they use. Generally, they will probably be using the big names.
There are the few times when a start up wants to get in the game and you will be able to learn about them by keeping an eye on these stickers.
Amazon Flex
Amazon usually sends stuff via big-name companies but you can also be a delivery partner with them.
Signing up requires you to do some onboarding training and you’ll have to provide them with your personal details and service area.
You can pick up Amazon packages and deliver them directly to customers which has the largest delivery block of 3-6 hours.
Otherwise, you can deliver Prime Now, Amazon Fresh or store orders which have delivery blocks of 2-4 hours.
You’ll deliver Amazon packages or do grocery delivery to your customers. Tens of thousands items are available through the site, including electronics and household essentials as well a variety food items for sale on this website. There’s no end to what you could ship.
With Amazon Flex, delivery partners can make up to $25 dollars an hour. The number will depend on your location and how fast you work.
You can set your own schedule and work as much or little as you want.
Payments are made on Tuesday and Friday via direct deposit into the bank account that was provided when signing up for Amazon Flex, but due to holidays like Labor Day in America which causes deposits sometimes take longer than usual – so don’t worry if yours didn’t come through right away. In addition all eligible tips go straight into their paychecks too – about 1-2 days after completing deliveries where tips were given by customers.
Amazons’s earnings are based on a variety of factors. Amazon’s minimum contribution varies by city/region, which means the location you deliver impacts your hourly earnings in two ways: it can either increase or decrease them depending on demand and increased compensation at higher volumes is possible during high customer traffic periods.
Some deliveries allow the customer to tip the driver, so those will give you an extra boost in income too.
Instacart
Instacart partners with stores such as Albertsons, ALDI, Costco, CVS, Kroger, Loblaw, Publix, Sam’s Club, Sprouts, and Wegmans, among others to offer customers the convenience of getting their groceries delivered.
Customers can schedule for delivery in an hour or some time in the future.
To become an Instacart full-service shopper, they say that, “you must be at least 18 years of age, have legal authorization to work in the U.S., be able to lift up to 40lbs without accommodation, have regular access to a reliable car and have regular access to a smartphone capable of running the Instacart Shopper app. You must also pass a background check.”
The whole deal of being a full service shopper is that you are also involved in the buying of products for your customers. Then, you bring it to the delivery location.
You will get a payment card from Instacart to use at the checkout register of every store you shop at.
How much you earn depends on the number of items, type of items, driving distance, and effort involved in shopping and delivering. The customer can tip you and you get to keep 100% of the tips.
Car Advertising/Wrap advertising with Wrapify
Your car is a mobile ad space and you can make money by driving this way.
A car owner generally doesn’t like having an ad on the side of their car, but if you are OK with that, this is a good way to add zero extra mileage on your vehicle while making money.
Wrapify is one such service and they promise that you can earn hundreds a month with no upfront costs.
Their website provides a sample of degree of coverage and how much per month you will earn.
For example, a car that is fully covered with ads will earl $264 to $452 per month, while a partially covered car will get $196 to $280. At the lowest coverage, you will get $181 to $280.
You can also request a signboard called the Static+ Rideshare Topper that will earn you $174 to $280 with some coverage on your back window.
Wrapify will pay for all costs related to the wrap material as well as labor to install and remove the wrap. You are required to wash your car the night before to ensure proper adhesion of the wrap.
Wrapify does specify that your car must be driven in a “campaign zone” which is typically 50 miles of the advertiser’s town/city.
If you are driving within it, you will get compensated. They clarify that “You are totally free and clear to drive as much as you would like. However, only 25-35 miles of your daily commute is compensated by Wrapify. 25 miles within the blue campaign zone and 10 miles in the red zone, per day.”
Your car must be at least a 2010 or newer without significant body or paint damage and you must submit a background check with these requirements:
• No more than 2 accidents in the past 3 years
• No more than 1 moving violation and 1 accident in the past 3 years
• No more than 2 moving violations in the past 3 years
• No cell phone or distracted driving violations in the past 3 years
• No major violations in the past 5 years
• Driver must be at least 21 or older