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25+ Ways to Make Money Driving ($25+/hr is Possible!)

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Personally, I love driving around, so much so I went out and found a job that pays me to do so on the side.

And, in my hunt to find a job that rewards me while exploring my city in my own car, I found quite a few jobs, most of which allowed me to work whenever I wanted, making the job that much sweeter.

So, in today’s post, I wanted to talk about the many ways you can make some pretty good money while taking your car out and about.  Some are your earn money driving-like apps, whereas some are outside the box thinking in a sense.

Some jobs deal with transporting people, while other opportunities involve delivering packages, so if you’re thinking you don’t want to deal with people in your car, let it be known that there are a lot of driving job options available still.  You’re going to find quite a few!  I made it easier for you and broke down each option in its own category.

Whether you want to make a few dollars on the side or turn your driving skills into a full-time career, here’s how you can turn your car into a money-making machine.

How To Make Money By Driving

NOTE:  Before you get excited, do let it be known that you will need to meet a few requirements before any of these apps accept you.  This often includes being older than 18+, having a clean background history and a reliable car, often younger than 10 years old.  As long as you can meet these guidelines, you will have a great chance of getting accepted.

How to Make Money Driving People

Uber or Lyft

I think this one could be the most obvious options out of them all if you want to drive on your own terms.

And, if you’re unfamiliar with Uber or Lyft, it’s basically a phone app that you can turn on as you please and pick up passengers as you receive requests.  You’re in control and you are your own boss, simply meaning you can turn the app on whenever you want to.  It’s a great feeling.

Now, you do need to meet certain requirements before you can start, but as long as you’re 21+, can pass a background check, have a valid US driver’s license and use an eligible four-door vehicle, you’re generally good to go.  Most approvals only take a few days to get you going.

Greatly depending on where you live, drivers can make anywhere from as little as pennies an hour to more than $50+ an hour during peak events.  It really does depend on where you live.

As Uber and Lyft deserve its own post as to how it works, for now, I recommend you check out the Uber FAQ and Lyft FAQ to see if it’s something you’re interested in.

If you don’t mind driving passengers around town and like the idea of working whenever you want, nothing beats Uber and Lyft, trust me on this one.



Veyo

Veyo works just like Uber and Lyft, only that it focuses on non-emergency medical transportation and you know what kind of jobs you can sign up for ahead of time.

So, instead of transporting people wherever and whenever, you will be strictly transporting patients to medical-related appointments.

According to the company’s description, Veyo works with state governments and managed care organizations to help manage the benefits of Medicaid and Medicare populations.

Veyo isn’t available in all areas, but if you like the idea of knowing when your pickups will occur, it’s a nice driving app to consider.

HopSkipDrive

HopSkipDrive is only open to a limited number of people since this app is geared toward offering rides for kids older than six.

Qualified applicants, at least according to the website, are said to earn as much as $32+ an hour, plus bonuses.

Only opened in a few markets but continuing to grow, HopSkipDrive requires that you have at least five years of caregiving experience, a good driving record and succumb to a multi-agency background check, including fingerprinting.

If accepted, it works much like Uber, wherein you can set your own schedule, add rides to your cart and take kids from point A to point B.

How to Make Money Delivering Food

DoorDash

Don’t like the idea of driving people around?

Well, then this is where DoorDash comes into the picture, one the largest food delivery services.

Extremely easy to use, just sign up to work a shift whenever you choose, deliver the food from the restaurant to the customer and get paid for the rate displayed on your screen before you accept the job, sometimes even more if the customer tipped above what’s known as the “guarantee.”

Yes, you get to work whenever you want and get to choose the jobs you want to accept.

DoorDash is in most areas, and to get started, all they ask is that you’re 18+, have no more than three driving incidents in the last three years and no major violations in the past seven years.  You can find more information on the “become a driver” page, which I link to below.

Signing up takes minutes to do and you could be on the road as early as next week once your background check clears.

Postmates

As yet another option if you’re interested in slinging food, Postmates works in the same way, only that people can order just about anything such as electronics, items for a drug store, etc.

Using what’s known as a “Fleet” card, if the restaurant or retailer you’re shopping with isn’t part of the Postmates network, then you will be asked to order yourself and wait for the order.  This can be a downfall to some as Uber, GrubHub and DoorDash often partner with most of their restaurants, simply meaning the food will almost be ready the minute you walk in the door.  This isn’t always the case with Postmates.

Regardless, Postmates is a nice option, but at least according to my research, I would keep it at the bottom of your list due to the payouts and time you have to wait for orders.

UberEats

As part of Uber, you can just deliver food if you so choose, but as a driver, you can do both if you want as well.  Let it be known, however, that you can strictly have an Ubereats account only if you only want pings for food delivery.

UberEats usually works well if you don’t have a car that doesn’t qualify for the passenger portion and/or you just don’t want strangers in your car.

Now, the thing about UberEats, as a warning, is that it doesn’t pay nearly as much as driving people nor is it as good as the other food delivery competitors I list here, however, if you just want to deliver food and nothing else, it could be an option to consider.

Depending on where you deliver and which promotions you take advantage of while delivering, you could make more than $15+ an hour gross, but since the app works in so many markets, it’s hard to give an exact number based on your location.  For now, I just recommend you at least download the app and learn the ropes to see if it’s worth pursuing at least part-time.

GrubHub

If you research any food delivery apps, GrubHub is said to be one of the best paying apps.

Having tried it and continue to do it on the side, I can agree.  It’s a fantastic way to work whenever you want and make money while working with a very reputable, well-known company.

Earning $20+ an hour during the dinner rush is not uncommon.  However, like DoorDash and any food delivery app for that matter, it really depends on your area and when you work.

GrubHub, being one of the best in the business, is tough to get in some areas, so don’t be surprised if you have to wait up to six+ months before you hear back.



Caviar

Caviar states that you can earn up to $25 per hour, which could be possible, but of course, like all of these apps, it greatly depends on where you’re working.

While a lot of the companies I already mentioned work in almost every major city, Caviar is very limited, only working in a select number of cities.   Be sure to check out the application below to see where they are currently active.

To become a Caviar courier, you must be at least 18+ years old, have two years of driving experience and a working smartphone.

As a Caviar courier, you do have the flexibility to work your own hours seven days a week, from 8 a.m. until 11:30 p.m.

Bite Squad

Bite Squad is kind of like Caviar in that it’s only available in a few cities, but if you live in one of them, it’s yet another flexible option to consider.

Bite Squad lets you create your own flexible schedule, and the most unique thing is that they consider you a W2 employee, simply meaning you’re guaranteed an hourly wage. Unfortunately, you won’t be able to work when you please, but it’s a way to earn money while driving.

To get started, they ask that you submit your information, pass a background check and get trained to start earning money via the company’s app.

EatStreet

EatStreet is quickly expanding across the United States and is currently looking for on-demand drivers in select cities.

EatStreet drivers are employees, do keep this in mind, but you can work closely with your manager to ensure you get a schedule you want.

All drivers have access to a full-time manager, training, benefits and even room for advancement.

How to Make Money Delivering Groceries

Instacart

Instacart works a lot like the food services I already mentioned, but the key difference here is that you will only be delivering groceries.

As part of the app, you will be asked to shop at a local grocery store, usually part of the network, such as a Costco, and then when you’re done, you’ll load it up and deliver it to the customer’s home.  In some cases, you can just apply as a shopper if you don’t like the idea of delivering.

Yes, it will be a lot more work than delivering a simple bag of food, but the pay can be better in some cases and you can work more during the day since there’s really no lunch or dinner rush to worry about.

Instacart allows you to work as you please and is available in many cities.

Shipt

Shipt works just like Instacart, only that they are available in a limited number of cities.  Make sure you check out the cities they work in before applying because they don’t work in most cities.

According to the official website, they note that most members can earn up to $22 per hour, however, as with all of these apps, this is highly market dependent so your results will vary.

With this app, you are your own boss, with the ability to set your hours whenever you want.

To apply, you will need to fill out an application via the link below, participate in an interview, get approved and download the app to get started.

Saucey

Saucey really isn’t grocery delivery, per se, but I’m going to include it in this subsection anyways.

In short, Saucey is an alcohol delivery service, only available in select cities, most of which are your bigger ones like Dallas, L.A., San Diego and so forth.  You can check out a full list at the time of applying.

Saucey couriers can work whenever you want, on your own terms and can make money in doing so.  According to reports online, couriers make up to $22 per hour!

To become a courier, follow the link below to learn more about the requirements as well as a link to the official application.

How to Make Money Delivering Packages

Amazon Flex

Amazon Flex could quite possibly the most coveted job on this entire list, simply due to a few reasons.

For one, Amazon pays quite well for its short routes, often around $18 to $25+ an hour, sometimes much more depending on the demand.  You always know what you’re going to get paid before your route even starts.

And, secondly, you can work whenever you please, just like these other apps, but the great thing is that you can keep busy all day, seeing people always need packages delivered.

Lastly, you don’t have to deal with people or stinky food — just packages.  Sure, every job has its downfalls, even this one, but a lot of people enjoy driving packages around time.

If you’re unfamiliar with the app, you simply show up to an Amazon warehouse, load up your car with packages and deliver your route.

Again, Amazon Flex isn’t always hiring, so make sure you follow the link below to see if there are any openings.  Be sure to keep checking or join the waitlist if interested.

Roadie

The Roadie app isn’t as well known, but it’s a great option if you want to work by the job only and if you’re willing to cross state lines.

In short, Roadie allows a customer to ship just about anything, whether it’s something that fits in a shoebox or even a large bedroom dresser.

As a driver, you can log in, view what you’re shipping, where it’s going and what you’re going to get paid.  It’s not too popular so don’t expect a ton of jobs here.

And if you like what you see, accept the job, complete it and get paid.

I would say Roadie isn’t the best option on this list, but it could be a great option if you find yourself going on a road trip and want to make a few extra bucks.

Doorman

Doorman is only available in San Francisco, Chicago and New York City, and it works much like Amazon Flex.

You can choose your own schedule and will simply pick up packages at an authorized warehouse to be delivered to residents/businesses in the city.  Just follow the app and it tells you what to do.

Looking at the website, the company is currently looking for friendly people with a strong background in customer service who “goes above and beyond.”

How to Make Money Driving in Other Ways

Mystery Shopping

In short, mystery shopping companies will pay you to shop secretly and report your findings.

For example, one company may ask you to visit a local fast food chain and see how clean the bathrooms are, while another may ask you to visit a grocery store and see how friendly the employees were.

Now, you’re probably wondering what the heck this has to do with driving, but you’re going to find out that a lot of these companies will pay you to visit a dealership and test drive a car, sometimes up to $100+.

While you won’t be driving all day, per se, it’s a great way to get paid while test driving a car.

There are a lot of mystery shopping companies out there, but I did do the dirty work for you, showcasing some of the best out there, all of which you can find here:

There are more companies you can check out as well if you’re interested in this type of work.

If interested in driving for a dealership or even any mystery shopping for that matter, it’s one to consider.

To learn more about the mystery shopping community, I highly recommend the book, The Mystery Shopper’s Manual, an amazing resource that teaches you how to be profitable in the field.



Carpool with Waze

You won’t make much with this option, but if you’re already driving somewhere, such as your job or another common daily route, the very popular map app, Waze, allows you to connect with others who are basically taking your route and are looking to carpool.

In exchange for picking up these people to carpool, Waze will compensate you as the driver, with the fees kind of working like Uber.  It’s hard to say how much you make, but Waze does note you will get “gas money.”

To get started, Google asks you to fill out an application, set your daily route and schedule as well as create a profile.  This route is what will show up when people are looking for something similar.

Again, it’s not going to be much, but if you’re already driving to work or somewhere else, why not pick someone up and make a few extra dollars?

uShip

uShip, quite possibly the largest online shipping marketplace, is geared more toward those who can haul larger goods, such as a car, etc, but there are smaller jobs available as well that could fit in your car.

From delivering a dog hundreds of miles away to an entire apartment, there’s a job for just about anything.

The only difference with this website is that you will have to compete for the job, offering a bid on the projects at hand.  You can check out the projects before you even sign up, but keep in mind that 99% of your runs will take you out of the state, so do keep that mind.

It’s going to be much more work, especially to build up your reputation, but it can turn into a very lucrative side job once you get your name out there.

To learn more about how it works in its entirety, I do recommend you check out the “carriers” section on the website via the link below.

Earn Money Advertising On Your Car

If you don’t mind wrapping an advertisement on your car while you drive around town, you could get paid to do so.

To qualify, however, you will need to drive a certain number of miles and often drive in an area where many drivers/people will see your car roaming around.

This is a tough one to make money with, but as always, I try to include as many options as possible just to give you some ideas.  Be sure to follow the link below that will lead you to a post I wrote in the past on this very topic.

Help People Move with GoShare

The GoShare app is designed more so for people who own a truck as you will be responsible for moving, hauling and/or delivering goods for people who don’t.  However, you do not need to own a truck if you don’t mind working as a helper.

So, if you don’t mind getting your hands dirty and getting a little sweaty with your truck or even as a laborer for the day, it may be an app to consider.

As a driver, you can earn up to $71+ per hour, greatly depending on the truck you own, while a helper can earn more than $47+ an hour, at least according to the website.

The company does handle everything from insurance to billing, so you just have to show up for your gig and complete the job.

The app does have quite a few requirements, so be sure to check out the link below to know what’s expected of you if you were to apply.

TaskRabbit

TaskRabbit posts a ton of jobs, ranging from assembling furniture to picking up something at a local store.

If you just want to drive around and pick things up for customers, it can be done as you can find the jobs you want to work.

After you get approved, the app will then notify you of any potential jobs, and from there, you can select the one you want, confirm the details with the customer and the complete the offer for cash.

Again, it’s more than just driving jobs, so just let it be known that you will have to weed through a lot of jobs that don’t relate to your car.

Final Thoughts

As long as you have a somewhat newer car, a clean driving record as well as a good-looking background report, there’s no reason you can’t be hired by most of these companies.  Granted, companies such as GrubHub may have a waiting list, but eventually, they will get ahold of you.

And if you do plan on driving on the side, just make sure you check out your current insurance situation as many personal insurance policies will not cover you.  Also, remember that these hourly rates are gross rates!  It will not factor in your gas expenses, wear and tear as well as the depreciation of your vehicle.

For now, whether it’s driving around, food, people or even packages across state lines, there’s something for you out there, I promise!  And as long as you write off your mileage for tax purposes and you’re smart about your driving, money can be made.

As for how much you make, it will be so highly dependent upon your market as a New York City market will probably make a ton more than a farming city in the middle of Iowa.  I just recommend you at least go out there and test a few apps to see what you can earn.

You won’t be great at first, but as you learn your hot spots and the best times to work, there’s no reason you can’t make more than $15+ per hour.

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Tom Nathaniel

Hi! My name is Tom Nathaniel, and I created LushDollar to help share my honest thoughts on everything money. You won't find gimmicks here. It's the Internet's most honest money site after all. I graduated from Arizona State University, and I have worked in the finance industry since 2006, consulting with multiple Fortune 5000 companies.

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