Your car is a significant investment; in fact, it’s probably the second most significant investment, other than a house, that most people will make in their lives. Why not make the most of your investment? Here are some of the best way to make money with your car.
How can I make money with my car?
The option most people know of is as a driver shuttling people or goods around.
Services break down into:
- Delivering people or goods with your car
- Offering mobile services, including shopping services
- Advertising using your vehicle
This article will look at the various services that will pay you to use your vehicle. Most of these are companies operating in the US, or even just individual states. Still, many also work internationally, or at least in Canada and some in the UK or Europe.
Become a Taxi driver
Uber
Most people are familiar with Uber. Being an Uber driver offers more flexibility than you might realize. The hours are flexible, and drivers make more during peak times, like at bar closing times or during rush hour. For safety, you can deny rides based on the information you receive about the passengers- an appeal to female drivers. To apply for Uber, you need to be 21 or older and licensed with at least one year of driving experience. Your vehicle must be a 4-door vehicle with valid insurance and registration. Drivers get paid as they go and an average of $22.54 per hour. Drivers can also receive discounts on car maintenance and phone plans.
Lyft
The requirements to join Lyft are similar to Uber’s; however, some drivers have said the background check is quicker the Lyft. Lyft rides start with a base fee, plus time and distance. Drivers get to keep all tips and can get paid immediately by cashing out, or you can automatically get paid weekly.
Uber or Lyft? Which driving app makes the most money?
According to various articles, as of 2019, Uber pays you a bit more commission (25% versus 20% for Lyft), and the greater name recognition of Uber means you have more customers potentially. This article gives a fair breakdown of the fees, including commission and booking fees. One writer liked that Uber spent more time approving his application, meaning fewer drivers were being approved.
Beyond Uber and Lyft, there are other options:
HopSkipDrive
HopSkipDrive is a California rideshare service for transporting kids. Drivers must be over 23 and have at least five years of childcare experience. The car must be a recent model, and the driver needs proof of insurance. Prospective drivers must also pass an extensive background check as well and offer references. If accepted, drivers can earn up to $30 per hour Care Drivers also receive insurance coverage during working hours.
Gett
A higher-end driver service that currently operates in the UK, Russia, and Israel. Gett caters to professionals looking for luxury cars. Drivers must have a vehicle from 2011 or newer and black, dark blue, silver, or white.
Offer Mobile Services
Many services can be provided at the customer’s home or place of business. Having a car to bring your service to them makes that easier to provide. A few of these services include:
Mobile Detailing Service
With a few pieces of specialized equipment, you can offer clients car washing and detailing services. Then drive to their location to assist.
Mobile Mechanic Service
Similarly, you can keep some essential auto repair equipment in your vehicle and drive to customers’ locations to perform basic repair or maintenance services.
Pet Grooming Service
You can put a small tub and some basic pet grooming supplies in your vehicle and start a mobile pet grooming service. You can drive to people’s homes and provide service right outside. This may require a slightly larger vehicle.
Pet Transport Service
Another option for animal lovers is to provide a service for pet buyers to pick up their pets from shelters or breeders and deliver them.
Mobile Laundry Service
Recycling Service
Courier Service
Prop Vehicle Rental Service
Vacation RV Rental Service
Towing Service
Carpooling
With carpooling, you typically don’t drive somewhere just for the passengers’ requests. Still, you take passengers on the routes you’d already be taking yourself anyway, such as going to and from work.
If that sounds interesting, check out GoCarShare and LiftShare, available in many cities across the UK.
Renting out your parking space
If you have a car and a parking spot, there are times when your parking spot is not occupied.
Check out Kerb, available in many cities in the UK (London, Leeds and Birmingham). In the US, try Spacer, available in New York City, Chicago and San Francisco.
For instance, for some services (for instance, anything involving serving alcohol in some jurisdictions), you may require a permit or licence depending on your city or Province/State. Check the applicable bylaws to make sure your business has the necessary licenses.
Make Money Delivering Food
According to this article, the best delivery app options are:
- DoorDash for most customers
- Postmates for the highest pay
- Uber Eats for most straightforward sign-up
- GrubHub for big cities
- Caviar for best tips
- Deliv for the most variety
- Instacart for shopping fans
Munchery
Munchery is another meal delivery service that provides fresh, healthy, delicious food made to order. Munchery offers day-of ordering, or food can be ordered for delivery later in the week. They currently operate in over ten different American cities (mostly Northwestern and West Coast – plus DC and New York). Munchery drivers can make deliveries via car or bike.
UberEATS
When the Coronvirus pandemic began in North America, many people discovered Uber also had a food delivery service. Instead of picking up passengers, drivers picked up food. The requirements to work as an UberEATS driver are the same as being an Uber driver. Drivers make between $10-20 an hour on average.
Favor Delivery
Favor Delivery is a concierge-type service that picks up anything a customer needs. They currently only operating in Texas Tasks could pick up tacos to groceries to dry cleaning. Favor Delivery assistants receive 100% of their tips and an average guaranteed minimum wage of between $10 and $18 per hour, depending on hours worked and location. Drivers must be 18, have a smartphone, reliable transportation, and a license. They must also pass a background check.
DoorDash
DoorDash offers food pickup and delivery for businesses and operates in the United States, Australia, and Canada. Drivers must be at least 18 years old, have a valid license, and a clean driving record. Drivers may use bikes or scooters, but it needs to be reliable and carry large food orders.
Postmates
Postmates is another food delivery service. Drivers can set their schedules by signing into the app. Drivers must be 18 or older and have transportation or be willing to walk and carry items to be delivered. Delivery drivers also keep 100% of tips.
Grubhub
Another popular food delivery and pickup service, Grubhub, offers drivers a flexible schedule and pays, on average, $13 an hour. Drivers must be at least 19 years old in most areas and have two years of driving experience. Drivers must pass a background check and have a checking account for direct deposit of their paycheck. Delivery drivers also keep 100% of tips.
EatStreet
Another food delivery option, EatStreet, pays drivers $12 an hour guaranteed, and drivers are employees, not contractors. Employees must have a reliable vehicle, license, and registration, along with a clean driving record. They must also have availability to work nights and weekends. Delivery drivers can earn up to $20/hour based on deliveries. The work is reliable, depending on your city’s market.
Make Money Delivering Groceries and Packages
Shipt
Shipt is an on-demand grocery delivery service. Drivers must be 18 years old with a reliable vehicle (15 years old or newer). As with the other positions, drivers must have a license, insurance, and registration on their car. Drivers must have a smartphone and are asked to provide a cooler or insulated bag for cold grocery deliveries. Prospective Shipt drivers must also pass a general background test on their knowledge of brands and groceries. If accepted, drivers can make up to $25 per hour plus free Shipt membership. Shipt is currently available in 13 states, including Arizona, Texas, Florida, Wisconsin, and Ohio.
Instacart
Another grocery delivery service, Instacart, also offers workers a chance to shop for customers who pick up (so no car is required). Delivery drivers work as independent contractors and must have their own vehicle. They can work unlimited hours on a flexible schedule. Drivers do both the shopping and delivery and also must have a car. Instacart doesn’t reimburse for gas, but they offer $9-$20/hour depending on scheduling and demand. Drivers also keep 100% of their tips.
Amazon Flex
Amazon Flex is an excellent opportunity to deliver Amazon packages for customers. Flex drivers make $18-$25 per hour and set their availability and blocks of time to pick up packages and make deliveries. There is no set amount of hours, and drivers can change their availability as needed. Delivery drivers need a smartphone and a vehicle that passes the screening criteria for Amazon Prime Now orders. For regular Amazon orders, drivers must have a 4-door car or sedan.
Make Money Renting Out Your Car
Turo
An excellent option for vacationers, Turo is a service where you list your car for a rental car. Earnings are based on the market value of the vehicle and how long it’s being rented.
Getaround
Getaround lets car owners rent their cars out to people in their vicinity. Owners set the hours the vehicle is available, so if you work 9 to 5, you could put your car availability while you’re at the office or once you get home from work. Drivers are covered by insurance during rental periods.
HyreCar
HyreCar, unlike other car rental services, has no specific requirements. They recommend cars are in excellent condition and are clean with low mileage. You can set the rental availability hours, and you can accept or decline rental offers.
RVshare
Do you have a class A, B, or C motorhome? RVshare is an on-demand rental platform for motorhomes.
Can you make money by putting ads on your car?
All it takes is adding a car wrap to your vehicle, and you can turn your car into a money-making moving billboard.
If this is something you’re interested in, have a look at these services that can connect you with companies willing to pay to outfit:
- Autowrapped
- Carvertise
- Pay Me for Driving
Pickup Scooters and Charge Them
Companies like Bird (in the US) and Lime (the US and Canada) will pay you to recharge their scooters. Having a car gives you an advantage and a chance to increase your earnings significantly. All you need is the pickup app, recharge them and drop them off. Check out
Conclusion
If you have a car and want to make money during your free time, there are plenty of opportunities. Whether you’d like to drive people around, you’d like to make your car available to others, why not earn some cash putting your car to work?
Photo by Victor Avdeev on Unsplash
