In the last several years, a number of smartphone apps have made it possible to make money with your car. You can deliver food or packages, drive passengers, rent out your car, or get paid to display ads.
Many of these opportunities let you choose your hours. Just remember that gas, repairs, insurance, and taxes come out of what you earn. Ask your insurer whether your policy covers paid driving or delivery work.
Below, we'll list some of the more popular services, as well as a couple of outside-the-box ideas you might consider for earning money with your car!
16 Ways to Make Money With Your Car
1. Deliver With DoorDash
DoorDash pays drivers to pick up and deliver food, groceries, and other orders. You see a minimum offer amount before accepting and keep customer tips.
You'll need a smartphone, insurance, a valid license, and a background check. The minimum age is 18 in many states, but 19 or 21 in others. DoorDash accepts any car model.
You can schedule delivery time or use Dash Now when it's available. If you choose Earn by Time, the rate covers active delivery time, not all the time you spend waiting for work.
Go here to learn more about becoming a Dasher. You can also read our DoorDash review.
2. Deliver Food With Uber Eats
Uber Eats lets you deliver food and other orders without carrying passengers. The app shows the offered pay, route, and time estimate before you accept. You keep customer tips.
For car delivery, you generally need to be 19 or older, or 21 in California and New York. You'll also need a valid license and a background check.
You choose when to go online. Payments are sent weekly, while faster cash-outs may cost extra. Restaurant waits and the drive between orders can eat into your earnings.
Go here to learn more about delivering with Uber Eats.
3. Deliver Restaurant Orders With Grubhub
Grubhub lets you earn by delivering restaurant orders. You can reserve delivery blocks in the Driver app and keep customer tips.
Drivers need a car, a valid license and insurance, a smartphone, and a background check. You must be at least 18, or 21 in Las Vegas. Some markets have a waiting list for new drivers.
Pay depends on your deliveries, location, and any bonuses. Grubhub sends weekly direct deposits, and faster cash-out options are available. The number of orders can vary a lot from one area to another.
Go here to learn more about driving for Grubhub.
4. Shop and Deliver With Instacart
Instacart pays full-service shoppers to shop for groceries and deliver them. You choose the batches you want, with pay, distance, and item details shown first.
You'll need to be 18 or older, be allowed to work in the U.S., have a reliable car and smartphone, and be able to lift 40 pounds. Instacart provides a card to pay for customers' orders.
You keep customer tips, but tips can change after delivery. Shopping, finding replacements, and carrying groceries all take time in addition to the drive.
Go here to learn more about becoming an Instacart shopper. You can also read our Instacart review.
5. Deliver Groceries With Shipt
Shipt shoppers pick out items in stores and deliver them to customers. You choose which available orders you want to take.
You'll need to be at least 18, have a reliable car, a valid license and insurance, and be able to lift 50 pounds. Pay is offered per order, with possible tips and bonuses.
Shipt pays weekly, and eligible shoppers can use Instant Pay. You'll spend time shopping and messaging customers as well as driving. Shipt reviews signups based on local need, so you may have to wait.
Go here to learn more about becoming a Shipt shopper.
6. Join Roadie for Package Delivery
Roadie connects drivers with local deliveries from stores and other businesses. You can review the pay and delivery details before offering to take a job.
You must be at least 18 with a valid U.S. driver's license, and your insurance must cover the deliveries. Some jobs involve large or heavy items, so your vehicle needs enough space.
Offering to take a delivery doesn't guarantee you'll get it. Include loading time and the return trip when deciding which jobs to take, especially if a delivery takes you far from home.
Go here to learn more about driving with Roadie.
7. Make Deliveries With Amazon Flex
Amazon Flex lets you use your own car to deliver packages during delivery blocks you choose in the app. You see the block's offered pay before accepting.
U.S. drivers must be at least 21 and have a four-door midsize car or larger, a valid license, insurance, and a bank account.
Routes and available blocks vary by area. Count the drive to pickup, the trip home, and your car costs when judging the pay. You sign up through the app, and some areas have waiting lists.
Go here to get the Amazon Flex app for iPhone or Android.
8. Find Moving and Errand Work on Taskrabbit
Taskrabbit lets you offer services such as errands, deliveries, and moving help. A car can handle smaller items, while larger moving jobs need more space and equipment.
You set your rates, work area, and availability. You'll need to be at least 18, pass the required checks, and live in an active service area. Taskrabbit charges a one-time, nonrefundable $25 registration fee in applicable cities.
Paying the fee doesn't guarantee approval or bookings. Taskers report very different levels of demand, so don't count on a full schedule right away.
Go here to learn more about becoming a Tasker.
9. Drive for Uber
Uber lets you earn by picking up people and taking them where they need to go. You choose when to go online, so you can work around other commitments.
You'll need an eligible four-door car, a valid license, insurance, and a background check. Uber also requires driving experience. Age and vehicle rules vary by city.
Earnings depend on local demand and the trips you take. You can receive tips from riders and get paid weekly. Busy periods may bring more ride requests, but steady work isn't guaranteed.
Go here to learn more about driving for Uber.
10. Drive for Lyft
Lyft is another rideshare app that lets you earn by giving people rides. You choose when to drive and use the Driver app to receive ride offers.
You'll need a qualifying four-door car, insurance, and driver and background checks. Minimum age, vehicle age, and inspection rules depend on where you drive.
Your earnings will vary, and the passenger's full fare isn't your take-home pay. Lyft sometimes offers bonuses, but these can require a set number of rides within a deadline. Unpaid time between rides also affects your earnings.
Go here to learn more about driving for Lyft.
11. Wrap Your Car With Carvertise
Carvertise pays drivers to display ads on their cars. You sign up through its app, and the company matches you with campaigns based on your location, vehicle, and driving habits.
Base campaign pay starts at $100 per month. Carvertise covers installation and removal, and some campaigns offer extra paid activities. It generally wants frequent drivers with a 2015 or newer vehicle in good condition.
You could wait a while for an offer. Paint damage during wrap removal is also possible.
Go here to learn more about driving with Carvertise.
12. Try Wrapify for Car Advertising
Wrapify is another way to get paid for displaying ads on your car. You download its app, finish your profile, and wait for campaign offers in your area.
The app tracks your driving, and the amount you can earn depends on the campaign and wrap coverage. Signing up alone doesn't earn you anything, and you aren't guaranteed a campaign.
Wrapify says there are no upfront costs. Watch for car-wrap scams that send you a check and ask you to pay an installer.
Go here to learn more about Wrapify.
13. Drive Kids With HopSkipDrive
HopSkipDrive connects schools and families with CareDrivers who take kids to school and activities. You choose from scheduled rides in your area and see the estimated fare before claiming one.
You'll need caregiving experience, at least three years of driving experience, and an eligible four-door vehicle. Drivers must be at least 21 and complete a certification process that includes fingerprinting, background checks, and a vehicle inspection.
This takes more setup than most delivery apps. HopSkipDrive says certification can take 25 to 60 days, and rides depend on local demand.
Go here to learn more about becoming a CareDriver.
14. Rent Out Your Car With Turo
Turo lets you rent out an eligible car when you're not using it. You choose when it's available and manage bookings through the app.
This takes ongoing work. You'll handle cleaning, photos, maintenance, and getting the car ready for each trip. Turo keeps a share of the trip price, and your earnings plan affects how much you keep and your responsibility for damage.
Extra mileage and repairs can cut into your earnings. A damaged car could leave you without transportation, so be careful about renting out your only vehicle.
Go here to learn more about hosting on Turo.
15. Start a Mobile Car Detailing Service
If you're good at cleaning cars, you can take your supplies to customers' homes or workplaces and offer mobile detailing.
Start with services you know how to do well, such as vacuuming, cleaning interiors, and washing cars. Set your prices to cover supplies, travel, and the time each job takes.
You'll need room for your equipment and a plan for water and power. Local business and wastewater rules also matter. This takes more planning and customer-finding than signing up for a delivery app.
Go here for SCORE's guide to starting a service business. See my list of outdoor business ideas for more options.
16. Start a Mobile Notary Business
If you're a commissioned notary, you can drive to clients' homes or workplaces to notarize documents. Your car helps you reach people who can't easily come to you.
You must follow your state's notary rules and fee limits. Some states allow separate travel charges, but you can't assume you're free to set any travel fee you want.
Loan-signing work can involve extra training, screening, or licensing beyond a basic notary commission. It also involves handling loan documents and other duties.
Go here to read the National Notary Association's guide to mobile notary work.
To Sum Up
I hope this list of 16 ways to earn money with your car has given you some ideas!
Think about which ones would work with your lifestyle and comfort level. You can mix and match a few, or focus on one that seems the most fun or rewarding.
Good luck!
Photo by Kindel Media on Pexels.
Anna Thurman is a work at home blogger and mom of two. She has been researching and reviewing remote jobs for over 15 years. Her findings are published weekly here at Real Ways to Earn.