12 Ways You Can Get Paid To Drive in 2023

Do you have a reliable vehicle and don’t mind putting some extra miles on your car? There are lots of ways you can get paid to drive, some you might not even expect. These can be good ways to start a side hustle, pay down debt, offset the cost of your car payment, etc

One of the best things about the apps and companies that pay you to drive is that they’re all pretty flexible. Some of these options have busy hours, which is when you’ll have the most opportunities to make extra money. Even then, you still get to be picky about when you work so that driving fits your schedule.

Below is a list of apps and companies that will pay you to drive. Learn how each works and how to get started.

12 Ways You Can Get Paid To Drive in 2023

1. Delivery groceries

Grocery delivery services are booming right now. And if you’re looking for the easiest and quickest way to get paid to drive, this is where you should start. Grocery delivery services like Instacart and Shipt regularly recruit drivers, and you can make $12-$20/hour.

The way these services work is that once you’re hired as an independent contractor, you use the app to find deliveries in your area. You’ll be able to see the store, minimum payout you’ll receive, the order, and the app gives you directions to the store and where you drop off the order. The app is where all the magic happens, as they say.

Driver requirements for food delivery services are all very similar and include:

• Meet the minimum age to drive in your state
• Reliable vehicle and insurance
• Smartphone able to download the delivery app
• Pass criminal background check

If you’re interested in learning more, here are specifics about Instacart and Shipt:

Instacart

Instacart hires both full-service and in-store shoppers. Full-service shoppers are the ones who shop for and get paid to deliver orders. Instacart pays you based on the size and difficulty of your order — average is $12-$15/hour — and you’ll be able to see your estimated earnings before deciding if an order is worth your time.

Shipt

Shipt shoppers generally make a little more per hour than Instacart shoppers — closer to $15-$20/hour — but this service is very similar to Instacart. It started as a membership-only platform, but now anyone can have their groceries delivered by Shipt. Drivers are paid based on their commission, which is $5 plus 7.5% of the order amount.

2. Deliver food

Next to grocery delivery, food delivery is another industry that has blown up in the past year or so. DoorDash is one of the most popular apps that pay you for delivering food, and this one is available in all 50 states across the U.S. 

DoorDash drivers earn around $23/hour. You’ll mostly be delivering restaurant takeout, but DoorDash drivers also get paid to deliver pet supplies and convenience store items. 

Actual earnings may differ and depend on factors like number of deliveries completed, time of day, location, and expenses. Hourly pay is calculated using average Dasher payouts while on a delivery (from the time you accept an order until the time you drop it off) over a 90 day period and includes compensation from peak pay, tips, and other incentives.

Drivers see their guaranteed base pay in the app before accepting orders based on time, distance, and desirability of the order. Base pay ranges from $2-$10/order, and drivers keep 100% of tips added to their order.

Many people who get paid to drive for Instacart and Shipt also deliver for services like DoorDash because the job is so similar and the driver requirements are the same. It also increases your chances of earning more because you can switch back and forth between the apps to higher-paying orders.

3. Drive people around for money

Before food delivery was such a popular way to make money driving, there were ridesharing services like Uber. Covid paused ridesharing driving because people were choosing to stay home, but now that vaccines are here and bars and event spaces are reopening, rideshare driving is getting busy once again.

Uber is, by far one, one of the most well-known services.

I’ve met many rideshare drivers who enjoy the flexibility, but they also love getting to chat with new people every day. One driver I met said she loves helping people get home safely from bars and parties, and there’s the added perk of listening in on some wild late-night conversations.

Check out Uber Driver Reviews | What It’s Like Driving For Uber to learn more.

4. Advertise on your car

How do you feel about covering your entire car in advertisements? Okay, okay. I know this isn’t for everyone, but it’s an easy, passive way to get paid to drive.

Carvertise is a company that pays people around $100/month to wrap their car in advertisements. The application and removal are all done professionally, so you don’t need to worry about messing up your paint job. 

If you’re using drive apps to make money, like Uber or DoorDash, this would be a great way to offset some of the costs associated with driving.

5. Test drive cars

Getting paid to test drive cars sounds like a dream to a lot of people. The immediate thought is that you get paid to drive Ferraris, Porsches, and BMWs. But the reality is that this opportunity is a little more elusive and not nearly as glamorous.

Dealerships and car manufacturers occasionally offer incentives if you schedule and complete a test drive. The incentives range from $25-$100 and are usually paid in gift cards or prepaid Visa cards.

These are limited-time promotions, so you’ll need to call dealerships in your area to check for promotions. And be prepared to sit for a sales pitch!

Another way you can get paid to drive cars is by mystery shopping. BestMark is a highly reputable mystery shopping company, and they sometimes need people to pose as customers at car dealerships. These shops typically pay around $50-$100.

6. Deliver for Amazon Flex

Amazon Flex is an Amazon service that outsources deliveries for Amazon.com, Prime Now, Amazon Fresh, and other store orders. Drivers must be 21 years or older, and you can make around $18-$25/hour delivering for Flex.

You’re paid based on the number of orders you’re able to complete, so having a larger vehicle means more orders and higher pay. You can go back to the delivery center to pick up more packages, but that cuts into the time you’re out delivering.

Amazon Flex only actively recruits drivers when there is a need, and they are currently recruiting in most major cities across the U.S.

7. Drive kids around

HopSkipDrive is a company that finds what they call CareDrivers to provide safe and reliable transportation for kids. Drivers earn up to $50/hour, and HopSkipDrive says their service is for students “who don’t git on traditional bus routes or need a little extra help.”

You can set your own hours, but you’ll mostly be driving in the morning and afternoon, taking kids to and from school.

If you want to make money driving for HopSkipDrive, here are their driver requirements:

• 5 years of caregiving experience
• At least 23 years old
• 4-door vehicle no more than 10 years old
• Good driving record
• Multi-agency background check, including fingerprinting

8. Run errands

You might not enjoy running errands for yourself, but it’s a sweet gig getting paid $20-$35/hour running errands for someone else. You could be getting paid to drop off packages at the post office, pick up dry cleaning, grab groceries, stop at the pharmacy to pick up a prescription, etc. 

TaskRabbit is a platform that connects people who need help running errands with people like you. There are all kinds of jobs listed on TaskRabbit, including moving help, handyman service, yard work, furniture assembly, and so much more. That means there are way more opportunities than just getting paid to drive around running errands.

To start making money with TaskRabbit, here’s what you’ll need to do:

• Download the TaskRabbit app and sign up
• Build your profile listing the kinds of services you want to offer
• Confirm your identity and submit necessary verifications (applies to specific tasks like electrical work, plumbing, etc.)
• Pay a one-time $25 registration fee
• Set your availability in the app

People can browse the TaskRabbit app, so make sure your profile looks professional.

9. Get paid to drive cross country

Looking for something that’s a little more nomadic? You can actually get paid to drive across the country delivering everything from art, vehicles, pets, instruments, and much more.

Roadie is a company that hires drivers for in-town and cross-country trips. In-town trips typically pay around $15 and long-distance gigs pay upwards of $600 or more.

There are no minimum vehicle standards, but you must be at least 18 and submit to a quick background verification. Roadie says their sign-up process is so fast that you might be on the road that same day.

10. Get paid for being a safe driver

In addition to all of the other ways you can get paid to drive, a couple of different insurance companies will pay you for being a safe driver. Insurance companies do this because safe drivers save them money.

Allstate cuts drivers a check every six months if they’re enrolled in the Allstate Safe Driver Bonus Program and don’t have an accident. You can have money deposited directly into your bank account or as a credit on your account.

State Farm’s Drive Safe and Save program will give you up to a 30% discount off your policy if you download their app which collects data about how you drive. 

11. Rent out your vehicle

Renting out your vehicle is like Airbnb, but it’s for cars, trucks, SUVs, RVs, camper vans, and travel trailers. This is part of the peer-to-peer rental market that we’ve seen grow over the past few years because customers save money and average people can make extra money. It’s a win-win on both sides.

And yes, I know this isn’t exactly getting paid to drive, but I’m adding it because you’re making money with your car.

For cars, trucks, and SUVS:

You can make an average of $35/day listing your car on HyreCar. You’re in control of when your car is available, and you set your own rates. You’ll need additional insurance protection through HyreCar, and depending on which protection plan you choose, HyreCar takes a 15%-25% commission.

For RVs, campers, and travel trailers:

Outdoorsy is an online platform to list your RV, pull-along trailer, camper van, etc. Like HyreCar, you get to choose when your vehicle is available and set your own rates. Rates vary based on the kind of outdoor vehicle you’re listing, but you can expect to earn anywhere from $100-$400/day.

Get paid to drive — the final word

There’s honestly something for everyone on this list. If you want to start a part-time side hustle, delivering for DoorDash and Instacart are flexible options, but you can also make passive income renting your car out on HyreCar.

Whatever you decide on, make sure you check with your car insurance company to find out if there are any adjustments you need to make to your policy. Rideshare drivers and food deliveries drivers will need special insurance, which averages an extra $15/month.