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What if the car parked in your driveway could make you money while you sleep?
It sounds too good to be true, but it isn’t. Thousands of people are turning their cars into extra cash, and some earn $100 a day or more.
No special skills. No fancy equipment. Just a car and a little time.
Quick answer: If you want passengers, start with Uber or Lyft. If you’d rather skip riders, DoorDash and Instacart pay well. And if you don’t want to drive at all, Turo or a car wrap through Wrapify or Carvertise can earn while your car sits.
Owning a car is expensive. Between gas, insurance, maintenance, and car payments, it can feel like your car only costs you money.
But thanks to smartphones and the gig economy, your car can also help you earn. You could rent it out on days you don’t need it, or deliver groceries before the kids wake up.
Here’s what we’re covering:
- Quick comparison: best driving apps by goal
- Best rideshare apps (Uber, Lyft, HopSkipDrive)
- Best food delivery apps
- Grocery delivery and personal shopping
- Package and parcel delivery apps
- Moving and large-item delivery
- Local errands and driving tasks
- Earn without driving all day
- Apps that help you save money
- How much can you really make?
- Which driving app is right for you?
- Frequently asked questions
- Final verdict
Ready to see how? Here’s the complete breakdown, from rideshare and delivery to passive options like renting or advertising on your car.
Quick Comparison: Best Driving Apps to Make Money
| Your Goal | Best Options |
|---|---|
| Drive passengers | Uber, Lyft |
| Deliver food | DoorDash, Uber Eats |
| Deliver groceries | Instacart, Shipt |
| Deliver packages | Amazon Flex, Roadie, Spark Driver |
| Deliver large items | Dolly, GoShare, Lugg |
| Rent your car | Turo (currently the only major U.S. option) |
| Advertise on your car | Wrapify, Carvertise |
| Track mileage | MileIQ |
| Save on gas | Upside |
| Compare insurance rates | Insurify |
Please note: Getaround shut down all U.S. operations in February 2025 and has not returned. Turo is currently the only major peer-to-peer car-sharing platform available to U.S. drivers.
Best Rideshare Apps for Making Money With Your Car
Let’s start with the option most people think of first: rideshare driving. It’s simple to get into, and if your car qualifies, you could be picking up your first passenger within a day or two.
The appeal is obvious. You choose when you drive and how long you drive, and every trip puts cash in your pocket, sometimes with tips on top.
That said, not every rideshare app works the same way. Here’s what to know before you pick one.
1. Uber
Best for: Widest availability and the fastest sign-up.
Uber is probably the first name that comes to mind, and for good reason. It’s available in most cities across the country, which means steady demand no matter where you live.
Getting started is simple. Download the app, meet the vehicle and background check requirements, and you could be driving within a few days.
- Flexible hours — drive whenever it fits your schedule, no shifts required
- Wide availability — active in most major and mid-sized cities
- Instant Pay — cash out the same day instead of waiting for a payout
- Surge pricing — earn more automatically during high-demand periods
If you’re new to rideshare driving, Uber is a solid place to start simply because the demand is already there.
2. Lyft
Best for: Driver-friendly support, and stacking alongside Uber.
Lyft is Uber’s biggest competitor, and for many drivers it’s the preferred choice. The driver experience tends to feel more personal.
The setup process looks a lot like Uber’s: a qualifying vehicle, a clean driving record, and a background check.
- Driver-friendly culture — known for clearer communication and support
- Weekly guarantees — some markets offer earnings guarantees for new drivers
- Express Pay — cash out multiple times a day if you need to
- Rewards program — perks like discounted maintenance
A smart move? Sign up for both. Running two apps at once keeps you earning instead of sitting idle between trips.
3. HopSkipDrive
Best for: Daytime hours, and drivers with caregiving experience.
HopSkipDrive works differently. Instead of driving strangers, you drive kids to school, sports practice, and other activities.
This isn’t a fit for everyone. You typically need caregiving experience, a clean driving record, and a four-door vehicle. If you meet those requirements, though, the payoff can be strong.
- Advance scheduling — claim rides up to a week ahead, so there’s no guessing about your day
- Higher per-ride pay — many drivers report earning more per trip than on standard rideshare apps
- Daytime hours — most rides happen around school pickup and dropoff, not late at night
- A meaningful role — you’re giving parents real peace of mind
For parents, teachers, or anyone with childcare experience, HopSkipDrive is worth a serious look.
Uber vs. Lyft: Which Is Better for Drivers?
The honest answer is that it depends on where you live and what you value most.
Uber tends to win on availability and ride volume. Lyft tends to win on driver experience and support.
| Factor | Uber | Lyft |
|---|---|---|
| City availability | Wider coverage | Growing, but more limited |
| Ride volume | Generally higher | Can be lower in smaller markets |
| Driver support | Mixed reviews | Often rated more responsive |
| Payout speed | Instant Pay available | Express Pay available |
| Bonuses | Surge pricing | Weekly guarantees in some markets |
Pro Tip: Don’t pick one. Keep both apps open and accept whichever ride comes in first. This single habit can lift your hourly earnings more than loyalty to one platform ever will.
Section takeaway: Rideshare is the fastest way to start, and running Uber and Lyft together is the easiest way to earn more from the same hours.
Best Delivery Apps to Make Money: Food Delivery
If talking to passengers isn’t your thing, food delivery might be a better fit. You still use your own car and set your own hours, but instead of driving people, you’re dropping off dinner.
The appeal here is speed. Deliveries are shorter than rideshare trips, which means quicker turnaround and more chances to stack tips.
4. DoorDash
Best for: Widest city coverage, and delivering even without a car.
DoorDash is the biggest name in food delivery, and it shows in the numbers. It covers more cities than almost any other delivery app.
In some markets you don’t even need a car. You can deliver by bike or on foot.
- Massive market share — more restaurant partnerships, which means more orders
- Fast Pay — cash out daily instead of waiting on a weekly deposit
- Peak Pay — bonus pay during weekend dinner rushes and other busy windows
- Multiple vehicle options — car, bike, or on foot depending on your city
If you want consistent order volume almost anywhere, DoorDash is one of the safest places to begin.
5. Uber Eats
Best for: Combining deliveries with rideshare driving.
If you already drive for Uber, Uber Eats is worth adding. Same app, often the same account, but now you can accept food deliveries alongside rides.
It also opens the door to smaller vehicles, since you’re delivering food instead of people.
- Combined app access — switch between rides and deliveries without juggling apps
- Instant Pay — cash out the same day
- Flexible vehicle types — car, bike, or scooter depending on your market
- Wide restaurant network — access to Uber’s large base of partners
Pairing Uber Eats with regular rides is a smart way to fill the slow gaps in your day.
6. Grubhub
Best for: Predictable, scheduled hours.
Grubhub was one of the first food delivery apps, and it still holds a loyal following in bigger cities with deep restaurant partnerships.
What sets it apart is scheduled shifts. You can block off specific hours in advance, which guarantees you access to orders during that time.
- Scheduled blocks — reserve delivery windows ahead of time
- Guaranteed minimums — some markets guarantee an hourly minimum during blocks
- Keep 100% of tips — tips never offset your base pay
- Established network — strong presence in major metro areas
If steady, plannable hours matter more than last-minute flexibility, Grubhub makes delivery easier to build into your routine.
DoorDash vs. Uber Eats vs. Grubhub
| Factor | DoorDash | Uber Eats | Grubhub |
|---|---|---|---|
| Market coverage | Widest, most cities | Wide, tied to Uber’s footprint | Strongest in major metros |
| Vehicle options | Car, bike, or on foot | Car, bike, or scooter | Mostly car, some bike markets |
| Payout speed | Fast Pay (daily) | Instant Pay (daily) | Weekly, faster options vary |
| Scheduling | Open dash times | Open availability | Scheduled blocks |
| Bonus pay | Peak Pay | Surge-based promotions | Guaranteed minimums |
| Best for | Order volume anywhere | Pairing with rideshare | Plannable hours |
There’s no wrong choice here. Many drivers run all three and simply accept whichever order pays best in the moment.
Free download: Want the full printable checklist of every app on this list, sorted by vehicle type and payout speed? Grab our free Driving Apps Cheat Sheet →
Section takeaway: Pick the app with the strongest presence in your city first, then add the others once you know your local demand.
Grocery Delivery and Personal Shopping Apps
Food isn’t the only thing people want delivered. Grocery shopping is one of the fastest-growing corners of the gig economy.
Instead of picking up a bag from a restaurant, you often shop the order yourself. That extra step means longer deliveries, but better pay per order.
7. Instacart
Best for: Higher pay per order.
Instacart is the biggest name in grocery delivery. You pick items off the shelf, follow substitution notes, then deliver the bags to the customer’s door.
That extra shopping step is exactly why the pay tends to be higher, especially on big grocery runs.
- Higher pay per order — shopping plus delivering earns more than delivery alone
- Batch orders — take multiple orders in one trip to boost your hourly rate
- Keep 100% of tips — tips go straight to you, on top of base pay
- Flexible scheduling — grab shopping shifts whenever they fit your day
If you don’t mind extra time inside the store, Instacart can be one of the higher-paying gigs on this list.
8. Shipt
Best for: Target-heavy markets.
Shipt works a lot like Instacart, with one big difference: Target owns it. That means a steady stream of orders wherever Target has a strong presence.
Shipt also puts more weight on ratings, so building a strong reputation early really pays off.
- Target partnership — reliable order volume in Target-heavy areas
- Weekly direct deposit — consistent, predictable payouts
- Tips go straight to you — on top of your base pay per order
- Rating-based access — strong ratings unlock more order opportunities
Section takeaway: Grocery gigs take longer per order, but they usually pay more per hour than restaurant delivery.
Package and Parcel Delivery Apps
Not into groceries or restaurant orders? Package delivery might be your lane instead.
No shopping and no waiting on food. Just pick up and deliver, usually with far less customer interaction.
9. Amazon Flex
Best for: Predictable shifts.
Amazon Flex is one of the more structured gigs on this list. You reserve blocks of time in advance, then load your car at a local warehouse and drive your route.
That structure is a real strength. You know how long your shift runs and roughly what you’ll earn before you start.
- Upfront pay estimates — see expected earnings before you claim a block
- Set time blocks — typically 3 to 6 hours
- Weekly direct deposit — steady, predictable payouts
- No passengers or shopping — just load your car and drive
If you like knowing exactly what a shift looks like before committing, Amazon Flex is hard to beat.
10. Roadie
Best for: Flexible, on-the-way deliveries.
Roadie works more like a marketplace. It posts individual delivery gigs, and you choose the ones that fit your route.
That makes it a great fit if you’re already driving somewhere and want to earn along the way.
- Pick your own gigs — browse deliveries and choose what fits
- Same-day pay — cash out quickly instead of waiting weekly
- Larger item deliveries — earn more on furniture and specialty packages
- Route flexibility — grab gigs that match a drive you’re already making
Roadie bends around your existing schedule instead of the other way around.
11. Spark Driver
Best for: Rural and smaller markets.
Spark Driver is Walmart’s delivery platform. You pick up orders from a local Walmart, then deliver them to the customer’s door.
Because Walmart is nearly everywhere, Spark tends to offer strong availability even outside major cities.
- Wide availability — Walmart’s nationwide footprint means more delivery zones
- Fast payout options — cash out quickly
- Mixed order types — groceries, general merchandise, or both
- No storefront app needed — pick up directly from Walmart
If other gig apps feel limited where you live, Spark’s reach makes it worth a try.
12. GoShare
Best for: Truck and van owners.
GoShare stands out for one reason: bigger vehicles mean bigger paychecks. Pickup, cargo van, or box truck owners can haul furniture and complete local delivery jobs at rates that beat standard delivery apps.
Keep in mind, advertised hourly rates run high. Real driver reports often land lower once you factor in drive time between jobs.
- Vehicle-based pay tiers — box trucks and cargo vans earn more per job
- Keep 100% of tips — always separate from base pay
- No minimum hours — accept only the jobs that fit
- Varied job types — moving help, furniture delivery, junk hauling, courier work
If you already own a truck or van, GoShare is one of the few apps that makes that vehicle work in your favor.
Best Package Delivery App for Your Vehicle
Your vehicle type matters more in package delivery than it does in rideshare. Here’s how to match your car to the right platform.
| Vehicle Type | Best App(s) | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Sedan | Amazon Flex, Roadie | Both accept standard sedans, with less competition from bigger vehicles |
| SUV | Spark Driver, Roadie | Extra trunk space allows for bulkier orders |
| Pickup truck | GoShare | Unlocks higher-paying furniture delivery and small moves |
| Cargo van | GoShare | Qualifies for the highest per-hour rates on larger moving jobs |
Section takeaway: The bigger your vehicle, the more the job pays. Sedans still do well on Amazon Flex and Roadie.
Best Apps for Moving and Large-Item Delivery
Some deliveries go beyond a box or a bag of groceries. Furniture, appliances, and full apartment moves need bigger vehicles and a bit more muscle.
These gigs take longer and involve lifting, but the payout per job is often worth it.
13. Dolly
Best for: Choosing your own jobs, with or without a vehicle.
Dolly (now rebranded as Taskrabbit Delivery) connects you with people who need help moving furniture, hauling junk, or completing full apartment moves.
Own a truck, van, or SUV with a trailer? Sign up as a Helper. No qualifying vehicle? You can still join as a Hand and provide the muscle.
- See pay before you accept — view the full payout before committing
- Keep 100% of tips — always separate from base pay
- Two ways to join — as a Helper with a vehicle, or a Hand without one
- Wide range of jobs — furniture delivery, moves, junk removal, donation runs
As with any gig app, track your actual earnings for the first few weeks before relying on it heavily.
14. Lugg
Best for: Structured, slot-based scheduling.
Lugg works a lot like Dolly. Customers book help with furniture pickups and apartment moves, and you show up with your truck or van.
Most jobs run as a two-person crew, so you can also join as a helper if you don’t have a vehicle.
- Same-day pay — get paid the day you finish a job
- Slot-based scheduling — claim time windows in advance
- Tips split fairly — driver and helper split evenly, nothing held back
- Multiple vehicle tiers — bigger vehicles unlock higher-paying jobs
If you want more structure than an open marketplace, Lugg’s slot system makes planning your week easier.
15. Sharetown
Best for: Reselling and flipping furniture.
Sharetown is different from every app so far. Instead of driving passengers or delivering orders, you’re flipping furniture.
Here’s how it works. You get notified when a mattress or couch is available nearby. You pick it up, store it, then list it on Facebook Marketplace. Once it sells, you keep your cut and pay Sharetown back a portion.
- No upfront inventory cost — you only pay after an item sells
- Strong per-item payouts — reps commonly earn $100 to $250 per resale
- No sourcing required — Sharetown dispatches items to you
- Flexible scheduling — pick up items whenever your week allows
You will need a truck or van, storage space at home, and the ability to lift heavy items.
Section takeaway: If you own a truck or van and don’t mind physical work, this category pays the most per job on the whole list.
Apps for Local Errands and Driving Tasks
Not every way to earn with your car fits neatly into rideshare, delivery, or moving.
Plenty of platforms pay for simple, everyday driving tasks. These usually pay less per job, but they’re flexible and easy to start.
16. WeGoLook
Best for: Quick, one-off tasks close to home.
WeGoLook pays you to be someone else’s eyes on the ground. You inspect cars listed for sale, accident scenes, real estate, or property claims.
Each task, called a “Look,” usually means driving to a location, taking photos, and answering a short set of questions.
- Low barrier to entry — a smartphone, a vehicle, and a background check
- Choose your assignments — accept only the Looks that fit your area
- Quick tasks — most take 30 to 60 minutes
- Variety of work — car inspections, property checks, item verifications
One thing to watch: pay runs $15 to $30 per Look, and mileage isn’t reimbursed. Stick to jobs close to home.
17. CitizenShipper
Best for: Long-distance and pet transport.
CitizenShipper works like a bidding marketplace. Customers list shipments, most often pets, and drivers bid on the job.
Winning your first few jobs can take dozens of bids, but earnings climb quickly once you have reviews behind you.
- You set your own rates — bid what you think the job is worth
- Long-distance opportunities — cross-state shipments mean bigger payouts
- Variety of cargo — pets, vehicles, motorcycles, boats, household goods
- Full schedule control — bid only on jobs that fit your route
Do know that CitizenShipper charges a monthly subscription to access listings, so it suits regular bidders best.
18. GoPuff
Best for: Fast, warehouse-based deliveries.
GoPuff is like a cross between a convenience store and a delivery app. You pick up snacks and household essentials from one local warehouse, then deliver.
Everything is packed and ready when you arrive, so you can often complete more deliveries per hour than on restaurant apps.
- Guaranteed hourly minimum — GoPuff covers the gap during scheduled blocks
- Keep 100% of tips — always separate from base pay
- Faster turnaround — centralized pickup means less waiting
- No restaurant hassle — no juggling multiple pickup points
One thing to know: drivers must be at least 21, since GoPuff delivers alcohol in many markets. Pay typically lands in the $14 to $18 per hour range.
Section takeaway: These errand gigs are perfect filler work between bigger jobs, especially if you keep them close to home.
Best Apps for Making Money From Your Car Without Driving All Day
So far, every option has had one thing in common: you’re behind the wheel, actively working. But what if your car could earn while you’re not driving it at all?
That’s what this next group offers. Less hustle, more passive income.
19. Turo — Rent Out Your Car
Best for: Passive income from a car you barely use.
Turo lets you rent your car out when you’re not using it, essentially turning your driveway into a rental lot.
| How it works | List photos, pricing, and availability; guests book through the app while Turo handles payment and messaging |
| Ideal vehicles | Generally 2008 or newer, under 130,000 miles, clean title and current registration |
| Availability | You control the calendar, but weekends-only listings earn far less than full-week ones |
| Cleaning | Every trip needs a wash, vacuum, full tank, and before/after photos |
| Insurance | Personal policies usually exclude commercial use; Turo offers host protection plans through Travelers |
Pro Tip: Read the fine print on physical damage reimbursement before choosing a host protection plan. Some tiers leave you covering a much larger share of repair costs.
Turo works best if you have a reliable car that sits idle, a second vehicle, or one you only drive on weekdays.
20. Getaround — What Happened to This Turo Alternative
If you’ve researched car-sharing apps before, you may have seen Getaround listed as a Turo competitor.
Worth knowing: Getaround shut down all U.S. operations in February 2025, citing financial troubles. It still runs in parts of Europe, but American car owners no longer have that option.
| Factor | Turo | Getaround (U.S., discontinued) |
|---|---|---|
| Availability | Nationwide, plus Canada and UK | Shut down in the U.S. as of Feb 2025 |
| Access method | Mostly key exchange, some remote | Fully keyless via installed hardware |
| Vehicle age limit | More flexible, case-by-case | Stricter age and mileage limits |
| Rental length | Daily and multi-day focus | Built for hourly rentals |
| Payout speed | A few days after each trip | Paid monthly |
The decision has been made for you: Turo is now the only major peer-to-peer car-sharing option in the U.S. If you liked Getaround’s hourly, keyless model, HyreCar is the closest alternative.
21. Wrapify — Get Paid to Advertise on Your Car
Best for: Zero-effort passive income from driving you already do.
This one requires no extra driving at all. Wrapify turns your car into a moving billboard, then you keep living your normal life behind the wheel.
| How it works | A pro shop wraps your car in vinyl for free and installs a small mileage tracker |
| Eligibility | 21+, clean driving record, 2010 or newer vehicle with no major body damage |
| Driving required | Typically at least 50 miles a day, inside the advertiser’s target zone |
| Earnings | Full wraps commonly $260 to $450 per month; campaigns run one to three months |
- ✅ Pro: Truly passive, with no extra time behind the wheel
- ✅ Pro: Wrapping and removal are both free to you
- ❌ Con: You can’t drive for Uber or Lyft during a campaign
- ❌ Con: Approval isn’t guaranteed; advertisers prioritize high-visibility areas
- ❌ Con: Your car will look different for the length of the campaign
If you already drive a lot for errands or commuting, Wrapify is about as low-effort as side income gets.
22. Carvertise — Car Advertising
Best for: Predictable flat-rate pay, including rideshare drivers.
Carvertise works a lot like Wrapify, but the pay structure sets it apart. You get a flat monthly rate instead of per-mile pay.
- Flat monthly pay — around $100 a month base, with campaigns often totaling $300 to $500
- No mileage tracking — no app monitoring your daily miles
- Rideshare friendly — Uber, Lyft, and DoorDash drivers can qualify
- Zero cost to you — installation and removal are covered
| Factor | Carvertise | Wrapify |
|---|---|---|
| Pay structure | Flat monthly rate | Paid per mile driven |
| Earnings potential | Around $300–$500 per campaign | No cap; avg. $180–$450/month |
| Mileage tracking | Not required | Required via app |
| Rideshare drivers | Welcomed | Not allowed during campaign |
| Best for | Steady drivers who want no mileage stress | High-mileage drivers maximizing pay |
Section takeaway: Passive options won’t replace a paycheck, but they earn from a car that would otherwise just sit there.
Apps That Can Help You Save Money on Your Driving Business
Every app so far has been about earning more. But keeping more of what you make matters just as much.
Think of this section less as new income and more as protecting the income you already earn.
23. Upside
Best for: Cutting your gas bill.
Upside doesn’t hand you new work. It just makes the driving you’re already doing cheaper.
It partners with over 30,000 gas stations including Shell, BP, Circle K, and Marathon, offering roughly 10 to 25 cents back per gallon. Heavier drivers can see $40 to $80 a month back.
Using it is simple. Claim an offer in the app, pay at the pump as usual, then check in. No receipts needed for most gas purchases.
Rates vary by station and time of day, so check the app before each fill-up rather than assuming.
24. MileIQ
Best for: Automatic mileage tracking at tax time.
MileIQ doesn’t earn you money directly. It protects the money you already made by making sure you never lose a deductible mile.
The app runs quietly in the background, logging every drive automatically. Swipe right for business, left for personal, and you have an IRS-compliant record.
The IRS requires a contemporaneous log, meaning records created at or near the time of each trip. Numbers reconstructed from memory months later won’t hold up in an audit.
Good to know: The free plan covers 40 drives a month, which fills up fast. Most full-time drivers end up on a paid plan for unlimited tracking.
25. Insurify
Best for: Comparing insurance rates before renewal.
Car insurance is one of your biggest recurring costs, and one of the easiest to overpay for without realizing it.
You enter your details once, and Insurify pulls personalized quotes from more than 120 carriers, including GEICO, Allstate, and Progressive.
- Free to use — no cost to compare, no obligation to buy
- Wide carrier network — 120+ insurers in one search
- Real customer reviews — over 70,000 verified reviews
- Quote matching — a short form surfaces rates tailored to your profile
Insurify is a comparison marketplace, not an insurer, so claims and billing happen with the carrier you choose. Use it as a check-in tool every renewal cycle.
Section takeaway: These three apps won’t add income, but together they can quietly save you hundreds a year.
How Much Money Can You Make With Driving Apps?
By now you’ve seen a wide range of numbers. It’s tempting to add them up and picture your future paycheck.
But most of those figures skip an important detail: what you’re quoted is almost always gross earnings, not profit.
Here’s what typically eats into your driving income:
- Gas — the biggest recurring cost, especially on high-mileage gigs
- Wear and tear — faster depreciation, more oil changes, earlier tire replacements
- Insurance — you may need a rideshare endorsement or commercial policy
- Self-employment taxes — as a 1099 contractor, you owe both shares
- Phone and data — running several apps adds up in data and battery wear
A driver earning $25 an hour gross might be closer to $15 to $18 once gas and vehicle costs are counted. That’s not a reason to skip these apps. It’s a reason to track your numbers.
Gross Earnings vs. Take-Home Pay
Income − Gas − Maintenance − Insurance − Vehicle Costs − Taxes = Actual Profit
| Line Item | What It Covers |
|---|---|
| Income | Base pay, tips, bonuses, and incentives combined |
| Gas | Your largest variable cost, climbing fast on high-mileage gigs |
| Maintenance | Oil changes, tires, and brakes from extra weekly miles |
| Insurance | Any rideshare endorsement or commercial policy you need |
| Vehicle costs | Depreciation plus your loan or lease payment |
| Taxes | Self-employment tax on top of regular income tax |
The good news is this equation isn’t as intimidating as it looks. Track your numbers for even one week, and you’ll know your true hourly rate.
What Determines Your Earnings?
Two drivers running the exact same app can end up with completely different paychecks.
- Location — dense cities pay more consistently than rural areas
- Hours worked — working smart hours matters as much as working long ones
- Demand — busy nights, weekends, and local events lift requests
- Vehicle — your car, truck, or van opens or closes doors entirely
- Type of work — each category carries a different earning ceiling
- Tips — often the difference between an average shift and a great one
- Peak periods — surge and Peak Pay can nearly double your rate for an hour
- Operating costs — fuel efficiency and insurance change your take-home a lot
Section takeaway: Your hours, your vehicle, and your market are the levers you control. That’s what turns a driving gig into a strategy.
Which Driving App Is Right for You?
Still not sure where to start? Walk through this quick decision guide.
If you want to actively drive…
- Happy with passengers? Uber, Lyft, or HopSkipDrive for daytime school runs
- Want to deliver food? DoorDash, Uber Eats, Grubhub
- Prefer groceries? Instacart, Shipt
- Packages? Amazon Flex, Roadie, Spark Driver
- Large items or furniture? Dolly, Lugg, GoShare, Sharetown
- Errands and inspections? WeGoLook, CitizenShipper
If you’d rather earn passively…
- Willing to rent your car out? Turo
- Don’t mind an ad wrap? Wrapify (per-mile) or Carvertise (flat rate)
- Just want to cut costs? MileIQ, Upside, Insurify
If more than one goal applies to you, there’s no rule against combining them.
Plenty of people run Uber and DoorDash side by side, track every mile with MileIQ, and claim gas cash back through Upside. Stacking a few apps is often how the real money gets made.
Your first-week checklist
- Pick one app that matches your vehicle and schedule, and sign up today.
- Install MileIQ before your very first drive so no deductible mile gets lost.
- Claim an Upside offer at the station you already use.
- Log gas, hours, and total pay for seven straight days.
- Do the math on your real hourly rate, then decide whether to add a second app.
Ready to start earning? Get the free “Which Driving App Fits You?” worksheet →
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you really make money with your car?
Yes. Whether you’re driving passengers, delivering food, renting your car out, or wrapping it in ads, there are dozens of legitimate options. How much you make depends on your location, vehicle, and time.
What is the best driving app to make money?
It depends on your goal. Uber and Lyft lead for passengers, DoorDash and Uber Eats for food delivery, and Turo for renting your car out passively.
What driving app pays the most?
Apps needing more effort or a bigger vehicle, like Lugg, GoShare, and Sharetown, tend to pay more per job. Rideshare wins on volume and flexibility instead.
What is the best app if I don’t want passengers?
DoorDash, Uber Eats, Instacart, and Shipt let you earn without ever picking up a rider. To skip delivery too, Wrapify and Carvertise pay you just to drive your normal routine.
Can I make money with an older car?
It depends on the app. Rideshare and delivery apps usually accept vehicles from the last 10 to 15 years. Turo and car-wrap companies are stricter, often 2008 or newer.
Can I make money with an SUV or truck?
Yes, often more than with a sedan. Larger vehicles qualify for higher-paying gigs like GoShare, Lugg, and Sharetown that sedans simply can’t access.
Can I make money with my car without driving it?
Yes. Renting your car out on Turo or wrapping it through Wrapify or Carvertise both earn without adding extra miles yourself.
Is driving for delivery apps worth it?
For many people, yes, especially with reliable transportation and some free time. Just remember gross pay isn’t profit once gas, maintenance, and taxes come out.
How much can I make driving apps part-time?
Part-time drivers commonly earn from a few hundred to over a thousand dollars a month. Stacking multiple apps tends to boost part-time earnings the most.
Do I have to pay taxes on money earned from driving apps?
Yes. As an independent contractor you report this income and pay self-employment tax. Tracking mileage and expenses year-round makes tax season far less painful.
Can I use multiple driving apps?
In most cases yes, and many drivers do. Just check individual terms; Wrapify, for example, restricts rideshare driving during an active campaign.
Final Verdict: Which Driving App Should You Try?
If you’re just getting started, pick one app that matches the time and vehicle you actually have.
A sedan owner with a few spare hours might start with Uber or DoorDash. Someone with a pickup truck could look at GoShare or Lugg instead. And if driving isn’t your thing, Turo or Wrapify let your car earn without you.
Whichever you choose, don’t stop there. Add MileIQ from day one, compare insurance through Insurify each renewal, and use Upside to trim your biggest expense.
The best driving app isn’t the one with the flashiest headline pay. It’s the one that fits your car, your schedule, and your city.
Start with one, track your real numbers for a couple of weeks, and expand from there once you know what actually works for you.
More Ways to Make Money From Home
If earning extra cash with your car got you thinking about other income ideas, here are a few guides worth reading next.
- Browse our full list of side hustle ideas to find something that fits your schedule.
- Want money working for you? Try these passive income ideas.
- Prefer to skip driving? Our guide to making money online covers dozens of options.
- Only have a couple of days free? These weekend jobs fit around full-time work.
- Rather work from your kitchen table? Explore our work-from-home jobs roundup.
- Don’t want to open a laptop? Try these side hustles you can start with your phone.
- Thinking bigger picture? Our list of small business ideas can help.
- Curious what’s next? See how people make money with AI.
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