The 17 best driving apps to make money in 2024

Note: Since these are all apps, it goes without saying that you need a smartphone. Verify that your current hardware and operating system meet each app's requirements before signing up.

Drive to make money? It's called a side hustle, and it's one of the best ways to make some extra cash quickly (well, one of them, when it comes to active and passive income, of course).

Using driving apps to make money only takes two things you probably already have: a car and determination. And if you're worried the only driving apps out there are just about playing airport taxi, think again!

There are lots of popular driving apps that come with a variety of assignments, require different skills, and provide ways to diversify your income. Here are 17 of the best driving apps to make money.

1. Uber   

One of the best-known rideshare apps available, Uber allows you to use your car while ferrying people from point A to point B (or dropping some treats via Uber Eats at their doorstep — see more about this below!).

It’s also very simple to sign up. Uber requires only:

• A driver's license

• Proof of local residency

• Applicable insurance

• A clean background check

• At least one year of driving experience

• Meeting the minimum age requirement to drive in your city

One of the unique features of Uber is that you don't need to own a car to start driving. Uber has a Vehicle Marketplace where you can rent a vehicle from one of Uber's partners to get to work driving quickly. Earnings are based on demand, and drivers may receive tips. 

2. Lyft            

Lyft, one of the biggest Uber competitors on the market, offers very similar rideshare services. To get started with Lyft, you need to be 25 years old, pass a background check, and submit your auto insurance, vehicle registration, and vehicle inspection (as applicable). You must also use a qualifying four-door vehicle that you can own or rent through Express Drive, Lyft’s rental car service. 

Rates on Lyft fluctuate due to demand and depend on the duration and distance of each trip. Driving at busy times is a good way to earn more, such as during rush hour. Drivers may also receive incentives from Lyft and passenger tips.

3. Wingz

Living near a busy airport hub can open up opportunities to earn with Wingz, a pre-scheduled ride app that gets folks back and forth to the airport. To become a driver, you need to be at least 21 years old and have a car that meets Wingz standards:

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• The vehicle must not be older than five years.

• The vehicle must be registered in your name.

• Sedans must be full-size or luxury models.

• SUVs, minivans, and some crossover models are acceptable as well.

• Drivers must pass a background check, checks of DMV records, and virtual training modules.

Wingz allows drivers to build relationships with customers who can mark them as "favorites." Wingz drivers earn at a clear rate of 33% minus fare reimbursements for general requests and 28% minus fare reimbursements for direct book requests. Drivers are also compensated for canceled rides within 24 hours, up to 100% for cancellations less than four hours from pick-up or complete no-shows.

While Wingz's advanced scheduling is less flexible than the "work-when-you-want" models of other ride-share apps, the flat rates and cancellation/no-show pay may make earnings on this app more predictable.

4. Curb       

If you have a professional driver's license, you're eligible to sign up as a driver with Curb. Whether you have worked as a licensed driver for another rideshare/e-hail company or a professional taxi company, Curb accepts your application.

Curb rides are sourced from partnerships with government agencies, hospitals, and corporate companies so that you have steady work and less idle time. Curb considers itself positioned "driver-first," and that is noticeable in features like daily earnings payouts.

5. HopSkipDrive        

Love working with kids? HopSkipDrive is a driving app that gets kids picked up and dropped off safely by vetted drivers. Used by school districts, charter schools, government agencies, and even private families, HopSkipDrive CareDrivers set their own hours and use their own vehicles.

CareDriver must have experience in caregiving, five years total, and two with children. You can qualify at age 23 or older with a valid driver's license, a good driving record, three or more years of driving, and a car that is 13 years old or newer. Drivers also must pass several phases of background checks.

While becoming a CareDriver is not instant (it tends to take 25 to 60 days), it is a niche driving market that may align with the lifestyles of stay-at-home parents or others looking to move away from night-life style rideshare services. Bonus, do you have a booster seat or two on hand? Expand the rides you can take by having a booster seat available in your vehicle. 

6. Bellhop   

Know how to handle large box trucks? Bellhop has no-touch freight transport jobs that can get you paid even while waiting. With hourly pay for low-mileage freight jobs (on average, less than 15 miles), this may be a great driving app for trucking industry professionals who want to stay closer to home.

All you need is to pass a background check, register with the Department of Transportation (and get a motor carrier (MC) number for long-distance as needed), own or lease a box truck, and have liability and cargo insurance. 

7. DoorDash     

Live near a hotbed of tasty cuisines and eateries? Driving for DoorDash might be a great fit for you. DoorDash allows you to earn money as you pick up and quickly deliver takeout meals and other goods. You get to choose which deliveries to pick up and when you want to work.

To qualify for DoorDash, you must be at least 18 years old, have access to a vehicle (including scooters and bicycles in some areas), and have a driver's license and Social Security number. 

Once you're approved to work for DoorDash, you can start working in just a few days and cash out instantly when you opt into the DasherDirect card option. Every delivery has a stated base pay amount based on the estimated time, distance, and desirability of the delivery. On top of that, you can earn 100% of tips from customers. DoorDash also offers a host of promotions to increase your pay based on demand and challenges.

8. Uber Eats       

Just like driving for Uber, driving for Uber Eats requires:

• A driver's license

• Proof of local residency

• Applicable insurance

• A clean background check

• At least one year of driving experience

• The minimum age requirement to drive in your city

Those who choose to ride a bike face even fewer rules. When driving for Uber Eats, delivery drivers skip ferrying passengers and instead pick up meals for customers. All they need to do is drop the food at customers' homes.

9. Grubhub      

Vying with DoorDash in the dinner delivery game, GrubHub is another takeout drop-off app that has simple sign-up requirements:

• Access to a car

• Driver's license

• Auto insurance

• Smartphone

Drivers earn base pay plus 100% of customer tips. Hours are completely flexible, with options to reserve blocks when you're available or to just take offers as they come. Payment is available via direct deposit on Thursdays or Instant Cash Out. 

GrubHub offers incentives called "Driver Levels" to increase access to flexible scheduling and priority for catering offers, which come with higher earnings potential. Scored on commitment rate, on-time arrival, and schedule commitment, drivers can increase their levels with top performance.

10. Instacart            

If you're the type of person who knows every aisle of the grocery store, consider Instacart as a side hustle. With Instacart, you visit stores like pharmacies or grocers to complete pre-scheduled shopping lists and then deliver them to your customers. 

To qualify for Instacart, you must be at least 18, be eligible to work in the United States, have a bank account, have access to a vehicle and smartphone, and be able to lift 40 pounds.

Instacart is flexible, so you can shop on your own time. It also offers cashouts as early as two hours after completing a delivery. 

11. Shipt            

Another in-store shop and delivery app, Shipt has a pay structure that does not fluctuate like some other driving and delivery apps. Instead, you always get the same base pay plus 100% of any tips.

To qualify for Shipt, you must:

• Be at least 18

• Have a valid mailing address

• Have a driver's license

• Have auto insurance

• Own a vehicle manufactured in 1997 or newer

• Be able to lift 50 pounds

Shipt partners with Target Circle 360 for same-day delivery, so if you're a Target aficionado who can track down the nail polish, bananas, and bicycle tires all in one order, working with Shipt might be a great opportunity for you.

12. Amazon Flex         

Part of Amazon's well-known fast delivery depends on Amazon Flex delivery drivers. These are independent drivers who pick up pre-scheduled blocks of deliveries and bring the packages to their destinations in their own (or rented) vehicles.

Car qualifications for Amazon Flex are simple. Any car that can transport packages may be used for Prime Now deliveries. Amazon.com orders require a four-door, mid-sized sedan or larger vehicle, including trucks with covered beds, SUVs, or Vans. You can even have a passenger or pet along for the ride as long as they do not interact with customers, and you can safely leave them in the vehicle while making deliveries.

Drivers for Amazon Flex earn $18-25 per hour on average, though location, tips, completion, and other factors can affect this cost. Pay can be available every weekday or set to a schedule of your choosing.

13. Roadie         

Falling under UPS's corporate umbrella, Roadie facilitates local delivery for almost anything going anywhere in the United States. Used by companies to handle last-mile shipping to more remote locations, same-day deliveries, bulky deliveries, and returns, Roadie drivers sign up to solve hard-to-fulfill deliveries. 

Roadie is transparent about how much drivers usually make: an average of $12 per trip on local deliveries. But they do share that hitting a few stops on a delivery trip is the best way to increase your payout. And those payouts hit your bank account weekly on Tuesdays, or you can opt into Instant Pay after completing the required steps.

If you want to make the most of working with Roadie, track down a few simple tools to optimize deliveries, like dollys, liftgates, or straps. Roadie also offers higher earning potential for EVs and hybrid vehicles. You can change how you work, too, by getting TSA-certified for airport cargo deliveries or accepting automatic assignments during scheduled blocks of time.

14. TaskRabbit        

Are you a handy person? Sign up to be a Tasker with TaskRabbit, where you can use your car (or other skills) to help customers. Whether you make a delivery from a local store or help haul a piece of furniture, TaskRabbit is the type of app that will pay you for putting your driving skills to work.

TaskRabbit's pay structure is unique in that it's more of a marketplace for you to feature your profile than an assignment-driven app. You pay a $25 registration fee in some cities. Then, you get to keep 100% of what you charge plus tips.

You get paid by submitting an invoice. You can also build a business with repeat customers who appreciate your unique skills.

TaskRabbit is well-known for its partnership with IKEA, so if you're ready to haul some furniture and help assemble closet systems, this might be the app for you.

15. GoShare            

With GoShare, you can work when you want and use your box truck, cargo van, pickup truck, SUV, or car to do local load hauls or courier jobs. To qualify, you must be at least 18, have a vehicle that is 2002 or newer, pass a background check, speak English, and have a valid license, registration, and insurance in the state where you deliver.

GoShare offers a digital infrastructure to connect you with customers that can build up your business delivery. Earnings potential at GoShare is a standout in the driving app industry, with courier services in cars, SUVs, and minivans averaging up to $45 an hour and box truck earners making up to $168 an hour.

While there may be some more labor-intensive jobs on this marketplace, such as picking up and delivering large loads, GoShare offers the opportunity to work when you want for just the jobs you want. GoShare handles all the payment details, meaning you can take that off your plate and just wait for your direct deposit to hit in four business days.

You'll also be eligible for discounts on benefits such as healthcare, tires, and vehicle maintenance to support your business. Deliveries are covered by a cargo insurance policy to help protect you.

16. Dolly        

If you're the friend everyone calls to help them move, you may as well get paid for it. Dolly Helpers make an average of $50 per hour when they have a qualified vehicle to assist on private moves. If you own a pickup, box truck, cargo van, or SUV with a trailer, you can pick up moving gigs on your own schedule and start earning.

To qualify, you must be 18 years or older, pass a background check, and have a PayPal account to get paid. You'll need a driver's license, auto insurance, ownership of a qualified vehicle, and the ability to lift up to 75 pounds yourself.

17. Bungii            

You're gonna need a bigger car for this one, but Bungii is a great option for those in more rural locations. While rideshare apps get better results in the city, last-mile delivery apps like Bungii depend on its gig drivers to get large items delivered to more remote or less populated areas that other carriers don't deliver in.

With turn-by-turn directions directly in the app, Bungii preps you to go that extra mile. Bungii delivery pros make an average of $45 per hour and can get approved in about 60 minutes. Drivers must be able to lift and carry up to 125 pounds and own a vehicle made in 1999 or newer.

Maximize your earnings with the best driving apps     

As you can see, there are tons of delivery driving apps to make money. Whether you want to drop people at the airport or bring groceries to folks who need delivery, you can use one of these popular driving apps to make extra money. A side hustle is a great way to make extra active income.

Before you sign up for one of these apps, pick one that is active in your local area, such as food delivery in a city or last-mile package delivery in rural areas. Have important information on hand like your driver's license, auto insurance information, and vehicle registration. 

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