Wouldn’t it be nice if our vehicles paid for themselves? If the cost of driving is too much or you’re not sure if you could afford a car on your current earnings, these side hustles could be perfect for you.
Some vehicles are better suited to certain side hustles than others, such as large item moving would be better for van or truck owners. Before you begin any venture, it’s important to speak with your insurance to make sure you will still have the right coverage for what you’re using your car for.
Ridesharing Apps
Becoming a ridesharing driver is one of the most popular ways to earn extra money. Many people make the change from part-time to full-time after they begin as it gives more flexibility and freedom to spend with your family or doing hobbies they no longer had time for.
Uber is one of the best-known rideshare apps, and like many of the other companies offering rideshare work, they are simple to get started with. There are some basic requirements to drive for ridesharing apps, such as passing driving records and criminal background checks and meeting the minimum vehicle age and quality standards. Ridester has compiled a comprehensive guide to help you understand the Uber car requirements you may need to prepare before signing up.
Peak driving periods fall during the weekday rush hours and around closing time for bars on weekends, which is why rideshare working don’t typically keep 9-to-5 driving schedules to make a profit. Unless you’re prepared to operate during these unsociable hours, it will be challenging to maximize on your ridesharing potential.
Your earnings vary depending on your operating hours and how may fare you have in a single shift, but most drivers can expect to be earning $15 per hour or more on average during peak times.
Food Delivery
Food or Grocery Delivery is a great way to make money, especially if you don’t always have access to a car or don’t have one yet, as many of the apps allow you to deliver by scooter or bicycle.
Quick food delivery is quickly becoming one of the most popular services for both consumers and those looking to get into the gig economy. The pay you receive will be determined by a number of factors depending on the app you work with; drop-off fee, mileage calculator, and minute rate are the most common ones you’ll find across the board.
Working as a food delivery driver is similar to being a rideshare driver, as mentioned above, minus human passengers in your car. The peak working hours are usually around lunch and dinner time, making food delivery a good option for people who want to work in their spare time after finishing a typical 9-to-5 job.
Drivers are dependant on restaurant works prepping the food in a timely manner, so the pickup process isn’t always seamless, and you may have to wait on occasion for the orders to be ready. It is also better to sign up with multiple food delivery apps operating in your area as you will capture the highest volume of orders and increase your overall profits.
Becoming a grocery shopper is another way you can deliver food; as with fast food or restaurant delivery apps, you have complete control over your shifts via the app. Peak times for grocery shopping vary across the U.S., but you can generally expect to have the most orders on the weekends as people prepare for the coming week.
Deliver Packages
If you like the sound of delivery but not the idea of handling food or groceries, then why not branch out to package delivery apps? Sign up with popular businesses that offer a range of products from bathroom towels to sound systems. The difference between food or grocery delivery and package delivery is that you usually pick up all the packages for that day’s shift at once before distributing them throughout the day.
As with all delivery or rideshare companies, there are requirements that need to be met before you can work for them. These vary from company to company, but you can ordinarily expect the companies to ask you to hold a valid driver’s license, have access to a reliable vehicle, insurance, be over 18, and have the ability to lift up to 40 pounds.
Moving and Haulage
Moving homes is a huge job, and most people will tell you they hate doing it alone. If ridesharing and delivering food or packages aren’t for you and you have a larger vehicle, then being paid to help people move could be the side gig for you. Those with health limitations and senior citizens use task apps and companies to find movers the most, and the demand is so high that those companies often find they are fully booked for months at a time. This has caused a massive need for more movers, making it an excellent way to make extra money for people looking for side hustles.
Haulage is perfect for people with larger vehicles. Companies often need to dispose of the stuff they no longer need, such as broken furniture or outdated electronics, and you can make good money hauling it all to the recycling sites. Haulage services don’t stop with companies needing goods transported to the recycling sites; you may be asked to move building supplies, or large construction materials, and leftover materials that need to be taken to dumping or recycling sites.
Become A Driving Instructor
If you want to help the next generation of drivers learn, then becoming a driving instructor is an excellent way to not only make your car pay for itself but give back to the local community. The age requirements vary from state to state, but typically you need to be over 21 to become a driving instructor. Most states also expect you to have a two-year, clean driving license and a spotless criminal record; you will also need to pass a number of exams before you can become licensed to teach.
You don’t have to be restricted to teaching the next generation; there are plenty of companies that require instructors to give their employees regular training for a variety of vehicles. Determining what vehicle you would like to specialize in can help you understand what kind of companies you may want to work for. Once you have decided on a type of vehicle, you need to take an instructor training program held by the DMV and several other tests such as a vision test, written test, road sign test, and the behind-the-wheel instructor’s driving test.
Rent Out Your Car
If you don’t use your car every day or you have a second car collecting dust in your garage, then you can earn money by making it available for short-term rental by people traveling in your local area. It is often referred to as ‘car sharing’ and is a simple way to make money without having to go out of your way. Newer models can earn several hundred dollars a month, which could be enough to cover all of the expenses for your car, such as loan payments, insurance premiums, or regular maintenance costs.
Renting out your car will add more miles to it, so you need to be prepared for increased upkeep costs if your car is a popular rental.
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