10 Clever Ways to Turn Your Car Into a Money-Making Machine

MAKE MONEY - SIDE HUSTLES
Instead of letting it sit in your driveway, think about some different ways you can make some extra cash with your car.
Updated Aug. 25, 2022
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If you’re trying to find ways to make a little extra cash, you may want to consider getting your car out of its parking spot.

Technology has made it easy to turn your vehicle into a money-making machine. You could sign up to be a driver for any number of apps or use local websites and social media to advertise your ability to do any number of tasks.

So if you’re thinking of putting some extra cash in your wallet, here are a few ways you can make your car generate some revenue for you. You may also want to consider reducing your auto insurance to reap more profit from the money you make off of your car.

Ride-hailing

eunikas/Adobe taxi driver in a mask with a client on the back seat wearing mask

This is one of the more popular tasks to make extra money with your car, either as a full-time or part-time gig or if you’re looking for a good side hustle. Look into apps like Uber, Lyft, or others to get started.

You also might want to check out different ways drivers can earn more money. Some ride-hailing apps allow you to earn more depending on the model of car you have or if you prefer to drive during peak hours to earn additional money.

Delivering food

New Africa/Adobe male courier with orders in car

Gone are the days when the only person delivering food was a pizza driver. The pandemic made companies like DoorDash, Grubhub, and Uber Eats more popular as people decided they wanted to eat food from their favorite restaurant without sitting inside their favorite restaurant. And unlike ride-hailing apps, you don’t have to deal with unruly passengers.

Grocery shopping

motortion/Adobe delivery worker holding grocery bag with fresh tasty goods

Another delivery service that became popular during the pandemic was grocery delivery. Shoppers could make a list on a website and then schedule the best time to have the food set down on the front porch.

This may be a good option if you want to use your car to make cash while still getting in some extra walking and shopping for customers. Try apps such as Shipt or Instacart to see what they can offer for potential drivers.

Help people move

New Africa/Adobe male movers unloading boxes from van outdoors

Do you have a truck, van, or large SUV? You may be able to advertise your services to help people move things. You can work on traditional home-to-home moves or advertise your services to move furniture or other items from a seller’s home to a buyer.

You might also want to advertise at local storage facilities where people may need a driver with a large vehicle to drop off boxes and other items in a storage locker.

Small tasks

Ngampol/Adobe accepting of cardboard boxes package from postman

Besides moving, there are plenty of other tasks you can do to make a little extra cash. Websites like TaskRabbit or Thumbtack may be a good place to start if you’re looking for small projects that don’t require special skills. Using your car, you could pick up and drop off deliveries or run errands for clients.

You could also check local sites like Nextdoor to find people who may need some help with small projects or to advertise your ability to complete tasks with your car.

Advertising

Halfpoint/Adobe shop assistant working in indoor potted plant store

Help a local business get the word out about their work by turning your car into a mobile billboard. Companies could pay you to use the space on the side of your car for any number of things they may want to advertise to potential customers as you drive by.

Pro tip: If you lease your car, you should find out what alterations you can make to the exterior of your vehicle. Perhaps you might want to choose something less permanent for advertising like a temporary wrap or even use a strong magnet to attach the advertising to your car.

Safe-driver discounts

dusanpetkovic1/Adobe  smiling man fastening seat belt

Some of the best car insurance companies may have safe-driver discounts that could help you keep a little cash in your pocket. Do some research and ask your insurance provider if they have driver discounts and how you may be able to qualify for them.

Some insurance companies may ask you to track your daily driving habits or have you enroll in a defensive driving course. But a little work could get you some big savings on your next insurance bill.

Amazon deliveries

Tada Images/Adobe Amazon delivery driver

Amazon is one of the biggest online retailers, but they need transportation to get their boxes from warehouses to your front door. The company has increased the number of fleet vehicles on the road like Amazon delivery trucks. 

But sometimes they may ask for drivers to use their own cars to help deliver boxes to customers, particularly during peak seasons like the holidays or Amazon’s Prime Day. Look into what it takes to be an Amazon driver and see if that’s something you would like to pursue.

6 Genius Hacks Amazon Shoppers Must Know

Mobile services

puhhha/Adobe dog gets hair cut at pet spa grooming salon

If you’re trying to make extra money with a side hustle or main job, you might want to put it on wheels. Perhaps you could have a mobile pet-grooming service.

Or hair stylists might offer hair and make-up services in a client’s home, especially as the summer wedding season gets into full swing.

Or maybe you can take your culinary skills on the road. With a little creativity, you can make any stationary side hustle or job into a mobile option for customers.

Movie extra

fabrus/Adobe operator holding clapperboard during the production of short film

Video and film productions for everything from advertisements to television shows and movies may need cars in their shots, and you could have the right car for them. Check out websites like Movie Time Cars to see if you can register your vehicle in their database and perhaps get a call to have it show up on the big screen or a TV.

This could be a particularly lucrative plan if you have an exotic car or an older vehicle that may be good for productions set during a certain era.

Bottom line

Chanakon/Adobe man standing with arm crossed in front of the car

Do some research on the different apps or websites to find some extra ways to generate money with your four wheels.

With a large variety of delivery services, ride-hailing services, or local tasks, you may be surprised by the many options available to you. And if using your car to make money doesn’t appeal to you, you can find other money-making options on our list of the best side hustles.

Remember to also look into reducing your auto insurance bill so you can enjoy more of the profits for yourself.

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