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Make Money Side Hustles

How to Make Money Without a Car: 10 Smart Ideas

Side hustles can be a great way to earn extra cash, even if you don’t have a vehicle available for food deliveries or ride-sharing.

A woman holds a laptop in one hand and fans cash in the other.
Kate Daugherty
By Kate Daugherty
Ashley Donohoe
Edited by Ashley Donohoe
Updated Dec. 17, 2024
Fact checked

While having a side hustle can be an excellent way to earn extra cash, some of the most obvious ones — like delivering groceries or rideshare services — often require a vehicle.

Whether you don’t have a car or you’re just trying to avoid rising gas prices and wear and tear, figuring out how to make money without a car can take a little work.

But once you start looking, you’ll discover many options. Some examples include doing remote work or developing side hustles like freelancing, selling items, using cashback apps, or taking online surveys.

Let’s look at 10 ways you can make money without a car so you can find the one that works for you and jump-start your money-making era.

In this article

Key takeaways

  • Making extra money without a car is doable, but it may take some creativity.
  • Consider renting out or selling items you already have to earn extra funds.
  • Offering part-time freelance services like writing or graphic design can be a great way to make money from home and still work a full-time job.
  • Be aware of any fees that platforms like Etsy, eBay, or Poshmark charge to sell items.
  • Consider using a cashback app or taking surveys for a relatively easy way to earn money online.

10 smart ways to make money without a car

  1. Rent out your possessions
  2. Look for a regular remote job
  3. Take local gigs helping others
  4. Create profitable digital content
  5. Deliver orders without a car
  6. Invest to earn passive income
  7. Sell items
  8. Participate in online surveys and focus groups
  9. Offer freelance services online
  10. Use cashback apps

    11. Rent out your possessions

    Airbnb and Vrbo are well-known options for renting out your home or a spare room and earning extra money. But if you aren’t comfortable having people stay in your home, use a site like Neighbor to rent extra space in your garage or on your property (think driveways, parking lots, or undeveloped land). Hosts receive liability coverage, and Neighbor handles payment processing and administrative details.

    Yoodilize can help you make some extra cash by renting out items you aren’t using. The site connects people with extra items to those looking to rent instead of buying new ones. It offers a variety of options, including tools and heavy machinery, sports gear, skis, camping equipment, clothing, kids' toys, and even ATVs or snowmobiles.

    After creating a Yoodlize profile, post a listing and wait for a rental request. You can approve or deny the request, and Yoodlize will handle payment processing. Yoodilize provides $2,000 in insurance coverage per listing and verifies all renters.

    Look for a regular remote job

    If you don’t have a vehicle or don’t like the idea of a daily commute, consider looking for remote work. Depending on your skills and availability, a full- or part-time remote role can be a good way to earn a stable income and have a predictable workflow without commuting to an office.

    Sites like FlexJobs, LinkedIn, and We Work Remotely offer fully remote and hybrid job listings nationwide. All three sites offer free basic job listings, but you’ll need a monthly subscription to unlock the full features.

    • LinkedIn charges $39.99 a month for its Premium Career subscription, which provides features like direct messaging, private browsing, and access to LinkedIn Learning.
    • FlexJobs subscriptions begin at $2.95 for a 14-day trial, which gives you unlimited access to all jobs on the platform, free skills testing, and email alerts for new job postings.
    • We Work Remotely’s Pro Job Seeker account is $9.99 monthly and includes the Job Seeker Basic Account, a resume builder, and up to five job searches with alerts.

    Take local gigs helping others

    Babysitting can be a great way to earn extra cash, especially if you can walk or bike to the family’s home or have the kids in your home. If you haven’t babysat for a while, consider completing a Red Cross babysitting class. You can then look for gigs through Care.com or local job boards as well as network with friends, family, and acquaintances.

    If you prefer animals, check out sites like Rover or Care.com to find pet-sitting or dog-walking opportunities in your area. Rover allows you to choose when and the types of animals you work with. It also offers up to $25,000 in vet care reimbursement if something happens to Fido on your walk.

    If you’re handy, consider looking for work on TaskRabbit or Thumbtack. TaskRabbit connects customers who need help with yard work, moves, or smaller tasks like TV mounting with skilled Taskers. It charges a $25 registration fee in some areas but lets you set your schedule and rates. Thumbtack focuses on bigger projects, like electrical or plumbing repair or small remodels, but offers free registration for pros looking for work.

    Create profitable digital content

    Creating digital content can be one of the best side hustles, especially if you have a digital art or video creation background.

    If you have skills in digital creation, consider selling digital products like printable art and digital planners or designing e-books or courses for purchase on sites like Etsy. Just be aware of any transaction fees or extra set-up costs that the platform requires before you sign up.

    If you like being behind the camera, investigate selling stock photographs or videos on Shutterstock or another site. Through its PremiumBeat program, Shutterstock also lets you sell original music clips that you compose for background or sound effects.

    Additionally, you could focus on building a subscriber base on YouTube and try to develop a revenue stream through advertising. While monetizing digital content can take a lot of work, you may find it rewarding if you're persistent. To monetize your channel, you must be accepted into the YouTube Partner Program (YPP) by demonstrating eligibility through watch time and subscriber count and meeting other eligibility requirements.

    Deliver orders without a car

    If you live in a big city, consider delivering food or other items on foot or by bicycle. While primarily known as vehicle delivery services, apps like DoorDash and Postmates also allow deliveries via bike or scooter in some areas.

    While you’ll need to be strategic about the orders you accept, using a bike or scooter may be an advantage in large cities. Such areas with lots of traffic can cause extensive delays for car deliveries and frustrate stores and customers. Using a bike or scooter in such conditions can often get you somewhere faster, making for happy customers and more potential orders.

    Invest to earn passive income

    You may already be an experienced investor and have a traditional brokerage account to help your invested funds turn into passive income. As you learn how to make money in different ways, look for low-cost investments and maintain a diverse mix of assets to help avoid as many fees as possible and hedge against market downturns.

    If you’re new to investing or afraid you don’t have enough to get started, consider using an app like Acorns or Robinhood.

    Robinhood is free to use and does not charge commissions, although it does pass along any third-party fees from trading stocks. It offers investments in U.S. exchange-listed stocks, ETFs, options, and even some cryptocurrencies.

    Helpful for those getting started, Acorns recommends a diversified portfolio of ETFs that suits investing for the long term, and it allows you to invest a minimum of $5. The app also lets you link your debit or credit card to round up purchases and invest the difference. While it can be a helpful tool, Acorns charges a monthly subscription fee ranging from $3 to $12.1

    Sell items

    Selling items you own is another great way to earn extra cash without worrying about commuting.

    You can sell home goods, toys, or furniture you no longer need on your local Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist. When photographing your listing, use good lighting and a neutral background. Be cautious about giving out your personal information, and use a neutral location when meeting buyers.

    If you like hunting for vintage items and reselling them for a profit, look into platforms like eBay and Etsy. Both sites can be great places to sell collectibles and memorabilia, especially if you enjoy the hunt for rare items and can do minor repairs or cleaning without causing damage.

    After a thorough closet cleanout, Poshmark can help you sell your gently used clothing and home items. But like Etsy and eBay, Poshmark charges fees for listing or selling items, so be sure you understand the fee structure and how shipping costs may eat into your profits before you sign up.

    Participate in online surveys and focus groups

    If you’re looking for something you can do from your phone, sites like Survey Junkie and InboxDollars will pay you for taking surveys.

    Survey Junkie offers survey rewards that you can trade in for e-gift cards or PayPal payments. Members can also participate in behavioral market research through the Surf to Earn Community.

    InboxDollars features paid surveys, opportunities to earn cash back, and ways to earn grocery cash rewards. When you’ve reached a $15 balance for the first cash out ($10 for all future ones), you can request your payment via PayPal, a Visa or Mastercard prepaid card, or various retailer gift cards.

    Offer freelance services online

    Freelancing can be one of the best ways to make money online. While you may be familiar with the concept of a freelance writer or graphic designer, many potential clients are also looking for tutoring, coding, transcription, translation, and even accounting or marketing services.

    Sites like Fiverr, Upwork, and Freelancer offer freelancing gigs in various areas, including design, software development, accounting, and admin and customer support.

    Fiverr and Upwork let freelancers sign up for free, and you can create a profile detailing your skills and accomplishments. Upwork also has a paid subscription option called Upwork Pro that provides access to additional features to help freelancers grow their businesses. While Freelancer is free, you can pay to upgrade your bid on projects to promote your services better.

    Be aware that all three platforms charge fees based on a percentage of what you earn.

    Use cashback apps

    Apps like Ibotta, Fetch, and Rakuten can help you earn cash back on purchases.

    Ibotta offers cashback every time you shop in-store or online. You can save offers for items to your list, complete the shopping trip, and then submit a receipt or link your account. When you’ve earned $20 in cash back, you can have it sent to your bank account or request a gift card. If you do a lot of online shopping, you can install a browser extension or activate offers in Ibotta before you make a purchase.

    Fetch operates similarly and provides points every time you take a picture of your receipt through the app. You can also earn points by responding to personalized offers. Once you earn enough points for a reward, you can request a gift card from multiple retailers. You need a minimum of 3,000 points to redeem most rewards.

    Rakuten encourages users to shop through its website, app, or browser extension rather than upload receipts. The more you shop through Rakuten, the more cash back you’ll earn. Rakuten pays it out every three months via a physical check or PayPal, and you must earn at least $5.01 in cash back during that time to receive a payout.

    FAQ

    How can you make money with no money and without a job?

    Some of the best ways to make money without a job include delivering items or food through an app, using your creative skills to create products, freelancing, and even taking online surveys or trying cashback apps. If possible, consider selling items you no longer need, renting space in your home on Airbnb, or offering storage for other people’s vehicles or items.

    How can you get a job if you don’t drive?

    There are various ways to get a job if you don’t drive, including seeking remote-only positions on places like LinkedIn and We Work Remotely. You can also consider turning your skills into freelance work and look for projects on sites like Fiverr, Upwork, or Freelancer. Additionally, you can try delivering items via bike or scooter for DoorDash or Postmates.

    How can you make $50 a day on the side?

    There are many ways to earn $50 a day on the side, including freelancing, selling items you no longer need, or renting out your home or space on your property as storage. You might also earn this amount by doing high-paying surveys or participating in focus groups.

    Bottom line

    Earning money without a car may take some creativity, but various ways exist. To find the right way to make money, consider your skills, the time you’re willing to commit to working on your side hustle, and your interests. Using several methods at once – such as taking surveys, freelancing, and selling items you no longer need – generally makes the most sense to earn a steady income.