Ultimate Guide to Earning Money as a Delivery Person with Uber Eats [2024]

MAKE MONEY - SIDE HUSTLES
Learn the ins and outs of delivering with Uber Eats so you can hit the road and build your bank account.
Updated Dec. 5, 2023
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Ultimate Guide to Earning Money as a Delivery-Partner with Uber Eats

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Does your dream side hustle have a flexible schedule, no boss, and the freedom to blast your favorite tunes as you explore your city?

That’s what Uber Eats brings to the table.

Available in hundreds of cities around the world, Uber Eats gives people an opportunity to earn extra cash. Not only is starting the sign up process for Uber Eats easy, but this gig is also a convenient way to earn a little something on the side.  

Delivering with Uber Eats can be a side hustler’s dream opportunity in today's gig economy, but it could also be everything you’re not looking for in a side gig. Luckily, this Uber Eats review will deliver everything you need to know to make that decision.

Quick Summary

Accept orders, make deliveries, and get paid.

  • Earn money with your car, bike, or even a scooter in some cities!
  • Make your own schedule and drive when you want
  • Access your earnings up to 5X per day with Instant Pay
In this article

What is Uber Eats?

Uber Eats was launched by Uber in 2014. Similar to other food delivery apps, Uber Eats connects hungry users with delivery persons in a mutually beneficial relationship that leaves stomachs full and wallets bigger.

How does delivering with Uber Eats work?

Once you’ve completed the process to start making deliveries, the first thing you’ll do is log into the app to begin receiving delivery requests. The app will let you know of an order for pickup near you, and with a quick tap, you can accept it.

Once you accept the order, the app can navigate you to the restaurant using optional GPS. The restaurant should have the order ready when you arrive, so let the staff know you’re picking up an order with Uber Eats once you get inside. You can also check the app for helpful notes from the business or to see if there are multiple orders to pick up.

Once the order is in hand and you’re back on the road, the Uber Eats app will provide the customer’s location for drop off and navigate there with GPS if you choose. The customer will be alerted when you’re close so they can be ready when you arrive. You’ll be given details of where exactly to drop off the order, including if the customer has requested delivery to their door or if they’ll meet you outside. You can also check the app for any notes left by the customer for speedier delivery.

And in case that’s not enough, you can always contact the customer or the restaurant right through the app. Or if you need help, you can contact Uber support.

While on your way to a pickup, you may also get other delivery requests from the same restaurant. You can decide whether or not you want to accept these additional deliveries. If you have multiple orders, the app can guide you to each customer accordingly using the optional GPS. As you’re delivering, you might also be offered requests for back-to-back deliveries. This can be a great way to ensure you’re waiting less so you can earn more.

Who can deliver with Uber Eats?

There are a handful of requirements that need to be met to deliver with Uber Eats, and they vary depending on the mode of transportation you plan to use.

Uber Eats delivery requirements

Delivery method (if available) Requirements
Car
  • Meet the minimum age requirement for your city
  • Have a two- or four-door car made after 2000
  • Have a valid driver's license, registration, and vehicle insurance
  • Have at least one year of driving experience
Scooter
  • Be at least 19 years old
  • Use any make or model two-wheel scooter
  • Must have motor of 50cc (cubic centimeters) or less that travels no faster than 30 mph
Bicycle
  • Be at least 18 years old
  • Have a government-issued ID

How much can you earn with Uber Eats?

How much you make through Uber Eats may depend on how often you deliver and how many orders you choose to accept. The fare breakdown is pretty straightforward, though the amounts you can earn may vary from city to city.

Your earnings will be reflective of your trip's time, distance, and city. But any tips you earn will stay in your pocket. Uber Eats may also provide certain promotions for delivery-partners in your city. The exact fare you’ll receive for making deliveries may depend on your city and each trip.

To get paid, you’ll need to set up direct deposit to a bank account. Your earnings are automatically deposited weekly. Uber Eats also provides an option for cashing out your earnings up to five times each day with Instant Pay. To cash out with Instant Pay, you’ll need to add your debit card to your Uber account or open an Uber Visa Debit Card from GoBank. If you use the Uber debit card, you’re free to cash out up to five times a day without incurring a fee; other debit cards will incur a $0.50 fee per cash out.

  • Earn money with your car, bike, or even a scooter in some cities!
  • Make your own schedule and be your own boss
  • You can access your earnings up to 5X per day with Instant Pay
  • (Additional terms and conditions apply)

Ideas that may help maximize your earnings with Uber Eats

Accept orders, make deliveries, and get paid; there’s not much to this side hustle. But there are things you can do to try to maximize your earnings with Uber Eats:

  • Drive a fuel-efficient car: If you’re making deliveries by car, then there’s no way to avoid spending money on gas — unless, of course, you go electric. Using one of the best credit cards for gas can also help, but the more fuel-efficient your car is, the less it might eat into your pay.
  • Deliver during hours when it’s busy: You won’t be the only one out there making deliveries, so timing might be the difference between keeping busy with deliveries and not making any money.
  • Earn tips: No matter how hard you try, you’re not going to get a tip from everyone. However, if you focus on providing the best service possible, you may be able to increase your chances of getting a little something for making their experience a positive one. Since you keep 100% of your tips, there’s earning potential here.

Tips that might help you get good reviews

As we just mentioned, you can’t please everybody, but you can sure try. 

  • It can be a good practice to double-check the names and order numbers to make sure you’ve got everything before you leave each restaurant.
  • Always be courteous, and always try to be on time.
  • To avoid any order mix-ups, you may want to keep the delivery items organized and confirm each order with customers as soon as you arrive.
  • If you’re delayed, you can keep your customers notified.

Common questions about Uber Eats

How long does it take to deliver with Uber Eats?

The time varies to get started with making Uber Eats deliveries. The activation process consists of signing up for Uber Eats, submitting your documents, and completing the background check process.

Can you actually make money delivering with Uber Eats?

Yes, you can make money delivering with Uber Eats, but that doesn’t mean you’ll always come out ahead. At the end of the day, you have to consider that making money in the first place may cost you. This means accounting for expenses like gas and vehicle maintenance. If you’re delivering on foot or by bike, you may not have those expenses. As with any side gig or entrepreneurial effort, controlling your costs to maximize your earnings is up to you.

Is delivering with Uber Eats worth it?

Whether delivering with Uber Eats is worth it is up to you. This can depend on whether this side hustle helps you reach your personal finance goals and if you’re actually earning money at the end of the day. You’ll need to calculate how much delivering with Uber Eats is costing you — gas, wear and tear, etc. — and whether your earnings are enough to cover these expenses.

How to become a delivery person with Uber Eats

If you’re already a rideshare driver who uses the Uber platform, signing up to deliver with Uber Eats might be a breeze. Simply open the Uber Driver app, navigate to Account, and then select Vehicle Options. From here, accept the delivery terms to begin receiving delivery requests. You have the option of toggling on and off delivery and driver modes as you wish.

Uber Eats App

If you’re new to Uber, the process is just as straightforward. First, sign up to deliver. Then, consent to a screening and upload the required documents and photo. Once you’re notified that your account is active, you can start accepting delivery requests. Additional steps for new drivers may vary by city.

Other side hustles to consider

If delivering with Uber Eats doesn’t do it for you, but you’re still open to the idea of being a delivery driver as one of many ways to make money, there are other food delivery services looking for drivers and couriers, like DoorDash and Postmates

This type of side hustle isn’t for everyone, though. If you need a break from humans altogether, Rover will pay you to hang out with dogs (and walk them, of course).

As you search through the best side hustles, you’ll start to weed out those that don’t feel like the perfect fit. Whatever your side hustle ends up being, it has to align with your goals and lifestyle. And it certainly doesn't hurt if it comes with perks you enjoy.

  • Earn money with your car, bike, or even a scooter in some cities!
  • Make your own schedule and be your own boss
  • You can access your earnings up to 5X per day with Instant Pay
  • (Additional terms and conditions apply)

Author Details

Matt Miczulski Matt Miczulski is a personal finance writer specializing in financial news, budget travel, banking, and debt. His interest in personal finance took off after eliminating $30,000 in debt in just over a year, and his goal is to help others learn how to get ahead with better money management strategies. A lover of history, Matt hopes to use his passion for storytelling to shine a new light on how people think about money. His work has also been featured on MoneyDoneRight and Recruiter.com.

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