Drive for Cash? Turn Your Car into Your Side Hustle.

We all need a little extra cash these days. Sometimes it’s to make ends meet, and sometimes it’s so you can go on that cruise to the Bahamas with your friends. Whatever your reason, you’ve probably considered turning trying to get a side hustle going, and why not? Everybody’s doing it! In fact, 36% of U.S. workers participate in the gig economy. That’s an awful lot of us! If you’re like most people with a car, driving for companies like Lyft or Uber is probably one of the first things you think of when someone mentions the gig economy. But they’re certainly not the only options out there!

We’ve got a list of some side gigs for those with vehicles in good repair so you can decide which option is the best to help you get a little cash flow going on the side!

Lyft and Uber

Ok, let’s start with the big ones. Everyone knows and understands the Lyft and Uber business models, and these companies have their systems down to a science. Their popularity can be a bit of a downside, though as many drivers note an ever-increasing amount of competition for the same number of riders. Still, if you like to drive, don’t mind keeping your car spotless, and can follow GPS directions, this one can be hard to beat. Especially if your spare time comes at odd hours of the day. There’s almost 24 hour demand for ride share drivers, so it can work with nearly any schedule.

InstaCart

So the gist of this service is that you deliver groceries, food, or other retail goods to customers. Usually you will be the one going into a store and doing the shopping, but not always. This is a side gig where individual experiences can truly vary based on how quickly you’re able to complete shopping and get the delivery out to the customer. From what we hear, it’s one of those side hustles you almost have to try to see if it will work for you. If you’re really efficient, you may earn more than you would with other services, but if not, you may earn less. We do hear tips are often decent with services like this, but your mileage may vary based on region or location.

Postmates, UberEats, and DoorDash

You probably know these business models because you’ve probably used them. You order food or whatever from your favorite places through the company’s app and then someone brings it to you. Some of these delivery services are curbside, while others are door-to-door. Check into the specific services which would be required of you for any of them. You will often have downtime waiting for restaurants to finish orders before you can deliver, and stacking deliveries can be difficult which can cut into your profit margins. Still there are people who love doing food delivery as their second job, and again we hear sometimes the tips are fairly good.