7 Unique Ways to Make Money with Your Car

The price of almost everything has skyrocketed in recent years, and some people find that their salaries are no longer enough to support their financial goals. 

If that sounds familiar, you might be considering a side hustle (if you don’t already have one). But with so many options to make extra money, which one should you choose?

One potentially untapped revenue source is languishing in your driveway. Yep — your car can help you make extra money. Here are seven unique ways to make money with your car and boost your income.

1. Become a rideshare driver

Put your car to work by signing up to be a driver with a rideshare company like Uber or Lyft. Just be aware of the qualification requirements before investing time into this venture.

Lyft requires drivers to be 25 years old and have a valid driver’s license. You must also undergo a background check and provide Lyft with your insurance and registration documents. Finally, you must own your car, which needs four doors and at least five seatbelts. Lyft drivers nationwide make an average of $16 per hour, according to ZipRecruiter.

Uber drivers need at least one year of licensed driving, so it might be a better choice if you’re under 25. Like Lyft, Uber also requires drivers to pass a background check and own their car. ZipRecruiter estimates that Uber drivers make an average of $19 per hour, though you can exceed that if you live in a high-demand region.

Different cities and states also have vehicle age requirements, so check that your car qualifies for use as a rideshare vehicle.

Earning potential: $16 to $19 per hour

2. Deliver food

Don’t fancy the idea of driving strangers around? You can make money delivering food to strangers instead! There are several food delivery platforms you can work with, including DoorDash and Grubhub.

DoorDash requires Dashers to be at least 18 (19 in certain states) and have a smartphone installed with the Dasher app. There are no specific vehicle requirements — and in certain markets, you can deliver food using a motorcycle or bike. DoorDash base pay ranges from $2 to $10 per job, depending on the distance and desirability of the job, and you can keep 100% of your tips on top of that.

Grubhub drivers must be 18 (21 in Vegas), have a valid driving license for at least a year, and carry car insurance.

James himself has tried this gig, delivering DoorDash for a day in New York.

You can also deliver by bike with a valid state ID, driving license, or passport. Grubhub earnings vary by location, though some geographic regions (Seattle, New York City, and California) have guaranteed minimum earnings laws based on local minimum wages.

Earning potential: Up to $10 per job, plus tips

3. Wrap your car with advertising

Have you ever seen a car driving around that looks like a billboard on wheels? That could be you! Sign up with a company like Stickr or Wrapify to get started. 

Stickr drivers can make an estimated $50 to $200 monthly, depending on the size of the vehicle wrap. To qualify, your car can’t be older than the 2010 model year and can’t have significant body or paint damage.

Nickelytics estimates drivers can make $175 to $250 per month by driving around a vehicle wrapped with one of its ad campaigns. To qualify, you must be at least 18, and your car can’t be older than 10 years. You must drive at least 30 miles daily, 150 miles weekly, and 450 miles monthly.

Earning potential: $175 to $452 per month

4. Help people move large items

If you have a large SUV or pickup truck, you can make money by helping people move large objects and other items that don’t fit in their cars. You can list your services on a platform like TaskRabbit or a community platform like Nextdoor or Facebook.

TaskRabbit is an online platform that matches customers with local skilled workers and handypeople. You can choose the services you want to offer, which include moving help and errands. You can set your rates and keep 100%, including tips. To be a Tasker, you must be 18 and live in one of TaskRabbit’s active cities. TaskRabbit estimates that Taskers can make around $44 per hour for moving services in a medium-sized city like Cincinnati, Ohio. If you live in a larger metro area, you could make more than that.

Earning potential: Around $44 per hour

5. Rent out your car

If you only drive occasionally, you could make extra money by renting out your car when you’re not using it. Platforms like Turo or Getaround let you list your car for rent. If you have a car loan, check with your lender to ensure you can use your car for this purpose.

To list your car for rent through Turo, it must be under 12 years old and in good condition with fewer than 130,000 miles. If you list one vehicle, you could make an average of $10,686 annually. With nine cars listed, you could make around $97,814 per year. But remember that your maintenance costs may increase when your vehicle is driven more regularly.

Getaround’s requirements are slightly more relaxed than Turo’s. Your car must be from 2007 or more recent, have under 200,000 miles on the odometer, and have power door locks. The car must be inspected before onboarding if it’s older than 10 years. Getaround claims that owners can make $1,000 monthly, with some of its most successful hosts earning over $126,000 yearly.

Earning potential: $10,686 to $126,000 per year

6. Drive people around

Not everyone has a car or a license, but those folks need to get around, too. You can make some extra money by offering chauffeur services. Many local agencies employ drivers to help older adults get to and from appointments, and you can sign up for a platform like HopSkipDrive to drive children to school.

Local agencies on aging often provide transportation for older adults, and they may be looking for additional drivers. Many private companies also provide these services, so search your area to see what’s available. Alternatively, ask around your network or post on Nextdoor or Facebook to see if anyone you know needs these services and offer to provide them at an affordable price.

HopSkipDrive is an alternative school transportation solution that uses private drivers to get kids to school. To qualify, you must be at least 23 and have five years of caregiving experience. Since you’re working with children, you must also pass a rigorous background check, including fingerprinting. Your vehicle can’t be older than 13 years and must have room for four to seven passengers. You could make up to $50 per ride by driving with HopSkipDrive.

Earning potential: Up to $50 per ride

7. Start a mobile business

Consider starting a mobile business to earn full-time from your vehicle. Mobile dog groomers, car mechanics, fitness instructors, and laundry services are all in demand, and if you enjoy any of these things, you could make a tidy profit.

If you don’t want to start your own business from scratch, consider a platform like YourMechanic. This platform employs professional automotive technicians who drive to customers’ locations and perform basic car repair and maintenance tasks like oil changes, tire rotations, and brake service. Mechanics can work as much or as little as they like, when they want, and earn up to $70 hourly.

Earning potential: Up to $70 per hour

Bottom line

If you’re considering starting a side hustle, your car could be just the tool you need to rake in those extra bucks. Remember to check the terms and requirements with the platform you’re considering using for your side hustle to ensure you qualify and that it’ll be worth your time.

You could be on the road in a few days pulling in extra cash. And if driving isn’t your thing, check out these weekend side hustle ideas.