A car is no longer just a car, in the gig economy. It’s a whole new income stream. That doesn’t stop it from being a mode of transport for yourself and your family. You can still have that. The apps and opportunities, in the new gig economy, just allow you to make money with your car in its downtime.
How to make money with your car in the UK
Check out these 9 clever ways to earn money with your car today. Then read on about some of the essential upfront and ongoing costs when you use your car or van to make extra cash.
1. Offer Ridesharing
It’s no secret that one of the best ways to monetize your vehicle is to drive people. Take advantage of apps like Uber, Green Tomato, or Bolt to earn extra cash with your car. These apps have certainly changed how the taxi system operates in many cities, allowing the average person to earn without needing to commit to a regular schedule or commitment. More importantly, they can provide an excellent service for people who don’t own transport.
Lift-sharing apps are available in most big cities, but they often don’t extend into smaller towns, so check out first whether a particular app operates in your area. If it is an option in your area, just a few clicks and you’ll be ready to fire up the app to check if anyone needs a lift. You can earn the base fare plus tips if the passengers are happy with your service.
On average you can expect to earn £15 per hour.
The main ridesharing apps in the UK are: Uber, Bolt and Lyft.
2. Food Delivery
Sign up for Deliveroo and Uber Eats to deliver food around town. You will earn a delivery fee plus tips from hungry, happy customers. Use it as a side hustle to your regular full-time job. It’s also a great alternative for temporary or seasonal work. Food delivery has become a fast-growing service, with expanding income-earning opportunities. With a bit of strategic planning like booking deliveries in advance, and not hovering in one spot, you can boost your earning potential.
Food delivery drivers earn between £7 and £13 per hour.
The main food delivery apps in the UK are: Uber Eats, Deliveroo and Just Eat.
3. Grocery Delivery
Download a grocery delivery app like Beelivery and sign up to shop and deliver groceries. Today, lots of people don’t want to leave their homes for mundane chores. Here’s where you come in! You can be a full-service shopper and shop for groceries on demand. Take orders, shop, then deliver with your car.
The main grocery delivery apps in the UK include: Gorillas, Zapp, and Beelivery.
4. Turn the Car Into a Mobile Billboard
When you drive around a lot, especially in high-traffic areas, you can earn income by allowing brands to advertise on your vehicle. For example, CarQuids connects you with the right advertisers, based on your route, to promote to their target market.
To optimise earnings, be specific about your driving situation in your application. Also, rates vary based on the advertising options you choose. Fully wrapping your car or van with ads earns more versus just having a tiny rear window decal. The main requirements include a good driving record and background check. It would also help to have a used car warranty to assure advertisers your vehicle is well-maintained and in no danger of breaking down or becoming an eyesore.
Estimated income ranges from £100 – £200 per month.
Car advertising companies in the UK include: CarQuids, Drovo.
5. Parcel delivery
Parcel delivery companies are looking for car and van drivers in remote areas all year round. And they always need extra vehicles everywhere in the run-up to Christmas.
Deliver Amazon parcels by joining Amazon Flex drivers program. It lives up to its name because you get a flexible schedule. Deliver packages from Amazon Restaurants, Amazon Fresh, and Amazon Prime. It works for midsize vehicles with at least four doors. And you can earn more with a larger vehicle like an SUV, a van, or a covered pickup truck because you can accommodate more packages.
The job has an easy learning curve. You just get packages using the app, drop off the package at the delivery address, scan the barcode, and move on to the next delivery. If you live in an operating city like London, you can earn £13-15 an hour and get paid twice a week. Be your own boss and set a schedule that complements your lifestyle.
Parcel delivery gigs include: Amazon Flex and Hermes.
6. Rent out your car
You can offer your car for others to hire by the day or longer using one of the rental share platforms. Hiyacar will generally comprehensively insure your car and install a QuickStart box so that there is no need for keys. The hirer just needs the code and then it is good to go. Processes vary with different platforms so make sure you read the small print.
You can earn around £30 a day or up to £650 a month renting out your car in this way.
The main rental share platforms include: Hiyacar, Turo, Getaround, Karshare.
7. Rent out your drive
If your car is never at home and you have a spare driveway then you can make money from that too. This can be particularly lucrative if you live in a busy city or near a railway station or airport. Just list the days and times that your driveway is free and sit back and wait for the bookings to roll in.
Earnings range from £5 to £40 per day depending on how much demand there is.
The main drive rental apps are: JustPark, YourParkingSpace.
8. Car Pooling
Carpooling is more about cutting costs than making money. It’s a modern take on picking up a hitchhiker, but now it’s done through an app and you can ask your passenger to contribute towards the journey cost. You generally offer a carpool if you are already planning to make a trip. That can be say a regular commute or a long haul trip.
The main carpooling apps are: LiftShare, BlaBlaCar.
9. Haul Various Things with your Van
When you possess a larger vehicle like a pickup truck or van, you can join Task Rabbit to haul and cart away people’s belongings. You could become a Tasker where people book your vehicle for deliveries at your convenience. However, you must not mind lifting heavy stuff because this same-day delivery platform takes pride in providing this kind of top-notch service. Hauling, delivery, and moving are Task Rabbit’s most sought-after services.
Earnings for delivery tasks are around £11 per hour on TaskRabbit.
Essential costs when you make money with your car
Making money with your car is not entirely cost free. There are essential expenses involved in the extra use of your car or van. Fuel is an obvious cost. You will also add mileage and increase wear and tear.
Most gigs will also need you to have a clean driving license and appropriate insurance. Your car will need to be immaculate and well-maintained. And in some cases, you will need to have a DBS check to show that you don’t have a criminal record.
Final thoughts
With a little bit of creative thinking and with the help of technology, you can engage in reputable ways to make money with your car here in the UK. With the cost of living crisis squeezing budgets tighter than ever, being able to bring in a little extra with your spare time or assets, can make all the difference.
Instead of just being a drain on your income the car or van in your driveway can start to pay its way and more. Since you spend so much on vehicle payments and maintenance, you might as well turn it into an efficient money-making machine. You can ferry passengers around town with a ridesharing app or deliver packages.
Not too long ago the idea that you could make money with your car might have seemed ridiculous. But now it’s available to everyone with just a few clicks. You can find many platforms and driving apps to rake in extra money, thanks to technology. Whether you’re delivering parcels, offering rides, or purchasing groceries, you can have a solid income stream with your vehicle today.