But is it the right fit for you? Is it going to provide a safe working environment and easy payments?
These are all common questions that people may have if they are considering becoming a delivery driver with Uber Eats on the side or if they plan to become a frequent user of the Driver app. As this is becoming more and more of a popular gig option for people looking for flexibility.
There are many people who are becoming delivery drivers with Uber Eats, and you may be wondering if this is a good fit for you as well. Especially as it seems to provide so much freedom, while allowing you to earn money as often as you like.
Keep reading to find out how to become a delivery driver with Uber Eats as well as all of the different aspects that go into this gig.
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Delivery With Uber Eats – Description
A delivery driver with Uber Eats is the person who is responsible for making sure that the customer placing an order gets their order. As the delivery driver, you will be the person who goes to the restaurant and picks up the customers’ food to bring it to them.
You will be responsible for picking up their food on time and getting it to them in a timely manner so that it is still hot and ready to eat – as well as making sure that it is delivered to the right address following the delivery instructions.
How Does Uber Eats Work as a Delivery Driver
When you are a delivery driver with Uber Eats, the process is quite simple and easy to get the hang of. You will receive a delivery request that allows you to see where the delivery is and how much you will make from that delivery.
You have the option of choosing to accept or reject that request depending on those details. If you decide to accept this order, you will need to drive to the restaurant to pick up the customer’s food.
Then all you have to do is drive to the drop-off point and make the food delivery. The delivery will be confirmed, and you will get paid for the order that you delivered.
If you decided to not accept that order, you can just sit back and wait for the next delivery request to come in.
What Disqualifies You From Delivering with Uber Eats?
Checkr, a third-party background check provider, runs a detailed background check on everyone who signs up to deliver on behalf of Uber Eats to make sure that you qualify. There are certain things that may come up that could disqualify you from becoming a delivery driver.
Things that could disqualify you generally include convictions for felonies, sexual crimes, DUIs, and violent crimes. If you are registered as a sex offender, this will also disqualify you from being able to become a driver with Uber Eats.
Even if you were not convicted for these crimes, pending charges for these crimes will also disqualify you from becoming a a delivery driver with Uber Eats. Though you can reapply if the charges are dropped in your favor, proving that you are innocent.
Vehicle Requirements for Uber Eats
If you want to become a delivery driver with Uber Eats, you are probably wondering about the vehicle requirements. The good news is that Uber Eats is known for being very accessible when it comes to the requirements for vehicles.
Which is just part of why this is a popular option among those who may not have the newest or fanciest car that they can use for deliveries. Uber Eats keeps this very simple so that just about anyone could become a driver.
All you need to become an official driver is you have either a two-door or a four-door car. This could be any kind of vehicle as long as it has two doors or four doors.
One unique feature of Uber Eats is that it also allows you to deliver by scooter. There are special regulations around this that you will need to follow if this is the means of transportation that you plan on taking.
To use a scooter for transportation, you are going to need to have a motorized scooter under 50cc. You will also need to make sure you choose the delivery by scooter option when signing up with Uber Eats as a delivery driver.
You also have the option of becoming a delivery person for Uber Eats by bicycle or by walking. These are not the most common methods that people choose, but you can become a deliverer even if you only have a bicycle or will be walking.
You will need to choose either deliver by bicycle or deliver on foot options when signing up to deliver with Uber Eats. That is all you will need to do if you want to still be able to deliver with Uber Eats even if you don’t have an actual vehicle.
These are all of the vehicle requirements that Uber Eats has for delivery drivers that you will need to follow. Uber Eats makes their vehicle guidelines very clear to ensure there’s no confusion about if your vehicle qualifies when you sign up to deliver.
How to Become a Delivery Driver with Uber Eats
In order to become a delivery driver for Uber Eats, you are going to need to provide certain documents to qualify. Documents that you need will include are:
- your US driver’s license (or government-issued ID if delivering on bicycle or on-foot)
- proof of residency
- and proof of insurance for your vehicle.
You will also need a driver profile photo with you looking straight into the camera with nothing obstructing the view.
You will also need to be the minimum age to drive within your city in order to qualify as a delivery driver. Uber Eats will need your social security number for the background check in order to verify your identity.
All delivery drivers with Uber Eats are also required to own a smartphone, whether that be an iPhone or an android phone in order to use the Uber – Driver: Drive & Deliver app. This is very important as you will be using your phone to accept orders.
If you will be using a scooter for deliveries, you need to be at least 19 years old. Whereas if you will be delivering by bicycle or by foot, you need to be at least 18 years old to qualify.
Begin the signing up process by going to the Uber Eats signup page and choosing the city that you will be delivering in. As well as selecting your delivery method before submitting all of your documents and waiting for your application results.
How Long Does It Take to Get Cleared to Deliver with Uber Eats?
Once you have signed up to deliver with Uber Eats, you will have to pass a background check. Most take 3 to 5 business days to complete as Uber Eats will look through a lot of information.
This timeline can be longer depending on local government processes as well as how easily Uber Eats’ third-party background check provider, Checkr, is able to access your records. The background check look at a Motor Vehicle Report (MVR) as well as Criminal Background Check. The criminal background check willlook at things like violent crimes, sexual offenses, theft, property damage, felonies, DUIs, and other serious criminal convictions as part of your background check.
Pros and Cons of Uber Eats
When it comes to delivering with Uber Eats, there are going to be some pretty obvious pros and cons to this. As there are pros and cons to any kind of gig that you would be working in any environment.
These are things that you should really take time to consider before signing up to become a delivery driver with Uber Eats. As you want to make sure that this is really a good fit for you and your lifestyle as well as your future goals.
Pros:
- When you are delivering with Uber Eats, you are going to be classified as an independent contractor. This means that you have much more freedom as you are not going to be an actual employee of Uber Eats. Because of this, you have the freedom to decide how often you want to work, whether that is every day, or just a day or two a week. Some people even use Uber Eats as a part-time gig or their summertime gig when they need extra money.
- Unlike some other delivery gigs, you do not need to have an actual vehicle to make Uber Eats deliveries. You can use a motorized scooter, a bicycle, or even deliver on foot.
- Another benefit to delivering with Uber Eats as an independent contractor is that you get paid whenever you want to be paid (up to 5x per day with Uber’s Instant Pay). So you do not have to wait around for your paycheck to be sent to you if you need it right now. You have the option of collecting your funds whenever you want them.
Cons:
- The amount of money that you can make from delivering with Uber Eats can be quite unpredictable depending on how much you are working and what times. Though there are plenty of people who earn quite a lot as a delivery driver, it takes practice, and you will need to take advantage of certain times when the most orders are coming in.
- Because you are not considered to be an employee of Uber Eats, drivers will need to pay self-employment taxes on their income for this gig. So you will need to estimate how much you need to set aside so that you have enough money set aside to pay your taxes when tax season comes around, as it is not automatically taken out of your pay.
- The number of orders that are available can be unpredictable depending on the time of day and how many people are ordering food. So you may not be able to deliver exactly when you want to if you really want to take advantage of better-paying orders for that day.
What to Expect After Signing Up
After you have signed up to become a delivery driver with Uber Eats, you will need to wait for your background check to be completed. This could take up to 10 days, depending on how much information it needs to be sorted through.
If you have passed the background check, you will receive an email from Uber Eats, activating the process for you to become a delivery driver with them. You will need to send your CNH document to Uber Eats and wait for it to be approved.
If your application is disqualified by Uber Eats, you will not get any kind of email from them. So you will know that you have been disqualified, usually due to some kind of security issue.
Uber Eats Driver App
To begin accepting Uber Eats orders, you will need to download the Uber – Driver: Drive & Deliver app so that you get notifications. Once you have the app, you will be able to receive delivery requests when an order is available.
You will have 15 seconds to accept or reject a delivery request before it disappears. You can accept it by tapping any area of the screen when you are on the app looking at the request.
You will have the order information and will be able to go pick up the order from the restaurant and begin heading to the destination. Once you have picked up the order, tap the confirm order button to verify that you have the food.
Once you have delivered the order to the desired location, tap the confirm delivery button in order to complete the delivery and get paid.
Uber Eats Tips
When it comes to becoming a delivery driver with Uber Eats, there are no real secrets to success. Though there are some tips that can help you to become a better delivery driver.
Most people recommend that you deliver during popular times of the day, such as breakfast, lunch, and dinner times. Where the most orders are coming in and tend to be the most profitable.
You should also prioritize higher-paying orders, even if they are a little bit farther away. As well as keeping track of what restaurants take longer to process orders and areas where traffic can slow down your process.
These are all tips that can really help you to earn more with Uber Eats and make the most of the time that you are working. So that you are able to earn more, more regularly, without necessarily having to work more often.
Uber Eats Payments
Uber Eats payments are very simple, as you can add a debit card so that your money can go directly to that card. Uber Eats does not run off of a scheduled pay system, so drivers have the ability to take out their pay when they want it.
Uber Eats is known for having fast and simple payment options so that you do not have to worry about not getting paid. You can also go into the Uber Eats driver app and keep track of the orders you have completed to add up how much you have made.
How Do Deliverery Drivers Get Paid with Uber Eats
Uber Eats uses Instant Pay that allows drivers to take out their earnings whenever they want to. So you do not have to wait for a specific day or time to receive your Uber Eats money.
This gives you the freedom to take out your money whenever you need it, even taking it out for each order that you complete. The only rule is that you can only cash out up to five times a day before you hit the limit.
Payment Frequency
Uber Eats uses a system called Instant Pay that allows drivers to cash out whenever they want to. In fact, you can cash out and collect all of your funds up to five times a day if you want to.
This means that delivery drivers do not have to wait for Uber Eats to pay them for their work as they have the choice of extracting their funds. Instant Pay allows you to cash out, so you get to make the decision about when you get paid and how frequently you get paid.
The only requirement to use Instant Pay is that you have a debit card added to your Uber Eats account. And the majority of drivers with Uber Eats will be able to use Instant Pay after they have completed their first delivery.
FAQ
If you are still wondering about certain aspects of being a delivery driver with Uber Eats, there are some common questions that people have asked. It may help you to make up your mind by looking at these FAQs before taking the plunge and signing up.
Keep reading to find out what common questions people are asking and the answers to them about being an Uber eats driver.
Is Uber Eats 24 Hours?
One common question about Uber Eats is whether or not it is open for 24 hours. The simple answer is that Uber Eats is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, so you can conveniently order food whenever you want as long as your local restaurants are open.
The downside is that Uber Eats can only deliver from restaurants that are open at the time that you place your order. So even though Uber Eats may be available at 3:30 in the morning, that doesn’t mean that the restaurant that you want to order from will be.
So you will be limited to when you can place a food order by the restaurants that are open. There are also usually fewer drivers available at odd hours of the night, as people prefer to not make deliveries at that time.
Is Delivery Driving with Uber Eats Worth It?
If you are seriously considering becoming a delivery driver with Uber Eats, you may be worried about whether or not it is worth it. This is a common concern as people may worry about being able to make enough money or enjoying the gig.
For the most part, many drivers seem to be perfectly happy with their Uber Eats gig. They have the flexibility of having their own hours and working as often or as little as they like.
This also gives you the ability to work in solitude so that you can enjoy your own company and do not have to interact with other coworkers. In many cases, you will not even be interacting with customers and will only be interacting with restaurants in passing.
So the most common opinion about being a deliverer with Uber Eats is that it is worth it and it can be a good job option. It just depends on your goals and what you are looking for in an alternative earnings opportunity.
Is Uber Eats Safe for Drivers?
A common question about being a deliverer with Uber Eats is whether or not it is safe. This is a complicated question as for the most part, being a delivery driver with Uber Eats is a very safe gig.
Though drivers do need to take responsibility for their own safety and to make sure they are being cautious. Especially if they will be working in downtown areas, or bad parts of the town that they are delivering to.
This is also why many drivers prefer to only make deliveries during the daytime and avoid nighttime deliveries. As it is obviously going to be safer to deliver food during the day when other people are out and about.
What Is the Oldest Car Uber Will Accept?
If you want to become a delivery driver with Uber Eats, the vehicle that you will be driving should meet the following requirements :
Delivery by Car:
- Have a 2-door or 4-door car
Delivery by Scooter:
- Have a motorized scooter under 50cc
Does Uber Eats Pay for Gas?
Something that potential deliverers with Uber Eats should know about is that Uber Eats does not cover their gas expenses. This is a common practice amongst delivery services as they typically do not cover the drivers’ gas costs. Uber Eats, however, does include a fuel surcharge to each customer order to help cover the cost of gas for the delivery.
So you will need to be prepared to pay for your own gas out of your earnings as you make deliveries.
Final Thoughts
If you were thinking of becoming a delivery driver with Uber Eats , this can be a great job opportunity for just about anyone. Especially if you want the freedom to work by your own schedule and work as often as you like.
Uber Eats is a great opportunity, whether you want full-time hours or just a side hustle, and has a very simple activation process.