Deliver for Amazon Flex! See the driver requirements and a full gig review!

Amazon Flex is a delivery program that pays independent drivers to do deliveries for Amazon.

With typical earnings of $18–$35 per hour, Amazon Flex is one of the best-paying delivery apps in the gig economy.

Read on to learn how to become a Flex driver and what you can expect if you sign up for this popular delivery gig!

Article contents

• Amazon Flex Driver Requirements
• Flex Earnings: How Much Drivers Can Expect to Make
• The Flex Application Process
• What it’s like Delivering for Flex

Vehicle requirements: What kind of vehicles does Flex accept?

The type of vehicle that you need for Amazon Flex depends on the order types you plan to do.

For Amazon.com orders: Amazon requires a four-door sedan, a pickup truck with a covered bed, a minivan or van.

Two-door cars are not accepted for Amazon.com orders because they may not be large enough to fit every package assigned for your shift.

For Prime Now and Amazon Fresh deliveries: You can use any vehicle. There is no restriction on the number of doors or vehicle size.

Motorcycles, bicycles, and motorized scooters do not qualify for any deliveries.

One benefit of driving an SUV and van is that larger vehicles are eligible for longer, higher-paying delivery blocks.

What’s the oldest vehicle that you can use for Flex? 1990 is the oldest model year you can select on the Flex application. Amazon does not require a vehicle inspection.

• Delivery app vehicle requirements: Uber Eats, DoorDash, Instacart, and More

Amazon Flex vs Amazon DSP: One is a gig, one is a full-time job

Delivering for Amazon Flex is different than delivering for Amazon Delivery Service Providers (DSP).

Amazon DSPs are logistics companies that employ drivers to do deliveries. DSP drivers are full-time W2 employees who typically work 40–50 hours per week with a demanding delivery load.

Amazon Flex drivers are independent contractors. You can sign up for as many or as few delivery blocks as you want, and you don’t have a traditional boss to answer to.

How much do Amazon Flex drivers make?

The average hourly pay for Flex drivers is between $18–$25/hour.

Drivers are paid for completing delivery blocks. Each delivery block has a guaranteed payout and an estimated completion time, typically between one and four hours.

So a four-hour block will typically pay between $72 and $100.

Before you accept a block offer, you will see the total pay, pickup location, and estimated duration of the block.

Amazon pays less for delivery blocks that allow tipping— around $15–$22 per hour. But you keep 100% of tips, which can significantly increase your earnings.

Block payments can reach as high as $55 per hour on “surge” offers, which are offered when a market has an unexpected need for more drivers.

• Surge Offers on Flex: When Block Payouts Climb to $55/Hour
• See Examples of the Highest Driver Pay on Flex

Can you deliver for Flex full-time?

Amazon allows a maximum of 40 hours per week and around 8 hours per day.

It’s possible to deliver for Flex full-time if you can sign up for enough blocks, but most Flex drivers work part-time.

Demand for blocks is high, and it’s difficult to sign up for  40 hours of delivery blocks. Don’t plan for Flex to be a full-time gig.

Payday! How Flex drivers get paid

Amazon pays Flex drivers on Tuesday and Friday each week via direct deposit.

Some markets allow you to choose your payout days in Settings > Personal information > Payment. You can get paid daily if you select every day of the week.

For blocks without tips, you will receive payment on the next payout day.

Tip-eligible blocks are paid out 2–3 days after deliveries are performed to allow for a 24-hour tip settlement period.

If you sign up for the Amazon Flex debit card, you can get up to 6% cash back on gas. But unlike other debit cards offered by gig apps, the Flex debit card doesn’t have an instant-pay feature.

Earning promotions & bonuses

Amazon Flex occasionally offers earnings promotions that can help you boost your income.

Bonuses on Flex are rare compared to gig apps like DoorDash or Uber Eats, but the higher base earnings make up for the infrequent bonuses.

Here’s an example of a promotion to earn an additional $75 for completing 8 delivery blocks.

Getting started with Amazon Flex: The application process

The Flex application process is straightforward: You apply online or in the Flex app, consent to undergo a background check, then wait for a decision from Amazon.

However, it may take a while to get started if there are no openings in your area.

In my case, I filled out a preliminary application and waited two weeks before I could proceed. For others, it may take even longer.

Steps to apply to Flex

• Download the Amazon Flex app or visit flex.amazon.com to see if your city is accepting drivers.
  • If slots are open, enter your name, your device, and your vehicle
  • If no jobs are available, sign up to join the waitlist
• Sign up using your existing Amazon account, or create a new one
• Start your background check by entering your SSN, consenting to the check, and answering questions
• Wait for your background check to complete
• Watch training videos that show you how to use the app and do deliveries
• Provide your tax information and your bank account information
  • You can choose to be paid as an individual, LLC, or S corporation
• Set your availability and schedule your first block!

How to join the Amazon Flex waitlist

You may be able to join a waitlist if there aren’t currently Flex openings in your city.

To join the waitlist: Download the Flex app, create an account, and enter your information. Amazon will notify you when new positions open.

Amazon will send you a welcome email when they accept you as a driver. You can also check your status by signing into the Flex app.

The Amazon Flex background check

All Amazon Flex applicants must undergo a background and driving record check during onboarding.

The background check looks for felonies and other major criminal violations.

Amazon doesn’t publish the exact criteria for the background check, so nobody outside of Amazon can say which specific background issues may disqualify you.

Amazon also does a driving record check that looks at your motor vehicle record for major driving violations or a large number of moving violations.

Background screening can take up to 10 days to complete. If it’s been longer than 10 days, contact Amazon Flex support to ask for an update.

Amazon Flex does not require a long driver’s license history

Many rideshare and delivery companies require at least one year of US driver’s license history, but Amazon does not.

You can qualify to deliver for Flex even if your license is less than one year old. That’s a significant benefit if you have a limited license history.

• Too young for Uber? Try these jobs instead

Auto insurance requirements and coverage

You must maintain a personal auto insurance policy to qualify for Flex.

Amazon says the policy must be “the required insurance for delivering packages in your area,” but does not give extra detail.

Amazon provides commercial auto insurance that covers Flex partners while on the job (excluding NY state).

The policy offers liability coverage, uninsured motorist coverage, and contingent comprehensive & collision coverage.

Contingent comprehensive collision coverage means you only receive comprehensive coverage from Amazon if you maintain comprehensive coverage on your personal policy.

Warning! Your personal auto insurance policy may not cover package delivery. It’s a grey area in insurance that isn’t well-established in all states. Most personal policies don’t cover package delivery.

Insurance products that cover rideshare activity may not include delivery. Contact an insurance agent in your area to learn more about insurance regulations in your state and how you can get a policy that properly covers you.

What it’s like to deliver for Amazon Flex

Learn the types of deliveries Flex drivers do, how to pick up delivery blocks, and what it’s like to deliver packages for Amazon.

The Amazon Flex app

The Amazon Flex app is the main work tool for Flex drivers. The app is where you’ll manage everything you need for deliveries.

With the Amazon Flex app, you can:

• Sign up for delivery offers
• View your scheduled offers
• Check in at delivery warehouses
• View and manage your delivery route
• Use the navigation feature to find your next drop-off
• View and manage your earnings
• Learn how to do different delivery types
• Contact Flex support

Delivery types on Amazon Flex

Flex has several different types of deliveries that drivers can do.

• Amazon.com — Regular Amazon package deliveries
• Prime Now — Amazon instant deliveries with a 1–2 hour turnaround
• Amazon Fresh — Groceries and household items
• Whole Foods — Grocery delivery from local Whole Foods stores
• Retail delivery — Pick up from non-Amazon retail stores and deliver to customers
• Instant Offers — On-demand delivery. Be matched with local offers ready for immediate pick up

Special deliveries you might encounter

• Attended deliveries — The customer or another authorized person must be present
• Amazon Locker — Deliver packages to special electronic Amazon lockers that are similar to PO boxes
• Alcohol — The customer or recipient must show proof of age. Scan their ID into the app or manually enter the ID number
• Chilled and frozen — The delivery will be inside a cool bag that contains a dry ice box. Remove the package at the time of delivery and return the dry ice to the pickup station

Need help learning how to do a delivery? The Flex app has training videos and articles that teach you how to complete each order type.

More about orders types: Decoding Amazon Flex Order Types, Routes, and Warehouse Locations

How many packages do you deliver on a typical shift?

The average number of packages depends on the delivery type. You will get around 15–25 packages to deliver for a typical Amazon.com delivery block.

But for longer routes (3–4 hours), you might deliver up to 40–50 packages.

Prime Now and Amazon Fresh deliveries will typically have fewer packages, around 10–20.

How to schedule delivery blocks

The Offers section of the Flex app displays available shifts, along with the shift length, location, order type, and expected pay.

After you accept an offer, it will show up in the Calendar section of the app, which is a helpful way to keep track of your work.

There are three types of shifts available to Flex drivers:

Reserved offers — A block set aside for you based on your stated availability. You can accept or decline the reserved offer, but there is a deadline to accept. Make sure to accept it before time runs out.

Drop-in offers — Blocks that are open to the first person who accepts them. These offers are in high demand and usually get claimed quickly.

There isn’t currently a way to be notified of new drop-in offers, so you’ll have to check the app regularly to pick up a shift.

Rewards reserved offers — Blocks created by preferred scheduling. Access after reaching rewards level 2

Instant offers — On-demand deliveries from local restaurants and stores. Enable the “Available Now” option to receive instant offers.

You are free to decline Instant Offers with no penalty, but after you accept, you’re expected to complete the delivery.

What it’s like to deliver packages for Flex

Here’s the Amazon Flex gig in a nutshell:

• Find offers in the Flex app
• Pick up packages at the Amazon warehouse or other store
• Deliver packages according to the route in the Flex app
• Contact Amazon support if you run into trouble

Almost everything you do during a Flex shift starts and ends in the Flex app.

There are many steps for every part of the process, but the Flex app always contains instructions that let you know what to do next and how to get help if you need it.

On the day of your shift, the Flex app will notify you where to pick up your packages.

Beginning your block and picking up packages

Check your block to see where your pickup station is located. Begin your shift by arriving at the pickup station and swiping “I’ve arrived” or “I’ve parked.” Look for signs pointing to the station entrance.

An Amazon employee will check your ID and direct you to your package pickup area. Then, load the packages into your car and tap “Swipe to finish” to begin the delivery process.

Some locations use an ‘All in, all out’ system that requires every driver to be present before package loading begins. Drivers then load their vehicles one-by-one in a line.

Amazon Flex district codes and warehouse locations

One confusing aspect for new Flex drivers is that shift offers show a location code, but Amazon doesn’t tell you what the codes mean.

Find Flex district codes and warehouse locations here!

Navigating to drop-offs and making deliveries

The Flex shows you how to navigate to each delivery location. Check the app for special notes and instructions from the customer. You may need to call the customer or support to get a gate code.

Once you see that you can make the delivery, scan the package and place it in a safe area.

If you’re having an issue with a delivery, contact support or the customer via the Help button in the upper corner of the app.

• How to contact Amazon as a Flex driver

Sometimes support or the customer can assist you, but other times you’ll have to mark the delivery as undeliverable.

You must return uncompleted packages to the pickup station. You aren’t paid for return miles, so many Flex drivers will do anything to deliver every package.

How late can you deliver? Packages should be delivered by 9pm, and the latest cut-off time is 930pm.

What are the earliest blocks? The earliest blocks start around 330am.

You get paid even if you aren’t assigned a route when you arrive. Sometimes when you show up for a block, no routes are available. You’ll still receive payment for an hour of work if you check in and scan your ID.

Flex driver ratings & deactivation policy

Amazon measures the performance of Flex drivers with a system called ‘standing.’ Your standing shows how well you are doing with the Flex program.

Standing is made up of two metrics: Reliability and Delivery Quality.

The reliability rating measures whether you show up for your shifts or not. Delivery quality measures how frequently you attempt to deliver all packages.

Your standing can be Fantastic, Great, Fair, or At risk. As the name suggests, At risk places you at risk of deactivation.

You can check your current standing in the Activity Hub in the Flex app.

Amazon can deactivate you for these reasons:

• Late for shifts
• Missing scheduled shifts
• Failing to attempt to deliver packages
• Bad customer service, too many customer complaints
• Stealing, damaging packages
• Inactivity. You may be deactivated if you don’t schedule a shift for 180 days

More reading: 13 reasons why Flex drivers get deactivated

 

Is Amazon Flex a good gig? Is it worth your time?

• Upsides of Flex: High pay compared to similar gig apps, flexible shifts, not too much direct interaction with customers
• Downsides of Flex: No guarantee of shifts, lots of miles on your car, issues with deliveries and app glitches can be frustrating

Amazon Flex can be one of the best delivery gigs — if you can consistently get a shift.

Flex typically pays more than Uber, Lyft, and delivery apps, but you can’t just sign on and drive whenever you want.

Flex drivers have to compete for a limited number of delivery blocks, so a big part of the gig is hovering over your phone to try to claim offers.

One benefit is that Flex always tells you how much you’ll earn for a Flex shift.

Uber, Lyft, and delivery apps don’t always give you upfront earnings info, or the upfront info may be incomplete.

The work you do for Flex is mostly straightforward and doesn’t involve much customer service, which is a plus compared to Uber and Lyft.

But the work might be frustrating when you run into issues with your deliveries or the app.

Trouble parking, figuring out how to get into apartment complexes and office buildings, and safely leaving packages in the right location are all challenges you’ll run into that could make your shift longer and harder than expected.

Other delivery gigs to look into

• Uber Eats: What it’s like delivering for Uber
• See how much DoorDash drivers make
• Shipt: A grocery delivery app

Apply for Amazon Flex!

Check for availability in your city and begin the application process at flex.amazon.com