Switching from Postmates to Uber Eats? What Drivers Can Expect

Big changes are coming to Postmates, especially for drivers.

In early May, Postmates drivers began to see an announcement in the Postmates Fleet app: “We’re joining Uber Eats. That means delivery requests on the Fleet app are going away in just a few weeks Set up your Uber account now.”

Now, as of June 7th, the Fleet app now shows this message in many markets: “Postmates delivery request in your area have moved to Uber.”

The Postmates Fleet app stopped receiving delivery requests on 6/7/21. 

What does this mean for Postmates drivers? You will no longer get delivery requests in the Postmates Fleet app. If you want to continue delivering, you’ll eventually have to sign up with Uber Eats.

For Postmates drivers making the switch, you’ll have to undergo the onboarding process with Uber Eats. Read on to see what to expect, and how to make the transition as smooth as possible.

Steps to Transition from Postmates to Uber Eats

If you want to make the switch from Postmates to Uber Eats, here’s an overview of the process:

• Apply through the prompt in the Postmates Fleet app
  • If there is no prompt, go directly to the Uber driver app to apply
• Provide documents: Driver’s license and auto insurance
• Consent to a background check

Sounds easy, right? Some Postmates drivers report that they were quickly accepted by Uber. But for others, there may be complications and delays.

What to do if you haven’t seen any prompt from Postmates

Uber has stated in support messages that linking Uber Eats and Postmates accounts is only available to a limited number of delivery people. Keep a close eye on your Postmates app and emails for further instructions.

If delivery requests are no longer available on the Postmates Fleet app and you weren’t able to link your account, you can apply directly to Uber Eats by downloading the Uber Driver app, or by going to uber.com.

Does linking your Postmates account with Uber Eats stop you from using the Fleet app?

No. This Reddit user applied to Uber Eats, was quickly accepted, and is still able to use the Postmates Fleet app.

When will the Postmates Fleet app stop working?

It depends on your market. For many, delivery requests stopped on 6/7/21. Some cities may still be active, but the plan is to fully phase out the Fleet app this summer. Watch for notifications and emails from Postmates, but be prepared to make the switch.

$100 Bonus for Switching to Uber Eats

Some Postmates drivers saw an offer to get a $100 bonus for switching to Uber Eats and completing 10 deliveries. The bonus came as a surprise to some drivers who never saw the offer but received the bonus anyways.

But other drivers who saw the bonus and completed the 10 deliveries are still waiting on their bonuses.

If you successfully receive the bonus, it will show up in your Uber Eats earnings as a $100 “Promotion.”

Postmates Orders Are Being Directed to the Uber App

Customers can still order through Postmates, but orders placed on Postmates are now being routed to the Uber driver app. Some Eats drivers have seen orders that say “Postmates joined Uber Eats,” along with ‘Postmates’ in the customer information.

The delivery process for these orders is the same as regular Uber Eats orders, but the extra information can help you during the pickup and delivery process.

Uber Eats Requirements

Before you start the process, you might be wondering what the Uber Eats requirements are for drivers. Fortunately the requirements are very similar to Postmates.

• Must 19 years or older (18 for bicycle delivery)
• Vehicle: Have a 2 or 4 door car
• Valid driver’s license and insurance with your name on the policy
• Undergo a background check

Some Postmates drivers believe that Uber Eats requires cars to be 20 years old or newer, but it appears that Uber has removed that requirement in most markets (LA for example).

What about bicycle delivery? If you delivered for Postmates on a bicycle, will Uber Eats will also accept you as a bicycle deliverer? Postmates bicycle markets may not be the same as Uber Eats bicycle markets, so it’s not yet clear exactly how things will work for bicycle couriers. Watch out for a bicycle option when you start the application.

Document Requirements

Some Postmates drivers are worried that Uber Eats won’t accept their documents. Here’s what you need to know.

Driver’s license: Upload a photo of your valid driver’s license during the Uber Eats application process. If you’re going to deliver on a bicycle, you should be able to upload a state ID instead. Uber may accept temporary license documents, but that may cause a delay.

Auto insurance: You will have to upload an auto insurance card or policy document that lists your name and your vehicle.

If you’re on a family insurance policy that doesn’t list your name as the primary policy holder, you will have to contact the insurance company and ask for a PDF copy of the insurance policy ‘declaration.’

The policy declaration lists all covered drivers and all vehicles. As long as the document shows your name and your vehicle, Uber should accept it.

This is a step that may cause a lot of headaches for current Postmates drivers. Before you apply, make sure to get your documents in order to prevent delays.

The Uber Eats Background Check

Even though you did background screening as a Postmates driver, you will have to do a new background check for Uber Eats. The background check typically takes around 2 – 7 days to complete.

The Uber Eats background check looks at both your criminal history and driving record. How far back does the check go? It varies state by state.

See full details about the Uber background check here.

Uber’s standards for your background may be more strict than Postmates. There are many stories of Postmates drivers who were accepted by Postmates but rejected by Uber Eats.

For criminal history, you have a good chance at being accepted as long as you don’t have any issues in the last 3 – 5 years.

For driving record, your chances are good if you have no more than 1 minor issues in the last 3 years. You may not pass if you have several moving violations or one major violation (such as driving on a suspended license or reckless driving).

What if you were already rejected by Uber Eats in the past?

Unfortunately, if you were already rejected by Uber Eats in the past you may not be accepted if you apply again.

Even though your chances may not be great, it’s worth trying again. In markets with high order volume from Postmates, Uber needs as many drivers as they can get. They may accept you this time around. If they don’t accept you, try other delivery apps.

Learning the Uber Eats App

Driving for Uber Eats isn’t too different than driving for Postmates, but there will be new things to learn. You’ll have to learn a new app and adjust to a new pay model.

One big difference is that Uber Eats includes the estimated tip in each order request, so it’s easier to screen out low paying orders.

Read our guide for Uber Eats drivers for complete details on Uber Eats.

Can’t Deliver with Uber Eats? Try Alternatives

Losing Postmates is going to be a big disappointment for many drivers. Some may miss the old Postmates way of doing things. But for others, the biggest frustration may be getting rejected by Uber, or facing big delays during the transition process.

The gig economy never stops evolving, so always be ready to make your next move. Apply to other delivery apps as soon as possible to ensure that you won’t be out of work.

Other Delivery Apps to Look into

• DoorDash – Our guide, and application link
• Instacart – Our guide, and application link
• Shipt – Our Guide
• Amazon Flex – Our Guide