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Many young people face this dilemma: You have a car and insurance, but you’re too young to drive for Uber or Lyft.
You have to be 21 to drive for Uber and 25 for Lyft. Are there any other app-based jobs that hire younger drivers?
There is good news if you’re under 21: Delivery apps like DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Instacart accept drivers who are 18 or 19.
How old do you have to be to drive for Uber & Lyft?
Drivers for Uber must be 21 years old or older. In California, the age requirement is 25. Drivers in all states must have at least one full year of driver’s license history.
Drivers for Lyft must be 25 or older in most cities, or 21 in a few select locations. Visit this Lyft page to see the exact Lyft age requirements in your city and state.
Licensing history requirements
- Uber: All drivers under age 23 must have at least three years of licensing history.
- Lyft: All drivers must have one year of licensing history.
So even if you meet the age requirement for either app, you might not qualify if you haven’t been driving long enough.
More about driver requirements
Too young for Uber or Lyft? These apps hire drivers 18 and older
These apps hire 18 and 19-year-olds and offer flexible work similar to Uber and Lyft.
- DoorDash — 18 years and older, 19 or older in California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Kentucky, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, Texas, Utah, and West Virginia
- Uber Eats — 19 years and older for delivery drivers, 18 or older for bicyclists. Sign up for Uber Eats
- Instacart — 18 and older
- Shipt — 18 and older with one year of driving experience
- Spark — 18 and older
- Takl — 18 and older
- Caviar — 18 and older with two years of licensing history
- Grubhub — 19 and older
- Bird — Hires scooter chargers 18 and older
- Lime — Hires scooter chargers 18 and older
- Pizza delivery — Drivers can be younger than 18
Do any delivery apps accept 16-year-olds?
It may be legal for 16-year-olds to drive and get a job, but there aren’t currently any national delivery apps that accept 16-year-old drivers.
That means you can’t deliver for Uber Eats, DoorDash, Instacart, Shipt, Spark, and Grubhub if you are 16.
If you’re under 18 and you want to make money with your car, try looking for work as a delivery driver at local pizzerias and restaurants.
More about each driving & delivery gig
- DoorDash Driver Requirements
- Driving for Uber Eats: An Overview
- How to Become an Instacart Shopper
- Spark: Deliver for Walmart
- Shipt Shopper Requirements & Job Overview
Does your vehicle qualify for delivery apps?
Another benefit of driving for a delivery app is that the vehicle requirements are much more flexible than Uber & Lyft.
Uber Eats, Instacart, and DoorDash will accept any vehicle. Read the full details in the article below.
Not old enough AND you don’t have a car or licensing history? Try bicycle delivery
If you don’t have a car or you haven’t had your driver’s license long enough to qualify for an app, try looking into bicycle delivery.
DoorDash and Uber Eats offer bicycle delivery in denser urban areas.
To find out if a service offers bicycle delivery in your area, check the application page for each company. Bicycle delivery will be listed as an option if it is available in your city.
Noah says
Is there a phone number I can use to reach UBER or LYFT to discuss the age thing?
DougH says
No. All the info is available online. If you’re too young, they won’t bend the rules for you.
Ever says
Hello, Im 23 and I have 1 year of driver license experience. I qualified for Uber Driver??
DougH says
I double checked, and drivers under 23 need 3 years, so if you’re 23 right now 1 year of experience should be ok.
Nicholas Noto says
I’m 19 don’t have a car or bike live in a small town in Missouri where would be a good place to start
DougH says
First start would be to check if the companies listed in this article are available in your town. Visit the website of each one, they usually have a ‘cities’ page or a search feature. If service is available, you’ll need a car. That’s the biggest barrier. The delivery services generally allow any vehicle, or something 1998 or newer. So any car 98 or newer could work.
Stephen says
Am about to reach 23years and I have 4 years driving experience am I qualified to be uber driver
DougH says
Yes, that’s enough experience. Best of luck
Al says
I’m 21 years old and I’ve been driving since November 2014 (Passed my test in august 2014) will there be any issues with me getting a licence from Uber?
DougH says
I don’t think so. That looks like 3 full years of driving experience.
Amanda says
Hi, I am 21 and my drivers license is marked 05/28/15. Am I qualified to driver for uber?
DougH says
If you’re under 23 you need 3 years of experience, so I don’t think you qualify quite yet. Try the other jobs in that article: Postmates, DoorDash, Deliv
Theo says
What is a good shared economy/delivery job for a 17 year old? or do I truly have to wait one more year?
DougH says
You’ll have to wait. None of the apps hire at 17. Try local pizza delivery places in the mean time.