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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.
Lovely says
I am 24 but had my lincense for less than a year do i qualify.
DougH says
You need the license for one full year
erica says
Im 15 is there any jobs i can get?(i have my drivers permint)
DougH says
None of the apps will hire that young. It’s possible a local pizza place or other restaurant with delivery will hire, but they might only hire 16+ or even 18+. It’s worth asking around at local restaurants.
Mikayla says
I work for DoorDash. I’m 20. All of the food delivery jobs only require you to be 18.
Jess says
I have a friend that is 13 and he works with Uber eats and delivers stuff with his bicycle so can I also do that? (I am also 13)
DougH says
As far as I know, UberEATS only hires cyclists 18 and older and drivers 19 and older. Your friend may be using an older person’s account.
Curious says
What are the ramnifications of working underage with a legal adults account?
DougH says
The account could be deactivated if Uber finds out. If the underage person gets in an accident, there could be an insurance nightmare.
Alex says
Do you know any driving jobs for 17 year olds ? I have at least a year of driving history and a car with insurance but I want to be able to have a flexible schedule
DougH says
Possibly pizza delivery
Ashley says
I am 21, I have 2 years of driving history will I be qualified ?
DougH says
You qualify for Lyft, but not Uber. Uber requires that all drivers under age 23 have at least 3 years of licensing history. Lyft only requires one year of licensing history for drivers who are 21.
Krystle says
I am 19 years old and have a drivers license. I have a car it’s just not under my name. It’s technically the family car and it’s under a family members name but no one ever uses it but me so it’s pretty much mine. I also have insurance. Is there anything I qualify for?
DougH says
You qualify for Postmates, DoorDash, UberEATS, and possibly Deliv. Just make sure you’re on the insurance policy for the car.
Honcho says
I’m 20 and been licensed for exactly 3 years……do I qualify?
DougH says
You need to be 21. Because of your license history you will qualify once you turn 21.