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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.
Sunil chatrabhuj takle says
Hi my name is sunil chatrabhuj takle … I want to join uber eats and my age is 19 and got liscence newly so can i join uber eats
DougH says
Yes, you should qualify
Josh says
I am a 17 year old licenced driver. Do any apps hire people my age?
DougH says
No, none that I know of. Once you’re 18 the apps listed in the article will hire you.
Billy Green says
Skipcart who delivers for Walmart is also one of the companies that allow drivers to be only 18 upon signup.
DougH says
Thanks for the info!
Andrei Philip Pilat says
if i am 14 and i do have an id card can i work somewhere with my bike?
DougH says
No. I don’t know of any companies that hire 14 year olds. You may be able to get a work permit at your age, or at 15, but none of the apps hire that young. Local companies may
Ahmed says
I’m 23 years old. I had California license for 3 years and I drove here using it and my back home license.
I also have PA Permt license since two years ago with clean history. I lost my California license and I’m going to get PA license. Will be that fine
DougH says
Yes. You may need to go through extra steps to prove your licensing history, but the company will give you instructions on how to do that
Muzamil mirsei says
Hi my name is muzamil mirsei… I want to join uber eats and my age is 18 and got liscence newly so can i join uber eats
DougH says
You must be 19 for UberEATS
Luis says
What if am 20 and is just a few months before my 21 birthday will I qualify?
DougH says
No, you need to be 21. And you need three years of driving experience because you’re under 23