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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.
Joan says
Hi i just want to know if I’m 18 can i do amazon delivery with my own car
DougH says
Amazon Flex hires 21+ only. Postmates, DoorDash, Instacart hire 18+
Amy says
I want to start driving for uber eats. But with my disability I cannot do stairs. Would my 16 yr daughter be able to go with me and help with delivery’s. Please let me know. [email protected]
DougH says
You could possibly do that. Some people choose to deliver in teams. The only issue is that your child is underage, so you might be deactivated by Uber if they find out.
Shamiah Clay says
Im 20 years old i wont be 21 till February 8th on the 1 and the secons of February could i so uber since ill be 21
DougH says
If you’re under 23 you need 3 years of license history.
Jose says
I’m 18, and I’ve been driving for roughly 2 years now. My father sold my car, is it alright if I can use my father’s, with his permission of course.
DougH says
You can use his car if you’re on the insurance
Britt says
Do any of these give you a car to drive
DougH says
No. You must provide your own vehicle, or rent one from a rideshare-friendly rental service.
Mohammad says
I want to ask if I don’t have one year of driving experience at the us i have more than one year of experience but out of the us and 5 moths at the US
Is that going to work?
DougH says
The driving experience must be in the US. Uber doesn’t count international experience
Herbert says
I’m 17 years old want to do the bike delivery… any chances?
DougH says
The youngest I’ve seen any app hire is 18. But a local company might hire someone younger