The Ultimate Guide to Driving Side Hustles & Gig Driver Apps (2025–2026)

If you’re looking for apps like Uber to make money, want new driver gig apps to boost your earnings, or you’re searching for side hustles with your car that actually pay, this guide breaks it all down. Whether you’re a beginner exploring the easiest options or an advanced driver looking for high-paying gig driving jobs like Spark Driver, this cornerstone resource covers every opportunity available in 2025–2026.

This is one of the most complete breakdowns of driving side hustles on the internet — with earnings estimates, requirements, pros and cons, and expert insights based on real gig driver data.

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Best Driving Side Hustles for Beginners
• Apps Like Uber to Make Money
• High-Paying Jobs Like Spark Driver
• Advanced Driving Side Hustles (More Skill, Higher Pay)
• Comparison Table: Best Driver Gig Apps
• FAQ
• Final Thoughts

Introduction: Why Driving Side Hustles Are Exploding in 2025–2026

Driving-related side hustles continue to grow at record speed. Platforms like Uber, Lyft, DoorDash, Spark Driver, and Instacart have created a massive market for flexible, on-demand work. But the real shift in 2025–2026 is the rise of new gig driver apps that offer better pay, better flexibility, and less competition.

That means more opportunities than ever for drivers to build reliable income streams, whether part-time, full-time, or seasonal. And you don’t even need a fancy car—many of these gigs only require a basic vehicle, insurance, and a smartphone.

Best Driving Side Hustles for Beginners (Easy Entry, Low Requirements)

If you’re brand new to driving side hustles, these are the easiest and fastest ways to start earning money. They require minimal onboarding, flexible hours, and low risk.

1. DoorDash – The Easiest Driving Gig for Beginners

DoorDash remains one of the fastest ways to start driving for money. It’s perfect for beginners because it doesn’t require passengers, commercial insurance, or special vehicle qualifications.

• Average earnings: $15–$25/hour
• Great for flexible schedules
• Low barrier to entry
• Works well in most cities and suburbs

2. Uber Eats – Perfect for Food Delivery Beginners

• Average earnings: $14–$22/hour
• No need to deal with passengers
• Instant pay available
• Great pairing with DoorDash

Uber Eats and DoorDash are often run together using multi-apping strategies to maximize income.

3. Instacart – A Driving + Shopping Hybrid

• Average earnings: $18–$30/hour (depending on tips)
• Great for shoppers who like grocery runs
• Higher earning ceiling than Uber Eats/Doordash

Apps Like Uber to Make Money (Rideshare & Beyond)

When people search for apps like Uber to make money, they usually want high-demand platforms where they can turn their car into cash quickly. Uber is still a major player, but it’s far from your only option. Let’s look at the best gig driving apps that work similarly – with a mix of passengers, food, and package delivery.

1. Uber & Lyft – Classic Rideshare Apps

Uber and Lyft are still the foundation of many side hustle driving jobs. You pick up passengers, drive them to their destination, and earn through base fares, time, distance, and tips.

• Average earnings: $18–$30+ per active hour in strong markets
• Best in busy cities, airports, nightlife areas
• Great for people comfortable with passengers
• Higher wear on your car, but strong earning potential

2. Regional Rideshare Apps (Bolt, inDrive, etc.)

Outside North America, regional apps like Bolt, inDrive, and others compete directly with Uber and Lyft. If you live in a supported region, they can be some of the best apps like Uber to make money because competition is sometimes lower and incentives can be strong.

• Similar requirements: valid license, vehicle, background check
• Often pay bonuses in new or growing markets
• Can be more driver-friendly in some regions

Gig Driver Apps for Packages & Groceries (Great for Introverts)

If you’d rather avoid passengers, there are plenty of driver gig apps focused purely on delivering packages, groceries, or retail orders. These are some of the best side hustles with your car if you like staying busy and don’t mind lifting.

3. Amazon Flex – High-Paying Block-Based Delivery

Amazon Flex is one of the most popular gig driving apps for delivering Amazon packages. You reserve “blocks” of time (usually 2–4 hours) and get a guaranteed payout range for that block.

• Estimated earnings: $18–$30/hour depending on tips and route
• Great for structured schedules and predictable income
• Requires lifting packages and driving your own vehicle

Jobs Like Spark Driver – Walmart Spark & Its Best Alternatives

Many drivers are specifically searching for jobs like Spark Driver because Walmart’s Spark Driver platform is known for competitive payouts and strong tipping potential. But Spark isn’t the only option. Let’s look at Spark and several alternatives that play in the same space.

4. Walmart Spark Driver – One of the Best Grocery Delivery Gigs

Spark Driver partners with Walmart to deliver groceries and other store orders. It’s considered one of the top side hustle driving jobs because of its strong base pay plus tips.

• Typical earnings: $18–$28/hour in busy markets
• Mix of curbside pickup, home delivery, and express orders
• App shows estimated earnings before you accept

5. Shipt – Target & Grocery Delivery with Strong Tips

Shipt is similar to Spark and Instacart. You accept grocery and retail orders, shop for the customer, and deliver to their door.

• Average earnings: $18–$30/hour with good tips
• Strong in areas with Target and partner stores
• Great alternative if Spark Driver waitlist is full

6. Roadie – Flexible Package & Retail Delivery

Roadie focuses on same-day delivery for retailers, airlines (lost luggage), and local businesses. It’s one of the more flexible gig driver apps because you can accept individual gigs rather than being constantly “on.”

• Pay varies widely: from small local runs to long-distance gigs
• Good option if you like one-off routes
• Pairs well with other delivery apps between orders

Side Hustles With Your Car (Beyond Traditional Apps)

Not all side hustles with your car require you to lock into big platforms. There are plenty of creative ways to turn your vehicle into income without relying solely on Uber, Lyft, or delivery apps.

7. Car Advertising (Wraps & Window Ads)

Some companies pay drivers to place car wraps or window decals on their vehicles. This can be a low-effort way to stack income on top of other driving side hustles.

• Potential earnings: $50–$300/month depending on campaign
• Works best for people who drive a lot in busy areas
• Be cautious and only work with reputable ad networks

8. Renting Out Your Car (Turo, Getaround, HyreCar)

If you don’t want to spend your own time driving, you can still earn with your vehicle by renting it out. Platforms like Turo, Getaround, and HyreCar let others use your car for personal trips or even rideshare work.

• Income potential: from a few hundred to over $1,000/month per car in strong markets
• More advanced and requires good insurance understanding
• Best for people with extra vehicles or flexible usage

9. Local Contracts (Airport Runs, Corporate Driving, Event Shuttles)

One of the most overlooked side hustle driving jobs is building your own small network of regular clients. These might be:

• Executives needing regular airport trips
• Parents needing reliable rides for kids’ activities
• Event coordinators needing shuttles

This is more advanced than app-based gigs, but the pay can be excellent, especially if you charge flat rates and build repeat clients.

Advanced Driving Side Hustles (Higher Skill, Higher Pay)

Once you’ve mastered beginner-friendly driver gig apps and delivery platforms, you may want to explore higher-paying opportunities. Advanced driving gigs tend to require more professionalism, better vehicles, business knowledge, or specialized equipment — but the payoff can be excellent.

1. Private Transport Driver (Chauffeur, Airport, Corporate)

Private driving is one of the most lucrative side hustle driving jobs. Instead of relying on an app, you create relationships with regular clients.

• Airport transfers
• Corporate executive driving
• Event transportation
• Medical appointment driving

This is one of the top ways to graduate beyond apps like Uber into premium driving.

2. Non-Emergency Medical Transport (NEMT)

NEMT is a booming industry. Drivers transport patients to medical appointments. No medical training needed — only reliability and professionalism.

• High demand in suburban and rural areas
• Regular clients = predictable income
• Requires a clean driving record

3. Hotshot Delivery (High-Speed Cargo Gigs)

If you have a pickup truck, van, or box truck, you can take on urgent same-day deliveries for businesses. These gigs pay significantly more because they’re time-sensitive.

• Business-to-business deliveries
• Industrial equipment
• Auto parts, machinery, critical supplies

4. Pet Transport Driver

Traveling with animals? This niche has exploded. Pet relocation services need drivers for cross-country or regional transport.

• Highly flexible scheduling
• Requires patience and animal care skills
• Great earning potential for long-distance trips

How to Maximize Earnings with Multi-App Driving (The Blueprint)

The biggest mistake beginners make? Only working one app. The secret to high earnings in gig driving is called multi-apping — running multiple apps at once and choosing the best orders in real time.

What Multi-App Stacking Looks Like

• Uber Eats + DoorDash + Grubhub for food delivery
• Spark Driver + Shipt + Instacart for groceries
• Amazon Flex blocks + Roadie gigs for supplemental income

Comparison Table: Best Gig Driver Apps in 2025–2026

Final Thoughts

Whether you want to earn extra cash, replace a full-time job, or scale into a premium driving service, the modern gig economy is full of opportunity. From beginner-friendly apps like DoorDash and Uber Eats to advanced options like Spark Driver, Amazon Flex, private transport, or even hotshot trucking there is a perfect driving side hustle for every skill level.

Use this guide as your roadmap. Pick one or two apps, begin multi-apping, and develop your own strategy based on your market. Driving side hustles in 2025–2026 are more flexible than ever — and with the right plan, they can be extremely profitable.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What are the best apps like Uber to make money?

For rideshare: Uber, Lyft, Bolt, inDrive. For no-passenger driving: DoorDash, Spark Driver, Amazon Flex.

2. Which gig driver app pays the most?

Spark Driver, Instacart, Shipt, and Amazon Flex tend to have the best hourly rates across major U.S. markets.

3. What is the easiest driving side hustle for beginners?

DoorDash and Uber Eats are the easiest to start quickly, with no special vehicle requirements.

4. Are jobs like Spark Driver worth it?

Yes — Spark offers strong payouts and consistent demand. Many drivers earn $18–$28/hr or more.

5. Can I make a full-time income with gig driving?

Absolutely. Many drivers earn full-time income through multi-apping and optimizing routes and payout rates.