Best Side Hustles for Delivery Drivers: Ways to Earn Extra Money
Delivery driving can be a solid income source, but many drivers still look for extra ways to earn during slow hours, between shifts, or on days when app demand drops. The best side hustles for delivery drivers are usually the ones that fit work you already do well: staying on the road, managing time, using your phone for app-based tasks, and making the most of a car, bike, or route you already know.
A good side hustle should match your schedule, vehicle type, and earning goal. Some drivers want a few extra dollars to cover gas and maintenance, while others want a second income source that feels flexible and easy to start. That is why it helps to narrow your options before signing up for every app you see.
Start by setting a weekly target. For example, if your goal is an extra $150 to $300 per week, that may point you toward short, repeatable gigs you can do before dinner rushes, after delivery hours, or on weekends. If your goal is higher, you may need a mix of app-based work and better-paying route-based tasks.
It also helps to look at what you already have available:
Your vehicle type, whether that is a car, bike, cargo van, or box truck
A smartphone that can run gig apps reliably
Free blocks of time between your main delivery work
A willingness to test more than one option before settling on the best fit
For many delivery drivers, the best side hustle is not always another food app. In some cases, it is a different kind of mobile work that still lets you stay independent and work on your own time. That is where options like app-based parking enforcement work can stand out, especially for drivers who want flexible tasks without relying on tips alone.
Some drivers also compare nearby income ideas before choosing one path. A related guide on side gigs for Uber drivers or side hustles for Lyft drivers can help if your work overlaps with rideshare hours.
How to Choose Side Hustles as a Delivery Driver
Not every side hustle fits delivery work well. The best option is usually the one that works with your current routine, not the one that sounds good on a list.
Start with hourly earning potential, but do not stop there. A gig that looks strong on paper can feel a lot less useful once you factor in wait time, fuel, wear on your vehicle, and unpaid time between tasks. The 2026 IRS mileage rate of $0.67 per mile is a useful baseline for calculating real vehicle costs across any gig you add.
It helps to compare options through three simple questions.
How much can you reasonably make per hour?
Look at average pay during the hours you would actually work, not ideal-case numbers. A lunch rush or weekend block may pay much better than a random Tuesday afternoon.
Also pay attention to whether income comes from base pay, tips, bonuses, or task volume. That matters because some gigs feel steady, while others can swing a lot from day to day.
What does it cost you to get started?
Some side hustles only need a phone, a valid license, and your current vehicle. Others may require extra rideshare or commercial insurance, special equipment, a larger vehicle, or more gas-heavy routes that cut into what you keep.
This is one reason many drivers look for work that uses tools they already have. If you are trying to add income without adding much overhead, low-friction options usually make more sense than gigs that require a bigger upfront spend.
Is there enough local demand to make it worth your time?
A side hustle is only useful if the work is actually available in your area. Before signing up, check whether there is steady demand, whether tasks cluster near your usual routes, and whether peak times fit around your current delivery hours.
A simple way to narrow your list is to rank each option by:
Pay during your available hours
Startup cost
Distance between tasks
How much control you have over your schedule
How reliable the work feels week to week
That gives you a better picture than chasing the highest advertised rate. It also helps you avoid loading up on too many platforms that all compete for the same time blocks.
Food Delivery Options With Competitive Pay
Food delivery is often the first place drivers look for extra income because it is familiar and easy to start. Adding platforms like DoorDash, Uber Eats, or Grubhub may feel like the fastest move if you already know how to manage pickups, stacked orders, and busy traffic windows.
Still, food delivery is not always the best side hustle long term. Pay can rise and fall based on tips, local order volume, restaurant delays, and how many other drivers are online at the same time.
A few things are worth comparing before you add another platform.
Which apps are actually active in your area?
The biggest names get the most attention, but local demand matters more than brand recognition. Test platforms like Instacart or Shipt during the same time windows over a week or two. That gives you a more honest view of what your hourly return looks like in your market.
How do tip patterns affect your pay?
Some apps look strong because tips make the total payout more attractive. That can work well in busy suburbs, high-order areas, or during dinner rushes, but it can also make your income less predictable.
If you want steadier extra income, it helps to mix tip-based work with gigs that pay by task or assignment. That balance can make weekly earnings less uneven.
Are peak meal times a good fit for your schedule?
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner rushes can be useful, but they also overlap with the hours many delivery drivers are already working. If your main income already depends on those same blocks, adding another food app may not really expand your earning time.
That is where a second category of work can make more sense. Instead of stacking more competition into the same windows, some drivers look for app-based tasks they can do earlier in the day, between delivery blocks, or in areas they already know well.
Taggr: A Flexible Option That Fits Delivery Driver Schedules
Some delivery drivers are not looking for another restaurant pickup or another app fighting for the same dinner hours. They want a side hustle that still uses the same strengths—driving, timing, local area awareness, and phone-based task management—but in a different lane. That is where Taggr can make sense.
Taggr gives gig workers access to parking enforcement-related tasks through a mobile workflow. For drivers who already spend time on the road and want flexible extra income, that setup can feel more structured than tip-based delivery work while still giving you full control over when you work.
It fits around delivery blocks
Many side hustles compete with the same lunch and dinner rush windows. Taggr may be a better fit for drivers who want to earn outside those exact hours or fill downtime between other gigs. That can be useful if your main app slows down during certain parts of the day and you do not want to sit idle waiting for the next order.
It uses tools you likely already have
If you already drive for app-based work, you probably have the main things needed to get started: a vehicle, a smartphone, and experience managing route-based tasks. That lowers the barrier compared with gigs that require special equipment, a larger vehicle, or customer-facing selling. As an independent contractor, you keep full control of your time and workload.
It offers a different kind of work than delivery
Delivery apps often depend on order flow, restaurant timing, and tips. Taggr-related work is different. It is task-based, operational, and tied to parking compliance activity rather than meal demand. That can make it a useful option for people who want to spread their income across more than one kind of app-based work. Apply to join the Taggr network and start earning on local lot inspections today.
Who it may be best for
Taggr may be a strong fit for:
Drivers who already know their local area well
People who want flexible work without depending on tips
Gig workers looking for a second app category, not just another delivery platform
Drivers who prefer independent, phone-based field tasks
Package Delivery: Amazon Flex and Similar Routes
Amazon Flex and similar route-based platforms can be a good fit for drivers who want more structure than food apps. Instead of chasing individual orders, you usually work from a scheduled block or route, which can make planning your week a little easier.
Start by checking block availability where you live. In some markets, routes appear often and can fill gaps in your week. In others, openings are harder to find, which makes it less reliable as a regular side income option.
It also helps to pay attention to the rules behind each route:
Where pickups happen
How far delivery zones usually stretch
Whether packages fit your vehicle comfortably
How much time a block really takes once loading and return travel are included
This type of work is often strongest when it fills larger open windows in the week rather than competing with busy meal periods. Track every mile using a mileage app—at the 2026 IRS rate of $0.67/mile, documentation can meaningfully reduce your tax bill.
Amazon Flex Tips
If you try Amazon Flex or a similar route-based app, small habits can make a big difference in what you keep per hour. The goal is not just to finish blocks, but to avoid time loss that cuts into your return.
A few practical habits matter more than most drivers expect:
Review the route area before accepting a block if that info is available
Keep your phone charged and mounted where directions are easy to follow
Sort packages in a way that cuts down on stop-by-stop searching
Track how long blocks really take from departure to final return point
This kind of side hustle works best when you treat each block like a simple numbers exercise. Use a tool like QuickBooks Self-Employed to auto-categorize mileage and expenses across every platform—not just Flex. For more on stacking Amazon Flex with other gigs, see our guide to how to make extra money as an Uber driver which covers the same block-based approach.
Local Courier and Multi-App Strategies
Local courier work can be a smart add-on for delivery drivers who already know the roads. It often includes medical deliveries, retail drop-offs, and business-to-business runs. Platforms like Roadie handle on-demand deliveries that do not depend on meal times—useful for drivers trying to smooth out income instead of packing more apps into the same windows.
A few practical habits can help:
Focus on clustered orders or nearby tasks when possible
Compare total miles, not just listed payout
Use slower hours to test which apps are worth keeping
Avoid taking low-pay jobs that pull you far away from your next likely pickup zone
Tools like Para can give you unified notifications across apps so you are not toggling manually. For a full look at how to use your car for income without piling on extra miles, see our guide to making money with your car without driving more.
Asset-Based Hustles: Cargo Van and Box Truck Opportunities
Drivers with access to a cargo van or box truck have a different set of side hustle options than standard car-based gig workers. These jobs can pay more per assignment, but they also come with higher fuel costs, more vehicle wear, and tighter limits around load size and route planning.
Before taking jobs in this category, it helps to look at a few things closely:
How much fuel the vehicle uses in city driving
Whether jobs involve one helper or heavy-item handling
The total time for pickup, loading, unloading, and return travel
Whether local demand is steady enough to support regular work
Cargo van and box truck gigs can include last-mile delivery, retail freight, moving help, and larger-item drop-offs. Platforms like GoShare specialize in exactly this category. That higher payout can be appealing, but the math only works when the vehicle is already part of your day-to-day work or available at a low cost.
Safety, Taxes, Insurance, and Licensing Basics
Before adding any side hustle, make sure the work fits your current setup. Start with your license and vehicle documents—most platforms will want a valid driver’s license, current registration, and a phone that can handle their app without issues.
Insurance is also worth checking early. Some kinds of gig work may involve different coverage questions than standard personal driving. A rideshare or commercial endorsement ($100–300/year) is often the safest and most affordable fix for coverage gaps.
Taxes matter too. All gig income is reported on Schedule C, and once combined gig income becomes meaningful, quarterly estimated tax payments help you avoid a large April bill.
A simple tracking system usually works best:
Track mileage for each gig category
Save receipts for fuel, maintenance, and phone-related costs when relevant
Separate business and personal driving notes as clearly as you can
Keep a running view of weekly income instead of waiting until year-end
Maximize Earnings With Better Scheduling and App Mix
A lot of delivery drivers do not need more side hustle options. They need a better way to choose when and how they work. According to Pew Research, schedule flexibility is the top reason gig workers stay in the space—so use it deliberately.
A practical approach looks like this:
Use DoorDash or Uber Eats during the hours when tips and order volume are strongest
Test courier, errand, or Taggr parking enforcement work during off-peak times
Compare payout by total miles and total time, not just the number shown on screen
Review your week and cut the apps that create too much unpaid waiting
The best side hustle for a delivery driver is often not one perfect platform. It is a mix that fits your market, your vehicle, and the hours you actually want to work. If you want to spread risk and rely less on tips, adding a different category like Taggr may be a better move over time. For a broader look at building income streams that do not compete with your main work, see our guide to passive income for gig workers.
Quick Comparison Checklist for Delivery Drivers
If you are deciding between side hustle options, use this short checklist before signing up:
Does it fit your vehicle type?
Can you do it during hours you are actually free?
Are startup costs low enough to make it worth trying?
Is demand steady in your area?
Does the pay depend heavily on tips?
Will the work pull you too far from your normal routes?
Can it help you hit your weekly income target?
The best side hustles for delivery drivers are usually the ones that fit into work you already know how to do—whether that is food delivery, local courier runs, package delivery blocks, or a different kind of app-based field work like Taggr. If you want a flexible option that fits around time you already spend on the road, see whether Taggr matches your schedule and area.
You can also explore more options in our full guides: extra income for Lyft drivers, side hustles for Lyft drivers, and side gigs for Uber drivers.