The food delivery market was worth an estimated $26.5 billion in 2020. If you’ve considered food delivery gigs, there are many options out there. Based on a 2019 study by US Foods, Uber Eats is the most popular food delivery app. Here is a quick guide on how to get started with Uber Eats.

What is Uber Eats?

As the name suggests, Uber Eats is the food delivery service arm of Uber. While primarily into restaurant takeout, Uber Eats has also started grocery delivery in select markets, too. As a delivery driver, you have to pick up an order(s) from a restaurant(s) and deliver it to a customer(s).

Uber Eats Pay

Several factors contribute towards your Uber Eats delivery pay:

Pickup

You get a flat amount to pick up order(s) from a restaurant. Sometimes you may have to fetch orders from more than one restaurant. Based on the distance between the restaurants, a multiplier may apply.

Drop-off

You get a flat fee for every delivered order. For multiple orders, you get an extra amount for each drop.

Distance

You get paid per mile from the restaurant to the customer’s doorstep based on the shortest route.

Time

In some cities, you may get a per-minute pay based on the estimated trip time. The timer starts when you arrive at the restaurant and ends when you deliver the order to the customer. Restaurant wait times are included.

Tips

You get to keep all of the customer tips.

Promotions

You can earn more by delivering in surge zones. These zones show up on the map in busy locations during peak times.

Uber pays out once a week. But eligible drivers can use Instant Pay to cash out their earnings on demand.

Requirements for Uber Eats

As per the Uber site, you can use a car, scooter, or bike to deliver with Uber Eats. The requirements for each are as follows:

Car Delivery

To deliver by car:

1. Meet your city’s minimum driving age.
2. Have a valid auto insurance and driving license.
3. Own a 2-door or 4-door vehicle not older than 20 years.
4. Have at least a year’s worth of driving experience.

Scooter Delivery

To deliver by scooter, you must:

1. Be at least 19 years of age.
2. Have a valid auto insurance and driving license.
3. Have a motor scooter of less than 50cc and not older than 20 years.
4. Select “Deliver with a Scooter” as the transportation method when signing up.

Bike Delivery

To deliver by bike, you must:

1. Be at least 18 years of age.
2. Have a government-issued ID.
3. Select “Deliver with a Bike” as the transportation method when signing up.

It would help if you also had a smartphone that is capable of running the Uber app. All drivers have to clear a background check to be able to work on the platform. Here’s a list of cities in the US where Uber Eats operates.

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How to Sign Up with Uber Eats

It’s easy to start working with Uber Eats if you’re already driving for Uber. To register:

1. Go to the Account option in the Driver app.
2. Select Vehicles.
3. Review the terms and conditions for delivery.
4. Shortly after you accept, you will start getting delivery requests.
5. You can choose to enable or disable delivery requests.

If you’re new to Uber:

1. Provide details requested on the signup page.
2. Select a transportation method.
3. Consent to a background check.
4. Submit a photo and copies of supporting documents such as driver’s license, vehicle registration, and insurance.
5. On passing the background check, you will start getting delivery requests.

How Uber Eats Works

To start delivering:

1. Log in to the app and go online.
2. When a request is available, it will appear on the screen. It will display the guaranteed pay, distance, estimated time, and pickup and drop-off locations. The payment does not include tips. You will have about 10-15 seconds before the order gets passed on to another driver.
3. To accept, click on the bag icon.
4. The name of the restaurant is displayed at the bottom of the screen. Tap on the Navigate button to get directions to the restaurant.
5. To check for additional instructions from the restaurant, scroll down to the bottom of the screen.
6. Once you arrive at the restaurant, give the staff the customer’s name and order number. You can see these details by scrolling down further.
7. Check the order, secure it into the vehicle, and tap on “Start Trip” to get directions to the customer.
8. Navigate to the bottom of the screen to check for delivery instructions.
9. When you reach the destination, hand the order to the customer.
10. Swipe “Complete Trip” to complete the delivery.

Pros and Cons of Working with Uber Eats

Like any other platform, working with Uber Eats comes with its own share of positives and negatives.

Pros

1. Age and vehicle requirements for Uber Eats can be less stringent than driving for Uber.
2. With Instant Pay, you can cash out earnings for $0.5 or without charge with the Uber Visa Debit Card.
3. You don’t have to deal with drunken and unruly passengers.

Cons

1. Orders can be inconsistent. Peak hours center around mealtimes.
2. The pay can be less than what Uber rideshare drivers earn.
3. Finding parking spots, waiting at restaurants, and locating customers or their addresses can be frustrating.

Conclusion

If you’re looking for food or grocery delivery gigs, Uber Eats has 20% of the market share. Everything you need to get started delivering with Uber Eats is in this guide. As the second-largest food delivery platform in the US, it can be a viable option to earn some extra cash.