Let me guess. You’ve got a car. Maybe it’s not shiny or new, maybe the glove box is full of crumpled receipts and stray peppermints, and maybe it groans a little when you start it in the morning. But it runs. It’s yours. And lately, it feels like everything costs too much and pays too little, and you keep wondering how to make a little more without selling your soul—or becoming a rideshare therapist on wheels for Uber. Same.
The good news? You don’t have to be anyone’s backseat confessor to turn your car into a little money machine. There are quieter, weirder, more wonderful ways to make your vehicle pay you back. Let’s talk about 14 of them. Fourteen! That’s more than the number of times I’ve microwaved the same cup of coffee this week.
1. Haul Things, Not People
If you’ve got a van or a pickup truck and can lift moderately heavy stuff without pulling a muscle and cursing for hours, you can start hauling things. TaskRabbit is your friend here. People need help moving furniture, dropping off old sofas, transporting Craigslist treasures. You show up. You lift. You get paid. Simple.
2. Deliver Food, Stay Sane
Food delivery is the introvert’s Uber. You pick up tacos, you drop off tacos. Sometimes you get a tip. Sometimes you get a note that says “thanks” with a smiley face. Either way, you get paid, and you never have to listen to someone’s thoughts about cryptocurrency.
3. Grocery Shopping With Benefits
If you’re the kind of person who enjoys finding the perfect avocado or gets a thrill from spotting a sale on oat milk, grocery delivery might be your jam. Instacart and Shipt are great places to start. You shop for people. You deliver the bags. You keep the tips and avoid the dreaded small talk in parking lots.
4. Let Someone Else Drive Your Car
If your car spends more time in your driveway than on the road, rent it out on platforms like Turo. It’s passive income, kind of like having a tenant for your Toyota. You set the rules. You set the price. Just check your insurance first. Because surprises are fun at birthday parties, not at accident scenes.
5. Be a Rolling Billboard
Here’s one that’s a little out there: wrap your car in ads. Companies like Carvertise or Wrapify pay you to let your car be a moving billboard. You don’t need to change your driving habits, just your car’s wardrobe. Some of the designs are honestly pretty fun. And the money isn’t bad either—steady, reliable, and completely hands-off.
6. Deliver Packages for Amazon
Amazon Flex lets you deliver packages on your own schedule. You grab a block of time, pick up a trunkload of boxes, and deliver them like Santa with a smartphone. You get $18–$25 an hour, no elves required.
7. Join Roadie, the Chill Delivery Gig
Roadie is kind of like the chill cousin of delivery gigs. You deliver items, not people. Sometimes it’s lost luggage. Sometimes it’s musical instruments or cupcakes. It pays per trip, and you get to be the hero who gets Grandma her reading glasses back.
8. Drive for Kids or Seniors
If you’re patient, background-checked, and genuinely like people (or at least don’t mind them), driving for services like HopSkipDrive (for kids) or Care.com (for seniors) could be a steady gig. It’s fulfilling in a way that food delivery just isn’t. Plus, you get paid to be responsible. Finally, something you’re already good at.
9. Start a Mobile Business
This is where things get spicy. Your car could be a mobile dog grooming unit. Or a rolling car wash. Or even a pop-up thrift boutique if you’re feeling ambitious and boho. It takes more setup, sure. But the upside is that you’re the boss. Of everything. Including your playlist.
10. Get Paid to Do Studies In Your Car
Sometimes researchers want to track how you drive. No, not in a creepy way, it’s usually just for science. If you’re okay with letting your car wear a Fitbit for a week, you can make $50 to $100 from research studies. Look on university boards or Reddit. The weirder the study, the better the story later.
11. Be a Pet Chauffeur
You know who really needs a lift these days? Dogs. Cats. The occasional anxious guinea pig. People are busy. Pets need rides. If you love animals, offer pet taxi services to the vet, groomer, or daycare. Keep some Febreze in the glove box and you’re golden.
12. Run Errands for the Overwhelmed
There are families who can’t get to the post office, seniors who don’t want to face the supermarket, and exhausted parents who need someone to pick up a birthday cake. That someone could be you. Apps like TaskRabbit help, or just post your services in a local Facebook group. No shame in becoming the neighborhood helper.
13. Skip Uber, Try Lyft—or Other Apps
If you still want to give rides but Uber gives you hives, try Lyft. Or Bolt, or even regional rideshare apps that are less… Uber-y. Mix and match platforms to see what works best. Pro tip: drive during events or weekends, when tips and surge pricing are better than usual.
14. Deliver Medical Supplies
Delivering prescriptions or medical equipment is a surprisingly steady niche. It’s quieter, more consistent, and often higher-paying. Sometimes it requires a background check or basic training, but it’s meaningful work. You’re not just moving boxes. You’re helping people stay healthy.
The Not-So-Glamorous but Important Stuff
Okay, let’s talk adulting. If you’re doing any of these things regularly, check your insurance. A lot of personal policies don’t cover business use. Keep track of your mileage (apps like Everlance are super helpful). File your receipts. Drink water. Be kind to your back. And yes, you’ll probably have to pay taxes. Sorry.
One More Thing
If you really want to make your car-based side hustle legit, consider building a little website. Nothing fancy. Just something that says “Hi, I do things with my car. Pay me.” Use a site builder like Hostinger if you’re just starting, or Squarespace if you want it to look like you’ve got your life together. A site helps people find you and trust you.
Final Thoughts from the Front Seat
This isn’t about getting rich quick. It’s about making life work, one side hustle at a time. Your car doesn’t need to be a luxury SUV or a vintage VW van. It just needs to run, and you just need to try. Start with one gig. Add another. Experiment. Pivot. Laugh at the absurdity of it all. That’s how we build something from the messy middle.
Now go turn the key. Your car’s got work to do.
Camille