Updated October 2021
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What is Uber Eats and How Does it Work?
If you already drive for Uber, you can deliver with Uber Eats, too. This service is fast and convenient for customers and offers a new revenue stream for drivers.
In 2014, Uber launched their delivery service, which was based out of Santa Monica, CA, and known as UberFRESH. The name then changed to Uber Eats in 2015.
If you guessed that Uber Eats involves Uber and eating, you’re correct! It is very similar to Instacart, Shipt, DoorDash, and Postmates in the sense that drivers deliver food/groceries instead of people. Basically, a hungry customer orders a meal to go from a local, participating restaurant’s online menu using the Uber Eats iPhone or Android phone app, or the Uber Eats website. Then, a delivery person working for Uber picks up the take out order and delivers it to the customer’s location, usually in about half an hour, although it can take longer due to factors like traffic and how long it takes the restaurant to prepare the meal.
How do you use the Uber Eats app or website?
Below are the basic steps for how it works – from getting the request, to picking up the food, to delivering the food to the customer.
The request:
- You’ll receive an audio notification through the app, just like a ride request
- Notice that the screen will say “delivery” instead of “Uber X”
- Tap the screen to accept the delivery request
- You’ll get info regarding the food order number, pick-up location, and customer name
Pick-Up:
- Tap “navigate” and the GPS will direct you to the restaurant
- When you arrive, give the restaurant staff the food order number and customer name
- Double check the order before heading back to your car with the take-out packages
Delivery:
- Tap “start trip” for directions to the delivery address.
- Swipe up in the app for special delivery instructions regarding drop-off or parking
- The customer will receive a text as you approach so they’re ready for you
- Knock or ring the bell if they didn’t request to meet you outside their location
- Greet the customer by introducing yourself with a smile and hand them their order
- Swipe “complete trip” and you’re done with this delivery!
Who can deliver with Uber Eats?
If you’re already an Uber, Instacart, DoorDash, or Postmates driver, signing up for Uber Eats is a breeze. If you currently drive for Uber, simply go to your account on the Uber app and select Vehicle Options. Read and accept the delivery terms. Now you can easily enable or disable the delivery option through your account whenever you want to start earning some extra cash delivering food rather than giving rides to passengers.
How to Deliver for Uber Eats
If you don’t drive on the Uber network, the requirements to deliver for Uber Eats can vary by city, but these are the basics requirements:
- You need to be at least 19 years old
- Your 2 or 4-door car must be newer than a 1998 model
- Valid driver’s license and car insurance
- In the U.S., you need at least one year of driving experience
- You will need a clean driving record with no major violations dating back 7 years
- Upon applying, you will be required to pass a background check and a safety screening, and upload a few required documents.
Once you’ve checked off all of these, you’re ready to drive for Uber Eats and make some cash!
Where can you download the Uber Eats app?
You’ll be able to find it in Google Play or App Store, depending on whether you have an Android or iPhone!
How much money do drivers that work for Uber Eats earn and what is the pay structure?
Uber Eats does not base payments on driving time, like regular Uber rides. According to RideSharingDriver.com, as of May 2018, the average delivery person working for Uber Eats can take home an average of $8 to $12 bucks an hour after subtracting vehicle expenses and Uber’s commission.
Obviously, you’ll make more money if you deliver multiple orders during really busy times like lunch and dinner. Boost multipliers are also available at specific times and locations in-app, which allow drivers to earn more on each trip (similar to surge pricing).
The fees you’re paid, as well as Uber’s commission, may vary by city and the type of vehicle you drive, but the Uber Eats pay structure for drivers is based on the following equation:
A fixed driver food pick-up fee, plus miles traveled between pick-up and delivery to customer fare, plus a fixed driver food delivery fee, minus Uber’s 25% commission = Uber Eats Driver payment per completed delivery.
Here’s a typical example of the equation from the Uber help page:
$2.50 pickup + $0.20 x 5.2 miles + $3.00 drop off = $6.54 delivery fare. If Uber takes a 25% commission in your city, you end up with $4.90. Uber’s commission can be higher in some cities.
If you haven’t already, go check out our friends at Gridwise, the ultimate rideshare and delivery assistant. It’s a free app for iOS and Android that helps rideshare and food delivery drivers increase their earnings by up to 39% and save thousands on their tax bills.
Click here to download the Gridwise app today.
Can you accept tips while delivering for Uber Eats?
Customers are not required to tip drivers, but you’re welcome to accept a tip if one is offered. You do keep 100% of all the tips you receive, whether you’re tipped in cash or the customer adds a gratuity through the Uber Eats app.
By the way, if a customer cancels their order after you’ve picked it up at the restaurant, you still get paid your pick-up and delivery fees, as well as the estimated mileage of the delivery. Uber says you can keep the food for yourself or throw it away.
What if something goes wrong during your delivery?
Let’s face it, stuff happens, right? Like traffic, car trouble, the customer doesn’t respond when you arrive, or the restaurant messed up the order.
Here are some tips on how to handle unexpected problems yourself or by contacting Uber customer support:
-
- Problem dropping off the order? The Uber app clipboard has the customer’s contact info so you can text or call them.
- Problem picking up the order? The restaurant’s contact info is inside the app as well
- If the customer does not respond or there is serious problem, you can always contact local Uber support through the Help section of the Uber app.
What Are the Pro and Cons of Uber Eats?
As with all decisions, there are pros and cons to driving for Uber Eats vs just plain Uber. Here are a few:
Pros:
- Uber Eats is an easy way to make extra cash, whether you drive for Uber or not
- Similar to Postmates, DoorDash and Instacart, driving for Uber Eats means you only transport food, not people. Sometimes driving for Uber requires you to deal with drunk, rude, or unruly passengers
- If you’re 19 years old, you can drive for Uber Eats. You have to be 21 to drive for UberX
- Uber Eats has less vehicle restrictions than regular Uber, so most vehicles 1998 and newer will qualify, even if it only has 2 doors
- Being an Uber Eats driver is a great gig if you love driving around town
Cons:
- Your hourly Uber Eats pay can drop below $10 during slow delivery times. On average, most Uber drivers earn more than that hourly wage during a normal shift
- Waiting at slow restaurants, dealing with traffic jams, searching for parking spots, and locating hard-to-find customers or delivery locations can be annoying.
Where is Uber Eats Available?
For a complete, up to date list of large and small cities in the U.S.A. where Uber Eats delivers, visit the Uber Eats Cities page. However, here is a shortened list of popular cities where Uber Eats delivers in the US:
- San Diego, Los Angeles, Sacramento, Spokane
- Phoenix, El Paso, St. Louis, Chicago
- Chattanooga, Boston, Dallas, Charlotte
- New York, Cleveland, Oklahoma City, Milwaukee
- New Orleans, Grand Rapids, Gainesville, Denver, Boston, and many, many more
So, whether you’re already an Uber driver or not, delivering food for Uber Eats is a pretty easy way to add to your income. If you have any questions not covered in this article, visit Uber.com for more info.
Happy Delivering!
Great innovation and customer service by Uber, let’s see how it pans out.
I love the concept of Uber Eats, is so innovative and practical for people who are constantly busy.
I am interested in being an UberEats driver. I live in New Port Richey, Florida and meet all of your qualifications.
Hello Jackie, we would love to help you get started! Have you signed up for an account at HyreCar?
Requirements for drivers in San Antonio is slightly different for Uber eats I guess than everywhere else because I was told that my car needed to be a 2006 at the least. My car was a 2004 so I didn’t qualify. They pretty much told me once I get a newer car then I can qualify. I drive a 2004 Buick LeSabre.
Is there a restriction in one given location as to how many ubereats drivers there can be in that location?
Hello Steven, Uber has never mentioned any restrictions on the number of drivers allowed in the same area. However, Uber has restriction on driving hours limit. Each driver can drive up to 12 hours and would have to take a 6 hours offline time before being able to take requests again. You can view the full information in this link https://www.uber.com/en-ZA/blog/driving-hours-limit/. Hope this helps!
I would like to drive delivery eats
But my car is 92 Toyota Corolla ,
I been driving this car for 7 years
I keep it on good shape , still runs up
To 100 miles per hours
I 57 year old male clean driver record
Have all state car insurance.
My wife is a Uber passenger
If your and uber eats driver and want to add being a uber driver how do you do tgat?
Hello Patricia, from what I know you have to apply for Uber separately than Uber eats.
Can I drive Uber eats with my permit with license driver in the car
Hello, like most rideshare or delivery apps you will probably need to wait until you have a valid driver’s license. But to be certain you should reach out to uber eats directly to confirm.
I have been sending my license through my account for at least 2 weeks and I keep getting emails and texts saying Your Driver’s License needs a second look . I can’t find out what is wrong with the picture I am sending. Everything else I have sent in the same way has been fine. I need to know what the problem is so I can correct it.
Are you having this issue on the HyreCar’s site or Uber Eats site?
I can’t log in my uber eat account to star work
I can’t not log in my uber eat account to sing in
How do I apply to become an Uber eats driver for the area of Palm beach Gold Coast Queensland Australia.
Unfortunately, we are not very familiar with the requirements for driving Uber in Australia.
Does my city recognizes Uber eats. I live in Pensacola FL. Am I a Uber driver already.
I’m a UBER driver and I’ve been trying to do the UBER food delivery but for some reason it’s not letting me do it! Can someone please help me!;
I’m having trouble getting to the (UBER food delivery)
I am a driver for Uber, but am not seeing how I can become a delivery driver for Uber eats. Help please
Hello,
You can apply for Uber Eats on the Uber app, we also have a list of services you can use just like Uber Eats. Check them out here https://www.hyrecar.com/services.
If you need any help call us at 8886886769.
I want to apply to be a Uber eats driver
Hello,
You can apply for Uber Eats on the Uber app, we also have a list of services you can use just like Uber Eats. Check them out here https://www.hyrecar.com/services.
If you need any help call us at 8886886769.
I am interested Delivery uber eats job 14 4 2020
Do I have to take every delivery send to me ? Or can I press decline if a cant do it at the moment or I’m just not in the mood?
Hello! Yes, you have the choice of choosing which deliveries you’d like to do.
I done uber eats food delivery service befor I like do this job again I have already Account with uber eats please join me again I am free now I have a car.
Perdi mi cuenta
“pass a background check”? What are the specifics of the background check for Uber Eats?
This article might be helpful to answer all your questions regarding the guidelines of Uber’s background check. https://help.uber.com/driving-and-delivering/article/what-does-the-background-check-look-for?nodeId=ee210269-89bf-4bd9-87f6-43471300ebf2
What are the specific criteria for passing the Uber Eats background check?
You will have to check the ubereats website to confirm their requirements.
Hie I’m a UberX driver currently trying to have ubereats so that I will choose , weather doing x or eats for the , I’m done signing up but I can’t get the link to have the app may you please I can’t wait to deliver ,
I registered in my home town can I go to a different city and still do Uber eats?
Hi Mike, you will have to double-check with Uber Eats in that city to confirm.
Can I deliver for Uber eats in any city besides the one I live in?
You will have to check on the regulations for Uber in your state to see if they allow that.
I have a valid drivers license in Ontario. I am a permanent resident.
How can I apply on-line. I provided my passport but it said it was not good enough.
Can you please help?
Can I talk to someone instead of the on-line application/
I live in Brampton Ontario
We are not currently operational in Canada.
I would like to become a driver for Uber eats
visit hyrecar.com/services to get started with delivery services.
i dont want to have people in my car, i want to deliver food but since i drove UBER a few years ago Uber keeps insisting i get the vehicle inspection ( that is not required for food deliveries ) before i deliver for them. i already deliver Door Dash any way but Uber money is better. i have a Hyundai Tucson 2012 in great condition, UBER is just a Pain in the ASS all the way around because they are so difficult to deal with.
We can help you get a vehicle if Uber is rejecting your car.
What app do you download to deliver food fir Uber?
This blog is highly informative and captivating. At Ubereatslikeapp, we publish informative blogs on developing on-demand services apps. Pls do check in there!
I did sign up uber eats delivery as four months now but am still waiting until now and i didn’t get any message to invite me to buy thermal bag. Please help me
Please, please.. ‘how to’ guides need to inlcude how to do it. ʻYou will get information on the restaurant/food order’ doesn’t explain how this happens, what to look for, where/when the information is shared..how to find it if it doesn’t appear, etc. UBER apps are notoriously un-user friendly, and UBER
has virtually no guidance or support’ for drivers-for these reasons i am grateful to those who post
tutorials.. i’m wishimg there were more instructional & less on money and manners.
Have you checked out our recent podcast about food delivery? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8ZVK6vXGFE&list=UUAF0rgRMbW5SogA0_h_TRkg&index=8&t=43s
Can I drive motorcycle
I was a driver once for uber but my other vehicle was totaled out in a accident. I now drive a 1998 Toyota sienna 4 door van . Will this work to deliver foods driving for uber.
What is the hiring process at Uber ?
Uber requires drivers to pass a background check and to rent or own a qualifying vehicle. But you should always check with your local Uber office to confirm the requirements in your city.