Drive For Grubhub: Requirements, Income and How It Works

Are you looking for a way to make some extra money?

Does using your vehicle to do so sound interesting to you?

Driving for Grubhub might be the perfect opportunity for you.

This article will discuss the requirements for becoming a driver, how much you can expect to make, how the platform compares to other delivery apps and the pros and cons of driving for Grubhub.

We will also provide tips on how to become a successful driver.

So, if you want to learn more about what it means to drive for Grubhub, keep reading.

What’s It Like to Drive for Grubhub?

Grubhub is a food delivery service that partners with restaurants to provide customers with a convenient way to get their favorite meals delivered to their doorsteps.

Just like drivers for any other food delivery service, Grubhub drivers have two primary responsibilities: picking up food from local restaurants and delivering it straight to customers.

You will use your vehicle to complete deliveries, making driving for Grubhub is a flexible way to earn money.

Grubhub drivers are independent contractors, which means you can choose your hours and work as little or as much as you want.

However, it also means that you’re responsible for holding back money to pay taxes.

Why Should I Deliver for Grubhub?

Of all the food delivery services out there, why should you choose Grubhub?

Aside from the general benefits of being able to set your own hours and work for yourself, Grubhub has a few specific benefits that make it stand out.

1. Lower minimum age requirement than Uber or Lyft

To be a rideshare driver for Uber or Lyft, you need to be at least 21 (or 23 in some markets).

A Grubhub driver, in contrast, only needs to be 19 (with the exception of Chicago, where drivers must be 21 or older).

This makes it a valuable opportunity for younger drivers who aren’t able to drive for Uber or Lyft.

2. Well-established company

Grubhub has been around for a while, and it has the reputation and recognition that come with that.

While nothing is certain, Grubhub is likely to be more stable than other smaller food delivery startups that could fold overnight (or be acquired by a larger company like Grubhub).

3. Most total orders of all the food delivery apps

According to Grubhub’s driver page, they receive “more orders than any other order platform.”

This means you have more total opportunities to make deliveries, which translates into a higher earning potential.

Who Can Drive for Grubhub?

Almost anyone can drive for Grubhub.

As long as you pass the background check, you’re good to go.

Here’s what you need to know about driver and vehicle requirements.

Driver Requirements

To drive for Grubhub, you must tick off the following requirements.

• Be at least 19 years old
• Have a valid driver’s license
• Have a Social Security number or US-issued work permit
• Have auto insurance that meets state requirements
• Have a clean driving record (no major violations)
• Have a working smartphone

Although most areas use the age requirement of 19, Grubhub drivers must be 21 years old to drive in Las Vegas.

The different requirements are due to local restrictions.

Vehicle Requirements

Your vehicle must meet these requirements.

• A car, truck, or van that is no more than 20 years old
• In good condition with no cosmetic damage
• Free of commercial branding

If you meet all the requirements above, you can begin the sign-up process to become a Grubhub driver.

The sign-up process is simple.

You can complete the procedure online.

How Much Do Grubhub Delivery Drivers Make?

Now that we’ve gone over the requirements for becoming a driver, you’re probably wondering how much money you can make.

Base Wage

As a Grubhub driver, you will earn money for each delivery you complete.

The amount you earn will depend on a few factors, such as the delivery distance, the order size, and whether you are completing a pick-up or drop-off.

Grubhub also offers drivers bonuses and promotions.

For example, you may earn a bonus for completing a certain number of deliveries in a given period.

Indeed.com says the average Grubhub driver earns just under $17 per hour.

Tips

In addition to the base wage, Grubhub drivers also earn money from tips.

Customers have the option of adding a tip when they place their order.

Grubhub does not require customers to leave a tip.

However, drivers always appreciate receiving tips.

The average tip is 15% of the total delivery price.

You may sometimes receive a larger tip.

You can work toward bigger tips by going above and beyond to provide excellent service.

Who Pays More?

Let’s look at how pay rates differ based on the service you decide to work with.

Grubhub vs. Doordash

Doordash is another food delivery service that is similar to Grubhub.

Both services allow customers to order food from their favorite restaurants and have it delivered to their doorstep.

There are a few key differences between the two services.

For starters, Doordash drivers deliver food from a wider range of restaurants than Grubhub.

Doordash also offers its service in more cities than Grubhub.

Indeed reports that the average Dasher earns about $16 per hour.

Grubhub vs. UberEats

Like Grubhub and Doordash, UberEats is a food delivery service.

Like Grubhub, UberEats bases its driver pay on distance traveled, and the time it takes to make the delivery.

At Indeed.com, the data shows that an UberEats food delivery driver earns about $20 per hour.

Grubhub vs. Caviar

Caviar is a food delivery service that delivers food from higher-end restaurants than DoorDash, UberEats, or Grubhub.

Caviar pays its drivers a base rate for each delivery.

Each driver also receives a commission for every order they complete.

The average hourly pay reported at Indeed.com for a Caviar driver is around $25.

Grubhub vs. ChowNow

ChowNow is a food delivery service that partners with restaurants to provide their customers with an easy way to order takeout or delivery.

The company uses DoorDash Dashers to make their food deliveries.

Working for ChowNow means you’re working for DoorDash and the $16 per hour average pay.

As you can see, Grubhub drivers make a competitive wage compared to other food delivery services.

Is It Worth Driving for Grubhub?

Now that you know that Grubhub provides a gig that’s competitive in the market, let’s look at its overall pros and cons.

Pros of Driving for Grubhub

• You can make your schedule
• You can work as little or as much as you want
• The sign-up process is a simple online procedure
• Grubhub drivers earn a competitive wage

Cons of Driving for Grubhub

• You are an independent contractor, not an employee
• You must hold back money each week to pay your tax bill
• You must use your car
• The job can be physically demanding

Conclusion: Is Driving for Grubhub Worth It?

As you can see, there are pros and cons to driving for Grubhub.

But, ultimately, the decision of whether or not it is worth it for you will come down to your circumstances.

It’s not the best solution for someone looking for a full-time job with benefits.

However, if you are looking for a flexible gig that allows you to make your schedule, then Grubhub is worth it.

How to Drive for Grubhub

The following information gives you all the details required for applying, getting approved by, and working for Grubhub.

How to Apply to Drive for Grubhub

When you’re ready to get one step closer to being your own boss, you can try your hand at the Grubhub application process.

Assuming you meet all the requirements we outlined above, applying to be a Grubhub driver is easy.

To streamline the process, we recommend having the following at hand before you start your application:

• Driver’s license (if applying to make deliveries using a motor vehicle) or state ID (if applying to make deliveries by bike)
• Proof of car insurance
• Bank account information (Grubhub will need this to pay you)

From there, you can begin your application by filling out the form on Grubhub’s website.

Applying online to drive for Grubhub is easy when you follow these simple steps:

1. Head to driver.grubhub.com and fill in the form at the top of the page with your first name, last name, email address, and phone number.

Then, tap “Next.”

2. Enter your state, city, and vehicle type.

Agree to receive texts and emails from Grubhub, and confirm that you’ve read the Grubhub privacy policy.

Then, tap “Next.”

3. Tap “Let’s begin” to start a short questionnaire that determines your eligibility.

When you submit, you’ll either move forward or be informed of why you can’t move forward (usually due to eligibility issues or lack of demand in your area).

4. If you’re able to move forward, follow the prompts to set up your driver profile.

You’ll need to provide required documents such as your driver’s license, vehicle insurance card, and checking account information.

Then, you’ll need to authorize a background check.

When you’re approved, you’ll need to finish filling out paperwork and complete your online onboarding, in which you’ll get clear details about how to successfully fulfill delivery requests.

GrubHub OnBoarding

GrubHub offers in-person onboarding sessions in Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, New York (Manhattan), Orange County, Philadelphia, Portland, San Diego, San Diego North, and Schaumburg.

If you are not in one of those cities, onboarding can be completed online.

The process is basically the same for in-person and online onboarding.

New drivers are required to review a slideshow that goes over how to make deliveries as well as the following topics.

• An introduction to the company
• Getting started with GrubHub
• Scheduling Time Blocks
• Making Deliveries
• Some “Tips and Tricks”
• How Drivers are Paid

Once you’ve gone through the above slides, you’re done with onboarding.

The final step is receiving an insulated GrubHub bag.

If you attend an in-person onboarding session, they will give you your bag upon completion.

If you complete onboarding online GrubHub will mail you one.

Once you’ve completed onboarding and have your insulated bag, you’re ready to begin making deliveries as a Grubhub driver.

How to Drive for Grubhub

Before starting your driving career with Grubhub, you should learn the following information about delivering food.

Scheduling Shifts

You can use the Grubhub driver app to see available delivery times and order types.

You can also view the pay rates for each shift.

To see available shifts, open the app and go to the “Schedule” tab to see available shifts.

Then, select the day you want to work.

The app will show you all of the available shifts for that day.

Grubhub lets you view the pay rates for each shift by tapping on the shift.

Then, scroll down to the “Pay” section.

To sign up for a shift, tap on the shift and then tap “Sign Up.”

You must confirm that you’re available for that shift before signing up.

If you need to cancel a shift, you can do so by going to the “Schedule” tab, tapping on the shift, and then tapping “Cancel.”

Please note that you can only cancel shifts with at least two hours’ notice.

Accepting Orders

After you have signed up for a shift, you can start accepting orders.

To do so, click on “Start taking orders” inside the Grubhub delivery app.

Next, go to the “Inbox” tab and tap on an order to view the details.

Then, tap “Accept” to start navigating to the restaurant.

Grubhub gives you 45 seconds to accept any available order.

For each order, Grubhub shows you the following information.

• Pickup time
• Customer name
• Customer location
• Order items
• Special instructions from the customer (e.g., “no ice in my drink”)

Only accept an order if you’re ready to drive to the restaurant immediately.

If you can’t fulfill an order, let the 45 seconds run out so another Grubhub driver can take it.

Navigating to Restaurants

Grubhub will give you turn-by-turn directions to the restaurant after you accept an order.

To view the directions, go to the “Inbox” tab and tap on an order. Then, tap “Start Navigation.”

If you don’t like Grubhub’s navigation window, you can always switch to your preferred navigation app.

Other navigation apps you may want to try using include Google Maps, Waze, and Apple Maps.

Picking up Food

When you arrive at the restaurant, park in a designated spot.

While not a requirement, you may want to text or call the customer to let them know you’re there.

Go inside and ask for the Grubhub order.

Be sure to bring along your Grubhub driver app so that the restaurant can verify your order.

Always verify that you have the correct order before leaving the restaurant.

Your pay will suffer if you make a mistake with an order that prevents receiving tips.

Dropping off Food

After picking up the food, it’s time to deliver it to the customer. First, go to the “Inbox” tab and tap on the order.

Then, tap “Start Navigation.”

Follow the driving instructions to find the customer’s location.

Find a safe place to park when you arrive at your customer’s location.

You may want to text or call the customer to let them know you’re there.

Go to the customer’s door and knock or ring the doorbell.

The customer will come to the door and take the food from you.

If you see a customer struggling with the bag, ask how you can help.

Be sure to say goodbye before leaving.

Getting Paid

After delivering the food, you can receive your pay through Grubhub’s Instant Pay feature.

The feature lets you cash out your earnings whenever you want.

There’s no need to wait for the normal weekly payout.

To use Instant Pay, go to the “Earnings” tab and tap on “Cash Out.”

Then, select how much you want to withdraw.

The maximum amount is $500 per day.

You can cash out as many times each day as desired.

When using this option, you must transfer the entire balance.

Grubhub doesn’t allow you to withdraw a portion of your earnings.

Each withdrawal should hit your bank account within minutes.

Some may take up to three business days.

It depends on how your bank treats instant deposits.

The money you make on each delivery trip becomes available for Instant Pay within 15 minutes of completing the order.

The amount includes your base pay and tips.

The Grubhub app will show a confirmation message after successfully transferring your payout.

The company also sends you a confirmation email.

If you see a message about a failed transaction, try reconnecting your Internet connection.

Then, try the transaction again.

You need to manually enter new bank information into the Grubhub food delivery app.

Instant Pay won’t be available for 72 hours after changing any bank information inside the app.

If you don’t use the Instant Pay option, Grubhub will automatically deposit your pay into your bank account each Monday.

How to Make More Than Average as a Grubhub Driver

Even though Indeed.com estimates that the average Grubhub driver earns $17 per hour, you can work toward earning more.

Focus on the following tips so you can earn more than $20 per hour.

Deliver During Peak Times

The best way to make more money is to drive during peak times.

That’s when most people order food.

You can check your Grubhub app to see when demand is high in your area.

Then, plan your driving schedule around those times.

You may want to consider driving during the following times.

• Lunch: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Dinner: 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
• Late night: After bars close, typically around midnight or later”

Provide Good Customer Service

Another way to make more money is to provide good customer service.

Customers are more likely to leave a bigger tip if they had a good experience.

You can provide good customer service by doing the following.

• Being polite
• Smiling
• Making small talk
• Answering any questions the customer has
• Thanking the customer for their business

Focus on Big Orders

Big orders usually result in bigger tips.

When you see a big order come in, try to deliver it as soon as possible.

The customer will appreciate your efforts, and you’re more likely to receive a bigger tip.

Become Familiar With Local Restaurants

If you become familiar with the local restaurants, you can deliver the food faster.

That’s because you’ll gain an understanding of how the restaurant works and how to speed up the delivery acceptance process.

Accomplish this by working in the same locations.

Using this tip will get you more orders from restaurants you already know well.

Customers appreciate fast delivery times.

If you work with restaurants that help you complete orders faster, you’ll get more tips from happy customers.

Create Your Schedule in Advance

You can make more money by creating your schedule in advance.

That way, you can drive during times when demand is high.

You can also plan your route so you can make deliveries faster.

Although it’s possible to turn on the app and take orders at any time, you’ll earn more money by treating your Grubhub gig as a business.

Make use of Grubhub’s scheduling option to outsmart other Grubhub delivery drivers.

Complete Longer Trips

Longer trips usually result in bigger payouts.

You’ll get paid more because of the extra miles driven to complete the order.

When you see a long trip come in, accept it and work to finalize it as soon as possible.

Use All Available Tax Write-offs

You can make more money by taking advantage of all available tax write-offs.

For example, you can deduct the following expenses.

• Car maintenance and repairs
• Gasoline
• Tolls
• Parking fees
• Insurance
• Cell phone

Keep track of all these expenses each week.

Doing so makes it easier to add up deductions at tax time.

Use a mileage tracker as well.

If you know your mileage, you can decide if you will take the standard mileage deduction or deduct your actual expenses when filing your return.

Verify Each Order Before Leaving the Restaurant

Before you leave the restaurant, verify that you have all the items in the order.

Customers get upset when they don’t receive everything they ordered.

If you make a mistake, apologize to the customer and offer to make it right.

Doing so shows that you’re professional and take responsibility for your actions.

The customer will appreciate your efforts and may leave a bigger tip.

By following these tips, you can make more money as a Grubhub delivery driver.

In some cases, you can earn over $30 per hour.

Driving during peak times, focusing on big orders, and providing good customer service will help the most.

Frequently Asked Questions

You may still have a few questions about how to drive for Grubhub.

Here are answers to three of the most commonly asked questions.

How do you pay taxes driving for Grubhub?

You’re responsible for paying your taxes when driving for Grubhub.

The company doesn’t withhold any taxes from your earnings.

The best way to do it is to use the Internal Revenue Service’s quarterly tax payment system.

It allows you to make four smaller payments throughout the year instead of one large payment.

Each year, the IRS wants you to pay quarterly taxes on the following dates.

• April 15
• June 15
• September 15
• January 15 (of the following year)

You can make your quarterly tax payments online, by phone, or by mail.

Whether you pay quarterly or not, you must file your 1040 tax return every year on or before April 15.

Wrapping Up

Now that you know how to drive for Grubhub, you can start earning money.

If you have any questions, please ask us in the comments.

To earn the most money possible, take advantage of the scheduling, use tax write-offs, and focus on good customer service.

These tips will help you make the most out of your Grubhub gig.