Food delivery services have become more popular than ever before, and with this has come the success of companies like Postmates.
The beauty of this kind of job is that it is one where you pick your hours, and it is easy to see why people work with them with this kind of flexibility and choice.
But before you sign up, you must meet two sets of requirements.
We’ve previously discussed the Postmates driver requirements, but now we’re diving into the Postmates car requirements that must be met in order to get approved.
Postmates Car Requirements
Unlike companies like Uber and Lyft, there are basically zero Postmates car requirements.
An Uber driver or Instacart shopper has more car requirements they must adhere to than a Postmates courier.
As long as you get the food delivered on time according to the Postmates app, Postmates doesn’t care how you get there.
Postmates DMV Check Requirements
There are no DMV check requirements. You don’t need to prove that your car is registered or anything like that.
Does My Vehicle Have to Pass a Car Inspection?
Your car does not need to pass any inspections to drive for the Postmates fleet app.
So, no matter how beat-up your car is or how rusty your bike is, if it will get you to the customer, it’s good enough for Postmates.
Are There Any Insurance Requirements for Working With Postmates?
For the Postmates driver, there are no Postmates insurance requirements.
Postmates does have liability auto insurance for a Postmates courier while they make deliveries that will cover $1 million for bodily injury or third-party property damage.
What Types of Vehicles Qualify for Postmates?
There are a few different vehicles you can use to deliver for Postmates, including:
- Car
- Truck
- Bike
- Scooter
- Your feet
Postmates allows drivers to use scooters, motorcycles, cars, trucks, and/or bikes to deliver in specific cities in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, Washington D.C., Michigan, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Maryland, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, and Washington.
Only larger cities allow for Postmates deliveries on foot. The states with cities where walkers can deliver are San Francisco, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, Oregon, Texas, Virginia, Washington, and Washington DC.
Do I Need a Car To Drive For Postmates
The quick answer is no, you do not need a car or motorized vehicle to drive for Postmates.
Unlike rideshare apps and other companies that require a car, Postmate’s requirements are much more flexible with how you get the food delivered.
Alternative: Bike Deliveries with Postmates
One of the most popular alternatives to using a car for Postmates is to ride a bike and make food deliveries.
Using bikes as a means of transportation has become more common in the last decade or so, and they can be excellent for making extra money delivering for Postmates.
Advantages of Doing Deliveries On Your Bike
Biking for Postmates has several advantages beyond just making more money.
Compared to people that walk deliveries or drive deliveries, biking can have some upsides that may convince you to hop on your old bicycle and get started.
No Traffic
Everyone hates traffic.
When you use a bike rather than a car, you can skip the traffic and get to the customer faster.
Not only does this mean the customer will get their food quicker, but it means you’ll be able to complete more deliveries in a shorter time.
And this means more money for you!
No Gas
When you drive for Postmates using a car, one of the biggest costs put on your plate is gas.
Postmates will not pay for your gas, but most drivers make enough money making food deliveries that they feel the job is worth it.
But when you ride a bike, you don’t need any gas, meaning more of the money goes right into your pocket for things you enjoy!
Exercise
This advantage won’t apply to everyone.
But if you want to incorporate more exercise into your life, you can make money while exercising if you bike for Postmates!
Challenges of Delivering for Postmates on a Bike
Being a Postmates driver is a great way to make extra money, especially if you don’t have a vehicle to participate in rideshare apps.
But if you make Postmates deliveries using a bicycle, there can be some new challenges you have to overcome to get the food to the customer.
Consider these challenges when singing up to bike for Postmates.
Directions
If you don’t know where you’re going, it’s easy to pull out your phone and GPS yourself to the address.
But this action can be trickier when riding on a bike.
Are you comfortable riding on a bike with one hand?
Not everyone is, which can make it hard and dangerous to use your phone or other GPS devices while riding.
Weather
Another aspect that can make biking for Postmates tough is the weather.
If it is raining, snowing, windy, freezing, or scorching, delivering a sandwich across town will become a much harder feat.
Consider what weather you feel you can handle while biking and what the weather in your area is typically like.
Food
The food itself can be a major challenge when using a bike.
Many Postmates drivers that use a bike have a distinct setup on the bike to carry the food.
But if you get a particularly heavy order or multiple orders, it can make riding your bicycle more difficult.
Wrapping Up
In summary, Postmates car requirements for Postmates delivery are minimal.
And you can change your mode of transportation in the app at any time if your circumstances change.
So if you don’t have a car or have one in less-than-ideal condition, you can still make money with Postmates using your bike, scooter, or feet!
