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About this role

The gig economy has become a wild and crazy world over the past few years.

It seems as though there are constantly new contenders entering the space trying their hand at the next latest and greatest gig-type service.

If you’re in the market for a food delivery job, Grubhub is a platform that you should definitely overlook.

As one of the industry leaders, driving with Grubhub offers a host of benefits that drivers can enjoy once approved to drive.

Since there’s a very good chance GrubHub is currently operating in your city, this could be a great opportunity for you to become a delivery driver.

If you’re new to driving for a ridesharing or delivery service, then we’ll give you a crash course on what GrubHub is, how it works for drivers, what the GrubHub driver requirements are, and how to sign to drive.

What Is GrubHub?

GrubHub is a food delivery service that picks up food from local restaurants and delivers it to GrubHub customers.

As a GrubHub user, you can use the platform to browse local restaurants, place an order, and enjoy your meal from wherever you’re at.

According to their page, GrubHub is the largest food delivery service and has more orders than any other delivery platform.

As a potential driver for GrubHub, this means that the order platform could provide you with a higher earnings potential compared to other smaller-scale services.

GrubHub allows drivers to have flexible employment where you’re able to schedule your own shifts, work however much you want, and be your own boss.

How Does Driving for GrubHub Work?

Driving for GrubHub is quite simple.

You log on to the GrubHub driver app to start accepting orders, drive to participating restaurants to pick up customer orders, and then deliver the order to the customer’s location.

To break this down further, we’ll start from the top.

First, you hop on the GrubHub driver app to either start driving immediately or schedule your shift for a later time.

Driving immediately is always a fine choice, but there are benefits to booking ahead of time that we’ll dive into in another section below.

If you decide to drive now, you’ll select the zone you wish to deliver in.

This will limit your driving radius and will help increase the number of orders you can receive.

Since GrubHub and Seamless are sister companies, as a driver you’ll likely make deliveries for both platforms.

This is all done through your GrubHub app, so you won’t have to worry about applying for Seamless as well.

When you start receiving orders, you’ll drive to delivery partner restaurants to pick up the customer’s order.

Since the customer already paid for the order through the app, you just need to pick up the food.

You’ll then deliver the order to the drop-off location and hand the food over to hungry customers.

After that, you’ll do it all over again.

For each of these orders you complete, you’ll be paid a fare.

Remember that the better customer service you provide, the better chance you have at receiving a larger tip.

You might be asking, what’s included in this fare and how much can I make driving for GrubHub?

How Much Money Do Drivers Make?

GrubHub delivery drivers are paid around $3.00 to $4.00 for every delivery they complete and are compensated $0.50 for every mile they drive from the restaurant to the customer.

They also get to keep 100 percent of the tips they receive.

The actual pay rates and delivery fares are unique to each city and market.

Some cities may pay drivers more than others; it all really depends on the local rates set by GrubHub.

It’s important to note that drivers are not compensated for every mile they drive, but instead only the miles that they drive from the restaurant to the customer’s location.

When it comes to tipping, drivers get to keep 100 percent of their tips.

This is music to the ears, however, one drawback is that customers are required to tip when the order is placed.

This can lead to customers being disconnected from the driver and not feeling inclined to tip.

If a driver does a really great job, the customer would have to tip using cash rather than tapping it into the GrubHub app.

This process seems pretty wonky and is an area GrubHub has an opportunity to improve.

Also, depending on which city you’re in, you may qualify for a guaranteed minimum hourly fare.

Local minimum wage laws and regulations in some places require that drivers surpass a certain hourly wage when working as an independent contractor for a company like GrubHub.

So how can you schedule your first shift?

GrubHub Schedule Blocks

As a GrubHub driver, you can either drive whenever you want on a whim or you can schedule blocks ahead of time.

Scheduled blocks can be put on the calendar up to one week in advance and increase the chances that you’ll maximize your earnings.

You can always hop on the driver app and start delivering at any time, however, we recommend scheduling your shifts beforehand.

Drivers who schedule blocks of driving time beforehand receive first priority when it comes to receiving orders.

This means that you’d essentially get first dibs on orders and could really pack in as many deliveries as possible while you’re on the clock.

If you’re able to, it’s in your best interest to schedule shifts if you want to make as much money as possible.

If not, you can still enjoy a flexible schedule and drive whenever you want.

Now let’s take a look at what is required to become a GrubHub driver.

GrubHub Driver Requirements

The basic requirements for becoming a GrubHub driver are being at least 19 years of age, having at least two years driving experience with a valid driver’s license, and passing a background check.

GrubHub wants to work with people who are responsible and safe drivers.

This means that workers must be covered by auto insurance and also be able to pass a background check.

In regards to what GrubHub is looking for on the background check, you can be disqualified from employment if you have a felony or other serious convictions.

GrubHub will check your employment, education, and criminal background history and use their discretion to determine if you’re a good fit for the company.

When it comes to vehicle requirements, GrubHub is one of the more lax companies out there.

As long as your vehicle is able to drive and make it from A to B, then you can use it to deliver with GrubHub.

But remember that regardless of your vehicle condition, you’ll still need to be covered by auto insurance.

If you wanted, in some markets you’re even able to drive a motorcycle, scooter, or bike instead of a car.

If you decide to use a bike, you wouldn’t need a driver’s license, however, you would need a valid state ID.

Lastly, you must also own a smartphone with a data plan and a checking account to receive direct deposits.

To summarize, here are all of the GrubHub vehicle and driver requirements:

  • Must be at least 19 years of age (Chicago drivers must be 21 or older)
  • Have at least two years driving experience
  • Own an iPhone with iOS 8 or higher, or an Android with 4.0 or higher (data plan required)
  • Drivers must have a valid driver’s license and vehicle is covered by auto insurance
  • Bikers do not need a driver’s license, but they do need a valid state ID
  • Must have a checking account to receive direct deposit payments
  • Must pass a background check

So everything sounds great and all, but where do you start?

Sign Up to Drive for GrubHub

Signing up to drive for GrubHub is a fairly straightforward task.

If you’re familiar with gig working applications, this should be quite similar.

The first step is to head to the driver application page on GrubHub.com.

From here you’ll be directed to get all your personal information and documents ready for the application process.

This means you should have your driver’s license or state ID, proof of car insurance, and your bank account information all ready to go.

After filling out your name, email, and phone number, you need to select the city and state you’ll be driving in and choose the vehicle type you’ll be using.

Then agree to the terms and conditions and tap “Start Earning.”

Once all of this information is completed, you’ll be redirected to a six-question survey.

This survey makes sure you qualify to drive for GrubHub and whether or not you’d be a good fit.

You’ll then need to provide your vehicle and driver information, like your driver’s license and proof of car insurance.

You’ll also need to provide your bank account information for future payment, your Social Security number, and consent to a background check.

Assuming you passed your background check and meet all of the qualifications for becoming a driver, you’ll receive a notification to set up an onboarding session.

Depending on which market you’re driving in, this session may be in-person on online.

The driver onboarding goes over everything you’ll need to know to be a successful driver.

This is your opportunity to ask any questions you may have regarding your new gig.

Onboarding can be very helpful as it will set you off on the right track, giving you tips and tricks to make money fast.

After your onboarding session, the last thing you need to do is pick up your GrubHub insulated delivery bag.

If you completed your onboarding session in person, then you can pick it up there.

If you did your onboarding session online, you can have GrubHub send it to you in the mail or you can go to a GrubHub location in your area to pick one up.

After that, it’s just a matter of logging on and accepting your first order!

Frequently Asked Questions

What Are the Age Requirements for Grubhub Drivers?

Of all the food delivery startups, Grubhub has the lowest age requirement — 19 years old.

This makes Grubhub a great opportunity for younger drivers who aren’t old enough for another platform like Uber or Lyft.

What Are the Vehicle Requirements for Grubhub Drivers?

Unlike other companies in the gig economy, Grubhub does not have vehicle requirements other than the vehicle being insured.

If your car runs, then it’s fine to use for Grubhub deliveries.

How Hard Is It to Pass Grubhub’s Driver Background Check?

To drive for Grubhub, you must first pass a background check.

According to sources, they do a lifetime employment, education, and criminal background check.

They do not hire felons and you must have at least two years of driving experience to be considered.

Start Delivering Now

Driving for GrubHub is a sure way to make some extra money on the side.

If you’re looking to make money on a side hustle or want to drive full time, being a food delivery driver for GrubHub can be a great addition to your income.

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