HustleMath

Category

Driving & Delivery Gigs

Calculate your true earnings from rideshare and delivery work. Account for vehicle costs that most drivers ignore.

Driving Quiz

Find your best
driving gig

5 questions. Discover which rideshare or delivery platform fits your vehicle, schedule, and preferences.

2 minutes. Personalized recommendations.

Tools

Rideshare Earnings Calculator

Popular

Calculate true earnings for Uber and Lyft after all vehicle costs and taxes.

Delivery Earnings Calculator

Popular

DoorDash, Uber Eats, Instacart, and more. Factor in tips, mileage, and time.

Vehicle Cost Calculator

Popular

True cost of using your vehicle for gig work including depreciation and maintenance.

Driver Tax Estimator

Self-employment tax calculator with mileage deduction comparison.

Gig Driving Planner

Plan your driving strategy with income goals and platform recommendations.

The Complete Guide to Driving Gigs

Driving gigs through Uber, Lyft, DoorDash, and similar platforms offer flexibility that few other side hustles match. However, they also come with hidden costs that can dramatically reduce your actual earnings if you're not careful.

Understanding True Earnings

The biggest mistake new drivers make is looking only at gross earnings. When you factor in gas, vehicle depreciation, maintenance, and self-employment taxes, your actual take-home is typically 40-60% of what the app shows.

A driver showing $25/hour gross might actually net $12-15/hour after all costs. This is still decent income, but it's crucial to understand the reality before relying on this work.

Rideshare vs Delivery

Rideshare (Uber/Lyft)

  • + Higher per-hour potential
  • + Surge pricing during events
  • - Requires newer vehicle (2010+)
  • - Must be comfortable with passengers
  • - Additional insurance requirements

Food/Grocery Delivery

  • + Any vehicle works (even bikes)
  • + No passenger interaction
  • + More flexible order selection
  • - More wear on vehicle (frequent stops)
  • - Income heavily depends on tips

Realistic Income Expectations

Part-Time (10-15 hrs)

$400-$800

per month net

Committed (20-30 hrs)

$800-$1,500

per month net

Full-Time (40+ hrs)

$2,000-$3,500

per month net

These figures represent take-home pay after gas, vehicle costs, and estimated taxes. Markets vary significantly - urban areas with high demand can exceed these, while saturated markets may fall short.

Vehicle Considerations

Your vehicle is your primary business asset. Every mile you drive for gig work contributes to depreciation and brings you closer to maintenance needs. The IRS allows a $0.67/mile deduction (2024) which roughly approximates true vehicle costs for average vehicles.

Fuel-efficient vehicles (30+ MPG or electric) significantly improve your net earnings. A vehicle getting 20 MPG vs 35 MPG can mean a difference of $3-5/hour in your net rate.

Key Success Factors

  • 1.Track every mile from day one - use an app like Everlance or Stride
  • 2.Learn your market's peak hours and position yourself accordingly
  • 3.Maintain your vehicle proactively - breakdowns are expensive
  • 4.Set aside 25-30% of earnings for taxes quarterly
  • 5.Consider running multiple apps to minimize downtime
  • 6.Use our calculators to know your true earnings before committing

Common questions

How much do Uber and Lyft drivers really make?

Gross earnings typically range from $15-35/hour depending on market, time, and surge pricing. However, after accounting for gas, vehicle depreciation, maintenance, and self-employment taxes, net earnings are often $10-20/hour. Many drivers overestimate earnings by not tracking vehicle costs.

Is DoorDash or Uber Eats better?

It depends on your market. DoorDash typically has more order volume in suburban areas, while Uber Eats often performs better in urban cores. Many successful delivery drivers run multiple apps simultaneously to minimize downtime. Our calculator lets you compare platforms.

What are the hidden costs of gig driving?

Hidden costs include: vehicle depreciation ($0.20-0.30/mile), increased maintenance, higher insurance premiums for rideshare, self-employment taxes (15.3%), and opportunity cost of your time. Our Vehicle Cost Calculator helps quantify these often-overlooked expenses.

Should I use mileage or actual expenses for tax deductions?

For most drivers, the standard mileage deduction ($0.67/mile in 2024) is simpler and often higher than itemizing actual expenses. However, if you have a low-mileage, high-depreciation vehicle, actual expenses might be better. Our tax estimator compares both methods.

Earnings estimates are based on national averages and vary significantly by market, time of day, and individual performance. Vehicle cost calculations are estimates - actual costs depend on your specific vehicle, driving habits, and maintenance schedule.