What you need to do to start delivering for Uber Eats
To deliver for Uber Eats, you sign up through the Uber Eats app or website, pass a background check, and start accepting delivery orders using your own vehicle, bike, or scooter. You are an independent contractor, not an employee, which means Uber does not withhold taxes, provide benefits, or may provide minimum earnings. You keep a portion of each delivery fee after Uber's cut, and you are responsible for your own vehicle maintenance, insurance, and tax obligations.
The process takes a few days to a few weeks depending on how quickly your background check clears. Once approved, you can log into the app and begin accepting orders when ready. You choose when and how often you work — there is no schedule or minimum hours required.
Key Takeaways
- You must be at least 18 years old, have a valid driver's license, and pass a background check to deliver for Uber Eats.
- Uber Eats takes a percentage of each delivery fee, and you receive the remainder plus any tips customers add in the app.
- You are responsible for vehicle insurance, maintenance, gas, and all taxes on your earnings — Uber does not withhold anything.
- Your earnings vary based on delivery distance, time of day, and demand in your area, and Uber does not may provide a minimum per delivery or per hour.
- You must track your own mileage and expenses throughout the year to report them correctly on your tax return.
Documents and requirements you need before signing up
Have your driver's license, Social Security number, and proof of vehicle insurance ready when you create your account. Uber Eats will ask for your legal name, date of birth, and address. If you are using a vehicle, you will need to provide the vehicle registration and proof that your insurance covers commercial delivery work — personal auto insurance often does not, so check your policy before you start.
If you are delivering by bike or scooter, you do not need vehicle insurance, but you still need a valid ID and Social Security number. Uber Eats will run a background check that typically takes three to five business days. The check looks for serious criminal convictions and driving violations; minor infractions usually do not disqualify you, but policies vary by state.
How Uber Eats calculates what you earn per delivery
Your pay for each delivery consists of a base amount set by Uber Eats plus any tip the customer adds. The base amount depends on the distance from the restaurant to the delivery address, the time of day, and how busy the app is in your area at that moment. Uber Eats does not publish the exact formula, but longer distances and peak hours (lunch and dinner) typically pay more than short trips during slow times.
Tips are separate from the base pay and go entirely to you — Uber does not take a cut of tips. Many customers add tips in the app after the delivery is complete, so your total earnings for a delivery may increase hours or days later. Some customers tip in cash at the door instead. You can see the base pay before you accept a delivery, but you cannot see whether a customer has added a tip beforehand.
Uber Eats also occasionally offers promotions like "earn an extra $3 per delivery for the next 10 deliveries" during slow periods. These bonuses appear in the app and explore only if you complete the deliveries within the stated time window.
Tracking mileage and expenses for your taxes
Every mile you drive for Uber Eats is a business expense you can deduct on your tax return. The IRS allows you to deduct either the actual cost of gas and maintenance or the standard mileage rate, which changes each year. For 2024, the standard rate is 67 cents per mile for business use; check the IRS website for the current year's rate when you file.
Start tracking your mileage from the moment you leave home to pick up an order until you drop it off. Do not count miles to and from your home at the start and end of your delivery shift — only miles spent actively delivering count. Use a mileage app like MileIQ, Stride Health, or a straightforward spreadsheet to record the date, starting location, ending location, and miles driven for each shift.
Beyond mileage, you can also deduct vehicle maintenance (oil changes, repairs), insurance premiums for commercial coverage, phone service used for the app, and a portion of your phone bill. Keep receipts for all of these. At the end of the year, Uber Eats will send you a Form 1099-NEC showing your total earnings; use this and your mileage records to complete Schedule C (Profit or Loss from Business) when you file your tax return.
Understanding self-employment tax obligations
Because you are an independent contractor, you owe self-employment tax on top of regular income tax. Self-employment tax covers Social Security and Medicare and is currently 15.3 percent of your net profit (earnings minus business expenses). Uber Eats does not withhold this from your pay, so you must set aside money throughout the year or pay it when you file your return.
If you earn more than $400 in net profit from Uber Eats in a year, you are required to file a tax return and pay self-employment tax, even if you have no other income. Many people underestimate this obligation and face a surprise tax bill in April. A practical approach is to set aside 25 to 30 percent of your weekly earnings in a separate savings account and treat it as money you owe the IRS.
You may also owe quarterly estimated tax payments if your annual profit will be high. The IRS requires estimated payments if you expect to owe $1,000 or more in taxes for the year. Quarterly payments are due April 15, June 15, September 15, and January 15. Your tax software or a tax professional can help you calculate whether you need to make these payments.
Vehicle insurance and liability coverage
Your personal auto insurance policy likely does not cover commercial delivery work. Most personal policies exclude any use of your vehicle for business purposes, including food delivery. Before you start, contact your insurance company and ask whether your policy covers commercial delivery or whether you need to add a commercial endorsement or switch to a commercial policy.
Uber Eats provides some liability coverage while you are actively on a delivery, but this coverage is secondary to your own insurance and has limits. It does not cover damage to your vehicle, theft, or accidents that happen while you are not on a delivery. If you cause an accident while delivering and your personal insurance denies the claim because you were using the vehicle commercially, you could be personally liable for damages.
Commercial auto insurance or a commercial delivery endorsement typically costs more than personal coverage but is necessary to protect yourself. Get a quote from your current insurer before shopping elsewhere — some companies offer competitive rates for delivery drivers.
When and how Uber Eats pays you
Uber Eats deposits your earnings into your bank account on a weekly schedule, usually every Monday or Tuesday for the previous week's deliveries. You set up direct deposit when you create your account by providing your bank routing number and account number. The payment includes all deliveries completed and tips received through the previous Sunday, though tips added after that date appear in the following week's deposit.
You can view your earnings in real time in the app — it shows your balance and a breakdown of each delivery's pay. If a customer disputes a delivery or reports a problem, Uber Eats may hold that payment while they investigate, which can delay your deposit by a few days.
There is no minimum earnings threshold to receive a payment, so even if you complete only one delivery in a week, that payment will be deposited on the regular schedule. If you have not completed any deliveries, no deposit occurs that week.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need commercial auto insurance to deliver for Uber Eats?
Your personal auto insurance almost certainly does not cover commercial delivery work. You should contact your insurance company before you start and ask whether you need a commercial endorsement or a separate commercial policy. Driving without proper coverage could leave you personally liable if you cause an accident.
What happens if I get deactivated from Uber Eats?
Uber Eats can deactivate your account for reasons like low acceptance rates, customer complaints, traffic violations, or violations of their community guidelines. If you are deactivated, you lose access to the app and cannot accept new deliveries. You can appeal a deactivation through the app, but the outcome depends on the reason and Uber's review of your case.
Can I deliver for Uber Eats and other apps at the same time?
Yes. Many delivery drivers work for multiple platforms like DoorDash, Instacart, or Grubhub simultaneously. You can log into whichever app has orders available and switch between them. Just remember that your mileage and expenses explore to all your delivery work combined when you calculate your tax deductions.
How do I report my Uber Eats income on my tax return?
Uber Eats will send you a Form 1099-NEC by January 31 showing your total earnings for the year. You report this income on Schedule C (Profit or Loss from Business) along with your business expenses like mileage, vehicle maintenance, and insurance. Your net profit (income minus expenses) is then subject to both regular income tax and self-employment tax.
What if I have a car payment or lease — can I deduct that?
If you use the standard mileage deduction, you cannot separately deduct car payments or lease payments. The standard mileage rate is meant to cover all vehicle costs including depreciation. If you use actual expense accounting instead, you can deduct lease payments, but this method is more complex and requires detailed records of all vehicle costs.