Driving gigs at 18, 19, or 20
Under 21? Here's what's actually open.
Uber and Lyft rides are closed until 21 — but that's the only real wall. All the major delivery and grocery platforms accept 18+, and they're the faster approvals anyway.
Gigs that fit
- DoorDashDelivery DriverCar, bike, or scooter · 18+ · Approval 3–7 daysNationwideApply →
- Uber EatsDelivery DriverCar, bike, or scooter · 18+ · Approval 2–5 daysNationwideApply →
- InstacartFull-Service ShopperAny car · 18+ · Approval 5–10 daysNationwideApply →
- Walmart SparkDelivery DriverCar, SUV, or pickup · 18+ · Approval 1–2 weeksNationwideApply →
What to know
Grubhub is the one 19+ outlier
Grubhub requires 19+ (and 21+ in some markets). Everything else on this list is 18+.
License tenure still applies
Most platforms want a license held 1+ year — at 18 that can be the real blocker. Bike delivery often clears it.
Build toward rideshare at 21
Delivery history, a clean record, and a qualifying 4-door make the rideshare jump easy the month you turn 21.
Want the exact step order for your situation? Take the 60-second check — car, coverage, and which of these to apply to first. Or see everything hiring in your ZIP.
Other situations
DriverStart is a free informational guide and referral service — not an employer, staffing agency, insurer, or party to any vehicle rental. You apply to each platform directly and each platform makes its own decisions. Category pay ranges are typical driver-reported aggregates across platforms, not a guarantee and not specific to any single platform. We may earn a referral fee from some links. All platform names are trademarks of their respective holders; no affiliation is implied.