You spend tons of time in the car and are always looking for ways to make the process of driving, running your gig driving business, and earning even more on the side less of an energy drain. Well, what do ya know? There are apps for that!

That’s why we put together this list of some of the best gig driver apps out there. Many will be familiar to you, while a few might give you ways you didn’t know existed to get things done faster and more easily. Check them out, and let the download marathon begin!

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Gridwise

Image source: Gridwise’s Apple App Store Previews

We’d be remiss if we didn’t mention Gridwise first. Gig driving has several moving parts, and there are a lot of apps that take care of one or two of them at a time. Designed for drivers by drivers, Gridwise conquers just about all the cares and concerns you have as a driver. It also offers you tons of benefits, from discounts on automotive items to insurance and other services you need to procure as an independent contractor. 

What it is: gig driver assistant app

App store rating: 4.9 stars

Free version available? yes

Cost: Gridwise Plus at just $14.99/month or $107.99/year

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Free version features:

• mileage tracker. Capture every deductible mile when you start tracking at the beginning of your shift. Gridwise is the best free mileage tracker app there is. (on/off toggle enabled)
• expense records. Record your deductible business expenses by category, and they will be integrated into earnings reports.
• tax reports. Generate earnings and expenses reports to use for taxes, and, with Gridwise Plus, export them to pdf format. 
• insights. Find out what other drivers are earning in your area, and what times are the most fruitful with Where to Drive and When to Drive. (Additional insights available with Gridwise Plus.)
• event times. When you know where and when events are taking place in your town, it’s always easy to get a customer. Gridwise tells you what’s going on, when events start, and estimated let out times.
• weather and traffic alerts. You’ll find out right away when there’s incoming bad weather or a traffic problem that could become a major obstacle. 
• marketplace. Deals and discounts for drivers, on everything from gas and car maintenance to insurance, healthcare, financial, and legal help are available in the free version. Gridwise Plus members often receive deeper discounts and additional perks.
• blog. The Gridwise blog is packed with information and ideas drivers can always use. 

Gridwise Plus (paid) features:

• ad-free app. Get all the great Gridwise features, deals, and discounts without the ads.
• additional assistant power. Gridwise Plus users enjoy extra insights on earnings, where to drive, and when to drive.
• tax report export capability. Load your earnings and expenses from Gridwise directly into your tax preparation software in .csv format.
• support for serious airport drivers. Get access to 24/7 flight times, extra flight details, and alerts.
• better rates and deeper discounts. Gridwise Plus members get extra-special treatment from our partners, so they get to save even more money.

Pro tip: Gridwise is rated as one of the best apps for gig drivers - download now to see for yourself!

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Keeper

Image source: Keeper’s Apple App Store Previews

Who doesn’t need help with taxes? Keeper will rescue you from the confusion you might experience filing taxes as an independent contractor. Designed to assist 1099 workers, Keeper is an economical way to maximize your tax write-offs and get sound tax advice, and is the best tax app for Uber drivers, Lyft drivers, and delivery drivers that we have seen.

What it is: tax write-off and tax filing help

App store rating: 4.8 stars

Free version available? no

Cost: $16 month for the annual plan and $20 month for the monthly plan (50% discount for Gridwise Plus members, plus an optional $89 fee if you use Keeper to file your tax returns)

Features:

• write-off detection. Connect your bank to Keeper and the app will scan your expenses for possible deductions.
• tax estimates. Get a preview of your estimated tax payments and possible refund information year-round.
• tax filing. For an additional fee of $89, you can file your federal and state tax returns via Keeper.
• professional tax help. Get all your questions answered with 24/7 access to tax professionals via chat.

This Gridwise post tells you why you need Keeper, lays out the details of how it works, and shows you how to get Keeper through Gridwise Tax Help.

Save 30% on a Keeper plan through Gridwise

Spotify

Image source: Spotify’s Apple App Store Previews

Music soothes the savage beast in all of us, and that’s why it’s imperative to have tunes on tap that satisfy both you and your passengers. With Spotify, you can offer your customers a chance to play deejay, or create a selection of sick playlists that fit the many moods of your music loving passengers. There are many music apps, but Spotify earned its popularity by remaining a low cost option with ease of use and infinite flexibility. It’s a favorite Uber rideshare driver app for good reason. Passengers love it too.

What it is: streaming app featuring music, podcasts, playlists, and more

App store rating: 4.8 stars

Free version available? yes, with ads

Cost: $9.99 per month for single, $12.99 per month for a couple, $15.99 per month for family (up to six accounts), and $4.99 per month for students

Features:

• listening. Stream your favorite songs, artists, albums, playlists, and podcasts.
• choice. With the premium subscription, no ads and no forced shuffle mode on mobile devices.
• high quality streams. You won’t miss a beat with up to 320 Kbps with premium subscription.
• offline downloads. Your premium subscription lets you download material so you don’t run up your data usage while you tune in.

Fun fact: You can link some navigation apps to Spotify or any other music app you use, so you can keep your maps and your tunes all on a single screen.

Swagbucks

Image source: Swagbuck’s Apple App Store Previews

Whether you’re in the middle of a slow rideshare run or waiting for the next peak delivery time to begin, there’s no reason to go without making money while you’re waiting around. Swagbucks helps you to keep the cash coming by paying you to take surveys online. It’s extremely simple, and not a scam! Earn gift cards or have the money deposited in your PayPal account or credited to a Mastercard gift card.

What it is: a portal for online surveys that pay you money

App store rating: 4.6 stars

Cost: $3.99 for Swagbucks Plus

Features:

• surveys that make you money. Swagbucks gives you surveys to complete, ads to evaluate, and even games to play and test. You get paid for your time and choose how to have your payment come to you.
• cash back deals. Get cash back on your purchases at select stores (double cash back for Swagbucks Plus members).
• instantly shipped gift cards. Join as a Swagbucks Plus member and get up to $50 in gift cards, instantly.
• rewards program. Get extra rewards by earning points, from either taking at least five surveys a month, or signing on as a Swagbucks Plus member.

Honk

Image source: Honk’s Apple App Store Previews

Roadside assistance is a must when you drive for a living. While there are many alternatives, Honk gives you immediate access to roadside help without membership fees or extra charges. You also get upfront pricing from the services that answer your call and can choose the best deal. 

What it is: roadside assistance

App store rating: 4.0 stars

Cost: N/A (you pay for the services, but not for the referral)

Features:

• towing and roadside assistance. Simply tap your app to get in touch with the help you need.
• 15–30 minute ETAs, 24/7. Guaranteed early responses from Honk’s network of 108,000 service vehicles. 
• upfront pricing. No negotiating needed, since you know what you’ll pay before the driver arrives.
• pay on your phone. Use your app to pay for the services and avoid the need to get cash to cover the bill.

A better deal: You can sign up for roadside assistance coverage from Gridwise for $1 per month, and get up to $100 for towing, emergency tire changes, lockouts, battery services, and fuel delivery.

Weather Underground

Image source: Weather Underground’s Apple App Store Previews

Weather apps are everywhere but few are as concise and comprehensive as Weather Underground. The app gives you a one-page view of temperatures, precipitation, wind speeds, and radar. Scroll down and get day by day and hourly forecasts. You will see sunrise and sunset times, real-feel temperatures, and a summary of everything, too. 

An upgrade to the app’s premium version gives you additional features, including 15 days of forecasts and weather predictions based on activities you enjoy, such as boating or hiking. If you’re not up for another phone app, remember that Gridwise also gives you weather updates that affect your driving.

What it is: the ultimate weather app! 

App store rating: 4.0 stars

Cost: $19.99 per year, $3.99 per month

Features:

• weather forecasts. See what the weather is and what it will be when you go out to drive.
• high-res radar and satellite images. A picture is the fastest way to see if you should prepare for rain, snow, or intense heat.
• hyper-local temperature maps. See how much cooler it is in different locations for your area.
• warnings about severe weather. Know when it might be a good idea to pull over or to head home to protect yourself from high winds or other nasty weather conditions.
• data from over 250,000 personal weather stations. An amalgamation of data this large gives this app a whole lot of weather forecasting power.
• proprietary forecast model. A scientifically developed forecast model created especially for this app guarantees up-to-the-minute reports and forecasts that make driving conditions more predictable.
• useful extras. Besides radar and satellite maps, Weather Underground gives you an air quality index, rise and set times for the sun and the moon, and the ability to send your current weather directly to friends and family or on social media.

Flight Stats

Image source: Flight Stats’ Apple App Store Previews

Drivers love airport runs, and some make it a constant source of business. Flight Stats is a rideshare driver app that gives you plenty of information about the status of your local airport(s) and how likely you are to do the kind of business you need in order to make more money.

What it is: flight information aggregator 

Interesting thing to know: the Gridwise app provides airport arrival and departure information.

App store rating: 4.8 stars

Cost: $2.99 per month, $24.99 per month for professional version

Features (free version):

• flight tracker. See where flights are coming from and going to.
• airport conditions. Get reports on weather, construction, and other conditions at airports so you can anticipate delays or difficulties.
• airport delay maps. A heat map displays where delays are taking place in your state or country.

Standard paid account features:

• airport arrivals and departures. Use a table of flight arrivals and departures, arranged however you like, to determine your airport driving strategy.
• flight alerts. Receive alerts via email or text when flights are departing, arriving, or delayed. Use up to 25 rules per month for your alerts.
• ad-free use. No more ads to distract you. Get only the facts about airport activity, in real time.
• professional account features. The professional version allows you to use up to 250 rules for flight alerts per month, and perform historical searches by flight and airport/route for 250 flights per month.

Wave

Image source: Wave’s Apple App Store Previews

Do you have another gig besides driving that also involves contractors? You might need Wave. This app allows you to create invoices, make payments, and do your accounting. Many Wave features are free. Wave’s amazing accounting and invoicing tools are likely to knock your socks off. The paid services could also benefit you and your small business.

What it is: small business software for your side gigs

App store rating: 4.5 stars

Cost: varies according to service

Features:

• invoicing. Generate professional looking invoices and send them right away.
• online payment processing. Let your customers send payments to you by credit card, bank transfer, or Apple Pay. (Fee-based on a per transaction basis.)
• free accounting software. Keep track of your income and expenses, and stay in a state of perpetual readiness for tax time.
• mobile receipts. Scan your receipts and skip saving those pesky scraps of paper.
• payroll. Do you have staff? Let Wave handle your payroll problems, and your staff will have everything they need (additional fee required).
• experts. Get advice on payroll, accounting, and bookkeeping from professional support staff and coaches (additional fee required).

Flush

Image source: Flush’s Apple App Store Previews

This one is a must on the list of best driver gig apps. Oh, dear. How many times have you had to “go” but had no idea where you might find a place to “do your business”? Believe it or not, there’s an app that tells you where the toilets are! It’s called Flush, and once you download it, you won’t be stuck without a place to relieve yourself ever again.

What it is: restroom facilities locator

App store rating: 4.6 stars

Free version available? yes

Cost: N/A

Features:

• toilet locator. The driver’s pleas for relief are answered by a map with available toilets indicated by green pins. 
• tap the map. Something that makes this one of the best gig driver apps is its simplicity. Tap the pin nearest to your location, and directions pop up to guide you there.
• ratings. Those who’ve been there before you can rate the toilet, so you can check out the quality of the facility before you go.

Usage information. You’ll be able to tell if a facility requires payment or a key, and if there is disabled access.

Looking for other great apps and resources for gig workers?

• Here are the five best mileage tracking apps
• Know how to find the best times and places to drive
• Find out how to make $1000 with Uber Eats here
• Here's how to make $1000 with doordash
• See why Gridwise is a favorite among gig workers in our top 5 gig worker apps comparison

According to the 2023 Gridwise Gig Mobility Report, QSRs emerged as the leaders in the delivery market, dominating the top ten restaurants for delivery. They adapted and thrived in this new normal.

Much of this growth has been a by-product of the pandemic. QSRs with delivery in their service mix did a booming business, propelled by sales to customers looking for a contact-free transaction. As the pandemic subsided and Americans learned to live with COVID-19, these same consumers continued many new habits, including food delivery. 

Those QSRs that continue to thrive do so because they take advantage of one of the powerful by-products of food delivery: the collected data. They can see the demographics of who's ordering, what they’re ordering, when they’re ordering, the ticket size, and other trends and patterns. Larger chains have already mastered much of this data implementation, but smaller chains and independents still have open opportunities. 

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How does Gridwise Analytics gather this data on QSR food delivery?

Gridwise markets one of the leading companion apps for food delivery drivers. The app gives drivers insights into their earnings—when and where to drive, traffic reports, weather reports, etc.—allowing them to be more efficient in their work. In the US, more than 500,000 gig drivers use the Gridwise app, linking it to the various food delivery platforms they work with.

Gridwise Analytics segments driver data so that Gridwise can specifically break out QSR  delivery drivers and look at their activity. Gridwise captures driver information, such as where orders come from, where they’re delivered to, time of day, and driver earnings, then anonymizes and aggregates it into delivery data. This data correlates up to 98% against quarterly metrics reported by the individual platforms. This is the only study of its kind. 

QSRs dominate the delivery landscape

The 2023 Gridwise Gig Mobility Report lists the top ten restaurants in the US marketplace that are most popular for food delivery based on number of trips. Not surprisingly, QSRs dominate the list:

1. McDonald’s
2. Taco Bell
3. Starbucks
4. Chick-fil-A
5. Chipotle
6. Wendy’s
7. Wingstop
8. Panda Express
9. Burger King
10. Dunkin’

Why understanding third-party food delivery is critical to success for QSRs

Food delivery data affords owners and managers of QSRs a deep dive into their delivery customers. Insights include:

• Defining your customer base. Delivery allows QSRs to expand their customer reach beyond their physical location. Delivery data tells you how far your reach extends. This ability to attract new customers is especially important for small and independent QSRs. 
• Fine-tune the delivery menu. Delivery customers have favorites, which can differ from in-store orders. By watching delivery trends, you can optimize the delivery menu, increase orders with add-on sales, and increase profits. 
• Insights into pricing. Delivery data allows you to experiment with and gauge the results of pricing strategies and determine what the QSR customer is willing to pay for delivery services. 
• Defining marketing strategies and tactics. Delivery data uncovers new customers, allowing you to tailor your marketing and reach more people. 
• Make better staffing decisions. Gridwise Analytics provides historical data so you can make accurate staffing decisions for your QSR. What was business like last year during March Madness? What events require you to add staff? What are the busiest days of the week?
• Better inventory decisions. Again, you can look at the historical data and determine the proper inventory levels. No one likes to run out of a menu item. You miss out on sales, and customers remember those things. 

The landscape of food delivery for QSRs

Third-party food delivery accounts for an estimated $29.8 billion in revenue for restaurants in 2022. Industry projections are that by 2028, food delivery will represent $64.8 billion. 

DoorDash dominates the third-party delivery market in the US, with a 78.6% market share as of December 2023. Uber Eats commands less than a fifth of the market, at 18.7%. Grubhub has a 2.7% share. 

Despite DoorDash’s dominance of the US market, individual companies dominate specific regional markets. A 2021 report by McKinsey & Company revealed that DoorDash had about a quarter of the market in New York City, with Grubhub holding more than a third. 

Market shares fluctuate regionally all across the US. We can expect this regional share to continue to fluctuate as gig delivery companies experiment with offers and partnerships to build their market share. 

How do food delivery apps make their money?

There are as many models for making money in the food delivery business as there are companies, but here are a few main ways. 

• Commissions. The delivery companies charge each QSR a commission on the order. This ranges, usually up to 20% of the order but sometimes lower. Some QSRs pass this charge along to the customer; others don’t. It comes down to what the market will bear. 
• Charges to the end customer. The food delivery company also charges the end customer. 
• Special services. Food delivery companies also allow QSRs to post their menu on the app, sometimes for a fee. The cost often affects the ability to make changes quickly, add new items, and increase the QSR’s prominence on the app. 
• Promotions. Many major platforms have tied into third-party partners like Amazon and Disney. 

Things are constantly changing. Expect to see more partnerships and services aimed at making delivery more efficient for QSRs and more profitable for delivery companies. 

It is important for QSR executives to consult the data in their markets to determine the dominant delivery platform and develop a strong relationship with it. For that delivery platform to remain competitive in that market, it must have a strong contingent of drivers. For QSRs, available drivers mean food gets delivered quickly, which translates to happy customers. 

Gridwise Analytics offers QSRs granular data 

For QSR operators and decision-makers, the more granular the information, the better they can make calls on items such as menu offerings, pricing, marketing campaigns, and other parameters. Below are samples of the information available to QSRs. You can see what the competition is doing, look back at historical data, and see what’s happening in real time. 

Restaurant delivery efficiency, measured by speed and distance

While distance remains similar for all QSRs, the duration of the trip is longer for Burger King than it is for McDonald's by about ten minutes. This could be caused by traffic congestion, kitchen operations, or increased on-site customer demand. Since these are averages, very long trips could also skew data higher for specific QSRs. If you’re interested in optimizing your QSR performance, Gridwise can show which specific restaurants are taking longer than others within a city. While a three minute difference may not sound like a lot, QSRs must optimize operations to enhance profit margins.

QSR operators can see average delivery charges from any store and compare them against other stores and the competition. Obviously, operators want to recoup the cost of delivery in their charges to the customer. 

QSR Operators and decision-makers can also examine the smallest and largest deliveries for orders. This information can give operators greater insight into what kinds of delivery charges the market will accept. 

Map-based information

Source: Gridwise Analytics

Gridwise can also generate maps with heat overlays to reflect activity. This map example shows how your QSR matches up to the competition for pre-selected parameters. In this case, we’re looking at information on McDonald’s, Taco Bell, and Burger King. The map feature can be programmed to reflect activity on specific dates and times. 

Gridwise Analytics shows the entire picture

Individual delivery companies share their data with QSRs but often charge for it and limit the data they share. In addition, their data is limited to what is available through their app. Uber Eats and DoorDash can provide data for their platform only. Gridwise Analytics provides data that crosses over, supplying a bird’s-eye view of all QSRs and all food delivery apps. 

Gridwise Analytics can also drill down for a more granular focus, looking at individual stores in a chain for location-level insights.

This option of both a micro and macro focus across all delivery platforms for QSRs is only available from Gridwise. 

Contact Gridwise Analytics for more information

Gridwise Analytics is the ground truth source for delivery data in the QSR sector. Our information is timely and accurate and can fit into your existing databases with minimal manipulation. Get in touch with us today to discover what we can deliver. 

Check out these links to learn more about Gridwise Analytics:

• Read the Gridwise Annual Gig Mobility Report 
• Harnessing Gig Mobility Data and Analytics for Growth Opportunities 
• Data-Driven Strategy: How Gig Mobility Drove Fleet Efficiency in an Autonomous Vehicle Company’s Strategy
• Why We Launched Gridwise Analytics

Leaving your family behind to live in a strange country so you can earn more money is a huge sacrifice. You miss special moments, life’s milestones, and most of all, you miss them. You want to be sure that they know how much they mean to you and that you have them in your heart and on your mind.

When you make money through gig driving in a distant country, you want to share your earnings with family and friends overseas. Most transfer companies are well aware of this, and have been known to take advantage of drivers who want to send money to loved ones back home. They charge high fees, impose hidden charges, and don’t always offer the best exchange rates.

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Why is reliable and affordable money transfer important?

Companies that overcharge for transfers might not realize that giving immigrant communities access to trustworthy financial tools and resources helps them to make a huge difference in the lives of the people back home. The contributions immigrant workers make to the local communities where they live and work create positive changes, as well.

There are many transfer companies to choose from. Some have been around for a very long time, and tend to charge a lot, while others are relatively new on the scene, and might be cheap, but not so reliable. You need to have a service you can depend on and also easily afford. 

Finally, there is a safe, reliable, and affordable transfer company eager to serve gig drivers like you. Remitly wants you to have control over your transactions and be able to make them without losing a large percentage of your payment to unnecessary charges and fees. After all, the people waiting for the money you’re sending them can’t afford to get any less than you have promised.

Deliver on your promises with Remitly

When the founders of Remitly realized that 8% of the money that’s sent overseas gets swallowed by high fees and unreasonable exchange rates, they vowed that they would put the customer first. Their goal has been to produce a product that lets you send money affordably and transparently. Remitly keeps its promises to you, so you can keep your promises to the friends and family who depend on you.

How does Remitly deliver on its promises?

• Get prompt and secure money transfer services, with fair exchange rates and no hidden charges.
  • Every money transfer is delivered on time, or Remitly will refund your fees.
• Download Remitly’s cutting-edge app.
  • Available in 18 languages.
  • Use the app to transfer money to more than 170 countries around the world.
  • Multiple levels of security are built into the Remitly app, for your safety.
• Choose the most convenient delivery method.
  • Send to a bank account, mobile wallet, or select home delivery, cash pickup, or debit card, depending on your recipient’s location.
• Transfer funds to a trusted network of banks and approximately 460,000 cash pickup locations worldwide—and—recipients don’t pay a fee!
• Conveniently transfer funds with Remitly using your bank account, credit card, or debit card.
• Track your transfers on the app, or get assistance with ease.
  • The Remitly app lets you track every transfer as it is processed.
  • Use Remitly’s 24/7 help center if you have questions.
  • If you need more assistance, you can arrange to speak to a support agent.

Transparency with every transfer

Because Remitly is dedicated to serving the people who work so hard to help their families at home, there are no secrets. You will know, up front, how much you’ll be charged for the exchange rate as well as the transfer fee. 

All you need to do is enter the country where you’re sending funds, along with the amount, and the app will show you the exact charges and exchange rates you can expect. Obviously, exchange rates change from one day to the next, but Remitly will always indicate the current rate, and you’ll be able to track what’s going on with your transfers every step of the way.

Sincere support, in your best interest

Rather than taking advantage of this vital community, Remitly boosts the well-being of immigrant families through economic, financial, and social inclusion. So not only can you depend on Remitly to provide an affordable and transparent way to transfer funds to your family and friends abroad; you can be assured that a portion of the fees Remitly collects is given back to groups that have your best interest in mind.

In addition to its customer support tools, Remitly is proud to offer help to the people who want to change the future for themselves and their loved ones. Remitly has joined Pledge 1%, which lets Remitly invest in and support organizations that are committed to leveling the playing field for immigrants and their families. 

We know that when it comes to choosing a transfer service, you have lots of options. We hope that you see why making your transfers with the Remitly app is as good for you as it is for the people back home. 

Remitly’s reliability and fair prices landed it on CNBC’s 2023 list of the World’s Top 200 Fintech Companies. See why the Remitly app receives consistently high ratings on the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store. Download the app, and put the power of Remitly into the palm of your hand.

Take advantage of this exciting partnership between Remitly and Gridwise, and get started with Remitly today!

You’d think people’s patterns for ordering in their meals would be predictable, right? Unfortunately, that’s not always the case. There are days when you get slammed at dinner hour, just after a lunch time that could be described as “flatlined.” Then things can reverse themselves on the very next day.

How can you know the best times to drive for Uber Eats? We’ll explore the issues and variables involved, and clue you in on a way to get reliable information about the best times to make the most money with Uber Eats requests.

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Best times to drive for Uber Eats: What do the “experts” say?

When do people want to get deliveries? Some“experts” say that on most days, it’s lunch and dinner, and point out there are often peaks during weekends, especially later at night. They specify lunch hours from 11 am to 2 pm, and dinner from 5:00 pm to 9:30 pm.

These shifts make sense in most locations because people typically either eat breakfast at home or grab it on the way to their daytime milieu. Lunch deliveries are especially popular with harried workers with tight deadlines, whether at an office or desk jockeying from home. 

On the weekends, many delivery drivers believe there is a steady stream of food deliveries from 9 am to 9 pm. The late-night, after-bar time period can also be fruitful. These rules of thumb are all verifiable, but do they tell the whole story?

What are the exceptions to the rules?

The logical times when people might want food delivery aren’t the only times when Uber Eats demand will peak. Lots of variables play into the equation. Here are two that could create totally different Uber Eats demand patterns.

1. Location makes peak times vary wildly. 

“Dinner time” in suburban areas is, as a rule, earlier than dining hours in big cities. For instance, there might be little or no business in New York City at 5 pm, but the pings could still be rolling into the wee hours of the morning. Also, if you drive in a town where university students make up a decent part of the population, their patterns will revolve around when they get out of classes for the day, and times when they’re up late, either studying or partying. 

2. Uber Eats is more than just restaurant delivery. 

Since the advent of Uber Shop & Pay, Uber Eats drivers have more options for earnings. They can shop at grocery stores and other establishments to deliver all kinds of goods to customers—deliveries that will probably not occur during traditional meal times.

Due to these and other factors, such as weather, time of year, and seasonal fluctuations in population, it isn’t all that easy to describe the best times to drive for Uber Eats using a commonsense approach. To get a more accurate read on peak times, you need real data.

Get Insight into Uber Eats with Gridwise

Use When to Drive from Gridwise, and get information that comes from real drivers in your area. Search for the best times to drive for the current week, or look back in history to see patterns in the ebbs and flows that come with seasonal changes.

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You can stop driving around in circles, taking wild guesses at where the hotspots might be. When to Drive will accurately tell you when you can make the most money with Uber Eats.

Gridwise makes it easy! Here’s all you need to do:

1. Download the Gridwise app!
2. Sign in, and tap “Insights,” then scroll to “When to Drive.” You’ll see an overview of the big earning days in your area for the current week. Tap on the graph to get more details.
3. Tap the lower left-hand button to display “Food” or “Grocery.”
4. From there, you can explore Earnings Per Hour, Trips Per Hour, and Earnings Per Trip, plus check out volumes for Morning, Afternoon, Evening, and Nighttime hours.
5. 4. Go back to the “Insights” screen and tap on “Compare Services” to see an across-the-board earnings report for all rideshare and delivery services to help you decide which service is best to work for at any given time.

When to Drive isn’t the only service Gridwise gives you. Cash in on driver deals and discounts, including low-cost care and insurance, plus tools every driver needs:

• airport information
• weather and traffic alerts
• event start and let out times
• earnings and expense management
• and so much more!

Download Gridwise and take the guesswork out of delivering for Uber eats and all the apps you use!

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Find out more about the best times to drive:

• Best times to drive for Uber 
• Best times to drive for Lyft
• Best times to drive for DoorDash

Sudden account deactivations are a gig driver’s nightmare. It means that you're no longer authorized to work on that app. You cannot receive orders. Due to a recent article in Business Insider, there’s been a renewed focus on app deactivation.

Gridwise is devoted to bringing gig drivers services, benefits,  and information that help them do their job better and avoid unfair account deactivations. In this blog post, Gridwise reviews unexplained deactivations of food and grocery delivery gig drivers and what, if anything, you can do to fight deactivation. 

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There are many legitimate reasons for gig work termination, but many drivers have reported unfair and unexplained deactivations. Sometimes, reinstatement is simple. Other times, it's almost impossible to appeal delivery app deactivations, even if you think it’s unfair. Some drivers claim it was for minor issues; others say it was for nothing, especially after putting in years of flawless service as gig drivers. 

How account deactivations happen

They happen for small reasons and big reasons. One Southern California rideshare driver (yes, rideshare drivers are subject to sudden deactivation, too) tells how he was picking up a carload of music fans at an Airbnb in a gated community during the Coachella Music Festival. They buzzed him in, but the barrier at the gate unexpectedly came down on his windshield, cracking it badly. Even though he had it repaired the following day, when he logged back onto the app, he found he was deactivated. A passenger from the previous night had reported it. 

The message that came with the deactivation asked him for evidence of repair. He sent the receipt and several photos he had taken of the repair in progress. The rideshare company reactivated him three hours later. 

There are other reasons for a delivery app deactivation, and they are much more serious than a cracked windshield. According to Circuit, a last-mile tech company, 79% of food delivery drivers admitted to sampling customer food (you should know that other surveys have that number much lower). If the customer’s porch-mounted video camera caught you eating French fries from their order, expect swift delivery contractor termination. 

Why drivers get sudden deactivations

A quick Google search reveals this sampling of transgressions most often cited that prompt account deactivations:

• high cancellation rates
• low acceptance rates
• late deliveries
• failed background checks
• providing incorrect information
• poor reviews
• theft (including eating food)
• fraud
• under the influence of drugs or alcohol
• violating contract terms
• criminal activity
• rude behavior or harassing customers

You might also find it interesting to know that FedEx will deactivate drivers caught using bots to reserve delivery blocks. 

The difficulty comes when these allegations, typically made by a customer or restaurant, are untrue or unwarranted, at least from the driver’s perspective. Some of these complaints are legitimate, while others are customers trying to get free food. 

Know the rules per platform

It's essential to know the reasons you can get a sudden deactivation. Below are links to the major food and grocery delivery companies and why they deactivate drivers, or how to get reactivated. Most of the reasons for deactivation are in the fine print of the agreement you signed as a driver, often referred to as terms of use (TOU)—something drivers typically don’t familiarize themselves with. 

Some platforms have set multi-apping rules

Some food delivery companies, especially DoorDash and Grubhub, require drivers to select blocks of time in advance. They consider it a commitment. You could get deactivated if you have reserved a block but are not accepting deliveries. This often happens because drivers are multi-apping. Some food delivery TOU agreements forbid you from working other apps while you're working theirs 

DoorDash deactivation: DoorDash does not appear to have a web page specifically related to reasons for deactivation. A Gridwise blog post, Why Rideshare and Delivery Drivers Get Deactivated, and How to Get Reactivated, reports that DoorDash watches your completion rate and overall driver ratings. You can also check out the DoorDash web page on how to get reactivated. 

Uber Eats deactivation: Uber gives a thorough explanation of driver deactivations on their website. Read it here. 

Grubhub deactivation: Grubhub is another food delivery app that does not explicitly list reasons for deactivation. Read Grubhub’s TOU carefully. 

Instacart deactivation: Some report that Instacart is notoriously heavy-handed in their deactivations. Like other gig companies, however, they do not post reasons for deactivation on their website. You have to read the Instacart terms and conditions carefully. 

Shipt deactivation: According to blogpost Shipt Shopper Account Deactivated? 7 Reasons Why It Happens from ThisOnlineWorld.com, Shipt is especially sensitive to the following issues: low ratings, rude or threatening behavior toward customers, not scanning IDs, shopping with other people, canceling too many orders, late deliveries, and purchasing items for yourself and billing it to the customer (which seems pretty obvious, but drivers have been caught doing it). Read Shipt’s terms of service here. 

Appealing account deactivation?

What if you're deactivated and you think it's for vague termination reasons, a minor issue violation, or just wholly unfounded? Unfortunately, gig workers are at the mercy of account deactivation procedures that are primarily conducted via email. Many drivers report never getting a response or spending hours on the phone, most of it on hold. At some point, you will have to complete an online form or perhaps speak to a real person. Here are a few pointers:

• Completely fill out the form, even if you have to enter “does not apply.” Blank fields will sometimes make it an incomplete form. 
• Tell the story as briefly as possible. Some people perceive over-explanations as covering the truth. 
• Stick to the facts, and don’t complain about unfair policies.
• Stay calm and don’t threaten people with, “I’ll sue you,” or “Wait until I tell your supervisor.”

Sometimes, things work out in ways you did not imagine. The aforementioned Business Insider story tells of an Uber Eats worker in Oregon who received a sudden deactivation and grew tired of arguing with the company and moved on. In early January of this year, he decided to try installing the app again, and to his surprise, it worked, and his application to deliver food was accepted. Afterward, he received a letter from Uber apologizing for the time it took to resolve his issue. 

Sometimes, appealing a deactivation is a dead-end effort. You’re better moving on to another app. In that case, check out Gridwise for the best way to earn in a specific food-delivery app. Read here about How to Make $1000 a Week with Uber Eats. 

Other ways to avoid unexplained deactivations

The food and grocery delivery companies don’t go into much detail about their procedures. Still, given that they rely on AI for many functions, they might be leaving the decision to terminate a driver up to an algorithm. The goal of drivers is to avoid getting into situations that can affect their livelihood. 

Here are some suggestions:

• Always provide top-drawer service. Consider including pre-written thank-you notes with your food or grocery deliveries. 
• Being well-dressed and having a cheerful, polite attitude prevents lots of problems.
• An in-car camera or body cam is a good idea. This way, you can send video files that prove your side. Be careful, though; depending on your state or municipal ordinances, filming another person without their knowledge may be an infraction. Forward-facing cameras are a good idea to record your side of a traffic collision. 
• Remember that lots of folks have porch cameras now. Consider yourself always on camera. 
• Take good photos of groceries and food left on the porch. Adjust your camera settings so that a date and time stamp appears. 
• Watch the cash register in stores and restaurants. Many drivers getting a gig delivery contractor termination report it was because the employee inadvertently charged them for something they did not intend to purchase, passing the charge on to the customer. 
• Check your orders. Restaurants are hectic work environments. Getting the wrong order or missing items can be an issue. When was the last time a restaurant messed up your order? It happens. 
• If you anticipate a problem with a customer or think a customer is trying to scam a free meal by fabricating a complaint, immediately report it through the app. If you tell your story first, you might get more of a sympathetic ear. 

Consider multi-apping

Yes, we’ve already discussed multi-apping and how some food delivery companies will deactivate gig workers for doing it. The trick is, don’t multi-app when working on their app. 

While only about 31% of gig drivers multi-app, and only about 21% multi-app across platforms (meaning they do both food delivery and rideshare, or package delivery), multi-apping makes sense. As a driver things happen all the time that are out of your control, and you may get a sudden deactivation on your favorite app. You need to have another app that you can immediately fall back on to avoid a dip in your income. You might get reinstated, but that can take time.

Smart gig workers multi-app across multiple platforms so that they always have work. You don’t necessarily have to run two or three apps simultaneously, but you should be familiar with the apps so that you can switch back and forth when needed.

Multi-apping ensures that you have options. For more information on how to effectively multi-app, check out this Gridwise blog post, The Art of Multi-apping: How-Tos and Strategies for Gig Drivers. 

Are there other measures to avoid unexplained deactivations?

A recent Seattle gig worker law is designed to reduce unwarranted delivery contractor termination, according to the Business Insider article and also as reported in an online article at GeekWire. It's the first law of its kind in the US. Features of the law, enacted this past August, include

• Drivers must receive a 14-day notice of deactivation. An instant termination clause exists if the behavior is “egregious.”
• Gig companies are required to provide records to back up their decision, eliminating vague termination reasons. 
• The decision to activate has to be made by a human, and an appeal has to be ruled on by a human. You can’t get terminated by artificial intelligence. 

The law takes effect January 1, 2025. Expect to see other cities and states follow suit. 

In a world of sudden deactivations, how can Gridwise help?

Gridwise champions the continued success of gig workers. The Gridwise blog delivers the latest news on strategies and tactics for more profitable gig driving. We also keep you current on gig company policies that affect you, including information that might prevent you from getting an unexplained deactivation. 

The Gridwise app includes features such as When to Drive and Where to Drive, providing real-time information on when and where rideshare and food delivery demand is most profitable for you.

You can also access a host of benefits through Gridwise, including roadside assistance, telemedicine, dental insurance, and more. Track miles with the Gridwise Mileage Tracker and save yourself thousands of dollars at tax time. Visit the Gridwise website. 

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Looking for more resources? Be sure to check out:

• 10 Ways To Stay Safe As A Delivery Or Rideshare Driver
• How To Improve Your Lyft Driver Rating
• Does Your Uber Acceptance Rate Matter?
• Looking for a different gig, part-time or full time job? Check out the Gridwise Job board.

Your income as a Lyft driver depends on a sound strategy, and knowing when to drive is a key part of any effective plan. You can use your common sense to guess at the most profitable hours for rideshare work; you could also consult with any number of sources that have their best estimates laid out for you.

Here we will cover these ways of choosing the best times to drive, and introduce you to the most powerful tool for knowing when the most profitable driving shifts are for you, right where you live.

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Best times to drive for Lyft: Opinions and speculations

Ask any driver and you’ll hear a different theory about the best times to drive. Lyft suggests that you check your app for their ride demand graph. This might clue you in on where there are a lot of riders, but does it give you all the information you need?

There are the usual peak times: rush hour(s), weekend evenings, brunch times, event start and let out times, late nights on weekends, and those hours when certain demographic groups, such as students or hospital workers might be moving around. It’s certainly possible to experiment with these driving times and discover how well they work for you, but who has time for that?

Are the best times to drive for Lyft always the same?

While all the ideas you hear might make a lot of sense, there are other things to consider. The peaks and valleys in customer demand are not the same in every locality. Plus, what good does it do you to focus on the usual peak times if your schedule doesn’t allow you to drive during those hours? 

People who live in highly concentrated urban areas are likely to have more variations in their busiest driving times than people who stay in the suburbs. Rush hour in an office-oriented city might differ from peak times where there are more stay-at-home workers. 

When it comes to events, suburban drivers may find more riders an hour or more before the rush begins because they’ll have to leave early to get to the big game or concert on time. Once back in the “burbs,” drivers may also experience earlier closing times for restaurants and bars than their urban counterparts. Working with a focus on rides to and from airports will also create different demand patterns. 

Even with Lyft’s ride demand graph, you may not come out ahead of the game. It’s possible that the place(s) they send you will be so crowded, you have to inch your way along and waste a huge chunk of your shift. And since you’re likely not the only one who will see the ride demand graph, you can bet a flood of other drivers will flock to the busy areas, and possibly gobble up all those passengers first.

As you’re starting to realize, it’s not always helpful to rely on what we might think are “normal patterns” in order to predict the best times to drive. You need real data based on the experience of actual drivers. Don’t worry. There’s help you can count on, and you can have it with you on every shift.

When to Drive from Gridwise: Accurate data that boosts your earnings

Gridwise is the tool you need to push your pay up to the levels you desire and deserve. The Gridwise When to Drive feature is specifically designed for drivers, by people who used to be drivers! They know exactly what you need, and deliver it in a form that’s easy to understand and put to good use.

Take the “maybe” factor out of rider demand patterns with actual data from real drivers who work in your area. With When to Drive, you’ll know right away what the best times to drive for Lyft are and get insight into how much you can make with other apps, too.

How to use Gridwise When to Drive features

Tap on the When to Drive card to discover the optimal times for driving and maximizing your earnings. At the bottom, you'll find different data types to filter.

Gridwise has different statistics you can look at:

Earnings Per Hour - Shows you the median earnings drivers make per hour for each day of the week. This helps you identify the most profitable days.

Trips Per Hour* - Shows you can see the median number of trips drivers make per hour each day. This helps you understand the busiest days for drivers.

Earnings Per Trip* - This shows you the median earnings drivers make per trip per day. This helps you understand which days are best to earn more per trip.

*indicates a plus-only feature

Nationwide and Nearest Markets

When to Drive allows you to access both nationwide statistics and data from your preferred market.

To change the location, tap on the search icon in the upper right corner and enter a different city or select "nationwide".

Filter by Service Type

You can also filter by the following service types to view the most relevant data:

1. Rideshare
2. Food
3. Grocery
4. Package

Gridwise also offers insights and updates on Events and Airports so you can pick the best times to drive for or around those times (depending on your strategy). Gridwise also allows you to set alerts.

Gridwise is the very best source for information about the best times to drive. Don’t miss out on this valuable resource!

Download the Gridwise App and get When to Drive, along with tons of other features to boost your earnings.

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Learn more about When to Drive and the best times to drive for other services:

• Know when to drive with Gridwise
• The best times to drive for Uber
• The best times to drive for Uber Eats
• The best times to drive for DoorDash

Mileage is, by far, the largest deduction you can claim for your taxes as a gig worker or gig driver. But just as important, you need to ensure that you're recording all the miles you're entitled to claim. The question for gig drivers is, What is the best mileage tracking app?

Gridwise offers the best mileage tracking app, allowing you to track every mile you drive as a gig driver. Better yet, it’s free and is instantly available when you download the Gridwise app.

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* Gridwise does not provide tax, legal, or accounting advice. This material has been prepared for information purposes only, and is not intended to provide, and should not be relied on for tax, legal, or accounting advice. You should consult your own tax, legal, and accounting advisors before filing your return.

What miles can you track as a gig driver or gig worker, and why use a mileage tracker?

If you’ve been a gig driver long enough to get your tax information at the end of the year, you see that most gig companies provide the mileage you drove while on their app. But is that the mileage you should claim as a tax deduction? No.

The gig platforms track your mileage only from the time you receive your pickup order for your ride or food delivery order until the time you complete it. That’s your time on the clock with the app. 

The truth is every mile you drive from the time you pull out of your driveway until your return is tax deductible. That includes the miles you drive on your way to your first ride or order, the miles you drive between rideshares or orders, and the miles you go to get home at the end of your shift. These miles are all tax-deductible. 

For example, let’s say that your various gig driving apps total 55,832 miles in 2023. But those additional miles between passengers and deliveries added as much as 30,000 miles to your total (a conservative number). Deducting those miles using the standard mileage deduction of 67 cents a mile comes to a whopping $20,100 in additional write-offs on your Schedule C. Now you’re in a lower tax bracket, paying far less in taxes.*

Not long ago, tracking your mileage meant keeping a handwritten log, a cumbersome and tedious task. After a week or two of being diligent about it, you probably slacked off and forgot. Then, at tax time, you simply made up a figure or went by the report from the gig platform. That was money lost and a problem should you get audited by the IRS. 

It’s essential that you track your miles and that you use the best app for tracking mileage. 

Download the app now. You can start by going to the Gridwise home page. 

Is Gridwise really the best app for tracking mileage?

Experienced gig drivers founded Gridwise, and when they developed the Gridwise mileage tracking app, they did it with gig drivers in mind. It has all the features a gig driver wants and needs in the best mileage tracking app, with many of its functions automatic. 

• Easily paired to your existing gig apps. After downloading the Gridwise app, open it and connect it to the gig platforms you work on. It takes only minutes. 

The Gridwise app can even be programmed to remind you to turn on the mileage tracker when you start driving.

• Reminds you to turn it on. Should you forget, an easy-to-find option on the Gridwise app reminds you to turn on the mileage tracker. Switch it on, and the app senses when you’re driving and sends a message through your phone. 
• Plus subscribers have access to automated mileage tracking (no need to turn it on or off!)
• Records all your miles. The Gridwise mileage tracker taps into your phone’s GPS. You’re tracking those miles wherever you go and keeping a record. 
• Records your mileage into a downloadable file. The Gridwise mileage app records your mileage into a file you can easily download into a Microsoft Excel file for tax purposes. What used to take you an entire day to figure out with a clunky calculator is now accomplished in minutes. 

With these features, it’s no wonder the Gridwise app is popular and regarded as the best mileage tracking app.

Features of the Gridwise app

Gridwise includes features that will get you more ride requests, more food orders, and maybe even fewer miles driven for the earnings you bring in.

The following table looks at premium features available on the paid Gridwise app. 

FeaturesGridwiseGoogle score4.6Apple score4.9Cost$9 monthly, if paid annually, or $14.99 on monthly plan.Plan scopeOne plan includes all benefits and services. Ability to link gig accountsYesAssigns earning categoriesYesEarnings trendsYesMileage tracker (automatic, on/off and manual)YesEarnings trackerYesExpense trackerYesWhen to driveYesWhere to driveYesLive activities infoYesMessaging of special events and opportunitiesYesProvides wage earning info based on real-time analytics of more than 500K driversYesShows typical earnings in the areaYesAirport statusYesLife insuranceYesTraffic alertsYes

Watch this YouTube video to learn about the Gridwise mileage tracker. The next time you hear a gig driver ask, ”What is the best app for tracking mileage?” you can tell them it’s the Gridwise mileage tracker.

Mileage Tracking and Tax Auditing FAQs

What about all the miles I’ve driven so far this year if I’m only just starting to track miles? 

There is an option. The IRS calls it “sampling,” and they'll accept it if you have thorough records. Suppose you did not accurately track your mileage for Q1 2024. Then you realize your oversight and start using the Gridwise mileage tracking app. Now you’re keeping diligent records. At the end of the year, figure out what you drove for each quarter (it’ll be a breeze because you're using the Gridwise mileage tracker). Take the average of those three quarters, and you can safely use it for the first quarter. Review Publication 463 (2021), Travel, Gift, and Car Expenses for a full explanation of sampling. Look under Section 5, Record Keeping. 

Don’t I need an odometer reading for my taxes?

IRS guidelines do not explicitly say you need odometer readings as part of your mileage record, only that you have to keep records. However, taking a photo of your odometer with your cell phone on the first day and the last day of the year is a good idea. This provides backup proof in the event of an IRS audit. 

Will the IRS accept mileage from a mileage tracker?

The key with the IRS is that you keep consistent records. Using the Gridwise mileage tracker is about as consistent as you can get. We have heard of no cases where the IRS disallowed mileage records using a mileage tracker. 

What are my chances of being audited and having to produce a mileage record?

The gig industry is new to IRS auditors, something different and fascinating beyond the humdrum boredom of a regular audit. The IRS is also still trying to figure out all its policies pertaining to gig workers. It’s an excellent opportunity for an ambitious auditor to make a name for themselves, landing you a better-than-average chance that you’ll end up a guinea pig audit.  

Additionally, as a gig driver, you're self-employed and already using mileage as a tax deduction. Those two factors alone are sufficient audit triggers. 

Will the Gridwise mileage tracker work with my phone?

The Gridwise mileage tracker will work with any phone you use for gig driving. It’s also the best free mileage tracking app for iPhone and Android phones. 

Can you round off your mileage numbers?

This is another reason you should be using the Gridwise mileage tracker: you get exact numbers. Rounded numbers are a red flag for an auditor. It looks as if you’re making things up. The more precise you can be in your information, the better you look should you find yourself getting audited. Gridwise allows you to be exact. 

How can I get my free Gridwise mileage tracker?

The Gridwise mileage tracker is part of the Gridwise app and is available from the Play Store (Android) or the Apple Store (iPhone). You can also get more information about the Gridwise mileage tracker on the Gridwise website. 

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What are the other features of the Gridwise app?

Gridwise isn’t just a mileage tracker. It’s an entire app dedicated to helping you drive smarter and make more money as a gig driver. Here are just a few of the features.

• Expense tracker. The Gridwise expense tracker allows you to photograph receipts and enter the information in the app’s expense log. You have copies of all your receipts at your fingertips, ready to print in electronic or hard copy.
• Earning trends. Gridwise allows you to link all your gig platforms. You can convert your earnings information into easy-to-understand graphs to see which platforms earn you the most. 
• When to drive. Look on the When to Drive tab for the most profitable times to drive any platform. 
• Where to drive. You know that every neighborhood has specific rideshare and food delivery needs, but sometimes there’s more information you can keep in mind. Gridwise can always recommend Where to Drive to earn the maximum dollars. 
• Live activities. From sporting events to concerts to trade shows, you’ll find the most current information for your region on the Gridwise app. 
• Messaging. New developments and special events in your area bring a constant wave of opportunities for gig drivers. Learn about them through the Gridwise messaging function. 
• Airport status. With Gridwise you’ll know when flights are arriving with passengers needing to go somewhere. Take the guesswork out of the airport game. 
• Weather info. Know when to expect the next storm with the Gridwise app. Adverse weather is enough to make some drivers stay in, but others know to cash in on the extra demand for rideshare or food delivery in their region.
• Traffic alerts. Traffic conditions can change rapidly, even before Waze or Google Maps detects them. Rely on Gridwise traffic alerts to keep you informed. 

Rely on Gridwise for the best mileage tracking app

Gridwise is the best mileage tracking app because it was developed for gig workers, by gig workers. It incorporates all the tools you need to succeed on your chosen gig platforms. Download your free app now. Start by going to the Gridwise home page. 

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Check out these Gridwise pages to learn more about the Gridwise mileage tracker:

• Download the Gridwise app for free (includes the Gridwise mileage tracker). 
• The best mileage tracking app for DoorDash
• The best business mileage tracking app
• The best mileage tracking app for delivery drivers

* Gridwise does not provide tax, legal, or accounting advice. This material has been prepared for information purposes only, and is not intended to provide, and should not be relied on for tax, legal, or accounting advice. You should consult your own tax, legal, and accounting advisors before filing your return.

If you’re a serious gig driver, you can’t afford to play around when it comes to rideshare and delivery insurance coverage. Sometimes drivers try to skip telling their insurers that they’re using their vehicles for business, to save money on premiums.

Many auto insurance providers will drop you the moment they discover you’re using your car for gig driving. Furthermore, if you don’t disclose you’re using your car for business, and the company finds out, any claim you submit might get rejected. You don’t want to take risks like that!

Some insurers offer a rideshare endorsement, which will allow you to keep your regular insurance and be covered for your gig work as well. Others simply don’t want to take the risk and won’t issue a suitable policy to you. And, even when they do, the rideshare endorsement they offer can be very costly.

Why is getting insurance for gig driving such a problem? Simply put, most of the insurance industry hasn’t fully caught up to the needs of the gig economy. Traditional insurance companies fail to understand what drivers need, and they overcharge for the risks of covering gig drivers. They aren’t very flexible about what they offer, so often drivers find themselves with more insurance—and higher premiums—than they actually need or care to pay for.

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What gig drivers need from insurers

As you know, your driving platform(s) will cover you while you’re on the way to a ride or delivery, as well as during the time you’re transporting passengers or goods to their destinations. The rest of the time, including the periods in between rides and deliveries, you are not fully covered by the driving platform. You have to rely on your personal auto insurance, at least until a request comes in from your driving app and you accept it.

Almost every state requires drivers to have auto insurance, and all of the driving platform companies insist that you show proof of insurance before they will allow you to drive or deliver for them. That’s another reason why you can’t rely on the gig platform’s coverage alone.

Obviously, you also need to be covered when you’re not using your car for business. You won’t want to be without insurance if someone hits your car while it’s parked on the street or in a lot at the grocery store, for example.

If your car is damaged while you’re on the app and your gig company provides full coverage, another problem arises.The high deductibles they require you to pay can create real financial setbacks. 

If you’re involved in an accident, even while your gig platform’s insurance is in full effect, you could be charged as much as $2,500 before their coverage will kick in. It would certainly be helpful to have a policy that protects you from that kind of exposure.

Once your claim is filed, what will happen while you’re waiting for your car to be repaired? If you expect to maintain your income, you’ll have to rent a vehicle. The price of vehicle rentals is substantial, and chances are you’ll need lots of financial assistance. 

Plus, if you are injured, or if for some reason you have to wait to rent a car, you will lose income. As an independent contractor, you have to keep money coming in, and the right insurance policy should help with that, too.

To summarize the unique needs of gig drivers, here’s a list of what the right insurance policy would provide.

• a way to get personal auto insurance without being overcharged
• reasonably priced premiums, based on driving record and mileage
• some way to cushion the cost of those high deductibles
• coverage for vehicle rental
• protection from loss of income
• customer service that is helpful and professional

VOOM: Replace your traditional coverage and save up to 60% on your insurance

VOOM is an insurance company that has caught up with the gig economy. In fact, VOOM is way ahead of the game. VOOM’s policies are designed to be flexible enough to suit gig drivers, and are set up to support drivers who use their vehicles for rideshare and/or delivery most of the time. VOOM rideshare insurance gives rideshare drivers a much more affordable and customizable insurance policy to make ridesharing and delivery driving more profitable. Since rideshare drivers cover all their own expenses, having a way to cut costs on such a major expense can be life-changing.

Here are some of Voom’s unique features:

• VOOM offers insurance made for Uber and Lyft drivers. By switching their current personal auto policy, they can potentially save up to 60% and avoid insurance gaps.
• VOOM is Tailored specifically for rideshare drivers, covering unique risks with customizable policies.
• VOOM Provides essential coverage during all phases of rideshare work, including waiting for rides.
• VOOM replaces your current coverage, it doesn’t just add on top of your existing insurance.
• Forget the “One size fits all” coverage - VOOM is a hybrid rideshare insurance policy that only charges you for miles driven for personal use rather than traditional insurance companies’ one-size-fits-all approach. 
• Instead of paying for coverage you don’t need, you only pay for the miles you drive while not working for a gig app. Rideshare drivers can keep more money in their pockets by reducing costs.
• VOOM is completely customizable, allowing you to determine the coverage needed when not on the clock. This ensures you only pay for what you need, keeping more money in your pocket.

VOOM has designed insurance services for serious gig drivers who use their vehicles for business a majority of the time. Why pay for a full-blown personal use coverage when you only need it for part of the time? With VOOM, you have coverage when and where you need it, at a greatly reduced cost.

Gridwise and VOOM have something very important in common. We are focused on solving the specific problems gig drivers face. Stop letting traditional insurance overcharge and short-change you. Get serious about your insurance, and start using VOOM Insurance.