Motoring

Earn extra cash with your car

Aussies have struggled with low wage growth in recent years, which has seen many of us take on secondary work to top up their earnings. One of the best ways to pocket some extra cash is to register with a web-based service and jump in your car!

UBER

Perhaps the most well-known option for car owners looking to earn money is with ridesharing apps such as Uber. At its core, it works much like a taxi service, where you are the driver using your own car to ferry passengers to their destinations.

Finder.com.au claims Australian Uber drivers take home 75 per cent of their weekly fare total, and drivers generally make on average $35 to $40 per hour before the parent company takes its 25 per cent cut. You can work as little or as much as you like by simply signing on to drive when it’s convenient.

To be eligible you must be at least 21 years of age, insured to drive the vehicle, hold a current unrestricted driver’s licence in your state or territory and have held one for at least 12 months. Your vehicle must be no more than 10 years old and in excellent working condition with four doors for access.

Uber also has food delivery offshoot Uber Eats, where you transport meals rather than people. This is a good option for those looking to stay local rather than travel across town.

SHEBAH

Like Uber, Shebah is a rideshare service but an all-female option, getting women and children where they need to go. Some cars are even fitted with baby seats! Launched in 2017 by former ABC breakfast host and mum of four George Mcencroe, Shebah isn’t only about keeping female passengers safe, but the drivers, too – who also get

to keep 85 per cent of each fare, by the way! Some drivers have been known to make $5000 in less than six months while working around their full-time job.

Fare rates are calculated as: base rate + (cost per minute × time in ride) + (cost per km × ride distance). In Victoria, Queensland, Tasmania, SA and WA, the base rate is $3.30 in off-peak times, and $3.63 in peak times. In NSW and the ACT, the base rate is $4.13 in off-peak times, and $4.54 in peak times.

The terms and conditions of becoming a Shebah driver are similar to Uber, but check

out shebah.com.au for all the information you need to get started on your earning journey.

CAR NEXT DOOR

If driving others sounds like too much work and your vehicle is often left unused, you could be earning cash for doing nothing. Vehicle-sharing platforms such as Car Next Door make this possible by allowing you to rent your vehicle to members of the public for short periods.

Renting a vehicle with Car Next Door costs users $5 an hour, or $25 a day, with a distance fee of 33 cents per kilometre on top of that.

Vehicle owners take home 50 per cent of the timed rate up to $240 dollars, and then 75 per cent after that, while also earning 25 cents per kilometre.

Car owners pay a $60 monthly fee to use the service, but users in popular areas are virtually guaranteed to earn at least $2000 a year. The fee covers comprehensive insurance for borrowers plus yourself and five other drivers, with 24/7 roadside assistance.