Best Cars for Uber Eats

A lot of Australians are earning extra income with Uber Eats so finding the best car for the job can be a pretty competitive edge. But what exactly are Australia’s best cars for Uber Eats?

It’s no secret that driving for food delivery services, like Uber, has become a very popular side-hustle for many Australians. Onlineloans.com.au have helped countless people keen to boost their income get into the right car to start their Uber (for passengers) or Uber Eats journey, so we’ve put together our top tips to bring you the best cars for Uber Eats.

Get the gist in 30 seconds:

• You get some pretty good perks as an Uber Eats driver, including setting your own schedule, fuel discounts and a decent income stream
• Requirements for Uber Eats cars are not the same as Uber (for passengers) here in Australia
• Taking extra care of food and selecting the right jobs (deliveries) can make a huge difference to your income
• There are a few things you can do to maximise tips like texting customers if you’re stuck in traffic and throwing in a few extra napkins, among other things
• The best cars for Uber Eats need to tick boxes like fuel economy and being easy to drive

Requirements for Uber Eats vehicles

The best cars for Uber Eats are the ones that get you and your deliveries from A to B as cheaply and as safely as possible, while also fitting comfortably in your budget.

That might rule out a Tesla which could tick the first two boxes but probably not the third!

Note that requirements vary per location, usually state, but here are the basics.

Bicycles

• Passes a bicycle safety test
• Is roadworthy and can make the deliveries

Scooter/motorcycle 

• 1990 model or newer
• Registered and insured as per compulsory state/territory regulations
• Third-party property or comprehensive insurance in addition to compulsory state/territory insurance

Cars

• 1990 model or newer
• Registered and insured as per compulsory state/territory regulations
• Third-party property or comprehensive insurance in addition to compulsory state/territory insurance

Your requirements

As an Uber Eats driver, you too will need to comply with a few requirements:

• You’re aged 18 or over 
• You have the right to work in Australia
• Access to Medicare or appropriate health insurance
• You can pass a background check
• You hold a full licence for the vehicle you’re using for deliveries (unless it’s a bicycle!)

The best cars for Uber Eats

To make this list, we’ve looked at a lot of different factors on both new and used cars.

For starters, you’ll want to avoid cars that are expensive to run, and we’re not just talking about fuel, we mean servicing, wear and tear and depreciation too.

Here are some of the things that we’re giving points for:

• Purchase price: You might not want strong smelling food in an expensive car
• Safety: If you’re going to be clocking up a lot of kilometres, you should be safe
• Resale value: An investment shouldn’t depreciate too much
• Running costs: As low as possible
• Manoeuvrability: small turning circles make those tight parking spots in busy areas easier
• Transmission: Auto (or CVT) only here, you don’t want more to-dos when dashing in and out of restaurants and making deliveries
• Mileage: To keep maintenance and depreciation low(ish), we’re setting a maximum of 130,000 km per the prices we’ve listed

Nissan LEAF (2015 to present)

• Price range: $15,000+
• Range: 385km
• Charge time: from 20% to 80% capacity in 45 mins on a 100kW fast-charge
• Basic service costs: Nissan capped price service rates range from around $250 to $365 depending on the interval
• Turning circle: 11.13m
• Why it suits Uber Eats: The big one here is that you’re not paying for petrol and that’s a massive advantage for any delivery driver. You’ll have to be strategic around charge times especially if using wall sockets which are slower than the fast-chargers.
• Who for: Any urban or suburban Uber Eats driver who regularly makes short commutes.

Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV

• Price range: $35,000+
• Fuel economy: 1.7 L/100km
• Basic service costs: From $199 to $500 depending on interval
• Turning circle: 10.6m
• Why it suits Uber Eats: We’ve put the Outlander in as a wildcard because not only is it economical, but it can also suit Uber (for passengers) meaning that you’d be able to earn from regular Uber as well as Uber Eats. The SUV size and PHEV (Plug-In Hybrid Vehicle) fuel economy make the Outlander perfect for the above.
• Who for: Someone who transports passengers (eg. young children) but would like to use the vehicle to maximise income with Uber and Uber Eats.

Find more information on the best cars for Uber (for passengers) here.

Kia Picanto (2017 – 2022)

• Price range: $15,000 – $19,500
• Fuel economy: 5 L/100km – 5.8 L/100km
• Basic service costs: From $270 to $570 depending on interval
• Turning circle: 9.6m
• Why it suits Uber Eats: Cheap AND under new car warranty (7 years) which may be attractive to some drivers. Also a fuel-efficient small hatchback for the city making it prime for Uber Eats.
• Who for: A city dweller, ideally without kids or dogs as the Picanto is quite small.

Mazda 3 Neo (2013 – 2015)

• Price range: $13,000 – $19,000
• Fuel economy: 5.8 L/100km – 8.2 L/100km
• Basic service costs: $280 – $350
• Turning circle: 10.6m
• Why it suits Uber Eats: The Mazda 3 is a great car in general, being comfortable, reliable and a little more refined than the Yaris above. 
• Who for: For those looking to use the car for things other than deliveries, especially ferrying passengers on weekends.

Toyota Yaris (2005-2012)

• Price range: $6,000 – $15,000
• Fuel economy: 6.3 L/100km – 6.7 L/100km
• Basic service costs: $150 – $200
• Turning circle: 9.4m
• Why it suits Uber Eats: simple and reliable plus being from Toyota, it has a good resale value. Also easy to park in tight spaces
• Who for: A student looking to earn some extra cash or someone new to owning a vehicle.

Hyundai i30 (Second generation 2011 – 2015) 

• Price range: $13,000 – $20,000
• Fuel economy: 6.9 L/100km – 7.1 L/100km
• Basic service costs: $200 – $250
• Turning circle: 10.6m
• Why it suits Uber Eats: Easy to manoeuvre (as are all cars on this list) and a well-proven city slicker make the i30 great for deliveries in and out of apartments and crowded streets. 
• Who for: Someone who plans a lot of use, stop-start driving and perhaps a few longer trips on occasions as the i30 is competent on highways.

What are the benefits of being an Uber Eats driver?

1. You get to set your own schedule
Working around education, family or work commitments? (Or all three!). Uber Eats allows you to work by your own schedule. You’ll get more jobs if you select peak times like dinner time for example.

2. You get to earn points for extra cool stuff
Fuel discounts, tyre discounts and even accountant discounts are some of the perks you can work towards with Uber Eats’ points. You’ll earn these with deliveries and get bonus points for working during peak times.

3. You get paid whenever you want
Uber Eats allows you to cash out (transfer your earnings into your bank account) whenever you want. You just need more than $1, yep one buck, in your Uber balance. No more waiting for payday.

4. You get to learn new places
With Uber Eats, you can set your delivery zones meaning you can work closer to home then expand out and get to know places you might otherwise never visit.

Plus, Uber’s algorithms take the type of food, routes and time of day into consideration to make it a better experience for all concerned. (Eg. You won’t want to travel too far with hot food on a cold night).

5. You get to earn a good amount of money
On average, Uber Eats drivers in Australia earn between $20 to $40 per hour, with the average being around $30.

Things that can play a role in the amount you earn:

• Where you’re making deliveries
• Any tips you might get
• The number of deliveries you make

Extra Uber Eats tips and tricks

1. Choose your deliveries wisely
This comes with experience, but try to choose jobs (deliveries) that are the smoothest. For example, consider these:

• Total distance (keep it short)
• Avoid high traffic routes
• Learn which restaurants are slow or have bad service because someone who doesn’t enjoy their meal might give you a bad rating (as well as the restaurant)
• Also avoid restaurants that have a habit of messing up orders

2. Take care of the food
This means avoiding spilling drinks, opened bags of hot food or cold items in a hot car. Some Uber Eats pros use insulated bags to keep hot and cold items separate.

3. Bring a phone charger
And a powerbank too if you can’t charge in your car. There’s nothing worse than stressing about a low battery as phones are crucial for successful Uber Eats deliveries. You’ll need your phone for:

• Flashlight (dropping off food in the dark / finding doors and gates)
• Maps
• Camera (some contactless deliveries require photos as proof of drop off)
• The Uber app itself

4. Go the extra mile for tips
Tips can make up a massive portion of your earnings – if you know how to get them. Here are some pointers:

• Send the customer a text if you’re held up or delayed
• Reply to and comply with any drop off requests that they might have
• Pick up extras like napkins, straws or sauce and salt & pepper packets and let them know
• Always be friendly and upbeat when dropping food off, they might be pretty hungry!

Final thoughts

Driving for Uber Eats offers a great chance to not only earn some extra money, but also to get to know your area (and city) and find out the best restaurants around.

If you’re keen to start earning with Uber or another food delivery service and need the right vehicle to get you there, OnlineLoans.com.au has you covered. We’ve helped countless people just like you get into the right vehicle quickly and smoothly.

An OnlineLoans.com.au quick quote allows you to see your options and know where you stand WITHOUT having to commit to anything.

More info that might help

• Boot space – all you need to know
• Do you need a deposit for a car loan?
• Fuel economy techniques that save you money