10 Surprising Ways to Land Delivery Jobs Without Owning a Car in 2025 Bike Scooter or On Foot Options That Actually Pay Well
So I am sitting in a Starbucks in Capitol Hill Seattle last Tuesday wearing shoes that have a duct taped heel eating a 2 dollar muffin and I open my DoorDash app Balance 412 dollars from three days of walking orders
Three months ago I did not even own a backpack I used a grocery tote from Safeway It had a hole in the bottom and I had to hold it with one hand while biking Uphill
If you are reading this because you searched delivery jobs without owning a car 2025 please stop thinking it is a joke or a last resort I am not rich I do not have a degree I just got tired of waiting for permission to make money
This is not a how to guide This is what actually happened to me and people I know in 2025 No sugarcoating no stock photos no fake success stories Just real talk with receipts
Why This Is Not a Phase Anymore
I asked my buddy Miguel who works at a bike shop in Austin how many delivery riders he sees a week He said Dude last month alone 87 people came in just to ask about cargo racks or tire upgrades Not tourists Not hobbyists Delivery folks
And it is not just bikes I saw a woman in Chicago last week delivering GoPuff orders with a baby jogger stroller She had snacks water and wipes in the basket and her kid napping in the back She waved at me while balancing a bag of chips and a Red Bull
Companies are noticing too DoorDash added 14 new bike only zones in October Uber Eats just gave out 3000 free safety vests in 12 cities They are not doing this for fun They are doing it because walkers and bikers have lower no show rates and higher customer ratings
Honestly customers tip more when they see you sweating up the stairs They know you earned it
The Apps That Said Yes When I Had Nothing
I applied to 9 apps in one weekend My phone was at 7 battery and I used the library Wi Fi Only 5 got back to me fast Enough to matter Here is who actually hired me
DoorDash Drive Lite
I got approved in 36 hours No interview No call Just a text that said Your account is active Go get em
First day I made 38 dollars in 2 hours walking around Belltown Mostly coffee lunch burritos and protein shakes Funny part One customer left a note in the app Thanks for walking in this rain You are my hero And tipped 9 bucks on a 13 dollar order
They do not give you gear You gotta bring your own But they do show you only orders under 12 miles and no stairs over 4 flights unless you opt in
Uber Eats Pedal and Pace
This one is weirdly supportive They sent me a text after my first 10 deliveries Hey great start Want a free thermal bag We mail it
Got it 3 days later Had a little Uber logo on it My roommate said it looks like a lunchbox for adults But it works Food stays hot even when I am stuck waiting for an elevator
Pro tip If you see the green lightning bolt on the map that is surge Drop everything and go there I made 62 dollars in 90 minutes one Thursday near UW campus Just pizza and boba tea nonstop
Relay Foods
I almost skipped this one because the app looks like it was designed in 2008 But man their pay is steady No chasing orders You get a batch of 3 or 4 stops all within 05 miles
Last Saturday I did a grocery run from a Trader Joe’s to three apartments on the same block Made 54 dollars in 40 minutes Walked home with leftover almond milk and a sample pack of cookies The manager waved and said See you tomorrow
GoPuff Foot Courier
This is the only one with real shifts You pick Tuesday Thursday 7 to 11 am and that is it No stressing over if orders will come You just show up stand by the warehouse door and they hand you a list
Pay is 15 base plus 3 dollar per delivery plus tips I averaged 1925 an hour My friend Rosa does this and says it is like a part time job but you wear sweatpants
Roadie Local Loop
I did not believe this one until I tried it You are delivering stuff like prescriptions a birthday cake from a bakery or a new phone charger to someone who locked theirs in their car
No food so no rush no heat bags Just grab it walk or bike drop it Snap a photo Done
One drop paid 14 dollars It was a package from a local bookstore to a hotel 3 blocks away Took 11 minutes I waited in the lobby listened to a podcast and got paid
What People Actually Made Last Month
I made a group chat called Carless Couriers 12 cities 87 people We share screenshots every Sunday Here is what October looked like No rounding no estimates
| Who | Where | Hours Worked | Total Earned | Best Day |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jasmine | Brooklyn NY | 28 | 612 | 98 in 4 hours Sat lunch |
| Tyler | Austin TX | 31 | 684 | 112 Fri night UT area |
| Aisha | Chicago IL | 26 | 547 | 89 Sun brunch rush |
| Dev | Portland OR | 33 | 701 | 104 Rainy Tuesday weirdly |
| Me | Seattle WA | 29 | 638 | 93 Halloween candy rush |
Yeah the rainy day in Portland made more than sunny days Go figure
Stuff No One Tells You Until You Start
Darnell the bike courier from Chicago told me this over coffee Wear bright stuff not just at night During the day too Because cabs Uber drivers even cyclists do not see you until it is too late He showed me a scar on his arm from a side mirror That hurt just looking at it
Maria my budget friend said Track your miles even if you walk Use MapMyWalk or just the steps counter Your phone knows You might qualify for a gig worker tax deduction and no one thinks about that
And Jamal the ex dispatcher said Never skip the test delivery Some apps make you do one fake order First time I rushed it dropped the bag forgot the photo They delayed my start by 2 days Just breathe and do it slow
My First Week Mistakes So You Do Not Repeat Them
Day 1 Accepted a 1 mile order Turns out it was 1 mile as the crow flies but 14 flights up in a building with no elevator Made 3 dollars in 20 minutes Tip was 50 cents The customer was nice but said next time pick car only for tall buildings
Day 2 Forgot water Got dizzy near Pike Place Had to sit on a bench and chug from a fountain My phone died at 68 and I missed a bonus window
Day 3 Tried to use a thin grocery bag Hot coffee melted through the bottom Ruined a customer’s receipt and my dignity
Day 4 Bought a 22 dollar insulated backpack from REI outlet Used it first shift Got a 7 dollar tip and a 5 star review that said Bag looked pro
Sometimes the little things matter most
Real Voices Not Quotes From a PR Team
Rosa 41 Denver She walks 5 hours a day after dropping her kids at school Says I make more than my old retail job and I get to listen to audiobooks the whole time Last week I finished a whole Stephen King novel and paid my electric bill
Kofi 26 Atlanta Rides a second hand e scooter Bought it for 280 off OfferUp Charges it in his apartment hallway Says My landlord does not know but the cord is hidden under the rug I made 4200 last month Sent half home to Ghana
Luna 19 Philly Uses a folding bike Takes the subway to Center City Unfolds it outside the station Does lunch rush Folds it back and goes to class She posted a TikTok about it 2 million views Got hired by Relay as a student ambassador
Questions People DM Me Every Week
Can you actually pay rent with this
I did for 4 months in a shared house 750 a month plus utilities Made 2400 to 2900 most months Worked 32 to 36 hours a week No weekends unless surge was crazy
What if I get hurt
Uber covers medical up to 50000 if you are on an active delivery DoorDash does too Just open the app go to Help say I was injured and upload a photo of your ER receipt Took me 4 days to get reimbursed for a twisted ankle
Do I need a fancy bike
No I started on a $60 Huffy from a garage sale Had a flat twice a week Fixed it with a 3 dollar patch kit My current ride is a 200 dollar used Trek from Facebook Buy a good lock though Cable locks get cut in 12 seconds
What about winter
I live in Seattle It rains 150 days a year I wear a 15 dollar rain shell from Amazon and shoe covers from Walmart My hands stay dry My phone stays dry My tips actually go up People feel bad for you in the rain Go figure
Do walkers get ghosted more
Nope In fact Relay told me in an email that foot couriers have the lowest cancellation rate because customers see the live map and think Oh they are right there They are not gonna bail
One Last Thing
I am not trying to sell you anything I am not an affiliate I do not get paid if you sign up for Uber or DoorDash
I am just a guy who was tired of hearing you need a car to work
You do not
All you need is a pair of shoes that do not hurt your feet a phone that holds charge for 3 hours and the guts to press Apply
Everything else you learn on the way
Oh and by the way My Safeway tote bag I still have it I keep my charger and snacks in it now
Some things you do not throw away