Can You Be a Delivery Driver at 17?

In general, no, you can’t legally become a delivery driver at 17. Even though most states allow you to get a driver’s license at 16, delivery companies are bound by labor laws that require you to be at least 18 years old to drive commercially.

All major delivery gig apps, such as DoorDash and Instacart, require you to be 18+ to drive for them. This is the case even if you plan on delivering on foot or via bicycle.

Note that 18 is the absolute minimum, but some apps are more stringent than that. Depending on where you live, they might actually require you to be 19+ and meet other requirements as well (such as having 1–3 years of licensed driving experience).

These requirements vary from state to state, so your best bet is to look up the exact rules where you live to find out when you’ll be eligible to start delivering.

Regardless of where you are, to accept any jobs that involve delivering alcohol, you’ll need to be 21 or older.

Why can’t 17-year-olds usually become delivery drivers?

The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) places restrictions on what kinds of work 17-year-olds can do. Minors are allowed to accept jobs with a driving component, but only if:

• They’ll only drive during daylight hours
• They’ve completed a state-approved driver education course
• Less than 20% of their work will involve driving 1

The FLSA also prohibits people under 18 from delivering “time-sensitive items,” such as food (although some states, such as California, may relax these restrictions for deliveries made on foot or via public transportation or bike). 2

The upshot is that, because very few delivery or courier jobs meet the requirements listed above, it’s hard to get one at age 17.

Although you can’t become a delivery driver at age 17, it’s possible you’ll be able to find a courier or delivery job that doesn’t involve operating a motorized vehicle (i.e., that will let you deliver on foot or via bicycle). Look for opportunities with local businesses in your area.

Here’s a list of delivery gigs you might potentially be able to do:

• Courier and package delivery: While large delivery services and gig apps generally have strict age restrictions, some local or regional courier services may still hire you. The same goes for small retailers in your area that need help with deliveries.
• Floral delivery: Florists often need couriers to get flowers to customers, and some of them may be willing to hire teenagers. There’s often work available during busy periods, such as around Mother’s Day or Valentine’s Day.
• Newspaper delivery: This is a classic part-time job for teens. You’ll usually only have to work early mornings, meaning this side hustle can be done while you’re in high school or attending college.
• Running personal errands: Another option is to reach out to local businesses, friends and family members, or anyone else who needs a helping hand picking up or receiving items (e.g., elderly or mobility-challenged people, or just busy professionals who don’t have much spare time). If you land work like this, it’ll probably be an informal gig rather than a traditional hourly or salaried position.

If you do find a delivery job that accepts 17-year-olds, look up your local regulations to make sure the company isn’t doing anything illegal by hiring you. You may run into employers and hiring managers who aren’t familiar with the FLSA or whatever local and state regulations govern driving-related work in your area. While complying with them is mainly their responsibility, it’s still worth your time to make sure you’re staying on the right side of the law, too.

Although it can be hard to land delivery gigs at age 17, this side hustle has a lot of benefits. We’ll look at both the pros and cons below.

Perks of doing deliveries at 17

The benefits of setting up a delivery side hustle include:

• Work experience: Employers are more likely to hire people with practical work experience, so you’ll have an advantage when applying for future jobs if you pick up a side hustle like this early in life.
• Extra cash: It might go without saying, but making money is arguably the biggest benefit of taking on extra work. Whether you’re still living at home or you just moved out on your own, more income is always a plus.
• Professional development: Starting a side hustle like this will develop essential skills, such as customer service, problem-solving, and time management (particularly if you’re balancing your job alongside your studies).

Challenges of doing deliveries at 17

Of course, no job is without its challenges. Particularly if this is one of your first jobs, it’s also worth considering these:

• Balancing work and school: At 17, there’s a good chance you’re either in high school or starting college. It’s difficult to balance coursework alongside a job. Don’t take on more work than you can handle or let your side hustle affect your studies.
• Murky legality: As you’ve probably gathered by now, landing a delivery job at 17 can be challenging for legal reasons. It’s possible there won’t be any attainable jobs in your area, in which case you’ll just have to wait.

If you have trouble finding a delivery gig that you can do right now, don’t be disheartened. There’s no shortage of other side hustles for teens you can consider, some of which have the same advantages and will build the same skills. These include:

• Retail work: Working as a cashier or a sales assistant in a store will give you experience in customer service and sales. If you’re interested in delivery work because you have an entrepreneurial spirit, this might scratch the same itch. Since many stores offer flexible working hours or temporary work during busy seasons, this also makes a great side hustle if you’re a student and are only able to work part-time or on your summer break.
• Food service: Whether it means waiting tables or washing dishes, many teens pick up shifts in local cafes and restaurants. Like retail work, this will get you experience in customer service. It’s also a very tip-based industry—both servers and delivery drivers often make as much or more from tips as they do from their base salaries.
• Pet sitting and dog walking: This is another job with flexible hours, and, like delivery work, it will send you around your neighborhood, which makes it a good fit if you prefer something active that you can do outdoors. Notably, there are several gig apps you can use to find pet care-related jobs, including Rover and Wag! (although, as with DoorDash and Uber Eats, many of these require workers to be 18+).
• Internships: Although most internships don’t have much in common with delivery driving, they’re still worth considering. They’re often unpaid, but getting an internship with a company will look great on your resume and can be an excellent way for you to gain experience in a sector you’re interested in. Moreover, if you do a good job, you may be well-positioned to get a full-time position with that company once you graduate.

If none of those side hustles strikes you quite right, there are also more than a few job apps for teens that you can use to find work. Give them a look—hopefully, something will appeal to you. Good luck!