Want to drive kids around? There are significant advantages to driving kids rather than adults. First, rides are scheduled in advance; your riders are rarely physically threatening; and kids are somewhat less likely to throw up in your vehicle than drunk college students. 

Drive kids

There are five sites to know about, if you want to drive kids as a side hustle: Zum, Kango, HopSkipDrive, KidCar and RubiRides. They’re all slightly different. But some requirements are the same.

Specifically, drivers must pass DMV and criminal screening to work for any of these drive-kids platforms. They also should have some experience with childcare. This can include experience simply as being a parent. Most require you to have car seats, too. Each site operates in relatively limited geographic areas. Here’s are brief highlights of each. You can click on the linked review to find out more. 

Zum

Zum, which operates through the RideZum app, operates in California, Arizona, Texas, Florida, Washington State, Washington D.C., and Illinois. (Zum’s footprint here) The site requires drivers to be at least 21 years old, have 3 years of childcare experience, and have a vehicle in good condition. Drivers generally take kids to and from school, earn between $20 and $30 an hour and are sometimes tapped for after-school childcare.

Kango is the most geographically limited of the three, operating only in California and Arizona. However, it is also the most transparent about its pay. It promises freelance drivers that they’ll make at least $20 per ride and $35 per hour. The site also covers drivers with a commercial liability policy. Site requirements are almost identical to those at Zum.

HopSkipDrive operates in major cities in California, Texas, Washington, Colorado, Virginia/D.C. area, Arizona and Nevada. You need to be at least 23 to drive for this site. Otherwise, it works much like Kango and Zum.

KidCar operates only in New York. However, if you’re a TLC driver in New York, KidCar should be on your radar. This site enlists heavily screened TLC drivers to pick up moms and newborns from the hospital, take children to and from school, and drive kids and parents to the airport. KidCar brags that it pays more than any other driving option. And, with promised minimum rates ranging from $25 to $77 per ride (depending on the type of car), the boast appears accurate.

RubiRides operates in Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia. Like the others, you’ll need to pass background checks. The site transports kids to and from school and after-school activities and arranges rides for seniors, who need a lift to doctor’s appointments. What makes this site stand out — for both freelancers and parents — is that RubiRides has an exceptionally transparent pay formula. And part of that formula — a 75 cent per minute wait fee for riders who keep drivers cooling their heels for more than 5 minutes — is likely to encourage patience. The specifics of the site’s pay formula is spelled out in our review, but the short version is you’ll make between $15 and $35 per hour.

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