Does Amazon Flex Pay For Gas? The Ultimate Guide For Gig Drivers
Amazon Flex is one of the best driving gigs out there, and you earn $18 to $25 per scheduled hour.
But, does Amazon Flex pay you for gas or other job related expenses?
This is a common question people have about other gig apps, and things like fuel expenses and vehicle repairs are important to track because they impact your true earnings.
So, today we're covering Amazon Flex's gas reimbursement policy, why it matters, and what gig workers should do to maximize their driver earnings.
Let's get to it!
Looking for other gig economy jobs that pay? Checkout:
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Does Amazon Flex Pay For Gas?
Amazon Flex doesn't pay drivers for gas or reimburse your for mileage. This is because Amazon Flex drivers are independent contractors who are responsible for covering fuel costs, vehicle repairs, and other job-related expenses.
In other words, you have to use your own funds to cover gas and vehicle repairs as an Amazon Flex driver.
Amazon does pay fuel expenses for full-time van drivers, but again, you have to cover your own expenses as an independent contractor.
This is why DoorDash doesn't pay for gas, and same with jobs like Instacart.
Amazon Flex only pays you for the Flex blocks you complete, and you get paid twice per week through direct deposit.
Why This Matters For Amazon Flex Drivers
You might be wondering why this topic matters. After all, it doesn't matter if you drive for DoorDash or Amazon Flex; you're always going to be on the hook for gas costs.
However, it's vital for gig economy workers to accurately track all of their income and expenses, and this includes gas costs.
1. It Shows Your True Earnings
Amazon Flex pays drivers $18 to $25 per scheduled hour. This makes it a lucrative side hustle that's perfect if you want to make extra cash with your vehicle.
But, it's important to factor fuel costs into your driver earnings because this is the only way to know your true profit margin.
So, try using a mileage tracking app like Everlance to log how much you're driving for Amazon Flex and what your gas costs are. This is my favorite way to manage gig expenses, and I like that it handles everything automatically.
You can also use a cheap mileage log book and your paper gas receipts to track how much you're spending on gas as a Flex driver.
Once you track your gas expenses, take time every week or month to subtract your business costs from your Amazon Flex driver earnings.
If you still think the profit margin is good enough, you can keep driving, but you need to know your actual earnings at the end of the day.
2. Tax Return Implications
Another reason tracking Amazon Flex gas costs is important is to potentially claim tax deductions.
The IRS lets you deduct business mileage on your tax return, so you can potentially keep more of your hard-earned money when filing taxes.
IRS mileage rates vary by year, but in 2023, the rate was $0.655 per business mile.
You should still consult a tax professional or read how to properly file taxes as an independent contractor.
Gig Nation also has an excellent video on how to file Amazon Flex taxes you can reference.
This video covers how to deduct Amazon Flex fuel costs from your income for the year.
It also covers nifty tips like declaring other business deductions, like phone car holders or even charging cables for your smartphone.
3. Long-Term Costs
One final reason tracking Amazon Flex gas costs and other expenses is so you know your long-term cost.
For starters, it's good to have an idea of how much you're spending on fuel expenses per year as part of your driving business.
But, you should also factor in vehicle depreciation for your earnings.
Car depreciation calculators are very useful tools, and you can enter your vehicle's make, model, and year to get an idea of the depreciation costs.
Of course, you should also track expenses like vehicle repairs, tolls, tickets, and your insurance.
Extra Reading – How To Make $400 Fast – The Best Methods.
Do Other Gig Apps Pay Drivers For Gas?
As mentioned, other gig jobs usually require paying for your own gas.
For example, if you make money with DoorDash or as an Instacart Shopper, you still have to cover your gas and vehicle-related expenses. The same goes with other delivery gigs like Walmart Spark and Shipt.
This doesn't automatically mean gig jobs are bad. However, it's very important you track your expenses so you know how much money you're really making.
Tips For Amazon Flex Drivers To Save Money On Gas
So, Amazon Flex doesn't pay for gas.
But, this doesn't mean drivers have to pay full-price when at the pump. In fact, there are numerous ways Flex drivers can save money on fuel costs.
1. Use A Gas Rewards Card
One of the simplest ways to save money on gas as an Amazon Flex driver is to use a rewards credit card when refuelling.
There are plenty of gas rewards cards that pay at least 1% to 2% cash back when you refuel.
This might not sound like much, but hey, if you spend thousands of dollars in gas per year it all adds up!
2. Use Gas Reward Apps
Another tip for Amazon Flex drivers to save money is to use various reward apps that also pay you for purchasing gas.
This is especially important these days since gas prices are going up, so anything you can do to save money helps out.
The best app in this category is Upside since this app can save you up to $0.25 per gallon depending on current cash-back rates.
You can also use various receipt scanning apps that pay you small amounts of PayPal cash and free gift cards for uploading shopping receipts.
Some popular receipt scanning apps that pay you for gas receipts include:
These gas reward apps won't earn thousands of dollars, but even saving $50 to $100+ per year is meaningful.
I mean, if you found $100 on the ground, you'd be pretty happy wouldn't you!?
3. Drive A More Fuel Efficient Vehicle
Most Amazon Flex deliveries require driving a four-door vehicle that's a mid-sized sedan or larger vehicle.
So, large sedans work, and you can also make money with a truck or cargo van as an Amazon Flex driver.
This somewhat limits you in terms of driving a more fuel efficient vehicle, but of course, driving a smaller sedan is going to save you more on gas costs than driving around in a Ford F150.
4. Try Other Gig Apps
Jobs like Amazon Flex are one of the best ways to get paid to drive. But since it doesn't pay for gas, your earnings might not be as high as you think.
And the vehicle requirement is one downside of Amazon Flex, especially since some gig apps let you deliver by bike or even by foot in certain markers.
For example, jobs like DoorDash or Uber Eats let you make money with your bike so you don't even have to spend money on gas at all! You can also do the same thing with Grubhub, another popular food delivery gig.
And if you make money with Instacart or Cornershop, you spend most of your time shopping in-store, so you spend way less on gas.
Amazon Flex is still worth it due to the high hourly pay. But you can turn to these other gigs, especially if you get stuck on the Amazon Flex waiting list.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can You Make A Living Off Amazon Flex?
It's almost impossible to make a full-time income from Amazon Flex since you can't get enough blocks. However, it's an excellent side hustle and way to make quick money without needing prior experience.
Is Amazon Flex A Good Job?
Amazon Flex is one of the highest-paying delivery gigs out there. Drivers like it because of the set hours and how much they get paid. The main downside of Amazon Flex is that it's difficult to get numerous blocks per week in competitive cities and that you don't get reimbursed for gas expenses.
Extra Reading – How To Make $5,000 Fast.
Final Thoughts
I hope our guide on Amazon Flex gas payments helps clarify Amazon Flex's mileage policy and how you can save more money as a driver.
It might sound like a pain to track all your gas costs and other expenses, but this is an important habit for gig workers to develop.
Any independent contractor position requires this sort of bookkeeping, but the earnings and extra savings are definitely worth the trouble.
Just remember: you can make your life simpler by using mileage tracking apps like Everlance to handle this aspect of gig economy work.
Happy driving!
You can learn more about Amazon Flex on its driver portal!
Additionally, check out other gig economy jobs like Uber Eats and Instacart so you can maximize your earnings and learn which apps pay the most in your city.
Looking for even more ways to make extra cash? Checkout:
- DoorDash vs Instacart – Which Gig App Is Best For Drivers?
- How To Make $150 Fast – The 10+ Best Methods.
- How To Make $1,000 A Week With Uber Eats.
