Uber Eats Toronto Pay & Driver Requirements (2024)

Updated January 2024 – The CDHQ team researched and updated the information regarding the guide to Uber Eats Toronto Pay & Driver Requirements at the beginning of January 2024!

If you are looking for a flexible and easy way to earn extra income while exploring the vibrant streets of Toronto, becoming an Uber Eats Look courier might be your next gig! Toronto has a rich and diverse food scene and in this bustling city where convenience is key, becoming an Uber Eats driver not only allows you to be your boss but also opens the door to a fulfilling and profitable venture. Join me as we delve into the enticing world of being an Uber Eats driver in Toronto! Did I mention you don’t even need a car?

Ready to get started as an Uber Eats driver? Help keep us going and use our referral when you sign up!

Ways to Deliver

You can deliver orders for Uber Eats in Toronto using pretty much any vehicle including a car, bike, or e-bike (aka scooter). Remember, this might be tricky in the winter to do if you are not delivering in a warm car!

Available in only a few cities, you can just walk deliveries to hungry guests! Of course, you won’t get very far trips for hopefully obvious reasons which it is less money.

How Much Do Uber Eats Drivers Make in Toronto?

Estimates are between $18-$25/hour, depending on demand, location, tips, day, and time. Uber also runs promotions to incentivize you to complete a certain number of trips which can boost your pay. The amount you make also goes up when there are not enough drivers on the road and it is super busy, like during a sporting event on a rainy day. There is also nothing better than a snowstorm for a boost in earnings too!

Here is basically how it works:

how uber eats earnings work

How do you make more money as an Uber Eats Driver?

Promotions are a great way to earn extra money. They aren’t always available but when they are, you should take advantage of them. The three extra ways to earn money are Boosts, Surges, and Quests.

Communication and Phone Mounts

Safety on the road is paramount, and a sturdy phone mount is a must-have for drivers who rely on navigation apps or need hands-free communication. Look for mounts that attach securely to the dashboard or windshield and are adjustable to accommodate different phone sizes.

What are Uber Eats Quests?

Quests are challenges to reach a certain delivery goal. For example, deliver 5 orders by Wednesday and you get an extra $20 added to your overall pay. They are always set ahead of time so just look in the app at the start of the week to see what Uber has planned.

uber eats quest screenshot

What is Uber Eats Boost?

Boosts are used to multiply the base rate of your pay. If the boost is 1.5x , it means you earn 1.5 times the usual base rate for deliveries made during those times or in those locations. They are advertised in advance, so you can view them under promotions in the Trip Planner section of the Uber Eats driver app. If you just log on, you can also see them on the map.

uber eats boost screenshot

What is Uber Eats Surge?

Surges are hot zones, updated live while you are working. Simply log in and look at the map and you can see these surge zones. There are two ways you can earn the surge: by waiting in one of the zones or driving into one when you accept a delivery request. Whichever amount is higher, you get!

uber eats surge screenshot

What is the difference between boost and surge?

The first difference is a boost is a multiplier vs surge which is a flat fee dollar amount.

The second difference is that boosts are scheduled in advance vs surge pricing is live and constantly updating.

Do you earn more money from surge or boost pricing?

  1. Surge pricing: Surge pricing happens during times of high demand. Uber increases the delivery fare rate to incentivize more drivers to come online and take orders. The advantage of surge pricing is that it can lead to significantly higher earnings for a single delivery. However, it’s unpredictable as it’s based on real-time demand, which can fluctuate rapidly. The additional earnings from surge pricing are immediately visible in the driver’s app.
  2. Boost promotions: Boost is a feature that multiplies your earnings for certain trips during specific times and in certain locations. For example, during lunch and dinner hours, or in certain high-demand areas, Boost promotions are typically communicated in advance, so drivers can plan their schedules around them. This can offer a more predictable increase in earnings, but it might not be as high as surge pricing.

Both surge pricing and boost promotions can help drivers earn more, but which one is “better” depends on individual circumstances. If you are willing and able to drive during peak demand times and in high-demand areas, surge pricing could be quite lucrative. However, the unpredictability might be less appealing to some drivers. On the other hand, if you prefer to plan your schedule in advance and like the predictability of knowing when you’ll earn more, then boost promotions might be a better fit.

Organization Tools for Drivers

Keeping a vehicle organized is a challenge, especially for drivers constantly on the move. Consider gifting a car organizer that fits between seats or hangs from the back of seats, providing compartments for essentials like water bottles, documents, and snacks. A foldable trunk organizer can also help keep cargo neatly in place.

Can you get boost and surge pricing?

Yes! Remember that both surge and boost are designed to incentivize drivers to deliver when and where they’re most needed, so they can often go hand in hand. You might find yourself delivering during a boost period when a surge also kicks in, leading to even higher earnings.

You can also earn extra Uber Eats quest earnings in addition to boost and surge earnings.

Uber Eats Pay Changes

Things have changed a lot since Uber Eats first launched in Toronto back in 2015. Drivers were paid a flat fee for each trip, plus a per/km and per/delivery minute fee. Of course, Uber then took a percentage of that, ranging anywhere from 10% up to 35% of your fare. Despite the trips being relatively easy to understand and calculate (so much so we created a pay calculator) the downside was that you had no idea where you were delivering to.

Now, in 2023, Uber Eats drivers in Toronto are given all the trip information up front before deciding if they want to take the delivery request. This includes the restaurant and delivery location, how far and how long it will take, plus how much you will make on the trip. This allows you to decide whether the trip is worth it or not. The downside is you have no idea how the pay is calculated….you just decide to accept the trip and the rate offered or decline it.

Do you receive tips?

The other difference you need to know is that tips are included in this flat fee amount, AND, customers can remove the tip or change it up to one hour after you complete the delivery. This is a practice called tip-baiting. Tip-baiting is when a customer adds a large tip at the beginning of the order to incentivize you to accept the delivery request and get there fast, only to remove the tip after you have dropped off the food.

Although this practice is rare, there is something you can do about tip-baiting. You will need to contact the Uber support phone number in your app to complain (respectfully) and, most importantly, get transferred to a supervisor/manager. The first person you speak to will not be able to reimburse the tip for you. Be respectful, but firm. After asserting you had an agreement to perform the delivery for a certain amount, and likely some wait time on hold, the supervisor should be able to reinstate the delivery fee. Hopefully, you don’t need to use this advice!

Lastly, always remember you can accept tips in cash too!

Courier Requirements

  • 19+ years old if driving, 18+ years old for cycling or walking
  • Proof of work eligibility: Canadian Passport, Study or Work permit, Canadian Birth Certificate, Permanent Resident or Citizenship Card
  • Criminal background check
  • Phone: Smartphone with data

Vehicle Requirements

  • Ontario G Driver’s License or equivalent
  • Proof of insurance
  • Good driving record (vehicles only)
  • Proof of vehicle registration
  • 2 or 4-door vehicle

UberEATS Toronto Delivery Zone Map

Below you will find the delivery zone for UberEATS Toronto, Ontario. 

UberEATS Toronto Delivery Zones

If you are looking to find the busiest areas for pick up requests, travel to the zone in the solid box below which is the UberEATS Toronto hotspot map. 

UberEATS Toronto Hot Spots Map

GTA UberEATS City List

Most of the rates and requirements in this article apply to all these areas. Drivers are typically permitted to move in and out of all these regions or “zones” whenever they want to deliver for UberEATS, regardless of where they live or where they signed up.

  • Ajax
  • Aurora
  • Barrie
  • Bolton
  • Bowmanville
  • Bradford Gwillimbury
  • Brampton
  • Brooklin
  • Burlington
  • Caledon
  • Halton Hills
  • Innisfil
  • Markham
  • Milton
  • Mississauga
  • Newmarket
  • Oakville
  • Oshawa
  • Pickering
  • Richmond Hill
  • Stouffville
  • Toronto (including North York, Midtown, Scarborough, Etobicoke)
  • Vaughan
  • Whitby

HST and Taxes for Uber Eats Drivers

As an Uber Eats driver, you will NOT require an HST number. UberEATS will collect HST from the customer and remit it to the government. If you drive for a living you may want to consult an accountant regarding HST registration, as it is a requirement for rideshare. But, if you pass a certain amount of income in a year, typically $30K, then you have to remit HST.

Remember that you are not an Uber Eats employee when driving for them. You are an independent contractor. This has many implications, the most important is Uber is not going to hold back money you are supposed to pay for taxes! It is best to speak to a professional about this because if you don’t budget ahead you could end up owing a lot of money to the CRA at the end of the year.

Insurance Requirements

Uber Eats drivers are on their own for insurance. Only rideshare drivers that transport passengers are covered on delivery trips as well as their regular UberX trips. If you drive one of these services also, then you are covered under their commercial policy.

You are required to maintain your personal insurance policy though and submit proof to Uber when signing up.

Most insurance companies require you to disclose to them you are using your vehicle for commercial purposes. Before you start driving, you should talk with your insurance company or agent for more information.

For more information on how insurance works for Uber in Ontario, click here.

Entertainment for Long-Haul Drivers

Entertainment is essential for those marathon drives. Consider gifting audiobooks, a subscription to a music streaming service, or noise-canceling headphones to keep them entertained and focused during those lengthy stretches on the road. A portable DVD player or a tablet loaded with their favorite movies and TV shows can also provide a much-needed escape during rest stops.

5 Step Sign Up Process

Step 1: Visit their website, download and sign up through their app for Android or iPhone, or visit an Uber Greenlight Hub.

Use a friend’s referral code or help support our site by using ours: g4j6h654ue. You can also click on this link

Step 2: Upload the required documents. 

Step 3: Wait for your background check to be completed and Uber to notify you when you have activated.

Step 4: Get an insulated bag (optional).

Step 5: Log on and off the app whenever you want to start accepting delivery requests!

FAQ

Do I need an insulated delivery bag?

Bags are not mandatory but they sure help. Some restaurants insist on having a bag to pick up their food and customers may rate you poorly if they get cold and you do not arrive with a bag.

Some great deals on Amazon have the Uber branding on them in different sizes and styles.

Is Uber Eats Part-Time or Full-Time?

You are free to work part-time or full-time as an Uber Eats driver in Toronto. That is the great thing about this job, it offers tremendous flexibility.

Is there a minimum number of hours I have to work?

Nope! Just log in to the app and go online. You will then begin to receive “Pings”, which are on-demand requests for deliveries. Accept or decline requests and log off whenever you want! U

General drivers’ gift categories

Contact Information

Uber support number: 1-800-593-7069 (only for current drivers)
Twitter Support: Uber_support
Uber Help Center: Help Center
UberEATS support number: 1-800-617-1979 (for drivers currently on deliveries)

You can also access the phone number in your Driver App too.

Toronto Greenlight Hub (PERMANENTLY CLOSED )

120 Lynn Williams St., 2nd floor
Toronto, Ontario
M6K 3R6

Unfortunately Uber closed the doors to its Toronto office so you will have to head to Scarborough or Mississauga if you need in-person help.

Scarborough Greenlight Hub

1457 McCowan Road, Suite 217
Toronto, Ontario
M1S 5K7

Monday-Friday: 10 am-5 pm
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed

Mississauga Greenlight Hub

Town Centre Plaza II
1457 McCowan Road, Suite 217
Toronto, ON M1S 5K7

Monday-Friday: 10 am-5 pm
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed


About The Author: Commercial Driver HQ

Commercial Driver HQ strives to provide you with quality information about driving for a living. Whether you’re an Uber driver or a long-haul trucker, we are here to help you succeed!

For everything rideshare and commercial driving, follow us at CDHQ!


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