Renting a Cargo Van, Minivan or Pickup for Delivery and Moving Gigs
Rent a cargo van, minivan or pickup by the week for Amazon Flex, GoShare, Lugg and Roadie: which gigs pay more for a big vehicle, rates and rules.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- A bigger vehicle opens gigs a sedan cannot do: moving apps such as Lugg pay around $28 an hour in a pickup, $32 in a cargo van and $42 in a box truck, plus tips.
- On GigCarFinder, minivans typically rent for $400 a week, cargo vans for $425 and pickups for $380, against $349 for the typical listing.
- Check the platform before you rent: GoShare and Lugg vet the vehicle and its insurance, and some require the policy in your own name, so a rental works on some apps and not others.
- A minivan is the most flexible choice. It qualifies for Uber XL, Amazon Flex and bulk grocery orders, and it costs far less to run than a cargo van.
- Bigger vehicles burn more fuel and usually come with mileage caps. Use the calculator below to compare a sedan on food delivery against a van on moving and large-item work for your hours.
A sedan can do rideshare and food delivery. It cannot do the gigs that pay by the cubic foot: furniture and appliance moves, large-item store deliveries and the bulk grocery orders that need a folded-down back row. Those gigs pay more per hour, they are less crowded, and they need a minivan, a cargo van or a pickup.
This guide covers renting one by the week on GigCarFinder: which platforms pay more for a bigger vehicle and how much, what each one requires from the vehicle and the driver, what vans and pickups actually rent for right now, and how to work out whether the extra rent and fuel pay off. It also covers the one trap specific to this segment: some moving apps vet the vehicle and its insurance in ways a rental may not pass.
Which gigs pay more for a bigger vehicle
| Platform | What a bigger vehicle unlocks | Vehicle rules (2026) | Pay signal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon Flex | Package delivery blocks | Four-door mid-size sedan or larger; SUVs, vans and covered-bed pickups qualify | Amazon quotes $18 to $25 an hour for most drivers and does not publish a higher rate for larger vehicles |
| Lugg | On-demand moving and store delivery | Pickup, cargo van or box truck; drivers 21 or older; insurance requirements on the vehicle | About $28 an hour in a pickup, $32 in a cargo van, $42 in a box truck, plus tips |
| GoShare | Moving, hauling and business delivery, priced by vehicle tier | Pickup, cargo van or box truck, 2004 or newer; background check; $49 onboarding fee | Advertised $45 to $168 an hour by tier; reported averages closer to $19 to $30 an hour once waiting time is counted |
| Roadie (UPS) | Oversized and long-distance items | Any vehicle; larger vehicles qualify for bigger, better-paying items | Per-gig pricing rises with item size and distance |
| Dolly, TaskRabbit moving | Furniture moves and store pickups | Pickup or cargo van for the driver-with-vehicle roles | Per-job, typically higher than a delivery hour |
| Instacart, Walmart Spark | Large and multi-order batches | Any reliable, insured vehicle | Bigger batches, more items per hour |
| Uber XL, Lyft XL | Seven-seat rides at 1.5 to 2 times UberX | Minivan or three-row SUV with seven seats, four doors | Rideshare income on the same vehicle |
The pattern: a minivan is the cheapest way into large-vehicle gig work and the only one that also does rideshare. A cargo van earns the most on moving apps and business delivery. A pickup sits between and is the vehicle GoShare and Lugg see most.
The insurance trap: confirm the platform accepts a rental
Rideshare and food delivery apps do not care whose name is on the vehicle registration; a rental with commercial coverage works. Moving apps are stricter. Lugg asks for insurance on the vehicle in the driver's own name in some markets, and GoShare inspects the vehicle and its coverage at onboarding. Before you pay for a van:
- Read the platform's current vehicle and insurance requirements for your city.
- Ask the owner whether other renters have been approved on that platform with this vehicle. Fleets on GigCarFinder that rent to moving-app drivers usually say so in the listing.
- Get the insurance certificate and check the named insured and the permitted use.
Amazon Flex, Roadie, Instacart, Spark and the rideshare XL tiers accept rented vehicles with appropriate coverage.
What vans and pickups cost by the week
Figures marked live are computed from the 13 vehicles published on GigCarFinder as of November 2026 and update automatically.
Across the 13 vehicles published on GigCarFinder in 11 cities, the typical listing is $349 a week. Larger vehicles rent for more:
| Vehicle type | Listings | Lowest | Typical (median) | Highest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minivan | — | $350/wk | $400/wk | $460/wk |
| Cargo van | — | $380/wk | $425/wk | $480/wk |
| Pickup | — | $330/wk | $380/wk | $440/wk |
Beyond the rent, plan for three things a sedan driver does not:
- Fuel. A cargo van does 15 to 20 miles per gallon loaded; a gas minivan 20 to 25; a Sienna Hybrid 35 or more. On a 1,000-mile week that is a $100 to $200 difference in fuel between a hybrid minivan and a cargo van.
- Mileage caps. Owners cap miles on vans more often than on sedans because the wear is heavier. Moving gigs are local, so a 1,000 or 1,500 mile cap is usually fine; long-distance Roadie work is not.
- Equipment. Moving apps expect straps, blankets and a dolly. Some rentals include them; most do not.
Run the numbers: sedan vs. van
The calculator compares a week of food delivery in a standard sedan against the same hours of moving and large-item work in a cargo van. The rental defaults are today's typical rates on GigCarFinder; the gross rates are a rounded $22 an hour for delivery and $32 for cargo-van moving work from Lugg's published figures. Lower the van rate to see where waiting time between jobs erodes the advantage.
Choosing between a minivan, a cargo van and a pickup
| Minivan | Cargo van | Pickup | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Amazon Flex, Instacart, Uber XL, mixed weeks | Lugg, GoShare, business and furniture delivery | GoShare, Lugg, Roadie oversized items, landscaping and hauling gigs |
| Typical weekly rent on GigCarFinder | $400 | $425 | $380 |
| Fuel cost | Lowest, especially hybrid | Highest | High |
| Passenger work | Yes, XL with seven seats | No | No |
| Weather-protected cargo | Yes | Yes | Only with a cover or cap |
| Loading | Low floor, sliding doors | High roof, bulkhead, tie-downs | Open bed, easy forklift access |
For most drivers reading this, the minivan wins: it is the only vehicle in the table that can do rideshare on Friday night and a bulky Flex route on Saturday morning. Choose a cargo van only if moving work will be most of your week, and a pickup if the apps you want to run ask for one.
What to check before you apply
- Platform acceptance, as above. Ask specifically about the apps you plan to run.
- Mileage policy and overage rate. Vans are capped more often; the rate per extra mile decides whether long jobs are worth taking.
- Cargo and liability coverage. Confirm the policy covers commercial delivery, and ask who is responsible for damage to customers' goods. Moving apps carry some coverage for the items; your own liability is a separate question.
- Condition and equipment. Photograph the cargo area, tie-down points and any existing damage at pickup. Ask whether blankets, straps and a dolly are included.
- Deposit and minimum term. As with any gig rental: how much, when it is returned, and how much notice to give.
Search minivans, cargo vans or pickups on GigCarFinder, or filter by the Moving & hauling platform tag to see vehicles owners list specifically for this work.
For owners: vans rent higher and rent longer
Owners on GigCarFinder rent cargo vans for a typical $425 a week and minivans for $400, against $349 for the typical listing, and moving-gig renters tend to keep a vehicle for months. The costs to plan for are heavier wear, higher commercial insurance on a cargo van, and a smaller pool of renters than for sedans. Tagging a listing with Moving & hauling and Amazon Flex reaches the drivers who search for exactly this. The owner's guide and its earnings calculator apply directly.
Sources
Marketplace figures (rates by vehicle type and the typical listing) are computed from the vehicles published on GigCarFinder and refresh automatically. External figures come from:
- Gridwise: Amazon Flex requirements 2026 and Lugg: Amazon driver jobs and pay 2026
- Lugg: truck driver pay by vehicle in 2026 and Lugg: GoShare driver vs. Lugg
- Shift Tracker: is GoShare worth it for drivers, 2026 pay by vehicle tier and ZipRecruiter: GoShare driver salary
- Dropcurb: pickup truck delivery jobs 2026
- RideWise: UberXL car list 2026
Platform vehicle and insurance rules change by city and over time. Confirm them with each platform before you rent a vehicle for it.
Frequently asked questions
Can I rent a cargo van for Amazon Flex?
Yes. Amazon Flex accepts rented vehicles with appropriate insurance, and a cargo van, SUV, minivan or covered-bed pickup qualifies. Amazon does not publish a higher rate for larger vehicles, so weigh the extra rent and fuel against the cargo room. Search cargo vans on GigCarFinder and confirm the coverage with the owner.
Does Lugg or GoShare accept a rented vehicle?
Sometimes. Both vet the vehicle and its insurance at onboarding, and Lugg asks for insurance in the driver’s own name in some markets. Read the current requirements for your city, and ask the owner whether other renters have been approved on that platform with the vehicle before you pay.
How much does it cost to rent a cargo van by the week for gig work?
On GigCarFinder, cargo vans typically rent for more than the standard sedan, with minivans and pickups between the two; the live figures in this guide update from current listings. Insurance and maintenance are usually included; fuel, which runs higher on a van, is not.
Is a minivan or a cargo van better for gig work?
A minivan for most drivers: it qualifies for Uber XL, Amazon Flex and bulk grocery orders, and a hybrid minivan uses a third of the fuel of a cargo van. Choose a cargo van only if moving-app and business-delivery work will be most of your week.
How much do moving-gig drivers make with a van or truck?
Lugg publishes averages of about $28 an hour in a pickup, $32 in a cargo van and $42 in a box truck, plus tips. GoShare advertises higher tier rates, but reported averages are closer to $19 to $30 an hour once waiting time between jobs is counted.
Do I need a commercial driver’s licence for a cargo van or box truck?
Not for the vehicles covered here. Cargo vans, pickups and the small box trucks used by Lugg and GoShare are under the weight that requires a CDL. Larger box trucks can be a different story; check the vehicle’s gross weight rating and your state’s rules.
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