Gig Work · All Provinces · April 2026 · 8 min read
Uber Eats, DoorDash, Skip the Dishes, Amazon Flex — What Licence Do You Actually Need?
You want to start delivering food or packages for extra cash. You download the app, start signing up, and immediately wonder: can I do this with my current licence? The answer depends on which app, which province, and whether you are delivering food or people.
The Quick Reference Table
Here is what you need at a glance. The details and gotchas are below.
| Platform | Ontario | BC | Alberta |
|---|---|---|---|
| Uber Eats | G2 or G (19+) | Class 5 or 7N | Class 5 |
| DoorDash | G2 or G (18+) | Class 5 or 7N | Class 5 |
| Skip the Dishes | G2 or G | Class 5 or 7N | Class 5 |
| Amazon Flex | Full G only | Full Class 5 only | Full Class 5 only |
| Uber (passengers) | Full G (21+) | Class 4 | Class 4 |
| Lyft (passengers) | Full G (25+) | Class 4 | Class 4 |
Red = stricter requirement than standard licence. Always confirm on the official app website.
Food Delivery: The Easiest to Start
If you just want to deliver food — Uber Eats, DoorDash, or Skip the Dishes — the licence requirements are surprisingly low. In Ontario, a G2 is enough for all three. In BC and Alberta, you need at least a Class 5 (or even a 7N for some platforms in BC).
This makes food delivery the fastest gig to start. No commercial licence upgrade, no medical exam, no extra road test. You sign up, pass a background check, and start delivering. DoorDash lets you start at 18 in Ontario. Uber Eats wants you to be 19.
The insurance trap nobody warns you about
Your personal auto insurance almost certainly does not cover you while delivering food for money. If you get into an accident during a delivery and your insurer finds out, they can deny your claim entirely. Get a delivery endorsement on your policy. It costs $20-50 per month depending on your insurer, and it is the difference between being covered and being financially ruined over a $6 McDonald's order.
Amazon Flex: The Strictest of the Delivery Apps
Amazon Flex is the outlier. Unlike food delivery apps, Amazon Flex requires a full licence — no G2 in Ontario, no Class 7N in BC. Their system permanently blocks intermediate licences. If you try to sign up with a G2, the app will reject you and there is no appeal.
Why is Amazon stricter? Because Flex drivers handle larger packages, drive for longer distances, and often use Amazon-provided routes that include highways. Amazon's liability is higher, so their requirements are higher.
If you are working toward your full G in Ontario or Class 5 in BC/Alberta, stick with Uber Eats or DoorDash in the meantime. Once you upgrade, Amazon Flex opens up — and it typically pays better per hour than food delivery.
Ride-Share vs Food Delivery: A Completely Different Licence
This is where people get confused. Delivering food for Uber Eats and driving passengers for Uber are two completely different things with completely different licence requirements.
Delivering food
Standard licence is enough (G2/G in Ontario, Class 5 in BC/AB). No commercial upgrade needed. No medical exam. Sign up and go.
Driving passengers
Ontario: full G. BC & Alberta: Class 4 commercial licence. Medical exam, road test, background check, commercial insurance. Weeks or months of prep.
Many people start with food delivery and then upgrade to ride-share once they realize they want to earn more. Carrying passengers pays better per trip, but the Class 4 licence requirement in BC and Alberta is a real barrier. Our ride-share licence guide covers the Class 4 process in detail.
Ontario G2 Drivers: What You Can and Cannot Do
If you have a G2 in Ontario, you are in a sweet spot for gig work. Here is exactly what your G2 allows:
Uber Eats — food delivery (must be 19+)
DoorDash — food delivery (must be 18+)
Skip the Dishes — food delivery
Amazon Flex — requires full G licence
Uber (ride-share) — requires full G, age 21+
Lyft — requires full G, age 25+
Working toward your full G while doing food delivery is actually a smart move. You are building driving hours (which makes you a better driver for the road test) and earning money at the same time. Just make sure your insurance covers delivery work.
BC and Alberta: What Changes With Each Licence Level
Class 7 Learner
Cannot do any gig work. You need a supervisor in the car at all times and cannot use the vehicle commercially.
Class 7 Novice (BC) / Class 5 GDL (Alberta)
Some food delivery apps accept this in BC. Check each app individually. Cannot do ride-share or Amazon Flex.
Class 5 (Full)
All food delivery apps. Amazon Flex. Cannot drive ride-share passengers (need Class 4 for that).
Class 4 (Commercial)
Everything. All delivery apps plus Uber/Lyft ride-share. The full commercial licence opens every gig driving opportunity.
Beyond the Licence: What Else You Need
The licence is step one. Here is what every platform also requires:
Background check — every platform runs one. DoorDash uses Checkr. Uber has their own process. Takes 3-7 days.
Vehicle requirements — must be insured, registered, and typically less than 10-20 years old depending on platform and city.
Delivery insurance endorsement — not legally required everywhere but strongly recommended. $20-50/month. Protects you if you crash during a delivery.
SIN / tax registration — you are a self-employed contractor. You need to report gig income. If you earn over $30,000/year, you need GST/HST registration.
Work authorization — Canadian passport, PR card, or valid work permit. International students should check their work permit conditions carefully.
The Earning Path: From Food Delivery to Ride-Share
Many gig drivers follow this progression:
Start with Uber Eats or DoorDash on a G2 / Class 5 — lowest barrier, start earning immediately
Upgrade to full G / Class 5 — unlock Amazon Flex (better pay per hour)
Multi-app — run DoorDash + Uber Eats + Skip simultaneously for less downtime
Get Class 4 (BC/AB) — add Uber/Lyft ride-share for higher per-trip earnings
Each step unlocks higher earning potential. The Class 4 is the biggest jump — ride-share pays significantly more than food delivery on a per-hour basis, especially during peak hours and weekend nights.
Getting your licence? Start studying now.
Free practice tests for every licence level — from G1 learner to Class 4 commercial.