When a teen gets their first driver's license, they achieve one of their first tastes of freedom. But with this freedom also comes responsibility, namely, the responsibility to pay for this freedom. A teen will need to get a job to cover the costs of car insurance, gas, and maintenance.
Jobs a Teen Could Get After Getting Their First Driver's License
The first jobs that probably come to mind for teens for a driver's license are rideshare driver or food delivery driver. However, most require the driver to be at least 18 if not 21 years or older. But don't worry! If you want to be one of the 55% of teens who are employed in the U.S., there are plenty of other options available.
Start Mowing Lawns
One of the more profitable jobs a teen can do over the summer requiring a vehicle is landscaping. You can go from home to home taking care of landscaping needs in local neighborhoods, using your car, SUV, or truck to transport all of your equipment. You can even turn this into shoveling snow in the winter.
As long as you are willing to work hard, you can rack up the number of clients you have, earning you even more money. The drawbacks include long, hot summer days around noisy equipment, being weather-dependent, and having to maintain all of your equipment.
Try Delivering Newspapers
When you think of newspaper delivery drivers, you probably think of a kid on a bicycle tossing newspapers at houses. While this is one way the job can be done, using a car will only speed up the process, allowing you to finish your route faster. The benefits and drawbacks are one and the same. You can have this job finished before you start school in the morning, but that also means you have to be up extra early to do it. Just be sure you aren't driving in a restricted time period.
Tutor Local Students
If you are a student who excels in a particular subject or is just at the top of your class, you have the potential to become an at-home tutor. Whether it's for students your own age or those below you, you just need to prove to their parents you are capable of helping them in a subject. Having a car makes it easier to drive to whoever's house you need to.
To find prospective clients you can post ads online, at the grocery store, or even at the local library. Usually, tutoring takes place right after school, so it would leave most of your evening free. You just need the patience to teach others who may struggle in school.
Become an Errand Runner
Not everyone has the spare time or capability to run the errands that they need to. This is where you come in. You can find clients like elderly people who are unable to leave their homes but need groceries or medications, or businesses that need local tasks completed.
You'll feel rewarded by helping out the elderly or those with disabilities with the things they need to still live a normal life, all while setting your own schedule. There are a few downsides to this job including having to find all of your own clients, inconsistent availability of work, and having to pay for your own gas.
Stay Safe While Driving at Your Job
One of the most important things to remember while using your car to work is that you still have to make sure to follow all of the rules of the road. You may get distracted easily by thinking about your next destination or the details of your job, but you can't lose focus on the road.
You can get your license so you can get your first job by signing up for a driver's ed course at DriversEd.com. You'll learn all of the rules of the road and ways to stay safe all from the comfort of your own home.