E-Bike for Grubhub Delivery: How It Works and What You Need (2026)
How to deliver for Grubhub on an e-bike — requirements, sign-up steps, which cities allow bikes, what to look for in a bike, safety, and how to earn more.
You don’t need a car to earn with Grubhub. In the right city, an e-bike lets you skip traffic, cut costs, and start delivering fast. Here’s how Grubhub bike delivery works, exactly what you need to sign up, and how to pick an e-bike that keeps you earning — and legal.
Can you do Grubhub on a bike?
Yes — in select markets. Grubhub supports bicycle delivery in a number of large, dense cities, including New York City, San Francisco, Chicago, and Washington, DC. If bike delivery is available where you are, you’ll be offered the option to choose it at the start of your application. In areas that don’t support it, Grubhub only offers car and motorcycle delivery.
The big advantage: you don’t need a driver’s license to deliver by bike. A state ID works, which makes bike delivery one of the most accessible ways into gig work.
Grubhub bike delivery requirements
Grubhub keeps the bar low. To deliver by bike or e-bike you’ll need to:
- Be at least 18 (21 in Las Vegas).
- Have a valid state ID or driver’s license — a state ID is fine for bike couriers; no driver’s license required.
- Provide your Social Security number for the background check.
- Have a smartphone with a data plan to run the Grubhub for Drivers app.
- Have a checking account for direct deposit.
- Pass a background check (usually clears within about a week).
No car, no vehicle inspection, and no delivery experience required. After your first delivery, Grubhub also sends you a free insulated bag to keep orders hot.
How to sign up, step by step
- Go to driver.grubhub.com or download the Grubhub for Drivers app.
- Enter your details and choose your delivery market — the app will show whether bike delivery is available there.
- Select “Bicycle” as your delivery mode.
- Upload your state ID (or license) and enter your Social Security number.
- Consent to the background check and wait for approval.
- Set up direct deposit, then open the app, schedule a block or go available, and start accepting offers.
Why use an e-bike for Grubhub?
A regular bike works, but an e-bike changes the math. The motor lets you cover more ground, carry heavy bags without wearing out, and handle a full shift — all while avoiding the gas, parking, and insurance costs that eat into a car driver’s pay. In dense cities, an e-bike is often the fastest and cheapest way to deliver, which is exactly why so many couriers ride one.
What to look for in a Grubhub e-bike
Delivery is hard on a bike. Prioritize:
- All-day range or battery swapping — enough to last a full shift.
- A UL 2849-certified bike and battery — a safety essential, and required by law for app-based delivery in New York City.
- Cargo capacity — a solid rear rack for your insulated bag.
- A throttle — handy for constant stop-and-go city riding.
- Theft protection and durability — so a repair or theft doesn’t wipe out your earnings.
- No credit check and a rent-to-own option — if you’d rather start cheap and work toward owning the bike.
Where Whizz fits: Whizz rents delivery-ready, UL-certified e-bikes — with battery swapping available, no credit check, and a rent-to-own path — in cities where Grubhub bike delivery runs, including NYC, Chicago, San Francisco, and Washington, DC. Compare any option against the checklist above and see current Whizz plans.
Rent or buy?
Buying an e-bike outright means a big upfront cost and every repair on you. Renting or renting-to-own spreads the cost into a weekly or monthly payment, often bundles theft protection, and — with rent-to-own — puts your payments toward eventually owning the bike. Either way, the cost of an e-bike you use to earn is a deductible business expense; see our guide to delivery driver tax deductions for what you can write off.
E-bike safety and NYC rules
Grubhub’s own safety guidance for e-bike couriers lines up with fire-department advice — and it’s worth following:
- Charge with the original equipment, plugged straight into a wall outlet.
- Never leave a battery charging unattended overnight.
- Store and charge at room temperature, in a well-ventilated space.
- Don’t modify or repair the battery yourself.
- Know your city’s e-bike laws, ride with traffic, and stay off the sidewalk.
In New York City there’s more: commercial bike couriers must carry a laminated ID card and display a numbered plate on the rear of the bike, use an insulated bag, and complete the DOT safety training. Your e-bike must also be UL 2849-certified to deliver for the apps. See NYC e-bike laws for delivery workers and UL 2849 e-bike battery safety for the full picture.
Tips to earn more on Grubhub
- Schedule blocks. Grubhub rewards scheduled drivers with priority for orders — booking blocks during peak times helps.
- Ride the rushes. Lunch and dinner mean more orders and better tips.
- Stay in dense zones. More restaurants and customers nearby means shorter trips and more deliveries per hour.
- Multi-app. Many riders run Grubhub alongside other platforms to cut downtime between orders.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need a driver’s license to do Grubhub on a bike?
No. A valid state ID is enough for bicycle delivery — a driver’s license is only required for car delivery.
Which cities have Grubhub bike delivery?
Bike delivery runs in select large markets such as New York City, San Francisco, Chicago, and Washington, DC. The app will tell you whether it’s available when you choose your market during sign-up.
Can I rent an e-bike for Grubhub?
Yes. You can rent or rent-to-own a delivery e-bike and use it for Grubhub. Renting avoids a large upfront cost and usually includes theft protection, and the payments are a deductible business expense.
Does Grubhub give you a bike or a bag?
Grubhub doesn’t provide a bike — you supply your own. It does send a free insulated delivery bag after your first delivery, though you can use any insulated bag you like.
Is Grubhub bike delivery worth it?
In a dense, bike-friendly city it can be. You skip gas, parking, and insurance costs, and short urban trips suit a bike well. Earnings vary by market, hours, and demand.
The bottom line
If you’re in a city where Grubhub supports it, bike delivery is one of the easiest, lowest-cost ways to start earning — no car and no driver’s license needed. Sign up, choose “Bicycle,” pick a delivery-ready, UL-certified e-bike with the range and durability to last a shift, and follow safe charging habits. Do that, and you’ll spend more time earning and less time dealing with the bike.
Ready to ride? Whizz e-bikes are built and supported for all-day city delivery — UL-certified, with battery swapping available and no credit check — in the cities where Grubhub bike delivery runs. Explore Whizz e-bikes to get started.
Related: Can you do Grubhub on a bike?, How much do Grubhub drivers make?, and Best e-bike for food delivery.
