How to become an Amazon Flex Driver in Australia
Delivery with Amazon flex has become a well-known side hustle for international students to make extra income.
One main need is for you to have your car, so if you fit into this requirement then Amazon flex driving could be your next side job for extra money.
In short words, Amazon flex hires available or on-demand drivers to deliver packages from their delivery stations to customers.
In this blog, we are giving a complete guide about how to become an Amazon Flex Driver in Australia.
Let’s go!
What is Amazon Flex?
Amazon Flex is a part of Amazon Australia’s effort to deliver products to their customers with quick delivery.
So, Amazon decided to hire gig economy workers to deliver these parcels while reducing their reliance on other courier services like Australia Post, Star Track, Toll etc.
Requirements for working as an Amazon Flex Driver in Australia
Before you can work with Amazon Flex, certain requirements need to be met.
- Age – You must be at least 20 years or older.
- Valid Driver’s licence – You must have full unrestricted Australian Driver’s licence. Overseas driver’s licences are not acceptable when applying for Amazon Flex.
- Background check – Before you are allowed to work in Australia, a background check must be issued and also a right-to-work check.
- ABN – When you are delivering with Amazon flex, you are considered to be running your own business. So, you need to get your ABN (Australia Business Number) and you can learn to apply for an ABN here .
- A car – when delivering with Amazon Flex, the only mode of transport acceptable is delivery by car. So, in case you don’t have or can’t afford a car, you have a choice to rent one.
- Insurance: You must meet the minimum insurance requirements, including Compulsory Third Party insurance.
- A smartphone – This is the most basic requirement. You need to have a smartphone to access the Amazon Flex App and select your blocks for delivery and get payment notifications. Getting a good Android or IOS device that meets Amazon flex specifications is a plus.
- Amazon Flex App – you need to download the Amazon Flex App and open a profile with Amazon flex before working with them.
- Bluecard training: If you are going to deliver with Amazon Flex in New South Wales, then you need to complete Bluecard training as well.
Detailed steps on how to sign up as an Amazon Flex Driver in Australia
When signing up to deliver with Amazon Flex, some necessary details and paperwork may be needed.
Here is a step-by-step guide on how to sign up as an Amazon flex delivery driver:
Step 1: Download the Amazon flex App or Sign up on the Amazon flex website.
This is the first step to take when signing up with Amazon flex. You can either download the app and sign up from there or you can sign up using their website.
You can use your existing Amazon.com.au details to sign up or you can create a new account.
When you download the app, some details will need to be provided to sign up with Amazon flex.
- First name
- Last name
- Password
- City
- Phone number.
Once signed in, you will be required to select the region and provide the correct vehicle type you will be using for the deliveries.
Step 2: Upload the necessary documents
A section may be shown to you for the necessary documentation to be uploaded. These documents will be related to your personal identification, driving license, insurance and tax requirements, etc.
These documents could include but are not limited to:
- A valid ID – Passport, Australia Birth certificate, government-issued photo card, or a immicard may be required.
- Australian driver’s licence– A valid Australian driver’s license may also be needed.
- ABN– An Australian Business Number is also required since you are considered to be running your own business.
- Vehicle Registration and insurance – Proof of your vehicle registration and insurance covers may also be a requirement if you plan to deliver with them.
You will also need to watch some of Amazon Flex’s videos to learn best practices for delivering with Amazon.
Step 3: Apply for a Background check and right to work check
Once you have uploaded the necessary documents, then you have to apply for a background check and right-to-work check which are done together and at the same time.
This background check is done through Accurate, Amazon’s background check partner and this can take up to 3 to 14 business days or even less at times.
The reason for a background check is to check for your criminal history or record and once you have applied for this check, the results will be sent to Amazon flex.
The optimal turnaround time for a background check is 3 to 14 business days.
If you need support during the signup process or background check, then you should get in touch with Amazon Flex support. You may contact them through email at [email protected] or by phone at 1800 290 564, which is open every day from 8:00 am to 9:00 pm PT.
Amazon will inform you of the reasons for its decision if it rejects your application, including:
- A car or smartphone that doesn’t meet their specifications.
- Incomplete documentation
- Failed background check
The right-to-work check is done to check for your work entitlements in Australia. This is done together with the background check and there is no cost for this.
If you are based in New South Wales, you will need to also complete Blue Card Training as well after completing your background check. At the time of writing this blog, this cost is covered by Amazon Flex.
Step 4: Reserve a Delivery Block
Unlike food delivery services like Uber Eats or ride-sharing services like Uber, you can’t do deliveries all day or whenever you want.
So after your account has been set up, and you have uploaded the necessary documents. Your next step is to reserve a delivery block.
You will need to reserve a delivery block that matches your schedule. A delivery block is like a schedule of deliveries. These blocks will appear on your app, and you will need to select these blocks.
Amazon offers these blocks throughout the day at different frequencies.
You simply need to look for an available delivery block that works best for you and reserve it. This lets Amazon know when you are available for delivery and customers when packages are meant to arrive. You can select as many available blocks as you can deliver.
With each delivery block, your reserve comes with the expected earnings for that delivery and the amount of time it will take you to complete the delivery from your current location.
Step 5: Make Deliveries
Once you have reserved the delivery blocks of your choice, your job is to then pick up packages from the delivery stations and deliver packages to the named addresses on each block.
The Amazon Flex App will help navigate where these blocks are located and the estimated time for delivery from your location.
Step 6: Get paid
When you make deliveries on these blocks, you will get paid by Amazon Flex once a week via a direct deposit or bank transfer. You can track your earnings in the Amazon Flex App.
Modes of transport
When delivering with Amazon Flex, the only mode of transport acceptable is by car or a van.
This is because other modes of transport may not accommodate the packages needed for delivery or guarantee their safety.
You normally carry many delivery packages at the same time, not just one, and this makes the use of a larger car the most ideal mode of transport for it.
You can check your vehicle eligibility requirements using the Amazon vehicle eligibility calculator here.
Before you deliver for Amazon Flex with your car, you need to have a full Australian Driver’s licence and also have a car that meets the Amazon flex car requirements. These include:
- A four-door, midsize Sedan, SUV, large passenger vehicle, or cargo Van
- Valid car insurance and compulsory third-party injury cover
Please note that two-door passenger vehicles, trucks and utes with open beds or trays are ineligible for deliveries with Amazon Flex.
How much it costs to get started as an Amazon Flex Driver?
Now, the cost of getting started to work with Amazon flex will depend on a few factors. But to give you an idea, here are some costs you need to be mindful of when starting with Amazon flex.
- A large car or a van approx. $8000 or more.
- A Smartphone approx. $300 or more.
- A background check and right-to-work check. $40
- A phone data plan approx. $50 or more.
- ABN application is $0 if you do yours on your own or $80 if it’s done through an accountant.
How much money can you potentially earn while driving for Amazon Flex?
The main question for anyone who wants to venture into this side job is how much they can earn.
According to Amazon Australia website, sedan drivers earn a minimum of $114 for a 4-hour block, $171 for a 6.5-hour Large Passenger Vehicle block and $225 for an 8-hour Cargo Van block in Australia.
If you take the minimum amount for the sedan car, then it comes to $28.50 per hour, for large passenger vehicle, it comes out to be $26.30 per hour and for Cargo van, it works out to be $28.12 per hour.
Remember, you can check your earnings via the Amazon Flex app.
Depending on these factors and how many deliveries you made in a week, you get paid by Amazon flex through a direct bank deposit.
Which locations can I deliver with Amazon Flex?
Currently, Amazon Flex is available in most major metro cities, including:
• Sydney
• Melbourne
• Brisbane
• Perth
• Newcastle
• Gold Coast
• Adelaide
• Gosford – coming soon, March 2023
You can look up for specific locations in each of these cities via Amazon’s website.
Advantages of being an Amazon Flex Driver
- You will be your own boss – This is one of the best benefits of being an Amazon flex driver since you will be one who makes decisions, directs your actions and works for yourself.
- High and reliable compensation in comparison to equivalent occupations – You will get paid handsomely according to how many deliveries and hours you work, which can be comparable to the payment of many full-time jobs.
- Very little client contact – You will need to make little to no contact with clients, since your job is just to deliver packages and take signatures of clients for evidence of delivery.
- Adaptable schedule benefits – you deliver with the time frame that works best for you, according to the hours you are free and to your schedule.
Disadvantages of being an Amazon Flex Driver
- Difficult to regularly find shifts – This is mostly due to competing with several other drivers to get blocks and find shifts for delivery.
- To get shifts, you must outbid hundreds of other drivers, unlike ride-sharing applications – Before you can get a shift, you will have to place your bid for it on time in order to outbid other hundreds of drivers who may also bid for it.
- The time frames may not always be sufficient to finish a greater number of deliveries – At times, the time frames for each delivery might be too tight for you to meet up, since you would have to make other deliveries in close variations of hours.
