Amazon Flex: 10 tips to get you started

What is Amazon Flex? It’s a great way to generate extra income! This platform is one of the best opportunities to work on a temporary or permanent basis without the need for an office or specific degree. As an Amazon Flex courier, you have total freedom to choose your own schedule, as long as you respond in a timely manner to the deliveries that you’ve been assigned throughout the day. Discover 10 tips for getting started with Amazon Flex.

Sign up

The first thing you should do is download the app to your mobile device. There you will find all the requirements for working on the platform. The advantage is that this registration can be completed with your existing Amazon account. Although if you want to keep your personal account separate, it is recommended to create a completely new one that is only used to receive Amazon Flex orders.

Collect the necessary documents for Amazon Flex

To work as an Amazon Flex courier, you need the following: a social security number, a valid driver’s license, and a bank account number. In addition, it will be essential to have a valid car insurance policy, as well as an official identification that proves that you are over 21 years old. Finally, you must provide your bank statements and tax returns.

Get a vehicle for deliveries

To start working as an Amazon Flex courier, a four-door sedan, van, or SUV is required. Small cars and open cargo vans do not qualify for this service. Nor do vehicles such as motorcycles, scooters or motorized bicycles qualify, since you will be delivering packages.

Get a smartphone

Person checking his mobile for deliveries — Shutterstock

In the case of Amazon Flex, applicants must meet some requirements. These include having a phone with iOS or Android 6.0 operating system and 2 GB or more of RAM. The phone also needs to have a camera with a flash, GPS services and a SIM card. If you have an iPhone, it must be generation 6S or higher and the operating system must be iOS 13 or newer.

Pass a background check

If Amazon takes something seriously, it is the security of both delivery people and customers. This is not only to ensure that the packages arrive in good condition, but also to verify that deliverers do not have a criminal record. For this reason, Amazon Flex will ask all registered users to provide information related to their legal history, and will do a thorough review of their driving history.

Get car insurance

Check that the auto insurance you have is compatible with the requirements requested by Amazon Flex. It may be different depending on the state in which you plan to make deliveries, although as a starting point you need personal coverage. All delivery drivers, except those who work in New York, receive a free commercial auto insurance policy that, among other things, includes liability coverage.

Customize your Amazon Flex account

Amazon Flex allows you to customize your account based on the workload you want, your type of car, and the type of packages you’re eligible to deliver. It is important to share all this information at the time of your registration (and before you start your deliveries) to ensure that you only receive the orders that you can fulfill during the day.

Choose the type of delivery

A man making parcel deliveries — Shutterstock

Amazon Flex offers different types of delivery, such as Amazon Logistics, Prime Now, Amazon Fresh and Amazon Restaurant. Each is slightly different. In all cases, the delivery periods may have variations in delivery time, length of the routes, the volume of the assigned parcels and the competition between couriers for receiving assignments.

Study how the platform works

Before and during registration, Amazon Flex will recommend that you watch some videos to familiarize yourself with how the platform works and the guidelines that you must follow as a delivery person for your work to be successful. The next step will be to start accepting new orders. To proceed with the first delivery, open the application and click on the «Upcoming Offers» option, where you can see the current offers and choose the one that best suits your needs.

Estimate how much your payment will be

Please note that Amazon Flex processes payments every Tuesday and Friday. Payment is deposited directly to your registered account within 24 hours, although it may be delayed on holidays. Typically, as an Amazon Flex courier, you’ll be paid around $18-$25 per hour, though this may vary depending on the city you deliver to and how much you’re tipped by customers.

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