Ways to make money with your car

By Stanley Makombe | 5h ago

While owning a car is often perceived as an expense, it can be transformed into an asset that brings in extra income.

Considering that your car is the second most valuable asset after the house and, therefore, it is strategic to come up with ways to monetise your asset, tap into new income streams and perhaps help you take control of your financial affairs.

The timing for this conservation is idle as the majority among us are already suffering from the “January disease” syndrome, which seems to be a consistent symptom every beginning of the year. Let us drive through the details;

Renting out your car: Sharing your vehicle for profit

Do you have a second car gathering dust in your garage? Do you work from home or on flexible hours? If your answers are yes in both cases, then you are indeed a candidate for potential revenue generation using your car. Provide chauffer driven car rental services in which you can drive the car by yourself or use a reliable driver. Similarly, you can register with Indrive and Bolt and start getting customers to provide short distance transport within the locality.

These online platforms facilitate the process, connecting you with responsible customers. Ensure your car is in good condition, it is insured to carry passengers, and you’re comfortable with the terms of the agreement.

Tips for success:

Price competitively: Research rental rates for similar vehicles in your area to attract potential customers.
Flexible availability: Be flexible with your rental schedule to accommodate a wider range of renter needs.
Communication and trust: Communicate effectively with customers, address their concerns, and build trust through clear expectations.
Exercise extreme caution: Be careful about the type of customers that you agree to offer Car Rental service because you may receive calls from robbers too.

Transporting school children: A dependable and reliable service

Keep Reading

School runs can be stressful for parents, particularly when juggling busy schedules. Step in as a dependable solution by offering your car as a safe and reliable transportation option. This requires consistency and punctuality, as you’ll become a trusted figure in the lives of the families you serve. Separate your service quality from that of mushikashika type of transport service.

Essential considerations:

Safety: Ensure your car is roadworthy, safe for children, and equipped with the necessary safety features, like seat belts and emergency exit

Licensing and regulations: Check if any specific regulations or licenses are required to transport children in your region.
Communication and feedback: Establish clear communication with parents regarding schedules, pickups, and drop-offs, and seek feedback on your service.

Courier services: Delivering time-sensitive needs

Courier services offer flexibility and convenience. You can join platforms like Glovo, Uber Deliveries, or other local delivery apps to transport documents, parcels, or even groceries. You have the freedom to choose your delivery slots, and earnings are based on the distance covered and the urgency of the delivery.

Essential tips of make money:

Maintain a clean vehicle: Ensure your car is well-maintained and clean to project professionalism.
Reliable and prompt service: Punctuality and safe driving practices are crucial for a positive client experience.
Understanding the delivery area: Familiarity with local streets, traffic patterns, and potential delivery challenges is important for efficiency.

Mobile shop: Fast foods, fresh vegetables or hardware shop

You can hook a trailer or a Caravan and modify it to suit your type of Mobile Shop. Convenience is a product that anyone will buy into anytime and every day. You can drop off the trailer or caravan on your way to work and entrust someone who is good with calculations and honest with cash handling.

Essential considerations:

Obtain a mobile shop license: It is essential that you obtain the relevant license to sell products at any location. Avoid the embarrassment to getting your trailer or caravan toured away by the authorities
Spot the busy locations: Areas around big churches or schools where many people frequent at designated times are strategic for this type of business

Tour guide services: Sharing your city’s secrets

If you have a passion for your area, possess a charismatic personality, and enjoy connecting with people, a tour guide service could be the perfect side hustle.

Take visitors on customised journeys, exploring hidden gems, historical landmarks, and vibrant local experiences. Your car acts as your transportation hub, offering a unique perspective on your city’s treasures.

Boosting your service:

Specialised tours: Offer unique niche tours, such as to Mukuvisi Woodlands, Chinhoyi Caves, Nyanga National Park, Hwange National Park, Mana Pools, Matobo national Park, Gonarezhou National or scenic drives.
Reviews and referrals: Build a reputation through online reviews and social media platforms, encouraging word-of-mouth recommendations.
Group packages: Offer discounted rates for larger groups, making your tours more appealing and cost-effective for families or friends.
Networking: Search for the tour guides working within some of these National Parks so that your offerings can be standard and be in line with their operational systems and avoid conflict of interest. You may get special discounts for bringing customers if that is part of their incentive model to work with agents

Emergency roadside assistance: Helping drivers in need

Possess a knack for mechanical know-how? Help stranded motorists jump-start their vehicles, change tires, or deliver emergency fuel. This requires basic mechanical knowledge, some tools, and the ability to respond quickly in emergencies.

Key factors for success:

Accessibility: Establish a network within your community, ensuring accessibility to potential customers.
Reliability and Availability: Be available for roadside assistance on short notice, offering timely and efficient service.
Competitive pricing: Research pricing for similar services in your area and establish competitive rates for your services.

Event transportation: Luxury and chauffeur services

If you own a stylish or spacious car, offer event transportation services.

Cater for weddings, parties, or corporate events, providing a professional chauffeur experience. This often requires a more formal appearance, ensuring a smooth and enjoyable ride for clients.

Key points for consideration:

Vehicle condition: Ensure your vehicle is in top condition, both mechanically and aesthetically.
Presentation: Dress appropriately and exude professionalism to create a positive impression on clients.
Specialised services: Offer additional services like floral arrangements or refreshments to enhance the experience.

Specialised transportation: Tapping into niche opportunities

Beyond traditional options, explore niche opportunities within the transportation sector. For example, consider:

Pet transport: Provide a safe and reliable way to transport pets for vet appointments, adoption processes, or cross-country moves.
Airport transfers: Offer transportation to and from airports, catering to travellers and those seeking hassle-free airport service.
Medical Transportation: Help seniors or people with mobility challenges with appointments, transport to hospitals, or even daily errands.

Enterprise creation opportunity

While these ideas maybe offered directly from the vehicle owner to the customers, but there is also an opportunity for you start a business using other people’s cars.

If you study the market demand properly and come up with a pricing formula that is attractive to both the end user and the vehicle owners that leaves you with good profits, then an enterprise can be established.

Key factors for success:

Reliability and being honest: Building trust with both the vehicle owners and the customers is 80% of the business. You must pay the vehicle owners in time without any stories in order to retain the vehicles.
Strong management system: It is critical to establish a strong internal management system and process flow which your staff should follow to avoid gaps that makes them try their own common sense which in many times does not work well. Creating efficiency in your service delivery is very imperative to build trust with your customers.
Competitive pricing: Research pricing for similar services in your area and establish competitive rates for your services.

*Stanley Makombe has 25 years’ experience in the motor industry and is currently handling vehicle imports from Japan, Thailand, UK and South Africa into African countries. He is writing in his own capacity and can be contacted on +254 743 900 590, on X @Stan_Carsales, email: stanley@stanleymakombe.com, www.stanleymakombe.com