Smiles: Earn as You Go

Earn As You Go

You'd never guess that you can make money just for driving your car.  Not for driving and picking stuff or people up, like for Uber / Lyft / Postmates, etc... but for literally, just driving.  That's the concept for Smiles.

How does it work?

Smiles is an insurance analysis company that has created an app to track what people do while driving.  Smartphones are more than just pocket computers, they have all sorts of sensors that can detect things like GPS location, speed, acceleration, deceleration, even ambient temperature.  These are things that Smiles needs from drivers.  They need to collect as much data as possible to help in their insurance analysis of how people drive.

They need the data and they have figured out that most people are willing to give it for a pittance of payment.  But they need you to actually move further than a few hundred yards. 

Payment is $0.03 per mile up to 110 miles per day ($3.30 per day)

What do I need to do?

The drivers' task is very simple

1. Download, Install, and Sign up
2. Select "Start Trip"
3. Drive (Remember to stop your trip when you stop driving)

How am I paid?

There are currently only two ways to be paid, at this time.

1. Amazon Gift Card
2. ACH Bank Transfer

In the future payment is expected to include

1. Paypal
2. Venmo
3. Zelle
4. Checks

Initially you can only select this option.  Once you hit $25, you'll be given the option to add additional info.

Why Do This?

There are probably many reasons, but as noted by the SF InsureTech (the company that made the app)

1. Help collect data to make roads more safe
2. Help SF InsureTech make a better insurance service
3. Because you like money and you drive every day

Tricks to get more out of the App

1. Be sure to keep the APP RUNNING in the background
2. TURN OFF the Notifications (they're very annoying)
3. Remember to use the app EVERY DAY
4. Make sure that your phone is up high ON THE DASHBOARD so that it can get GPS consistently
5. Almost perfectly designed for RIDE-SHARING drivers.

Check out the App on