Earn Money Doing 10-Minute Car Inspections (No Experience Necessary)

Get paid to take photos of vehicles on your phone?

It might sound too good to be true. But Maryellen Honkomp, an avid fan of The Penny Hoarder, does it and banks an extra $150/month.

We first heard about this money-making app when she posted about it on our community page:

Up to $40 in less than 20 minutes? We had to know more.

What Does an OnSource Field Inspector Do?

Many times, insurance companies need information about the real estate, vehicles and equipment they insure and underwrite.

They need this information fast — which is where OnSource inspectors like Honkomp come in.

As an outsourced, third-party inspector, it’s her job to take photos and videos, make some measurements and write a few short descriptions. She does this all from an app on her phone. The whole process takes 10-20 minutes.

Honkomp, 60, of St. Louis, started this gig about two years ago. She describes the job as straightforward and easy.

When an inspection is needed, Honkomp is notified through the app. If she chooses to accept it, she’ll head out to the location at the designated time.

Oh, and she can choose to deny any inspection if she doesn’t feel comfortable venturing into unknown territory. Typically, she uses a website called Crime Reports to determine if the area is safe.

She says she can also set up meetings in busy public parking areas if she feels wary.

Once she’s at a site, she opens her app, which walks her through each task. If the inspection calls for a photo of the bumper, for example, it’ll show you an example of what it’s looking for.

This means you don’t need a background in cars. Of course, you should be able to find the car’s VIN and the odometer, but that’s pretty standard on any car.

Honkomp says the hardest part for her is when the inspection calls for a photo of the roof, which isn’t the easiest feat for her 5-foot frame.

She says if she ever has an issue, though, OnSource is quick to work with her.

How Much Do OnSource Field Inspectors Make?

Pay starts at $18 per inspection. If an inspection is more than 20 miles away, you’ll receive 65 cents for each additional mile you drive.

If the person getting inspected is a no-show, you’ll still get paid — but half of whatever your normal pay would have been.

Honkomp used to make two to three inspections a day, banking up to $200 a week. However, she now tends to her 93-year-old mother, so she hasn’t been making as many trips.

Still, she makes an extra $150 a month.

Honkomp gets notified about five to six inspections in her area a day, though she only accepts a few a week. She says if she were able, she’d accept more.

However, she wants people to know that it might take some time to become “established.” This happens after accepting more jobs and submitting accurate inspections (each inspection is checked over by a quality assurance professional).

But, Honkomp says, with patience, you’ll get plenty of jobs in no time.

Four weeks after your first inspection, you’ll get paid. As you continue to perform inspections, you’ll receive payments every week.

How Do You Apply to Become an OnSource Field Inspector?

Honkomp outlined the many perks of working as an inspector.

First off, it’s quick and easy. She also loves the flexibility of it because she can accept inspections at her own convenience — and for what works best with her mom’s needs.

And, as someone who writes, Honkomp says she enjoys meeting so many different people.

If you’re interested, it’s easy to get started.

Fill out the online application with your basic information. You’ll need to upload a photo of yourself, your car and a background check. If you don’t already have a background check, you’ll need to get that done — but OnSource guides you through the $6 process.

You’ll be notified if you’re accepted. Honkomp says she heard back within a week.

Your Turn: Have you made money with OnSource?

Carson Kohler (@CarsonKohler) is a junior writer at The Penny Hoarder. After recently completing graduate school, she focuses on saving money — and surviving the move back in with her parents.