How To Get A Job With Doordash

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DoorDash is a food delivery app in the US and Canada that allows anyone with a vehicle to become an on-demand delivery driver.

Customers order food through the DoorDash app, and nearby DoorDash drivers pick up and deliver the food.

Delivering for DoorDash is an appealing gig because it is easy to get hired, delivery drivers earn around $12–$18/hour*, and you can set your own hours.

To start as a DoorDash driver, you'll have to meet the requirements outlined in this article. Many people qualify, so it's a great option if you're looking for flexible work.

*Earnings info is for Illustrative purposes only, actual earnings may differ and depend on expenses

Article Contents

DoorDash Driver Requirements
DoorDash Vehicle Requirements
How Much Do DoorDash Drivers Make?
The DoorDash Scheduling System
What Do Dashers Do? Delivery Description
- No-Contact Deliveries
The DoorDash Orientation

DoorDash Driver & Delivery Partner Requirements

You must be 18 years or older
Have access to a vehicle
- Any car, truck, or van qualifies
- You can deliver on a scooter or bicycle in some markets
A valid driver's license
Current auto insurance
iPhone or Android smartphone to run the DoorDash partner app
Apply here: Sign up to deliver with DoorDash

Where Can You Deliver for DoorDash?

DoorDash is currently available in many cities in the US and a few major cities in Canada. Click here to see list of all DoorDash markets in the US.

DoorDash Vehicle Requirements

DoorDash has very flexible vehicle requirements. Any working vehicle qualifies. You can also deliver with motorcycles, scooters, or bicycles in some markets.

Any model year is acceptable
There is no vehicle inspection
There are no cosmetic requirements
If your car runs and drives, it's eligible
Motorcycles and scooters qualify
Bicycles qualify in some cities

More about vehicle requirements for delivery apps and rideshare

Vehicle requirements for DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Postmates
How to rent a car for delivery and rideshare

Need a Car for DoorDash? Try HyreCar. HyreCar offers vehicle rentals for delivery apps and other on-demand services.

Can you deliver for DoorDash with a bicycle or scooter?

Some larger urban markets allow Dashers to use a bicycle or scooter to perform deliveries. If you don't have access to a vehicle, it's worth checking to see if you can deliver for DoorDash on a bike or scooter.

DoorDash doesn't currently list cities that allow bicycles or scooters. To find out if you can deliver for DoorDash on a bicycle in your area, contact DoorDash at help.DoorDashc.om

You can also begin begin the DoorDash application and check to see if delivering on a bicycle is listed as an option in the early steps of the application.

How Much Do DoorDash Drivers Make?

DoorDash delivery drivers typically earn around $12 – $18/hour*. Dashers are paid for each completed order. Payout for deliveries is calculated according to a formula:Base pay + Promotions + Tips = Total Earnings.

DoorDash base pay is a calculation of "time, distance, and desirability." Base pay is around $3 – $6, but it can climb higher when there is .

Tips are a significant portion of Dasher pay. When you receive an order request, it will show an estimated payout that includes some or all of the tip left by the customer.

A low estimated payout means that the customer didn't leave a tip, so many Dashers choose to skip the lowest-paying orders.

*Earnings info is for Illustrative purposes only, actual earnings may differ and depend on expenses

Order payout is displayed before you accept

Customers can leave a tip in the app when they place the order. When customers don't tip before the order, order payouts may be low.

Payouts may be low if the customer doesn't tip while placing the order

Peak Pay: DoorDash sometimes offers Peak Pay, a bonus added to each order during busy times and peak hours. An example of a Peak Pay offer is: "Earn $3 extra per order in Los Angeles between 11AM–2PM if you accept 80% of delivery opportunities."

Challenges: Challenges offer a bonus for completing a set number of deliveries during a certain time period. Example challenge: "Earn $20 for completing 15 deliveries in a week." Not all markets offer Challenges.

Full Details on Peak Pay, Challenges, and Other Dasher Bonuses

An example of Peak Pay in the DoorDash app

Tap Promos on the home screen to see Peak Pay offers

Getting paid: You can withdraw your earnings daily for a fee, or you can wait for the a weekly direct deposit. There is no charge for the weekly direct deposit.

Taxes: DoorDash drivers are 1099 independent contractors, so you will have to pay for your own gas, insurance, and other expenses you run into along the way. Minimize your taxes at the end of the year by keeping track of all mileage during your shift using an app like Stride Tax.

The old pay model (Before Fall 2019): Payout for deliveries used to be calculated according to a formula: $1 + 'pay boost' + 100% of tips.

A guaranteed minimum payout was displayed for each delivery request. The guaranteed minimum was a calculation of variables such as difficulty of the order, distance you'll have to drive, size of the order, and other factors.

Under the old model, if '$1 + tip' didn't meet the guaranteed payout, DoorDash added a 'pay boost' to ensure that the payment reached the guaranteed minimum. Order payouts could exceed the guaranteed minimum if customers left a large enough tip.

How to Schedule Delivery Shifts on DoorDash

DoorDash uses a scheduling system to prevent markets from becoming oversaturated with too many Dashers. Dashers use the app to reserve shift blocks, which range from an hour or two, all the way up to a full day.

You can also Dash without a schedule if the market is busy enough. More on that below in the Dash Now section.

Delivery shifts are competitive in many markets. New shift blocks are released at midnight each day, so some Dashers stay up late to claim the best shifts. There is a penalty for missing a shift or starting late: DoorDash may cancel your shift if you don't log in within 30 minutes of the start time.

DoorDash schedule and dasher map

Left: DoorDash scheduling page. Right: Dasher map showing red "Dash Now" areas

Early Access Scheduling: DoorDash has a feature called 'Early Access Scheduling' that gives highly-rated and experienced drivers priority scheduling. With Early Access, Dashers get access to new shifts each day at 3pm rather than midnight. Dashers have to re-qualify for Early Access each week. Learn how to get Early Access.

Dash Now: A "Dash Now" option appears when delivery demand is high. Dash Now allows you to sign in and deliver without scheduling a delivery block. Delivery regions appear red in the Dasher app when Dash Now is available. Simply arrive in the delivery region and tap Dash Now to begin, but be warned: Dash Now toggles on and off dynamically and may turn off by the time you arrive to an area.

Need More DoorDash Hours? Scheduling Tips & How to Get Early Access

What Do DoorDash Drivers Do? Description of the Delivery Process

DoorDash drivers perform on-demand delivery requests that are organized by the DoorDash app.

Work begins when you sign into the DoorDash app and wait to receive order offers. Order offers contain information about estimated payout, the location of the pickup, and the drop-off. Tap to accept or decline.

After you accept a delivery request, navigate to the restaurant and pick up the order using the information given to you inside the app.

After picking up the order, the DoorDash app will direct you to the customer and give you any special instructions you'll need to complete the delivery.

You can contact the customer if you need any more info about directions, parking, or gate access codes.

Walmart and grocery orders: In some markets, DoorDash customers can order from Walmart or grocery stores. Similar to food orders, Dashers pick up the order at the store and deliver it to the customer. The way that payment and tipping works is different for Walmart orders, which is why some Dashers skip Walmart orders.

Some challenges Dashers face include: Learning how to choose the most profitable deliveries, navigating pickups at restaurants, communicating with customers, communicating with DoorDash support. There are difficulties along the way, but most Dashers get the hang of the gig within a week or two.

No-Contact Deliveries

In an effort to improve safety for both Dashers and customers during Covid-19, DoorDash added the option for no-contact deliveries. Customers can specify a drop-off location, typically their front door or porch.

Here's how it works for Dashers: Dashers see the drop-off description in the delivery instructions. They leave the food in that location, take a photo of the delivery, then walk back a safe distance to complete the final in-app steps. Customers receive notification and a photo of the order.

No-Contact Delivery Instructions for Delivery Apps

Does DoorDash Deactivate Dashers for a Low Acceptance Rate?

DoorDash does not deactivate Dashers for having a low acceptance rate. The acceptance rate is the number of orders a Dasher accepts divided by the number of orders they were offered. Dashers are free to accept or decline as many orders as they want, so don't worry about your acceptance rate.

However, DoorDash may pause or end your Dash if you decline too many orders in a row. More on that here.

DoorDash Can Pause Your Dash for Skipping Orders

Getting Activated on DoorDash

DoorDash used to require Dashers to either complete an in-person orientation or request an 'Activation Kit.' Due to Covid-19, in-person orientations are no longer offered and all applicants will instead receive an activation kit. You will receive an option for the activation kit after the background check clears.

The Activation Kit option replaces the in-person orientation. The kit contains a hot bag, the Red Card, and a Getting Started manual. You will know if the Activation Kit option is available to you during the Dasher signup process.

How to visit a DoorDash office in person

DoorDash used to have in-person offices for Dasher support, but they are all currently closed due to Covid-19.

Interested in Other On-Demand Delivery Gigs?

Should you be a delivery driver for Postmates and DoorDash?
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Instacart: Should You Be a Full-Service or In-Store Shopper?
Other delivery: Shipt, Amazon Flex
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