You’re here because you’re wondering how to become a DoorDash driver.
And we’re here to tell you exactly how to do so.
We’ve got the deets on everything about driving for DoorDash, including the following popular topics:
- What the signup process looks like
- What type of driver/vehicle requirements to expect
- How to apply
- What the delivery process entails
- Driver benefits
- DoorDash pay rate
Keep reading to find out all you need to know about the DoorDash driver job market.
DoorDash Driver Sign-Up Process
What does the DoorDash driver sign-up process look like?
Is it a long process? Quick & easy?
The process to apply and get started is shorter and easier than with similar gigs, and entirely painless.
We’ll walk you through it step-by-step, and if you decide you’d be a good fit, it helps to know that the process is relatively stress-free.
Check the Requirements First
Before diving headfirst into the application process, it’s a good idea to check their requirements to make sure you’d be a good fit for the gig.
The DoorDash driver requirements are very straightforward and simple.
If you’ve ever considered or done gig work with a rideshare company, these qualifications are very similar, although less strict.
DoorDash Driver Requirements
Requirements for drivers are similar to those of rideshare gig workers, with fewer restrictions.
They include:
- You must be age 18 or older
- Have access to a vehicle (there are no vehicle restrictions, and in some markets, you can actually deliver with a scooter or bicycle)
- Valid driver’s license
- Current insurance with your name on the policy
- iPhone or Android smartphone (to use the DoorDash driver app)
- Provide a social security number (for the background check)
- Complete the application
- Pass a background and driving record check
- Complete an orientation (there are options to choose from) or request an activation kit
Are There Any Vehicle Requirements to Consider?
Nope!
Unlike driving for rideshare services, there are no specific vehicle requirements for DoorDash drivers.
Any car, truck, or van qualifies.
Here are a few things you DON’T need to worry about:
- No cosmetic requirements
- No vehicle inspection
- Any year, make, and model qualifies
- Motorcycles & scooters qualify, and even bicycles in some markets
Basically, if you are able to get from point A to point B reliably, it doesn’t matter how.
One less thing to worry about when deciding whether or not this driving gig is for you.
How to Apply to Become a DoorDash Driver
The DoorDash driver application is simple and can be taken care of entirely online.
The entire process looks like this:
- Submit an application
- Pass a background check
- Complete orientation
- Download the delivery app
We’ve done a deeper dive into each of these to give you a thorough idea of what to expect and make you more comfortable throughout the process.
The entire process from beginning to end will take about 1-2 weeks.
Then you’ll be able to start accepting deliveries right away!
If at any point you want to check the status of your application, you can tap the ‘Already Started Signing Up?’ button at the top of the DoorDash signup page.
Simply log in with the email & phone information you used during signup and you’ll be informed of the status of your application and prompt you for any missing information if required.
Submit an Official Application
The actual application process is pretty simple.
You enter your basic information, such as your name, address, email address, phone number, vehicle information, birthdate, social security number (for the background check), etc.
Once finished, you’ll move on to process the background check.
Process the Background Check
Before you can drive with DoorDash, you must pass a background check.
This is a pretty standard background check, which checks for the following:
- No sexual offenses
- No DUI
- No violent crimes
- No theft crimes
- No property damage
- No felonies
This will check back 7 years, and as long as there are no offenses such as those listed, you will pass.
If you’ve signed up specifying that you’ll be using a vehicle of some type, they’ll also run a driving record check.
The process takes between 3-10 days, depending on a few factors.
If you’ve lived in quite a few places recently, it may take longer (towards the end of the given number of days).
This can also be the case if you haven’t filled out the application properly or left out some missing information.
Otherwise, the process is typically closer to that 3-day range.
Choose an Orientation
After you pass the background check, the next step is to choose an orientation.
Traditionally, DoorDash provides the option of either doing an in-person orientation or an alternative of simply receiving an activation kit.
With COVID-19 cases surging in the United States especially, the activation kit has become more of the default, although in-person orientations are still available in some areas/cases.
Matters handled within either form of the orientation include:
- Information about how to schedule shifts
- Using the app for deliveries
- How to pay for orders with your ‘Red Card’
- Payment system information
- How to contact DoorDash driver customer service
- Receive your activation kit along with your Red Card, a delivery bag (hot bag) & Getting Started manual
Your onboarding experience will also include welcome videos that you can access to give you a better idea of how the process works and answer any questions you may have.
Download the DoorDash Driver App
To officially become one of the DoorDash drivers’ fleet, you’ll need the smartphone app.
The DoorDash app is available for either iPhone or Android users and is free to download.
The app provides the ability to schedule your shifts, gain access to the Dash Now ability (becoming available when demand is very high), allows the customer to track their order through GPS, and process instant withdrawals when needed (for a fee).
The app is required for all DoorDash drivers.
Dasher Delivery Process
Believe it or not, the delivery process to drive for DoorDash is very simple.
More or less, it goes like this:
- Step #1: Sign in to your app to be available to accept deliveries
- Step #2: Accept a delivery
- Step #3: Drive to the restaurant
- Step #4: Pick up the food; pay with your Red card
- Step #5: Drive to the customer to drop off the food
Simple, yet effective.
There really isn’t more to it than that, and you can do as few or as many deliveries as you’d like to in order to earn as much or as little as you need.
Scheduling Shifts
One of the big perks of being a DoorDash delivery driver is being able to have complete control over your schedule.
You have the ability to combine scheduled shifts and spontaneous availability based on demand to create the level of earnings you need.
As far as scheduling shifts, you can do it on a daily basis or weeks ahead of time.
Or you can skip the scheduling completely and only drive when the Dash Now (high demand) notice appears.
There are no minimum delivery requests to accept or a number of hours to uphold.
Dashers actually have the ability to schedule delivery blocks known as ‘Dashes.’
These are set up during times when they expect to have a high volume of delivery requests and will most likely need more DoorDash drivers.
When you schedule a Dash for yourself, you enable a guarantee that you’ll receive orders from the DoorDash app during that period of time.
Where Can You Deliver?
Once you’ve officially become a DoorDash driver, you can deliver anywhere the service is available.
Currently, availability has expanded to over 4,000 cities within the 50 United States.
They’re also available within 80 cities in Canada as well as Melbourne, Australia, and plans for even more yet to come.
That means even if you’re not in your home city for whatever reason, you can pick up shifts to earn money whenever and wherever you need to.
DoorDash Driver Support
What happens if the Dasher app goes down?
Or if there are other issues with an order, and you need help?
Thankfully, Dashers have access to their own support channels just as customers do.
There are a few different options for dashers to get ahold of the proper support, including:
- Chat support (in-app)
- Phone support (855-973-1040)
- In-depth Dasher FAQ section for self-help
Dashers are encouraged to use any of these support channels when in need of assistance.
DoorDash Driver Benefits
Dashers enjoy a multitude of benefits common to the gig economy.
The sheer flexibility of these jobs is a huge advantage for workers, especially for those balancing it with a full-time or another part-time job.
Common benefits for DoorDash drivers include:
- Ability to choose your own hours
- Deliver anywhere (any markets, not just your home)
- Simple application & start process
- Short wait time to get started
- Simple pay model
This is absolutely not an exhaustive list, but some common benefits listed by DoorDash drivers.
Choose Your Own Hours
Being able to choose your own hours makes this gig perfect for anyone who needs a second source of income but needs flexible scheduling.
It’s great for people from so many walks of life who can thrive with such flexible hours, such as students, parents, service workers being affected by the pandemic, and more.
You can schedule shifts in advance, pick up spontaneous shifts with Dash Now, or use a combination of both methods.
If you want to switch back & forth based on what your day/week looks like, by all means, you can do that.
Deliver in Any City
To be a DoorDash driver, the requirements are centered around you simply being a courier.
They’re not based on where you live; you don’t have a specific operating area.
This means you can deliver anywhere that your driver’s license allows you to drive (and where DoorDash is offered, of course).
Simple to Start: No Inspections or Restrictions
If you’re looking at working for delivery apps in general, it may be a relief to hear that the process for DoorDash drivers doesn’t involve any inspections.
Any vehicle is permitted to aid in deliveries, even motorcycles.
There are no cosmetic restrictions as there are with rideshare programs or other delivery driver jobs.
Start Immediately
With many gig economy jobs, such as rideshare, the wait time between when you complete your application and when you can actually become a courier can be lengthy.
Driving for DoorDash is different.
The application is quick & easy, the wait time for the background check is usually just a few days, and then a simple orientation.
Boom, done, and ready to roll.
This entire process typically takes a week at most.
Simple Pay Model
Some payment models are so complicated and confusing, that you’re not really sure how much money you’re making or if it’s worth it or not.
DoorDash has recently improved its pay model.
They’ve adopted a simple structure comprising of 3 components that are easy to understand and Dashers are able to know in advance how much they’re making from each order and overall.
This has become a huge benefit for Dashers everywhere and has been received positively since the change (Fall 2019).
We’ll go into detail about this new structure in the next section.
DoorDash Driver Pay: How Much Do Dashers Make?
The answer to this question is tough because it varies so much from case to case based on a variety of factors.
Your earnings will depend on how many hours you drive, which markets you operate in, whether you use advanced scheduling or Dash Now (or a combo), whether you drive during peak hours, etc.
That being said, the current average DoorDash salary is $14.79 per hour. [1]
DoorDash New Pay Model
Dashers are now paid with a new, updated pay model.
This was introduced after a lot of pressure from Dashers as well as customers who didn’t feel that the old pay method was fair enough, especially in some markets where the demand is lower.
The new DoorDash pay model is composed of 3 parts: base pay, driver promotions, and tips.
We’ll cover each part below for a deeper understanding.
Base Pay
This base pay is calculated based on the amount of time spent delivering an order, the distance, and demand.
The great thing is that Dashers can see how much an order will net them before they accept it in the DoorDash app.
This is typically around $2-$6.
Driver Promotions
Peak Pay is a great example of a delivery app promotion any delivery driver can take advantage of regularly.
This bonus is offered during times of high demand.
Typically, peak hours surface between 11a-2p (lunchtime) and 4p-7p (dinner), although it can vary.
You can view these promotions any time in the DoorDash app.
Dashers can typically expect to earn between $2-$8 extra per delivery during these peak hours if they accept most delivery opportunities presented through the app.
There are also challenges presented by DoorDash for drivers occasionally.
Tips
Tips are entirely dependent on customers themselves, but Dashers get to keep 100% of them.
This is true whether the customer tips through the DoorDash app or tips their delivery driver in cash.
Customers can tip before they finalize a delivery, and this is a common practice.
This means Dashers can see ahead of time how much they’ll make from each order (including the tip).
How to Get Paid
Dashers can enjoy a pretty hands-off payment schedule, which is a huge factor mentioned in many positive reviews by Dashers themselves.
Payment is done via direct deposit every week.
On top of that, you do have the option to do an instant transfer to be paid immediately, although there is a fee attached to that option.
How to Become a DoorDash Driver FAQs
There are a lot of aspects to think about when considering taking on a service gig.
Most likely, your question is probably common and has been asked before.
We’ve compiled a list of common queries with their answers; we hope it helps.
If you need more information, check out our Facebook page for a ton of information about these food delivery apps and on-demand services in general.
Can you deliver without a car?
Yes, you sure can! You can deliver on a motorcycle in addition to the standard car/truck. Also, in some markets, you are able to deliver with a scooter or bicycle.
What is the DoorDash driver deactivation policy?
Dashers aren’t subject to requirements for their acceptance rate. This means that there is no negative action taken against you for being picky with which deliveries you choose to accept or deny.
Does the DoorDash delivery fee go to the driver?
No, the delivery fee is set up to help pay for the costs associated with providing the delivery. The couriers do receive payment from each order, but it’s a flat rate and not directly from the delivery fee. They do keep 100% of any tips received, though.
Can you deliver with more than one service?
Yep! There are a ton of awesome food delivery services out there, and many of them offer beneficial programs for drivers. If you’re smart about balancing them, it’s definitely worth checking into applying for more than one program.
DoorDash Driver Resources
- DoorDash driver hourly salaries in the United States [Indeed, July 2020]
