Becoming a DoorDash Driver: Requirements and Earnings in 2024

Introduction to DoorDash Driving

Are you looking to kick-start your delivery driver career at DoorDash? You’re definitely at the right place. DoorDash is a popular food delivery app that lets you order from your favorite restaurants and then delivers them straight to your door. It is one of the fastest-growing businesses and looks to do well in the future.

You can join DoorDash as an independent contractor. It is excellent news for you, especially at a time when the gig economy is predicted to account for 52% of the American workforce by 2023.

If you are a freelancer or independent contractor, it means more opportunities and flexibility in your life! If you’re considering joining the gig economy yourself, make sure to read up on what it’s like to work as an independent contractor to make an informed decision about whether or not it’s right for you. Coming back, if you’re interested in learning how to become a DoorDash Driver, keep reading!

Understanding the Role of a DoorDash Driver

Want to become a DoorDash driver? This is where you must start. Before we dive into the details of becoming a DoorDash driver, here’s an overview of DoorDash delivery drivers and their jobs.

1. Dashers are DoorDash delivery drivers who choose when they want to work and where they want to work based on their availability and preferences. They can set their own hours and can do DoorDash delivery driver jobs as a side hustle.
2. The company sets up a route for each dasher so that they can pick up orders and deliver them to the customer’s place quickly and efficiently.
3. Dashers make money based on how many deliveries they complete per hour and a flat fee (or base pay) plus tip.
4. As a DoorDash driver, you have much power at your fingertips. You can scale your earnings as and when you want. As discussed, your earnings are dependent on the number of DoorDash deliveries you make. That means, the better you manage your time, the more deliveries you make, and the more money you take home. You also get to make a difference in your community by providing food delivery services to those who need them most. Additionally, it’s essential to ensure that you have an insulated hot bag to maintain the quality of food during delivery.

Expected roles and responsibilities

Now that you’re familiar with who Dashers are, let’s understand what the roles and responsibilities of a DoorDash delivery job entail.

As a DoorDash driver, you are required to do the following:

• Pick up restaurant orders and deliver them to customers’ homes or businesses.
• Drive safely and comply with all road rules and regulations.
• Handle customer interactions with respect and professionalism.
• Keep your vehicle clean and tidy always while on the job.

As a Dasher, it’s your responsibility to:

• Log in to the DoorDash app at your convenience or at the start of a shift you’ve previously scheduled in the app.
• Choose whether or not you’ll accept orders as they come in.
• When you accept an order (delivery request), travel to the merchant to pick it up.
• When the order is ready, pay with your Red Card—a DoorDash-issued reloadable prepaid card that’s secure and easy to use. 
• Bring the order to the customer. 
• Hand off the order to them! Accept cash from them and enter the payment in your app immediately if it’s cash on delivery.

NOTE: For any inquiries or support-related issues, go ahead and contact DoorDash support.

Essential Requirements to Start with DoorDash

Personal and vehicle requirements

Now that we understand what you’re expected to do as a DoorDash delivery driver, let’s discuss DoorDash driver requirements that define if you’re eligible for the role or not. 

Before applying, let’s ensure you’re the right fit for the job! Here are some of the DoorDash driver requirements:

• A DoorDash applicant should be at least 18 years old.
• A commercial auto insurance policy and a valid driver’s license are required.
• You must pass criminal and background checks as well as have a clean driving record. It can all be done online!
• You must own a smartphone (android or iPhone) for the Dasher App.
• You must provide a social security number.
• Bank account information for direct deposit is necessary.
• Checks on your driving record and background are required.

Did you know there are no car requirements to become a dasher? With DoorDash, you can deliver on your bike, scooter, or even your skateboard—it’s all up to you. Plus, depending on what city you live in, DoorDash may even allow you to deliver with a motorcycle!

Completing the background check

To ensure the safety and reliability of the DoorDash platform, all applicants must complete a background check. This process verifies your driving record and checks for criminal history.

• How it works: The background check is conducted online, so you can complete it from the comfort of your home.
• Timeframe: The review typically takes a few days but can vary depending on your location.
• What they check for:
  • Driving history, including accidents and violations.
  • Criminal record for any disqualifying offenses.

What if your application is rejected?

If your application is rejected due to the background check or other reasons, you may still have options:

1. Review the reason: DoorDash will typically provide an explanation for the rejection.
2. Dispute errors: If you believe there’s an error in your background check, you can request a review and provide supporting documentation.
3. Reapply later: Some disqualifications may be temporary, allowing you to reapply after a specific period.

Step-by-Step Guide to Becoming a Dasher

Step 1: Applying to doordash

With DoorDash, you can earn money on your way to work or walking down the street. You can have a flexible schedule and choose when, where, and how much you make without committing to a specific job.

DoorDash’s transparent payment model lets you quickly calculate how much you’ll make for each delivery. Choose your mode of transportation and go!

Smartphones and a mode of transportation are all that is needed to apply.

To start:

• Go to the DoorDash signup page and enter your details.
• DoorDash will ask for basic information like your name, phone number, and ZIP code. You’ll also need to consent to receive email and text notifications from DoorDash.

Step 2: Prepare your documents

As part of the application process:

• Vehicle information:
  • If you don’t own a car but have access to one—that’s okay! You’ll be asked about your vehicle, insurance, and driver’s license information. Enter this information and click “Continue.” You can still sign up without owning a vehicle.
• Background check:
  • You must be willing to submit to a background check. This check looks for:
    • Sexual offenses
    • Violent crimes
    • DUIs
    • Felonies
    • Other significant issues that may flag you as a safety or security risk
  • If you’d like to review the DoorDash background check, you can request a free copy.

Step 3: Start your first dash

After completing your application:

• Ensure you include your address during the signup process.
• Wait for a few weeks to receive your free activation welcome kit from DoorDash.
• Once your background check is complete, complete an online orientation to get started. Depending on your location, this orientation may sometimes happen in person.

Once all these steps are done, you’re ready to start delivering with DoorDash!

Benefits of Becoming a DoorDash Driver

There are several advantages that Dashers enjoy:

Flexibility in work hours

• You don’t have to deal with the stress of maintaining an office space or dealing with coworkers.
• Your schedule is flexible, making it easy to work around other commitments or even take a vacation.
• You can pick up shifts during off-peak hours, ensuring your schedule isn’t interrupted by deliveries.
• There’s no minimum number of deliveries required to keep your job, so you can take time off whenever needed.

Earnings potential

• You can set your hours and decide how much money you want to make daily based on the number of deliveries you complete per hour.
• Based on customer reviews and feedback, you can identify which routes are more profitable, ensuring you maximize earnings without wasting time.

Using Upper for enhanced performance

Enhance your DoorDash experience with Upper Route Planner to improve efficiency and profitability. Key advantages include:

• Faster route optimization: Complete more deliveries in less time by following optimized routes.
• Reduced fuel costs: Minimize unnecessary driving and save on fuel expenses.
• Improved customer satisfaction: Deliver faster, leading to better reviews and more tips.

Tips to maximize profits

To get the most out of your time as a Dasher:

• Focus on high-demand areas during peak times for more delivery requests.
• Use feedback and reviews to identify profitable routes.
• Take advantage of promotions or bonuses offered by DoorDash.
• Optimize your delivery schedule with tools like Upper for efficiency.

Financial Insights: How Much Can You Earn?

Understanding the pay model

DoorDash drivers are compensated through a transparent and straightforward pay model:

• Base pay: Dashers earn between $2–$10 per delivery, depending on factors like delivery distance, duration, and order desirability.
• Tips: Dashers keep 100% of tips from customers, which can significantly boost earnings.
• Incentives and bonuses:
  • Incentives may include additional earnings for completing deliveries during peak hours or in high-demand areas.
  • Bonuses vary depending on the type of delivery or special promotions offered by DoorDash.

Dashers are paid weekly, with earnings deposited directly into their bank accounts, ensuring easy and consistent access to income.

Estimating your earnings

DoorDash drivers typically earn between $20–$25 per hour. During busier times, earnings can increase due to peak pay. Over an 8-hour shift, this translates to an annual income of approximately $42,240–$52,800.

However, several factors influence your potential earnings:

1. Location

The more popular restaurants in your area, the more likely you’ll be able to earn incentives and bonuses, which can boost your Doordash work income. Incentives include free delivery or a percentage of tips on a particular customer’s order.

2. Bonuses

Bonuses vary based on what kind of restaurant deliveries are from and whether these restaurants offer extra bonuses for specific deliveries.

3. Incentives

Whether or not you receive incentives will also dictate how much money you’ll make as a doordash dasher. Incentives include things such as a percentage of tips on a particular order.

DoorDash pay model

1. Dashers are paid weekly directly into their bank account.
2. They get paid per delivery for each DoorDash order, with average dasher payouts ranging between $2 – $10.
3. Dashers can keep 100% of the tips; other incentives are additional earnings.

Level Up Your Driving Performance with Upper 

As a Dasher, it’s critical for you to make as many efficient deliveries as possible every single day. Why? Because more daily deliveries translate into more earnings for you. 

Upper logistics software provides a sustainable way for you to do just that. Let’s understand in-depth how Upper can uplevel the performance of a delivery service:

1. Optimize routes for success

As a Dasher, there’s no reason you wouldn’t like to get to your customers as quickly as possible.

Upper uses a combination of historical data and real-time information to calculate the shortest multi-stop routes for you. It means you can get to the customer’s place as quickly as possible, maximizing efficiency and minimizing time spent traveling. This will also help you make more daily deliveries, garner higher customer satisfaction, perform better as a Dasher, and make more money.

2. Real-time reporting features

As a Dasher, you know the only way to improve is to keep track of your work. With Upper, you can measure efficiency by generating daily, weekly, or monthly reports. Reports help you reflect on your daily delivery tasks and make adjustments when needed.

With these reports, you’ll be able to:

• Know precisely what time of day you’re most productive. 
• Identify which routes are taking up more time than others. 
• Spot trends in your performance over time. 
• See if there’s anything else you can do to help improve delivery times.

3. Ensure proof of delivery with ease

Upper enables you to capture proof of delivery through e-signatures from customers. 

With Upper, you can also click photographs of delivered items. This acts as proof of your efficiency to the management, increasing transparency and reliability.

Conclusion and Next Steps

Once you’re through with the DoorDash signup process and have your driving record check complete, you can start active delivery at your own schedule. The boarding process and orientation (online or in-person) are seamless, after which you receive your activation kit and begin earning extra money.

Furthermore, if you are looking for a way to balance your personal life, becoming a DoorDash driver will give you the flexibility to work whenever you want. However, to prove your mettle as a Dasher among the many at the job, you must stand out. That’s where route planning and optimization software like Upper come in. Upper helps you with efficient routes so you can spend less time on the road. Try Upper for 3-days for free.