Thinking about driving for DoorDash? Here’s the short version: it’s one of the fastest ways to start earning, because you can sign up in minutes and be delivering within days.
You get paid per delivery, you keep 100% of your tips, and you work whenever you want.
What it pays depends on your city and when you go out. Below is how the pay works, what you need to qualify and how to get started.
What Is DoorDash?
DoorDash is a delivery app. Customers order from restaurants, grocery stores and convenience stores, and a driver (DoorDash calls them Dashers) picks the order up and drops it off.
It runs in over 7,000 cities across the U.S., so there’s a good chance it’s in yours.
Dashers are independent contractors, not employees. That’s the trade: nobody sets your schedule, and nobody guarantees your hours either.
How Much Does DoorDash Pay?
Your pay on every order is made of three parts.
- Base pay: $2 to $10 or more per offer. It doesn’t change based on what the customer tips.
- Promotions: extra pay like Peak Pay during busy hours, plus Challenges for finishing a set number of deliveries.
- Tips: 100% of the tip goes to you, on top of the other two.
You see the offer before you take it, so you can turn down the ones that aren’t worth the drive.
DoorDash doesn’t promise an hourly rate, and you shouldn’t believe anyone who does. Your gas and the wear on your car come out of what you make, so a $7 order across town is a worse deal than it looks.
How Fast Do You Get Paid?
There are three ways, and this is where DoorDash beats most side gigs.
The default is a weekly direct deposit. It covers Monday through Sunday and usually lands by Wednesday night.
Don’t want to wait? Fast Pay lets you cash out once a day to a debit card. There’s a charge for it in the U.S.
The third is DoorDash Crimson, a bank account from DoorDash that gets your earnings to you instantly, if you’re approved for it.
DoorDash Driver Requirements
The bar is pretty low. You need:
- To be 18 or older. It’s 19 in some states and 21 in California.
- Any car, a scooter, or a bicycle in select cities.
- A driver’s license, or another form of ID if you’re only going to bike.
- A Social Security number for the background check.
- Insurance, if you’re delivering by car.
How to Sign Up for DoorDash
1) Get activated
Give them your info and they’ll do a background check to get you on your way.
2) Get ready
Pick up the basics of Dashing, some gear, and the iOS or Android app.
3) Get paid
Turn on the app, accept some orders, and start bringing home the bacon.
Is Driving for DoorDash Worth It?
If you need money this week and you have a car or a bike, yes. Not many side gigs pay you this soon after you sign up.
It’s not a great deal if you’d be driving long distances between orders, or if your car is expensive to run. Stick to busy meal times in a tight area and it works a lot better.
Bottom line: it’s a solid way to cover a bill or build a cushion, on your own schedule.
No Car? Two Apps You Can Use From the Couch
Delivery isn’t for everyone. If you’d rather earn from your phone, two apps are worth a look. Neither one pays like a delivery shift.
Freecash pays you for playing games, taking surveys and trying apps. PayPal and Venmo payouts usually process the same day, and most people earn a few dollars up to around $50 in a typical month.
Bigcash has more than 3,000 offers that mostly take 5 to 10 minutes each. You earn coins (250 is $1) and trade them for cash or gift cards.