Updated: 1/19/2020. This is an educational piece about DoorDash for potential new drivers who may have lost income due to COVID-19. 

Editor’s Note: DoorDash acquired Caviar in 2019 and as of 2020 the two brands have become essentially one. For new drivers looking to do deliveries with DoorDash – this article is the ultimate guide for DoorDash.  If you have questions on how to do well with DoorDash, please use the contact form here.

The prospect of earning more money is always enticing. More so, when you can set your hours and be your own boss. Food delivery gigs allow you to do just that. And, with 45% of the market share in the food delivery business last year, DoorDash might be your first choice. But, if your knowledge of DoorDash is limited to ordering food online, you might want to know more before signing up to become a Dasher or DoorDash delivery driver. This guide will tell you everything you need to start dashing and make the most out of it.

What Does A Dasher Do?

A dasher picks up food from a partner restaurant and delivers it to the customer who ordered it. Sounds simple? There’s a lot more to it, though, as you’ll find out by the end of this article.

How Are Dashers Paid?

You might want to consider this aspect before you become a dasher. The payout for each delivery includes the following:

Base Pay

The base pay varies from $2-$10 depending upon the distance to be covered, estimated delivery time, and desirability of the order. Deliveries requiring longer distances, more time, or having less popularity have a higher base pay.

Promotions

These include incentives such as Peak Pay, Challenges, and Drives. We will look at these later in the article.

Tips

The entire amount tipped by the customer is part of the delivery payout.

According to DoorDash, the average driver earned $18.54 per hour in October 2019. But you might want to remember that DoorDash does not compensate dashers for fuel, mobile data, or vehicle maintenance costs.

What Does A Dasher Need?

Let’s start with the basics. Before registering with DoorDash, you have to be eligible to work as one. To start working as a driver with DoorDash, you must be or have:

1. Be 18 years or older with a valid driver’s license and a clean driving record.
2. A car, bike, scooter, or bicycle (in some cities) with up-to-date business-use or commercial coverage auto insurance.
3. A smartphone to install and run the DoorDash app.
4. A social security number (for US residents).

How to Sign Up?

If you meet the requirements to be a Dasher, the next step is signing up. For this, you will need to:

1. Provide your email address, phone number and zip code, name, vehicle type (car/bike/scooter/bicycle), license information, insurance certification, birthdate, and social security number.
2. Consent to a background check and a motor vehicle check (for motorized vehicles).
3. Select whether you want to pick up your activation kit or have it shipped to you. The former includes a 30-60 minute in-person orientation at a local DoorDash office to help you get started. If you choose the latter, the kit will be delivered to your address. The activation kit comes with a hot bag, a Red Card, and a starter manual. According to DoorDash, it should reach your doorstep within 1-4 business days of clearing the background check.
4. Fill out a W-9 form to provide information for tax purposes.
5. Download the DoorDash Dasher app from the App Store for iPhones and the Play Store for Android phones.
6. Activate your Red Card. The Red Card is a credit card you can use to pay for orders when prompted by the app.
7. Provide information for payments via direct deposit or Fast Pay (only for US dashers) using the Earnings tab in the app. With direct deposit, you will receive weekly payouts from DoorDash. Fast Pay allows drivers to cash out daily or on-demand for a $1.99 fee. The Earnings tab also records your earnings to help you track how much you’re making.

The last step completes the signup process. As per DoorDash, they will activate your account within one to two weeks. Then, you’re ready to dash.

What is Instant Dash?

Under the “Instant Dash” program, some dashers in select markets can start dashing immediately after completing the registration process. Till the activation kit is received, dashers receive orders that do not require the use of the hot bag or the Red Card. DoorDash ships the activation kit after you complete the first delivery.

How to Start a Dash?

Using “Dash Now”

To start dashing right away, tap the “Dash Now” button in the Dasher app. You will see this option when the heat map is red, and it says the area is “busy” or “very busy.” This indicates that there are orders available to be serviced. The “Dash Now” button will usually be visible during peak times such as lunch (11 AM to 2 PM) or dinner (4:30 PM to 8 PM). If there are enough dashers to meet current orders, the heat map will appear gray, and the “Dash Now” option will not be shown by the app.

Using the “Schedule” feature

This option allows you to avoid the uncertainty associated with an impromptu dash and reserve a spot on the road up to 5 days in advance. To do this:

1. Navigate to the “Schedule” tab.
2. Select the day you would like to schedule a dash and find a list of available starting points and start times.
3. If your preferred city or time slot is not listed, there are already enough dashers scheduled during that slot.
4. If your desired slot is available, tap the time slot and set your preferred start and end times. Tap “Save Dash” to save your schedule.
5. To start a dash, be at the selected starting point at your scheduled time and tap on “Dash Now.”
6. You can also edit or delete a scheduled dash using the “Schedule” tab.

If you don’t log into the app within 30 minutes of the scheduled dash start time, DoorDash might cancel your dash.

Peak Pay and Challenges

Peak Pay allows drivers to earn more per delivery for dashing in specific locations at certain times. These offers are displayed in the “Promos” tab of the app, allowing drivers to schedule dashes or dash during this time. Some might require you to comply with specific requirements, such as a minimum acceptance rate and a mandatory number of deliveries. An example would be “Dash in Santa Clara from 4 PM to 7 PM to earn an extra $2 per delivery if you complete at least two deliveries and accept 80% of deliveries”.

Challenges provide monetary incentives to drivers for completing a certain number of jobs within a specified timeframe. For example, earning an extra $30 for completing 20 deliveries in a week. Challenges show up in the “Dash Now” panel on the home screen. Tap on them to see more information about eligibility requirements and benefits.

How to Fulfill a DoorDash Delivery?

1. Tapping on the “Dash Now” button on the app is the first step in starting your dash. It indicates that you’re ready to accept and deliver orders.
2. The app will then prompt you to set your “End Time” for the dash. 
3. Verify that you have everything you need to start dashing by checking the startup checklist and tap “Start Dashing” to confirm that you’re good to go.
4. You will see the restaurant name, number of items, delivery distance, delivery time, and the minimum amount earned on delivery for each order.
5. You have 40 seconds to accept or decline the offer, after which the order automatically passes on to the next available Dasher.
6. After accepting the offer, you can tap “Directions” to choose a navigation app to find your way to the restaurant.
7. Once you reach the pickup point, inform the staff that you’re there for a DoorDash order, and provide the customer’s name.
8. Once the restaurant staff hands over the order, the app will prompt you to verify the ordered items with them.
9. After checking the items, “Slide after pickup” will show the customer’s name, address, drop-off time, and delivery instructions and provide options to call or text the customer.
10. Tap “Directions” to get directions for navigating to the customer. Once you reach the customer, tap “Complete Delivery Steps” to get instructions for completing your delivery.
11. For contactless deliveries, you will see instructions on where to leave the order. You will also be asked to take a photo to help customers know where you’ve kept their food.
12. Click “Complete Delivery” to rate the delivery and tap “Confirm” to mark the completed order. You will, then, see how much you’ve earned for the delivery. Your first delivery is done.

To get live support for issues during a dash, use the “Help” option at the app’s top right corner.

Drive Deliveries

Apart from on-demand deliveries, there are Drive Large Order Deliveries scheduled beforehand for drivers to claim ahead of time. From 8 PM every night, eligible new dashers will be able to see orders for the next day in the app’s Schedule tab. Drive orders include catering orders, large corporate orders, or substantial orders placed directly with the store. Some orders require help setting up at the customer’s end after delivery. These deliveries are popular and quickly claimed by dashers. They may also include extra money for delivering the items on time.

Tips for Dashing

For those looking to get the most out of their food delivery gigs, here are some tips to help you maximize your earnings and your rating:

1. Schedule your dash ahead of time to reduce the uncertainty associated with getting one later.
2. Set a reminder to check and claim Drive Large Order Deliveries on the app the evening before.
3. Arrive on time at both the pickup and drop-off points to ensure that delivery goals are met.
4. At the pickup point, verify that you are picking up the right order by checking the customer’s name and order ID. The last thing you want is to end up at the customer’s doorstep with a meal they didn’t buy.
5. Check the items against the order to account for the requested items and any special instructions.
6. Most customers will appreciate freebies like utensils, napkins, and sauces. Grab some at the restaurant and keep them handy.
7. Customers prefer some updates (not a blow-by-blow account) about their order instead of radio silence. Keeping them informed about delays via text or call can increase ratings by 10%.
8. Preview delivery instructions while you wait for an order to save on delivery time. Adhere to these instructions when delivering the food to the customer.
9. Handle the food carefully while checking the order and packing it into the hot bag. Before leaving the restaurant, ensure that containers are sealed well to prevent spills. Segregate hot and cold items to avoid spoilage. Customers won’t appreciate warm yogurt or cold soup. 
10. Place all the boxes flat with heavier items at the bottom and lighter items on top. Secure the hot bag in your vehicle before you start your delivery. Avoid sharp turns and bumpy rides. No one likes their pizza with the cheese and toppings on one side.
11. Don’t tamper with the food. If you don’t like others sticking their fingers into your food, your customers won’t either.
12. When dropping-off multiple orders at a time, follow the color-coded steps on the app to ensure there are no mixups. Also, label each order with the customer’s name to save time and avoid confusion at delivery time.
13. For alcohol deliveries, check the customer’s ID to ensure that they are at least 21 years old and scan the ID into the app. Don’t deliver alcohol to intoxicated customers.
14. For Drive deliveries, confirm pre-claimed orders 30 minutes before the scheduled pickup to avoid them being reassigned to another driver. Dress well and carry at least one large, insulated catering bag for the food.
15. When faced with issues, inform the customer or restaurant before seeking help from Dasher support.

Like any service, customer satisfaction is paramount. A happy customer means more tips and better ratings.

Summary

Working as a DoorDash delivery driver is not difficult. You may feel a bit anxious with your first dash, but your confidence should improve with time and deliveries. There are a lot of things that go into being a successful dasher. While many of those are listed in this article, you will learn the rest with experience on the job.