How to Become A DoorDash Driver | First Week Done Right

DoorDash lets you deliver with a car, scooter, or bike after a short sign-up, background check, and app setup.

If you want flexible delivery work, DoorDash can fit around your schedule. The trick is treating day one like a setup day, not a “wing it” day. You’ll get approved faster, waste fewer miles, and feel less frazzled on busy nights.

Becoming A DoorDash Driver Step By Step

Most applicants can move through onboarding with no drama. The fastest path is simple: confirm you qualify, prep your info, submit the form once, then set up the app like you plan to drive tomorrow.

Check the requirements before you apply

DoorDash posts its baseline eligibility in the Dasher help center, including the age minimum and smartphone needs. Read it first so you know you’re starting on the right footing: Requirements for Dashing.

Choose your delivery method

Most markets allow a car. Some also allow scooter, bike, or walking. A car usually brings more offers and longer trips. A bike or scooter can work well in dense areas where parking slows everything down.

Get your info ready

Have your driver’s license handy and use your legal name. Enter your home details the same way it appears on your ID and official records. Small mismatches can trigger extra verification steps.

Complete the official sign-up flow

DoorDash outlines the steps here: Dasher Signup Process. You’ll create an account, enter your details, download the Dasher app, and consent to checks where required. Do it on the same phone you plan to dash with so logins and verification codes stay painless.

Expect a background check stage

Many areas run a motor vehicle and background check. If your status is pending, use the time to set up your car and delivery kit. Once you’re cleared, you’ll be ready to start calmly instead of rushing.

How to Become A DoorDash Driver Without Getting Stuck

Most delays come from avoidable admin problems. Fix these up front and you’ll dodge the common traps.

Match your identity details perfectly

Use your legal name, date of birth, and current home details exactly as your documents show. Avoid nicknames. Don’t switch home details mid-process. If you moved recently, updating your license first can save headaches.

Use one primary device for onboarding

Do onboarding and your first login on the same phone. Keep your operating system updated and turn on notifications. Missed verification texts can slow you down.

Make your vehicle setup boringly reliable

Start with basics: fuel, tire pressure, a clean windshield, and a working charger. Add a phone mount that keeps the screen at eye level. Keep a spare cable in the glove box. Bring a small flashlight for porch numbers and apartment signs.

Stage a simple delivery kit

• Insulated bag that closes well
• Paper towels and a spare plastic bag for leaks
• Hand sanitizer and extra napkins
• A small bin or cup holder for drinks

You can start with any insulated bag you already own. If you decide to keep dashing, upgrading gear later is easy.

What to do before your first dash

Your first shift is smoother when your phone, maps, and routine are ready. Spend a bit of time setting defaults, then you can keep your attention on driving and clean handoffs.

Set your navigation defaults

Pick the map app you trust, then set it as your default. Save your home area as a favorite. If you avoid tolls, set that once so you don’t tap menus while driving.

Build a pickup routine you can repeat

Walk in, check pickup shelves, then ask staff only if you don’t see the order. Confirm the name, check drinks, and keep bags flat in the car. If an order includes drinks, place them in your bin before you pull away.

Learn how pay is built

DoorDash explains base pay, tips, and promos in its own words. Read it once so you know what you’re seeing on the offer screen: How is Dasher pay calculated?.

Order choices that protect your time

New Dashers often accept everything and burn hours on slow pickups and long drives. A simple offer filter keeps your shift from turning into a grind.

Pick a “yes” rule you can follow in real time

Start with two limits: a minimum dollars-per-mile target and a maximum distance you’ll travel away from your main zone. After a week, adjust based on your real wait times and parking.

Read the drop-off type before you accept

A single-family home drop-off is usually quick. Apartments can be slower, especially when parking is tight or entry codes are missing. If apartment runs stress you out early, take fewer of them until you learn the buildings in your area.

Handle stacked orders carefully

Stacks can pay well, yet they raise the risk of late drop-offs. Keep orders separated in the car and double-check names before you leave the restaurant. If one pickup is running late, use in-app options to report the wait time.

Table: Setup checklist and what it affects

This list covers the items and settings that make a noticeable difference in your first week.

Item or setting	What it changes	Prep tip
Driver’s license and legal name match	Account verification speed	Copy details directly from your ID
Smartphone with reliable data	Offer delivery and navigation	Test maps, camera, and notifications
Phone mount and charger	Safer driving and fewer missed turns	Keep a spare cable in the car
Insulated bag	Food quality on arrival	Use a bag that stands upright
Drink bin or cup carrier	Spill risk	Keep it within arm’s reach
Offer “yes” rule	Shift pace and earnings feel	Set min $/mile and max miles
Photo routine	Fewer disputes	Frame bag plus door number when possible
Parking plan for busy strips	Pickup time	Pick one legal spot you reuse
Mileage tracking method	Tax records	Log miles each shift

Drop-off habits that keep ratings steady

Customers want the order delivered where they asked, with no surprises. You can’t control kitchen speed. You can control care, photos, and clear communication.

Message only when it helps

If a restaurant is running late, send one short note with the reason and what you’re doing next. Then drive. Too many messages can feel spammy.

Take clean photos

For contactless drop-offs, step back and frame the bag and the door. If you can include the house number, do it. At night, use your flashlight to see numbers instead of blasting the customer’s door with flash.

Follow notes exactly

Read drop-off notes before you arrive. If a note feels unsafe, place the order in a safe spot, then tell the customer what you did in one sentence.

Profit tracking that keeps you sane

Your earnings change by time of day, promos, and market demand. Your best move is tracking your own numbers so you know what’s worth repeating.

Track active time and total time

Active time is time spent on an order. Total time is the whole shift. If you only watch active time, your hourly rate can look better than it is. Track both once a week.

Separate pay from profit

Gas, wear on the car, parking, and supplies come out of your pocket. Treat dash income as business revenue, then subtract costs. That number is your profit.

Table: Expenses and records worth tracking

These records make tax season easier and keep you aware of your real take-home pay.

Record	What to save	Simple habit
Mileage log	Date, start/end miles, business miles	Log at shift start and end
Gas	Receipt photos or card statements	Save receipts in one folder
Maintenance	Oil, tires, repairs	Keep shop invoices
Phone costs	Bill or plan cost portion	Save monthly statements
Parking and tolls	Receipts and dates	Snap a photo right away
Supplies	Bags, sanitizer, bins, towels	Keep store receipts
Weekly totals	Earnings, miles, gas, one note	Review once each week

Taxes for DoorDash drivers

In many places, delivery drivers are treated as independent contractors, so taxes are not withheld from your pay. The IRS page below lists reporting duties, recordkeeping, and estimated tax payments for gig income: Manage taxes for your gig work. Read it early, then set a habit of saving a slice of each payout.

Set aside money as you earn

Pick a percentage that feels safe for your situation and move it to a separate account each week. If you also have a W-2 job, your withholding might handle part of your total tax bill. Still, having cash set aside keeps you from scrambling later.

Track miles from the start of the shift

Your business miles can include driving to pickups while you’re logged in and available, plus repositioning between busy areas during a shift. Keep records consistent and don’t guess months later.

Safety and professionalism on the road

Dashing runs smoother when you drive calmly. Rushing leads to tickets, missed turns, and sloppy handoffs.

Choose parking that keeps you calm

If a restaurant has no safe parking, skip it next time. A five-minute walk beats a tow.

Keep food secure and the car tidy

Don’t open sealed bags. Keep orders flat so sauces don’t tip. If a bag leaks, place it in a second bag if you have one, then tell the customer what happened in one plain sentence.

Know when to end a shift

If you’re tired or frustrated, end the dash. One rough mood can turn a simple delivery into a complaint.

Common first-week problems and quick fixes

You’ll run into a few repeating issues early. The goal is handling them once, then building a routine that keeps them rare.

Restaurant wait times

If the order isn’t ready, mark the wait in the app when that option appears. Stay polite. If the wait drags on and the offer no longer feels worth it, use the app’s unassign flow so the order can move to another driver.

Confusing apartment directions

Slow down before you enter the complex. Use a flashlight. If the map pin looks off, call from a safe spot, not while rolling.

Missing items reports

If a bag is sealed, you can’t check inside. You can still do a fast scan: drinks present, number of bags matches the receipt, and the name is right. If the customer reports a missing item, keep replies short and stick to the in-app steps.

Next steps after your first 10 deliveries

After 10 deliveries, you’ll have enough real data to adjust your week. Review your notes and pick one change.

• Trim your max distance if you keep ending up far from restaurants.
• Shift your hours if you keep waiting at slow kitchens.
• Upgrade one piece of gear that fixes a repeating problem.

With steady habits, the work feels less random and your pay becomes easier to forecast.