The New Dasher Guide
Introducing DoorDash Crimson - a new personal banking account where Dashers can receive their earnings instantly through Instant Pay, enjoy cash back and perks from exclusive DoorDash partnerships, and manage your money easily, safely, and securely, all within the Dasher app. No credit check is required, and no fee to apply. Learn more here.
The DasherDirect program will be ending on April 1, 2025. If you are a current DasherDirect user, learn how to migrate to DoorDash Crimson with our step-by-step guide and get answers to frequently asked questions here.
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The New Dasher Guide
Your guide to getting started with DoorDash
This guide is intended to help answer common questions about dashing and give you confidence on your first day on the road. As an Independent Contractor, the decisions you make on the road are yours and yours alone.
Getting Started
Download the Dasher app. Dashers can use their iOS or Android phones. Certain jailbroken or rooted phones may have trouble accessing the Dasher app. If you are having trouble accessing the Dasher App after multiple attempts, you can try to reset your phone or login using another phone altogether.
Connect your bank account so you can get paid (Learn how)
Schedule your first dash (Learn how)
Watch A Dasher’s Guide to Dashing:
Dasher App Walk-through from DoorDash on Youtube.
Your Earnings
The Earnings tab of your Dasher app will show a breakdown of your base pay, customer tips, and additional incentives so you can see everything you’re making in one place. It’s also where you set up your weekly direct deposit and Fast Pay account information.
Add your bank account details to receive free, automatic weekly payouts.
From the Earnings tab of your Dasher app, click on “View payout details” and select “Change payout method, then tap “Add Bank Account” to add your account details. Learn more.
Every Monday, we’ll transfer your earnings from the previous week. Depending on your bank, direct deposits can take up to 3 days to process. You should see your earnings hit your account by Wednesday each week.
To cash out daily for $1.99, set up Fast Pay. (Only available in the US)
From the Earnings tab of your Dasher app, tap on “View payout details” and select “Change payout method". At this time, you cannot cash out to a prepaid card.
When to Dash
As a Dasher, you choose both when and how much (or how little) you’d like to dash. You can dash all day every day or a little here and there - no commitment required!
Scheduling in advance
You choose the schedule that works for you. If you know your plans in advance, you can schedule ahead to secure your spot on the road. Learn how here.
Peak times: Lunch and dinner
Peak times tend to align with meal times, so lunch (11:00 AM to 2:00 PM) and dinner (4:30 PM to 8:00 PM) are often the busiest times to dash -- which should mean more money! To snag a spot during the lunch or dinner rush, you can schedule a dash up to 5 days in advance.
Dash Now: When it’s busy out there
When your area is busy, the “Dash” Button gives you the option to start dashing right away. The heat map screen will be red, rather than gray (and the darker the red, the more orders there are available!), and you can click the “Dash” Button to begin your dash.
Pro Tip!
Watch for “Peak Pay offers” or added Challenges, which provide opportunities to increase earnings. This means extra money and usually signals a busier time to hit the road. Learn more here.
Where to Dash
Where you dash is your choice as well.
Busy areas near the big restaurants in your town are popular with Dashers, who recommend parking near popular restaurants to maximize your chances of getting matched to an order fastest!
Navigate to a hotspot, the areas marked with the flame icon 🔥 on the map. These aren’t active orders, but rather areas that are typically busy. You can use the navigation option to route here to increase your chances of getting orders.
Start at home while you wait for your first order.
Dash along the way: Dash Along the Way helps you make the most of your time on the road by allowing you to deliver orders on your way to a destination. So, the next time you're headed to or from another zone, you can simply tap Dash Along the Way to deliver orders and earn money along your route.
Click here to learn how this feature works.
How to complete deliveries
Whether you prefer to chat with your customer throughout your delivery or only check in with urgent updates, deck yourself out in DoorDash gear or wear your favorite outfit, dash all day or for just 30 minutes, how you dash is entirely up to you.
This step-by-step will show you how to use the Dasher app at each stage of your delivery:
Accepting and Declining Orders
When you receive an order, you’ll always see the minimum earnings and distance. This will help you make an informed decision about whether you’d like to accept the order. You’ll have 50 seconds to evaluate the offer before it’s given to another nearby Dasher. Click “Accept” to get started!
You may accept or decline any delivery opportunity you are offered. There’s no minimum Acceptance Rate required to remain active on the DoorDash platform.
At the Restaurant you can let the staff know you're picking up a DoorDash order and provide your customer's name. Every order you receive will be paid for before you arrive. You can just pick up the order, thank the staff, and head to the drop off location!
Delivering to the customer is easy! The Dasher app will help you navigate to your drop off location, and it will show you any special delivery instructions. Dashers tell us that previewing these instructions while you wait for your order is a great way to save time at your final destination. If you have any questions, you can reach your customer directly by clicking the phone or text options.
COVID-19 Notice: During COVID, most deliveries are “contactless” by default. These deliveries will have instructions for where the customer would like you to leave their order, and the app will prompt you to take a photo to help your customer see the specific location you’ve put their food.
Pro Tip! Dashers tell us that customer communication can make all the difference. In fact, data shows that calling or texting the customer on late deliveries can increase ratings by 10%! See how Dashers keep customers informed here.
Instant Dash FAQs
With “Instant Dash,” you can get started as soon as soon as your signup process is complete - no additional gear required! This program is available to select Dashers in select markets to help you get on the road and start earning money right away.
Q: Can I dash without a Red Card and a hot bag?
Yes! As you get started, we’ll only offer deliveries that you can complete without a Red Card and hot bag.
Q: Where can I get a Red Card?
To learn how to activate a Red Card, click here.
Q: How will restaurants know I’m a Dasher?
When you arrive to pick up your order, you can simply let the staff know you're there to pick up a DoorDash order and provide your customer's name.
Q: Will I still receive any DoorDash gear?
Yes! Once you complete your first delivery, we’ll ship your DoorDash Kit, which includes a DoorDash insulated tote bag. We’ll let you know when your kit is on the way.
Q: What if I want more DoorDash gear?
Visit the DoorDash Store, powered by Overture, here.
Your Activation Kit will contain a hot bag, but the DoorDash Store has extra totes, tees and tops, drink carriers, and more!
COVID-19 Resources
DoorDash is committed to the health and safety of our community, and we know dashing looks a little different these days.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), including masks and hand sanitizer, is available for all active Dashers. Shortly after your first dash, we’ll send you an email with details for accessing this exclusive online storefront.
Many merchants are requiring masks in stores and in some areas facial coverings are required by law.
Read the CDC’s guidance for “Food and Grocery Drivers” here.
Explore the COVID-19 Resource Center for Dashers here.
Accessing Dasher Help
As you dash, you may have more questions -- that’s totally normal!
To find more information about the signup process, using the Dasher app, managing your Dasher Account, and more, visit the Dasher Help Center here.
For questions when you’re on a delivery, click the ? or HELP button in your Dasher app to connect with an Agent.
When you’re not on a delivery, access a Support agent by chat or phone here.
