The DoorDash Requirements Every Driver Must Meet

If you’d like to sign up to become a DoorDash driver, you’re probably curious about the requirements you’ll need to meet in order to apply.

Unlike many other gig economy companies, the DoorDash requirements are surprisingly simple.

I’ll cover the basic, technology, vehicle, insurance, and compliance requirements that every applicant must meet, and give you some tips for how to meet them based on my experience applying.

Basic Requirements for Dashing

The first step in becoming a Dasher is to meet the basic, fundamental requirements put in place by the company.

All applicants must be at least 18 years old to apply to drive with DoorDash. However, drivers in Delaware, Montana, and West Virginia must be at least 19 years old as of January 16th, 2024.

There is one caveat to this.

If you’re looking to deliver alcohol, which is available in select states throughout the United States, you will need to be at least twenty one years of age to do so.

Next, you’ll need to ensure that your smartphone can run the DoorDash driver app, and it must be an iPhone or Android device.

This app is your portal to the delivery world, so having something that can run it is critically important.

I suggest using a newer model with at least 3GB or RAM. This reduces issues like crashes and restarts.

Deliveries can be stressful, especially if you’re up against the clock. The last thing you want in that situation is a phone that can’t load a navigation route or allow you to properly complete a delivery.

Devices that are jailbroken or rooted may not be compatible with the Dasher app. If you fall into this category, I highly suggest not even trying to run the app on the device.

DoorDash might see this as a security threat and deactivate your account. It’s not worth the risk – even if it’s a small one – in my opinion.

I also suggest having a decent data plan as well. The DoorDash driver app uses a LOT of data, so if you have an unlimited data option, I’d suggest going with that.

Vehicle and Insurance Requirements

DoorDash is fairly well-known for having very loose, flexible vehicle requirements.

In fact, there are no specific vehicle requirements, meaning you can use any car, motorcycle, bike, e-bike, or scooter.

However, you must have a valid driver’s license and insurance for the vehicle you choose to use.

DoorDash requires drivers to have their own insurance policy that covers them in compliance of local laws and regulations.

However, they do provide commercial insurance that covers up to $1,000,000 in bodily injury and property damage to third parties during active deliveries.

It is important to understand how this insurance works, though.

How DoorDash Insurance Works for Dashers

DoorDash provides third-party auto liability insurance for Dashers during the “Delivery Service” period, which starts when a delivery request is accepted and ends when the order is completed or canceled.

This insurance offers up to $1 million in coverage for bodily injury and property damage.

This is essentially designed to protect you and others if something (like an accident) were to occur while you were on a delivery.

You need your own insurance policy to cover you while you are waiting for a delivery, or when you are not on an active delivery for DoorDash.

During those times, any damage to your vehicle or yourself remains your own responsibility.

Additional Safety and Compliance

Lastly, all drivers must undergo a comprehensive background check as part of the application process.

They use a third-party company called Checkr to look for red flags in an applicant’s criminal and driving records, and also verify against the National Sex Offender Registry.

The background check is a very standard part of onboarding with a gig company, and is an important way to ensure the safety and reliability of the drivers, protecting both customers and merchants.

While these checks are run at signup, drivers can also be periodically re-checked to make sure that they are in compliance with the company’s safety standards.

If they have some type of reason to be concerned, however, they can also conduct a check at any time.