Photo: Kristin Hardwick / Wikimedia Commons, CC0, cropped

DoorDash setup checklist: mistakes new users should avoid

By FastBuySale Newsroom · 9 Nov 2026 · 14m ago

How to use this checklist

Signing up to dash is quick, but small set-up choices affect your earnings, safety and tax bill. Use this checklist before your first delivery and tick each item off. It is based on DoorDash's Dasher Central guide for new Dashers and the Dasher help center. Requirements vary by market and change over time, so check the app for your area.

Part 1: eligibility

- Check the minimum age for your state: 18 in most states, 19 in Arizona, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Kentucky, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, Texas, Utah and West Virginia, and 21 for new applicants in California.

- Confirm you have a compatible iPhone or Android phone. DoorDash notes that newer phones with more memory crash less often.

- Have your Social Security number ready for identity verification and the background check.

Mistake to avoid: using an old phone that freezes during deliveries, which can cause late orders and lower ratings.

Part 2: vehicle and documents

- Decide how you will deliver: car, scooter, motorcycle, bike or e-bike, where available.

- For motorised vehicles, have a valid driver's licence, insurance and vehicle registration ready.

- For bike delivery, have a valid government-issued ID.

- Make sure the vehicle is reliable and safe.

Mistake to avoid: uploading blurry document photos that delay approval.

Part 3: background check

- Consent to the background check by the third-party provider.

- Know it may include a criminal records search, a Social Security number trace and, for motorised vehicles, a motor vehicle record check.

- Check your email for updates and respond to requests quickly.

Mistake to avoid: ignoring emails from the background check provider, which can stall your application.

Part 4: insurance

- Call your auto insurer and ask whether your policy covers delivery driving.

- Ask about a rideshare or delivery endorsement if it does not.

- Understand what any DoorDash-provided coverage includes and when it applies.

Mistake to avoid: assuming personal insurance covers delivery work, which many policies exclude.

Part 5: payout setup

- Add a checking account for free weekly direct deposit.

- Decide whether you need Fast Pay, which allows one cash-out a day for $1.99 to a linked debit card, not a prepaid card.

- Consider whether DoorDash Crimson, which pays after every dash with no fee subject to eligibility, suits you. Fast Pay and Crimson cannot be used together.

- Note that earnings not cashed out by 11:59:59pm Pacific time on Sunday are paid weekly, with two to three business days of processing.

Mistake to avoid: using Fast Pay every day out of habit. At $1.99 a day, that is more than $500 a year.

Part 6: learn the pay models

- Understand pay per offer, where each offer shows a guaranteed amount before you accept.

- Understand Earn by Time where available, which pays a minimum hourly rate for active time only.

- Know that 100% of tips go to you, and that the guaranteed minimum does not include tips added after delivery.

Mistake to avoid: assuming Earn by Time pays for time waiting for offers.

Part 7: equipment

- Insulated delivery bag, which keeps food at the right temperature.

- Sturdy phone mount and charger.

- Drink holder carrier for drink orders.

- Flashlight for finding addresses at night.

- Water, snacks and weather-appropriate clothing.

Mistake to avoid: delivering hot and cold items in the same open bag.

Part 8: app settings

- Turn on notifications for offers.

- Set up your preferred navigation app.

- Learn how to contact customers and support through the app.

- Learn how to report problems such as missing items or closed stores.

- Find the safety features, including emergency assistance.

Mistake to avoid: calling customers from your personal number outside the app.

Part 9: plan your first dash

- Check the app for busy times in your area, often lunch and dinner.

- Choose a starting point near many restaurants.

- Set a goal, such as two hours or a set number of deliveries.

- Decide your minimum acceptable pay per mile before accepting offers.

Mistake to avoid: accepting long-distance offers with low pay because you want to keep your acceptance rate high.

Part 10: tax and records

- Start a mileage log or use an app to track business miles from your first dash.

- Keep receipts for phone, bags, car maintenance and other costs.

- Set aside part of each payout for tax.

- Know you owe self-employment tax on net earnings of $400 or more.

Mistake to avoid: not tracking miles, which are often the largest deduction.

Worked example: deciding which offers to take

Ana sets a rule to accept offers that pay at least $1.50 per mile, including the drive to the restaurant. An offer shows $7 for 6 total miles, which is about $1.17 a mile, so she declines it. The next shows $9 for 4.5 miles, $2 a mile, so she accepts. Over an evening, her rule keeps her average earnings per mile higher, which matters because fuel and wear cost her about 30 cents a mile. The fuel cost calculator on this site helps estimate that figure.

Part 11: food safety and delivery etiquette

- Keep food sealed and do not open bags.

- Hold drinks upright in a carrier.

- Follow drop-off instructions and take a photo when asked.

- Be polite at restaurants and with customers.

Mistake to avoid: leaving orders in unsafe places, such as exposed to rain, without following customer instructions.

Part 12: after your first week

- Review earnings, miles, hours and costs.

- Calculate your earnings per hour and per mile after costs.

- Note the best times and areas.

- Adjust your strategy.

Part 13: alcohol and special orders

- Check whether alcohol deliveries are offered in your market and whether training is required.

- Learn the ID check steps in the app: the recipient must be 21 or older and not visibly intoxicated.

- Know what to do if the recipient cannot meet the requirements, which is usually to return the alcohol as instructed.

- Learn how shop-and-deliver and red card orders work if you receive them.

Mistake to avoid: handing alcohol to someone other than the verified recipient.

Part 14: safety habits

- Share your location with a trusted person when dashing at night.

- Park legally and in well-lit areas.

- Do not enter a customer's home.

- Contact support or emergency services if you feel unsafe.

- Take breaks to avoid fatigue.

Mistake to avoid: rushing to meet delivery times by speeding or using your phone while driving.

Part 15: know the deactivation rules

- Read DoorDash's deactivation policy.

- Never mark an order delivered before it is.

- Do not let anyone else use your account.

- Treat customers and restaurant staff with respect.

Mistake to avoid: assuming minor mistakes will not be recorded. Customer ratings and reports can add up over time.

Part 16: costs to estimate before you start

- Fuel or charging, based on your vehicle's efficiency.

- Maintenance and tyres, which wear faster with frequent short trips.

- Insurance, including any delivery endorsement.

- Phone data and a reliable phone plan.

- Parking, if you deliver in a busy city centre.

Writing these down before your first week helps you see your real hourly earnings, not just what the app shows. Many Dashers find that working out a cost per mile, for example 25 to 35 cents for a fuel-efficient car, makes offer decisions much easier.

Part 17: bike and scooter Dashers

- Check whether bike delivery is available in your market.

- Wear a helmet, use lights and reflective clothing.

- Carry a lock, a puncture repair kit and a rain cover for your bag.

- Choose zones with short distances between restaurants and customers.

Mistake to avoid: taking long-distance offers that are hard to complete on time by bike.

Part 18: customer communication

- Message customers if there is a delay, such as a slow restaurant.

- Read delivery instructions before arriving.

- Use the in-app chat or call feature, which protects both numbers.

Mistake to avoid: silence during delays, which often leads to low ratings.

Final reminders

Dashers are independent contractors, so you choose when to work and which offers to accept. Follow DoorDash's policies, traffic laws and food safety rules. This checklist is general information, is not affiliated with DoorDash and is not legal, tax or financial advice.

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