DoorDash Background Check FAQs (What to Expect in 2023)

Submitting to a DoorDash background check is an onboarding requirement if you want to deliver for DoorDash, and it's protocol for all food delivery services, not just DoorDash. 

Background checks screen potential candidates, and while the process might sound stressful, this FAQ guide will clarify the process so you can feel confident moving forward and start making money with Doordash.

What is the DoorDash Background Check?

The DoorDash background check is a screening process that reviews your criminal and driving record for red flags before you are approved to deliver for DoorDash. They use a third-party service, called Checkr, to run background checks.

You have to consent to the check first, and anyone who wants to deliver for DoorDash — whether that’s by car, bike, scooter, etc. — must complete it before they can start delivering. Background checks are standard practice for any food delivery or rideshare service, like Uber, Instacart, Lyft, or Grubhub.

Basically, the DoorDash background check is designed to ensure the safety and security of all DoorDash members, from customers to other drivers.

We’ll explain more of what it looks for shortly, but as long as the background check doesn’t uncover any red flags, you’ll be able to start delivering ASAP.

What Does DoorDash’s Background Check Look For?

The DoorDash background check specifically looks at two things: driving record and criminal history. It reviews national criminal records, the National Sex Offender Registry, and your Motor Vehicle Report. 

The main issues DoorDash’s background check looks for are:

• Speeding tickets
• Drug and alcohol related traffic violations
• Accidents
• Driving without insurance
• Stoplight tickets
• Felony convictions
• Sexual offenses

Once you’ve passed and start driving, you must maintain a clean record to maintain your active driver status, and DoorDash does periodically recheck your record.

Want to learn more about DoorDash? Check out our full DoorDash Driver Review.

How Far Back Does the Background Check Go?

The DoorDash background check goes back anywhere from three to seven years depending on the type of offenses it’s looking for. And for certain types of criminal offenses, they will show up no matter how long ago they happened. 

The criminal background check reviews the last seven years, but a felony conviction is an exception and will show up even if it happened decades ago.

Your Motor Vehicle Report shows the last three years of driving history; however, DUIs and drug-related convictions go back seven years.

What Disqualifies You During the Background Check?

There are a few things that will automatically disqualify you from being approved to deliver for DoorDash, and they are:

• Sexual offenses
• Drug or alcohol issues, including DUIs
• Felony convictions
• Three or more moving violations
• Driving without a license
• Leaving the scene of accident
• Driving on a suspended license

Violent criminal acts and offenses related to driving are taken especially seriously.

Does DoorDash Hire Felons?

The short answer is that DoorDash doesn’t have a policy about hiring felons. It’s possible to deliver for DoorDash as a felon as long as the offense happened outside of the seven year time period the background check reviews.

If an offense happened during those seven years, you should be clear as long as it didn’t result in an arrest or conviction. 

What Documents Do You Need for the Background Check?

Because background checks involve sensitive information, candidates must submit documentation that verifies their identity, including a valid driver’s license or state-issued ID. You also need to have an email address, phone number, and proof of insurance if you’re driving.

Checkr, the company DoorDash uses to run background checks, also requires your full name (including middle name), date of birth, zip code, and Social Security number.

How Long Does a DoorDash Background Check Take?

Our team recently spoke to DoorDash, and they said their current background check approval time is two days, but it’s possible for it to take one to two weeks, and there are a couple of reasons it can take so long:

• Lots of drivers signing up at the same time
• Delays with the DMV or local county offices

Once you’ve passed the background check, you’ll be approved to start driving ASAP. But if the market you’ve signed up to drive in is oversaturated with drivers, you’ll be waitlisted and need to wait for a welcome email from DoorDash before you can start delivering.

Can I Check The Status of My DoorDash Background Check?

Yes, you can use Checkr’s candidate portal to check the status of your background check, and you can also use the portal to request a copy of the results. Checkr’s portal asks for your name, email address, Social Security number, and date of birth to match you with their records.

When checking on the status of your DoorDash background check, you’ll see one of the following statuses:

• Clear: Your background check is clear, and you can start delivering.
• Pending: Your background check is still being processed, and Checkr might require a little more information before your report is complete.
• Consider: Your background check has been processed and is being shared with DoorDash for internal review. Reviews typically take an additional five days to complete, and you’ll be notified via email once DoorDash is ready to proceed or reject you.
• Disputed: If your check came back with a red flag, you have 30 days to dispute any information that you think came back in error.
  
  

What if I’m Disqualified?

You’ll receive a copy of your background check with your disqualification letter, and you’ll want to review it immediately. After review, if you feel you were wrongly disqualified from signing up for DoorDash, you can dispute it. 

You’ll know DoorDash has disqualified you from the sign-up process if you receive an email with “Pre-Adverse Action Notice” in the subject line. You have ten days after the notice is sent to dispute the results, and here’s how that works:

• If you believe the background check is inaccurate: It’s possible you’ve misfiled your information, and if that’s the case, you can use Checkr’s Candidate Portal to dispute the report and file the correct information.
• If you believe the background check is accurate: In this case, you can still dispute the findings by providing additional information regarding the circumstances surrounding the charge. This doesn’t mean DoorDash will approve you, but it’s worth a shot.
  
  

The Final Word on the DoorDash Background Check

The Doordash background check is a required step if you want to deliver for DoorDash. It takes two days on average to complete, and if it comes back clear, you can start delivering ASAP. However, if the findings are incorrect or disqualify you, there are steps you can take to file a dispute and qualify for DoorDash.

Ready to sign up for DoorDash?  Click here to learn more.