Mastering the DoorDash Driver App | A Guide for Side Hustlers

Mastering the DoorDash Driver app is essential to maximizing your pay and getting the most out of your drive time. The Dasher app makes it easy to get into one of the fastest growing side hustles today: food delivery.

The Dasher app shows what orders are available at what location and how much you’ll earn from each order. But it offers so much more. In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to use the app effectively, from signing up to getting paid.

Using the DoorDash Driver App for the First Time

When you sign up as a new driver, the DoorDash driver app will prompt you for the required information. You’ll need your driver’s license and bank account info on hand so you can set up your pay options. We’ll explain more about getting paid later in this article. 

It will also present you with an option to learn the basics through a quick tutorial. Or you can skip it if you’d rather figure it out on your own. 

You may also get presented with an option to accept or opt out of cash deliveries. You can change your decision later, but many new drivers opt out so they don’t have to carry cash on them, which may be safer. 

Learn more in our full DoorDash Driver Review.

The Dash Tab Main Screen

The app organizes information via several tabs. The Dash tab appears when you open the app, and this is the main screen in the app. From this home base, you’ll review and accept orders. Just tap the “Dash Now” button to start working.

The Dash tab features a map that shows your zone and available orders. Gray sections of the map don’t have any orders, while pink means customers are ordering. The darker the pink or red, the busier the area is. So, the app’s colors visually cue you to hone in on areas with the most activity.

Lastly, this tab shows instructions for pick-up and delivery and information on promotions to earn higher pay.

The Dash Tab Extras

DoorDash has packed the Dash tab with additional information. Here are a few more options:

• The promos button allows you to see what incentives DoorDash is offering in real-time, such as a peak pay offer. Peak pay usually pays an extra flat dollar amount for each order you complete within a limited time frame.
• The question mark icon stores a help menu as well as a link to contact DoorDash customer service. 
• Tap the shield icon to open the SafeDash menu and call 911 or manage location sharing. That way, your trusted contacts know where you are while you dash.
• Use the messages icon to view the information DoorDash sends you.
• The bell icon works like it does in most apps – it alerts you if you have notifications of critical information.

Accepting Orders in the DoorDash Driver App

When you’re ready to work, use the app to manage orders.

• Accepting orders: When a delivery order comes in, you’ll receive a notification. You can review the pickup and drop-off locations and estimated earnings. Accept orders promptly to maximize your earning potential.
• Stacked orders: Sometimes DoorDash will combine two different orders for you to pick up from the same restaurant and deliver to two different locations. These often generate higher pay.
• Diamond orders: Once you’ve been dashing long enough to have earned high ratings, you may start seeing orders with a diamond icon. That tells you this order pays more than usual.
• Navigating to the pickup spot: To establish your default in-app navigation tool, choose Apple Maps or Google Maps from Settings in the Account tab.
• Status updates: Once your pickup is in progress, the driver app has multiple options to help you communicate with the customer, the store, and DoorDash. You can click to indicate you’ve arrived at the store, click to confirm pickup, and click to provide more information such as “order still being prepared when I arrived.”
• Contacting customers: If you encounter any issues during delivery, you can contact customers directly through the app.

The Schedule Tab

DoorDash gives you the flexibility to start dashing whenever you want. But you may increase your access to orders by scheduling a block of time to work. To do this, click on the Schedule tab and proactively plan your working hours up to one week in advance.

Even after you have started your scheduled shift, you can adjust and end early or extend your shift. Go to the Schedule tab and use the pencil icon to edit your schedule with no penalties.

The Account Tab

The Account tab houses your DoorDash driver profile. You can manage personal details here like your name and phone number. You can also update vehicle information or personal information in this tab.

If an app can have an exciting section, then the DoorDash app’s Account tab is it. From this location in the app, you can see if you’ve earned the title of Top Dasher, which not only makes you feel good about yourself, it can help you make money faster. 

The Ratings Tab

As with most products and services for sale these days, your driver ratings matter when delivering food. To view them, click on the Ratings tab and check out the data DoorDash is tracking. This data helps determine if you qualify for promotions and incentives.

It’s also a fun way to track your history and progress. The Ratings tab shows your total number of completed deliveries as well as your acceptance rate. Some promotions require a 95% minimum acceptance and completion rate, so check this tab regularly to see how you’re doing.

How to Get Paid Through the DoorDash Driver App

To manage your payout options and see how much money you have made, go to the Earnings tab. DoorDash offers several payment options for its drivers. Here’s what you need to know about getting paid:

• DasherDirect: If you choose this option, immediately after each Dash, your funds appear as a credit on a DasherDirect Visa card. When you connect that card to ApplePay or Google Pay, you can use funds from your Dasher pay to make purchases.

• Weekly direct deposit: You can get paid weekly via direct deposit to your bank account. There are no fees for this method.

• FastPay: This method lets drivers cash out daily as long as you have a debit card connected to your Dasher account. For U.S. and Canada residents, the fee is $1.99 and you must meet certain requirements including completion of a minimum number of orders.

Using the App To Make Extra Money

This app doesn’t just show you how much you have made. You can use the DoorDash driver app’s notifications and map information to make more money. 

• Peak hours: Schedule yourself to work in peak delivery hours in your area, typically during lunch and dinner times. This gives you more access to orders and peak hour promotions.
• Efficient routing: Plan your delivery routes strategically to minimize downtime between orders. The DoorDash Driver app provides real-time traffic updates and suggests the most efficient routes.
• Hotspots: DoorDash identifies “hotspots” on the app map, indicating areas with high demand for deliveries. By positioning yourself in these hot spots, you’re more likely to receive orders quickly and maximize your earning potential. Keep an eye on the app for real-time updates on hot spot locations, especially during peak hours.

DoorDash Driver App Promos 

Check the Promos button in the DoorDash driver app for offers like peak pay or bonus incentives for delivering in specific areas. In some locations, you may also qualify for bonuses like guaranteed earnings.

DoorDash occasionally runs challenges or contests that reward drivers for completing a certain number of deliveries within a specified time frame. Keep an eye out for challenge notifications in the app and make sure to turn on your push notifications option in Settings.

No matter how well you use the DoorDash driver app, you can potentially make even more money with a solid multi-app strategy. The requirements for several delivery apps are similar, so you can work for multiple delivery apps at the same time to make more bank.

Drawbacks of the DoorDash Driver App

Like any app, DoorDash drivers may experience occasional app crashes or glitches, which can be especially frustrating during peak hours. At times, you can also experience delayed or missing orders, or challenges contacting customers through the app. 

If you don’t sign up for popular shifts far enough in advance, it can be tricky to get a shift. You can still drive if the map is red (busy), but it’s a good practice to schedule your shift ahead of time.

To help with these situations, get familiar with the customer service chat feature via the question mark icon on the Dash tab. For urgent matters, call DoorDash Customer Service.

Becoming a DoorDash Driver

Before you can start earning money with DoorDash, you’ll need to sign up as a Dasher. Check out our article for a detailed look at how to become a DoorDash driver. In a nutshell, here’s the process:

• Download the Dasher app in the App Store or Google Play Store. Even if you start the signup process on a computer, you’ll be prompted to download the app on your mobile device to complete the process.
• Follow the prompts to create your Dasher account. You’ll need to provide your name, email address, social security number, and driver’s license number. 
• DoorDash requires a background check. Once approved, you’ll be ready to start delivering, but they make the process easy on you. All you do is provide your social security number and driver’s license number and allow the app to take a photo of you to confirm your identity. The rest of the process happens behind the scenes and approval takes 1 to 3 days.

Final Words

Mastering the DoorDash Driver app is key to succeeding as a delivery driver. The more you understand the app’s features, the more you can maximize your earning potential and enjoy a successful side hustle with DoorDash.

The app is user-friendly, and it won’t take long to learn the basics. Then you can graduate to using the app’s data to craft a DoorDash strategy that helps you make that extra money fast.