Tips to Make More Money as a DoorDash Driver
DoorDash drivers are a great way to make extra cash. Drivers have made it a full-time career.
If you are just starting out, you might be interested in some advice. DoorDash does not offer any training.
We turned to door dashers such as Your Driver Mike, Pedro DoorDash Santiago, and DoorDash Diaries w/ Bentley Koup for help. These drivers regularly share their tips on YouTube and have amassed millions of views.
These people’s experiences will help you get started in your new venture and maximize your earnings as a dasher.
These are the top ten DoorDash tips and tricks to help you save money on your next delivery.
10 DoorDash Tips & Tricks to Make More
- Set a minimum delivery rate per mile.
- Take care when ordering groceries from the grocery store.
- Be aware of your completion rate.
- Keep track of your mileage and expenses.
- If you are unable to wait, don’t use FastPay.
- Find out about the restaurants in your local area.
- Delivery is available during lunch, dinner, and other busy times
- If you can, use a fuel-efficient car.
- Do not be afraid to ask for help at the restaurant counter.
- Respect the rules of the road.
1. A minimum delivery rate per mile must be set
DoorDash pays a minimum amount for mileage, which is your base salary. Tips make up the remainder of a driver’s earnings. Sometimes, people aren’t willing or able to pay for food delivery.
DoorDash drivers need to be aware of potential pitfalls that could lead to higher costs than they are worth. The biggest is: Setting a minimum rate is not a good idea. Doordashers generally agree that orders should not be accepted if they are less than $1 per mile.
2. Recognize Grocery Store Orders with Caution
You might think that grocery and retail store orders are a bargain when they first appear in your driver app. But you need to be cautious.
Major retail and grocery chains like Walmart will often require that you pick up large quantities of products and then deliver them to various locations.
Consider how many deliveries you will need from one order pick-up. Then, determine if it is worth the effort and the distance.
3. Keep an eye on your completion rate
DoorDash drivers can be rated based on many criteria, including customer ratings and acceptance rates, completion rates, on-time deliveries, and on-time delivery.
You can’t throw the acceptance rate out the window. This is the number of jobs that you have accepted or declined. Your completion rate is the most important thing.
Pay attention to how many jobs you “unassign” as too many can lead to your account being deactivated.
4. Track your Mileage and Expenses
You are an independent contractor when you work as a driver for food delivery. This means that your taxes may be different. You should also track your mileage and other expenses like fuel during your delivery.
You can deduct your mileage and expenses during tax season to lower your taxes. To track how far you drove, you can either use a dedicated mileage tracking application on your smartphone or just write down the mileage of your car before and after each dashing session.
5. Don’t Use Fast Pay if You Can Wait
DoorDash Fast Pay is not the best option if you have urgent cash needs.
DoorDash normally transfers your earnings every week, but if your funds are urgently needed, DoorDash will gladly transfer it to you immediately — for a fee of course. Fast Pay costs $1.99 per day.
If you are unable to pay the weekly contractor payment, skip the fees and wait until it comes. You are wasting your earnings.
6. Find out about the restaurants in your area
DoorDash is all about time. Food delivery drivers, whether they work for DoorDash or Uber Eats learn quickly how to locate local restaurants and when food can be delivered.
Doordash may not have all the restaurants you want, or you will be forced to wait in line. Consider declining to order from a restaurant that is slow.
7. Deliver during lunch, dinner, and busy times
While some areas may be busy all day, others, particularly in rural areas and suburbs, might be less busy at different times. You can find out when your area is most busy so that you don’t waste your time or fuel sitting in your car.
Most people order lunch or dinner at the most. But, it is worth looking into when your neighbors are ordering. Surprised to discover some late-night eaters and mid-afternoon eaters?
Find out when drivers are paid the most in your area. Peak hours are when there is a high demand for drivers. This means that the company will pay you more and you can make more.
The amount you can make during peak hours will depend on how busy you are, but you usually earn a few dollars for every delivery.
8. If You Can, Use a Fuel-Efficient Car
It’s simple. DoorDash will pay you more if you have an electric car that is less expensive than a Hummer.
If you drive a lot, whether for work or as a side hustle to earn extra money, gas prices can quickly catch up with you. Seek out a partner who has a better fuel-efficient vehicle to borrow. If not, you might consider purchasing a used car that is more affordable when you upgrade.
9. Do not be afraid of the restaurant counter
Time is money, and the goal of your business is to make more money. You shouldn’t waste it. You’ll not only lose the customer’s food, but also you’ll be missing out on additional deliveries.
Don’t be afraid of walking up to the counter to announce that you’re here for DoorDash when you arrive at a restaurant. You’re looking to order your food and then get on with your day.
Do not join the crowd. If you wait, your delivery time will drop quickly.
10. Follow the rules of the road
Sometimes, the meatball parmigiana sandwich you find in your passenger seat feels like an emergency. You want to drive through traffic and pull up in fire areas like an ambulance. You are not delivering critical food.
Respect speed limits and park only within designated areas. Parking tickets or speeding can cause you to lose your Doordash earnings, which could lead to higher car insurance.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs
How do you get DoorDash to work?
DoorDash drivers can earn more in many ways. It is best to pick up your orders promptly, store hot and cold items in an insulation bag, and then deliver them as fast as possible.
Customer service is the main focus of driving for DoorDash. How customers rate your service will determine how successful you are as an independent contractor. You’ll be successful on DoorDash if you keep them satisfied.
How do you make the most money with DoorDash?
These are our top 10 tips for DoorDash drivers who want to maximize their earnings.
- Set a minimum delivery rate per mile.
- Take care when ordering groceries from the grocery store.
- Be aware of your completion rate.
- Keep track of your mileage and expenses.
- If you are unable to wait, don’t use FastPay.
- Find out about the restaurants in your local area.
- Delivery is available during lunch and dinner.
- If you can, use a fuel-efficient car.
- Do not be afraid to ask for help at the restaurant counter.
- Do not speed, and observe the rules of the road.
How do you make $500 per week on DoorDash?
Your earnings will depend on your work location and tips. You’re more likely to get orders through food delivery apps if you live in a busy area. You may get fewer orders in rural areas and have to compete with other drivers.
If you made $8 per delivery, it would take 62.5 deliveries to make $500 per week as DoorDash’s driver. This is 12.5 deliveries per day for five days or 1.5 deliveries an hour for a 9-hour work week.
Although it is hard work, you could make more than the minimum wage in certain states.
