Heads up: this post contains affiliate links. If you click through them we may earn a small commission at no cost to you. We only recommend tools and services we've actually tried. Full disclosure →

Quick answer: to qualify as a DoorDash driver in the United States, you must be at least 18, have a valid driver’s license (for car delivery), have current auto insurance, own a smartphone (iOS or Android) capable of running the Dasher app, have a Social Security number or Tax Identification Number for the 1099 tax form, and pass a background check. Some markets accept scooters, bikes, or on-foot delivery instead of a car — the age, license, and insurance rules change based on which one you pick.

This guide is the full pre-application checklist. If you can clear every item below, the rest of the sign-up flow is paperwork. If something here is going to be a problem — an old DUI, a learner’s permit instead of a full license, no smartphone — better to know now than after you’ve already started the application.

🚗 Start the Application →

Takes 10–15 minutes · Subject to background check and availability

The 9 DoorDash driver requirements

Every Dasher in the US has to clear these nine checks. They’re listed in roughly the order DoorDash will ask about them during the sign-up flow.

1. Age — 18 or older (varies by vehicle type)

You must be at least 18 years old to sign up as a Dasher in the United States. That’s the absolute floor. Some markets and vehicle types push the minimum higher — for example, scooter and motorcycle delivery typically requires you to meet your state’s licensing minimum for that vehicle, which is often 16 for a learner’s permit but 18+ for unsupervised operation. Bike and on-foot delivery in markets that support them also requires 18+.

There’s no upper age limit. Plenty of Dashers are in their 50s, 60s, and beyond. As long as you can pass the background check and meet the vehicle/license requirements, age past 18 is not a factor.

2. Vehicle — car, scooter, bike, or on-foot (market-dependent)

DoorDash’s most common vehicle category is a passenger car or truck, but the platform also supports:

  • Car or truck — available everywhere.
  • Scooter (under 50cc in most markets) — available in select cities.
  • Motorcycle — available in select markets.
  • Bicycle — available in dense urban markets like NYC, San Francisco, Chicago, and Seattle.
  • On-foot — available in a handful of dense urban zones (think Manhattan, downtown Boston).
  • eBike — treated similarly to bicycle in supported markets.

The Dasher app shows what’s available in your zip code during sign-up. If you select “bike” but your market only supports car, the app will tell you. If you don’t have a car, enter your zip code at northvilletech.co/dasher before you assume you can’t dash — you may have a non-car option available.

There’s no make, model, or year requirement for cars. A 2002 Civic with 200,000 miles is fine if it runs and is registered. DoorDash does not inspect your vehicle in most US markets (more on that below in #7).

3. Driver’s license — full, valid, and in your name

For car, scooter, or motorcycle delivery, you need a valid driver’s license issued by the state you’ll be dashing in. The license must be in your name and not expired, suspended, or restricted in a way that prevents you from operating the vehicle (a learner’s permit is not enough — you need a full license).

If you’ve recently moved between states, transfer your license to your new state before applying. DoorDash uses your license to run the motor vehicle record (MVR) check, and a license in the wrong state can flag the application for review.

For bicycle or on-foot delivery, a state ID is acceptable instead of a driver’s license. The age requirement (18+) still applies.

4. Auto insurance — current and in your name (or with you on the policy)

If you’re delivering by car, scooter, or motorcycle, you need current auto insurance that covers the vehicle you’ll dash with. The policy must be in your name, or you must be listed as a driver on someone else’s policy (a parent’s or spouse’s policy, for example).

A few notes most new Dashers miss:

  • Personal auto insurance often does not cover commercial use. That includes delivery. Some insurers exclude any “for-hire” driving from your standard policy, which means an accident while you have the Dasher app on could leave you uninsured. DoorDash carries its own contingent liability policy that activates while you have an order in progress, but it kicks in after your personal coverage and only covers liability — not damage to your own vehicle. Many Dashers add a “delivery driver” or “rideshare/delivery” rider to their personal policy to close that gap. It’s worth asking your insurer before you start dashing.
  • Lapsed insurance is an automatic disqualifier. DoorDash’s verification will flag it.
  • Insurance must match the vehicle on file. If you switch cars, update your driver profile in the Dasher app or you risk deactivation.

5. Smartphone — iOS 15+ or Android 9+

You need a smartphone capable of running the Dasher app. Specifically:

  • iPhone — running iOS 15 or later (iPhone 6s and newer).
  • Android — running Android 9.0 or later, with Google Play services installed.

The app is GPS- and data-intensive. A phone with a healthy battery, working GPS, and a reasonably fast data connection makes a meaningful difference in your dash quality — slow or laggy phones get fewer accept-prompts and miss orders. If your phone struggles to load Google Maps quickly, it’s going to struggle as a Dasher phone.

You also need an active mobile data plan. Wi-Fi-only is not enough — the app uses cellular data continuously while you’re dashing. Most carriers’ mid-tier unlimited plans are sufficient.

6. Social Security number (or Tax ID) — for 1099 tax forms

DoorDash drivers are 1099 independent contractors, not W-2 employees. That means at tax time, DoorDash issues a 1099-NEC form reporting your earnings to the IRS. To issue that form, DoorDash needs your Social Security number (or, if you have one, your Individual Tax Identification Number / ITIN).

The SSN/ITIN is also used to run the background check and verify your identity. It’s collected during sign-up through Stripe Identity (DoorDash’s identity-verification partner), which is a one-time scan of your driver’s license and a selfie.

If you’re a non-US citizen working with a valid work authorization (e.g., a green card, EAD, or certain visa categories), you can still dash — you’ll just provide an ITIN or SSN as appropriate. Check that your work authorization permits gig contracting before applying.

7. Pass a background check

Every Dasher applicant goes through a background check run by Checkr, DoorDash’s third-party screening provider. The check looks at:

  • Criminal history — felony convictions, especially recent ones, can disqualify you.
  • Motor vehicle record (MVR) — recent DUIs, reckless driving, license suspensions, or excessive moving violations are common disqualifiers.
  • Sex offender registry.
  • Identity verification — SSN trace, address history.

The check usually completes in 3–10 business days but can take longer if records are slow to pull from a particular state or county. We have a full DoorDash background check guide covering what’s checked, what disqualifies, what to do if delayed, and what your options are if denied. Subject to background check and availability.

8. Vehicle inspection (only required in select markets)

Most US markets do not require a vehicle inspection. A handful — generally cities with strict commercial-vehicle regulations — do require an inspection, either annually or before you can deliver alcohol/catering orders. The Dasher app will flag this during onboarding if your market requires it.

If your market requires inspection, it’s typically a self-photo upload (clear photos of all four sides of the vehicle plus the dashboard with the odometer visible). It’s not a mechanical inspection — DoorDash isn’t checking your tires or brakes. They’re confirming the vehicle exists, is registered to you (or available to you), and looks roadworthy.

9. Internet/data plan — covered above

Already covered in #5. Worth restating: DoorDash is a real-time app. If your data is unreliable, your dashing experience will be unreliable too.

Extra requirements for catering and alcohol delivery

DoorDash offers two delivery categories with higher pay potential but stricter requirements: catering and alcohol. Earn more per order as compared to restaurant orders. Actual earnings may differ and depend on factors like number of deliveries you accept and complete, time of day, location, and any costs.

Catering deliveries

Catering orders are larger, slower, and pay more. To qualify for catering, DoorDash typically requires:

  • A catering bag (insulated, large enough for catering trays — DoorDash sells branded bags but third-party bags work).
  • Demonstrated reliability — you generally need to complete a baseline number of regular deliveries before catering eligibility unlocks.
  • Sometimes a special vehicle requirement (the order must fit — tiny coupes won’t qualify for some catering orders).

Alcohol deliveries

Alcohol delivery is unlocked separately and requires:

  • 21 years of age or older (federal minimum to handle alcohol).
  • Completion of DoorDash’s alcohol-handling certification course (free, in-app, ~30 minutes).
  • A government-issued ID scanner (the Dasher app handles this in-app — no extra hardware).
  • Compliance with state-specific alcohol regulations (some states prohibit alcohol delivery entirely; the app shows what’s available in your market).

Alcohol orders pay better and tend to come from customers who tip well, but they require a successful ID-scan verification at the door. If the customer isn’t 21 or refuses to show ID, you must return the alcohol and the order is voided.

What disqualifies you from becoming a DoorDash driver?

The most common disqualifiers we see, based on DoorDash’s published background check criteria:

  • Recent felony convictions (typically within the past 7 years, with violent felonies and certain crimes treated more strictly regardless of date).
  • Recent DUI (typically within the past 7 years).
  • Recent reckless driving conviction.
  • Multiple recent moving violations (3+ in 3 years is a common threshold).
  • License suspension within the past 3 years.
  • Sex offender registry.
  • Active warrants.

A criminal record doesn’t automatically disqualify you — DoorDash uses individualized assessment for many offenses, weighing severity, recency, and relevance. But the more recent and severe an offense, the less likely it is to clear.

If you’re not sure where you stand, the best move is to apply — Checkr and DoorDash will tell you. If denied, you’ll receive an Adverse Action notice with the specific record that triggered the denial, and you have a window to dispute it if Checkr’s record is incorrect. (See our background check guide for the dispute process.)

What is NOT required (but people often ask about)

These are common myths about Dasher requirements:

  • You don’t need a college degree. Education isn’t part of the application.
  • You don’t need previous delivery experience. Most Dashers are new to gig work.
  • You don’t need a credit check. DoorDash does not pull your credit — only an MVR and criminal background check.
  • You don’t need a specific car make or model. Any registered, insured, working vehicle is fine.
  • You don’t need to live in a city. Suburban and rural markets exist; check your zip code at northvilletech.co/dasher.
  • You don’t need to commit to a schedule. Dash whenever you want. Subject to availability.

How DoorDash pay works once you’re in

Once you’re approved, DoorDash pay comes from three components: base pay, tips (100% to the Dasher), and promotions like Peak Pay. We have a full breakdown in How DoorDash Driver Pay Works. You can cash out daily through Fast Pay (Fees apply) or instantly through DasherDirect (Subject to approval), or take the default weekly direct deposit.

For specific rates, DoorDash directs all questions to its own Dasher Pay article — rates vary by market, time of day, and order type, so a national number wouldn’t be meaningful.

Ready to apply?

If you’ve cleared every requirement on this page, the application is the easy part. Sign-up takes 10–15 minutes. Most applicants are on their first delivery within a week.

🚗 Become a DoorDash Driver — Sign Up Free →

Subject to background check and availability

Once you’re approved, the DoorDash Crimson card (DasherDirect’s debit card) and Fast Pay both become available — that’s how you get paid. Until then, your job is just to clear the checklist above.

Related reading: