Driving or “dashing” for DoorDash is a convenient way to earn extra money on your own time. Due to the flexibility and relatively generous tips, many gig workers have flocked to this food delivery service. Some Dashers even make a full-time living delivering food for DoorDash.
Beyond the background check, there are a few other requirements for this side hustle – including meeting the minimum age requirements. This article will cover exactly how old you have to be to work for DoorDash. We’ll also cover some related side gigs you can do at just about any age.
How Old Do You Have to Be to Deliver for DoorDash?
The minimum age to become a DoorDash driver in the U.S. or Canada is 18 years old. This age requirement is the same across all states. However, some states, local areas, or even auto insurance policies may set higher age minimums.
While 18 years old might seem a little unfair — given you can get a valid driver’s license at age 16 or younger — this is a more lenient requirement than Grubhub or UberEats. Those two food delivery apps require drivers to be age 19 or older.
Does Delivery Method Matter?
No, the age requirement remains constant no matter what delivery method you use. Even if you make deliveries by bicycle, scooter, or other modes of transportation, you must be 18 years or older.
Can DoorDash Drivers Have Other Passengers?
Unlike other delivery and rideshare apps, DoorDash doesn’t have rules against having other passengers in your car. In fact, you can have as many passengers as you want in the vehicle, as long as you are following driving laws (i.e. everyone has a seatbelt) and the passengers do not interfere with your deliveries.
This means passengers cannot handle food deliveries — they cannot pick up the orders or bring them to the door for you.
While DoorDash can’t track whether or not you comply, if the company does find out you could be in a lot of hot water. Especially since this would likely come to light due to a customer complaint, car accident, or other mishap.
Can Someone Under 18 Help You Make DoorDash Deliveries?
DoorDash does not outright state you cannot have a helper under age 18, but this is addressed in its policy regarding passengers.
You can have passengers of any age with you in the vehicle when you make deliveries, but they cannot take part in the active delivery. They cannot collect the order, drop it off, or otherwise handle the food.
You probably won’t get in trouble if they hold the drink tray or food bag for you, but no real engagement is allowed.
Why Does DoorDash Have Age Requirements?
The main reason for this age requirement are labor laws. DoorDash cannot legally hire minors due to the nature of the work. Since Dashers are classified as independent contractors, DoorDash cannot closely monitor their Dashers’ work to ensure safe enough working conditions that adhere to government guidelines. Hiring minors could violate several child labor laws.
Additionally, Dashers primarily make deliveries via car even though other methods (i.e., bicycle) are possible. Younger, less experienced drivers are a greater risk and would be more expensive to insure. While you do need to have your own vehicle insurance to drive for DoorDash, the app does offer limited liability coverage for its drivers while actively dashing. This coverage would not be possible for minors.
Finally, there is a safety concern. DoorDash drivers must go to people’s business and home addresses in all parts of town including some neighborhoods that might be considered unsafe. DoorDash does not want to send under-age workers into potentially dangerous situations.
Will DoorDash Change Guidelines to Allow Minors to Dash?
Highly doubtful. DoorDash hasn’t made an outright statement saying it will never lower its age limit, but going lower than age 18 as the minimum would mean hiring minors. This is something they can’t do given child labor laws, the nature of DoorDash work, insurance underwriting, and other potential headaches that come with hiring workers under age 18.
If the legal age of majority were changed from 18 to 17 (or even younger), only then would we expect to see DoorDash lower its age guidelines.
Frequently Asked Questions
In addition to age requirements for DoorDash, here are some of the many other common questions that readers have.
Can I do any other food delivery apps at age 16?
No! DoorDash already allows for the youngest possible contractors. Other food delivery apps like UberEats, Postmates, or GrubHub require you to be at least 19 years old, although in some circumstances 18-year-olds can deliver for these apps via bicycle.
Also, other non-food delivery apps have even higher age minimum requirements. Amazon Flex requires drivers to be age 21 and Lyft requires drivers to be at least age 21 or 25, depending on laws and ordinances.
What side hustles can I do at age 17 or younger?
- Online surveys for teens 14 or older on apps like LifePoints, American Consumer Panel, or YouGov.
- Dropshipping business — in this set-up you can sell goods online without having to first acquire the inventory. You may need parental assistance (i.e., they set up the seller account for you on an eCommerce site) and oversight.
- Service arbitrage. Sell online services (from cheap freelancers on Upwork or Fiverr) to local businesses at a markup.
- Online or offline tutoring.
- Create online courses or DIY videos.
- Create content for businesses for their blog or social media accounts.
- Manage social media accounts for small or local businesses.
- Home tasks for neighbors, like yard work or dog walking. Advertise your services in local Facebook groups and neighborhood forums.
- Babysitting can pay $10 to $25 an hour. You can advertise your services to neighbors on Facebook and other online groups.
Can I work at DoorDash without an SSN?
No! You must have a valid tax identification number (TIN) to become a Dasher, and your TIN is the same thing as your social security number (SSN). You will need to provide this information during the Dasher application process.
Other than age, what are the requirements to work for DoorDash?
In addition to being at least 18 years old, there are some other requirements to be a DoorDash delivery driver:
- Any reliable car (or van or truck) in working order; no specific vehicle requirements or inspections
- Valid driver’s license
- Auto insurance in your name
- Clean driving record
- Pass a criminal background check
- Newer model iPhone or Android smartphone (able to support the latest release of the Dasher app)
In some markets, you can dash with other modes of transportation like bicycle, scooter, or motorcycle.
How much do Dashers make?
DoorDash will pay you based on the estimated driving or delivery time, distance, and desirability of the order.
On top of the base pay, there are other bonuses and incentives you can earn like Peak Pay for taking delivery requests during periods of increased demand.
Additionally, Dashers make tips for their delivery drop-offs. Tips can vary wildly based on Dasher reports, ranging from a few bucks per delivery to 10% to 20% of the total DoorDash order.
In terms of hourly wages, we’ve found that the average DoorDash pay is $17.58 per hour. This is based on the reported wages of hundreds of Dashers throughout the United States, including figures from full-time and part-time workers.
Full-time workers make more money overall but tend to average a lower hourly wage because they have to work non-busy periods too (outside of lunch and dinner rush) in order to reach full-time hours.
Can DoorDash be my only job?
For many Dashers, yes. They report consistent weekly earnings of at least $1K. But to reach this figure, they work well over 50 hours a week, weekends, and weekday evenings.
If you have dependents or live in a high-cost-of-living area, DoorDash may be a better side gig for extra cash rather than a means of full-time income.
Many full-time Dashers do supplement their income with other work like freelance writing, UberX (rideshare) or Uber Eats, walking dogs, virtual assistant work, or completing household chores for homeowners on TaskRabbit.
Bottom Line: DoorDashers Must Be 18
Unless the federal and state governments change the age of majority from 18 to 17 — or younger — you won’t be able to drive or deliver for DoorDash. While this app lets you work much younger than other driving or delivery side hustle apps — which require minimum ages from 19 to 25 — you still have to be a legal adult.
If your eighteenth birthday is drawing near, it’s worth lining up your ducks in a row so you can try this side hustle when you turn 18. We’ve shared with you all the minimum requirements you need to do this gig.
But if your eighteenth birthday is a bit further away, take heart. There are plenty of other ways you can earn cash too.
