DoorDash Tips and Tricks: Your Edge Over Competition

Tips and Best Practices for DoorDash Drivers

Maximize Earnings

Check peak pay before you start, learn your market’s busiest areas, and set clear earning goals for each shift. Understanding base pay, tips, and how the app calculates payouts helps you decide which orders are worth accepting. The more familiar you are with the app and local restaurants, the easier it becomes to choose profitable dashes.

Stay Prepared on the Road

Start with a full tank of gas, keep your phone fully charged, and always bring your Red Card and basic supplies. Being prepared reduces interruptions and keeps your workflow smooth. Know how to unassign low-value or time-consuming orders, double-check item counts at pickup, and read customer instructions to avoid mistakes and improve your ratings.

Work Efficiently

Don’t wait for the app’s pickup time—go inside as soon as you arrive. Use the pause feature when you need a break without ending your dash. Stay flexible with merchant changes and double-check drop-off notes to avoid issues. After each dash, review your earnings breakdown to understand your true hourly rate and track your performance over time.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Missing Easy Earnings

Skipping peak pay, accepting too many low-paying orders, or working without income goals leads to lower earnings. Not knowing your local restaurants or traffic patterns also slows you down and reduces efficiency.

Being Unprepared

Starting with low gas, forgetting your Red Card, or not knowing the app well creates delays and lost opportunities. Failing to unassign bad orders, ignoring customer instructions, or waiting in your car until the pickup time all slow down your workflow.

Overlooking Ratings and Breaks

Ignoring your customer ratings and acceptance rate can affect your order flow. Not having a plan for breaks or downtime leads to wasted time, reduced earnings, and more stress during your shift.