DoorDash Driver Benefits: All Perks & Rewards Breakdown

You may have started delivering for DoorDash already or are about to start delivering for DoorDash. If you find yourself in one of these situations, you may be wondering what benefits you get as a DoorDash driver.

As a DoorDash driver, you are an independent contractor, so you may not have access to all the benefits available to a traditional 9-5 worker. Such as paid time off (PTO), retirement plans like 401(k), childcare assistance, and paid parental leave.

Nonetheless, there are some cool perks available for DoorDash drivers. Stick with me as I break down all the awesome benefits and rewards that DoorDash has in store for its delivery drivers.

DoorDash Driver Benefits Breakdown

One of the key perks that immediately comes to mind when considering DoorDash is the opportunity to make money as your own boss, all while setting your own flexible schedule. But many other benefits come with working for this food service app.

Here are some of the DoorDash driver benefits you don’t know about:

The Financial Rewards

As a DoorDash driver, you have access to financial benefits. Here are all the financial benefits:

1. Base Pay

You’re entitled to a base pay on DoorDash for each delivery you complete. According to DoorDash, this base pay is between $2 and $10. You can even earn more than $10. This variation in base pay depends on several factors, including:

Delivery distance
Total delivery time
Demand.

2. Tips

Another benefit you get is tips from customers. The cool thing is that DoorDash allows you to keep 100% of your tips. This on top of the base pay can really boost your earnings.

3. Bonus Pay

Bonuses are also given to DoorDash drivers. If orders are flooding in during peak DoorDash, the company increases the pay of Dashers by adding incentives and bonuses.

So, to benefit from bonuses, you must work during the best times of DoorDash or the peak hours. DoorDash peak hours are 11 AM to 2 PM and 5 PM to 9 PM on weekdays and 10 AM to 2 PM and 8 PM to 11 PM on weekends.

Drivers also get good bonuses on holidays like Christmas and Thanksgiving, as well as on bad weather days and local event days.

4. Early Access Program

This is another benefit and here’s how it works: if you qualify for it, DoorDash will allow you to have access to high-paying orders 6 days early. Here’s how to qualify for the Early Access Program:

Have at least a 4.6 customer rating
Have a 95% completion rate
Fulfill a minimum of 500 lifetime deliveries with DoorDash or complete at least 5 deliveries between 12 AM the preceding Friday and 11:59 PM on the subsequent Thursday.

5. Clerkie Partnership

DoorDash has a partnership with Clerkie, which is a debt negotiation service to help Dashers achieve their money goals. As a dasher, using Clerkie can help you do things like credit building, debt negotiation, saving money, emergency cash access, etc.

6. Everlance Partnership

DoorDash also has partnered with Everlance, an app that will help you track your mileage and expenses automatically. This will enable you to file for taxes to receive tax returns from the IRS at the end of the year.

The cool thing is that because you’re a dasher, you get 20% off Everlance Premium for a whole year.

7. TurboTax Self-Employed Discount

Another financial benefit you get as a Dasher is a discount when filing your federal taxes. This is achieved by using TurboTax Self-Employed service, a partner of DoorDash. Using this service will help you save $20 on your taxes.

This is a great way to cut your business expenses as an independent contractor. You can get a deduction in dashing related expenses like mileage, parking fees, insurance, and gas.

8. Dasher Direct Visa Debit Card

DoorDash recently introduced the DasherDirect, which is a way of getting paid instantly after a dash with no deposit fees.

DasherDirect also allows you to get 2% cash back anytime you shop for gas, at various gas stations nationwide. You also get cash back when you make purchases at restaurants, grocery stores, or online.

To have access, just apply for DasherDirect via your DoorDash app. The physical card will arrive in 10 days but you’ll have virtual access instantly.

DoorDash Perks & Incentives

9. Vehicle Assistance

DoorDash has several programs and partnerships that reduce the car maintenance and repair expenses of Dashers. Here are some of the vehicle assistance programs available for DoorDash drivers:

Dashers receive $20 in credit when they join CarAdvise for car maintenance, plus more discounts on auto care services.
You receive 30% off when you purchase an e-bike from Dirwin, plus free shipping.
Discounts when you shop for gas at Shell.
GasBuddy is an app for Android and iOS which drivers can use to have access to real-time fuel prices.

10. Discounts

Dashers also have access to various discounts on things like phone plans, entertainment subscriptions, etc.

11. Dasher Community

There are various communities for dashers which you can join to connect with other DoorDash drivers, share tips, and access resources to boost your delivery business.

Here are some of the Dasher communities:

R/DoorDash on Reddit
DoorDash Diaries on Facebook
Dasher Community Council.

12. Early Bird Perks

Do you know that DoorDash offers various perks for new dashers? As a new DoorDash driver, here are some of the early bird perks available for you:

VIP Support: You have access to 24/7 phone and chat support.
Dash Now: You’re able to start dashing right away without scheduling in advance.
DashPass: Once you qualify for this, you have the special DoorDash benefit of receiving one month of complimentary DashPass, followed by a 50% discount ($4.99 a month).
CarAdvise Credits
Dasher Rewards Program Pilot: With this, you receive special perks after completing your first 50 deliveries.
Early Access Scheduling.

Other DoorDash Driver Benefits

Here are other few benefits besides those that I have explained:

You are covered under the DoorDash Occupational Accident Policy
Access to financial literacy courses like auto-financing and investing, savings and credit, etc, through GoalUp.
Access to cheap healthcare savings, as well as vision and dental plans with Stride.
Dashers receive Wellness Perks from Avibra Essentials (including debt, housing, and credit counseling, life insurance of $1,000, etc).
You’re able to earn industry-recognized credentials through Merit America within 14 weeks with no upfront cost, while working for DoorDash.
Access to roadside assistance, cell phone protection, family telemedicine, family dental plans, 24/7 well-being advisors, identity theft monitoring, and more.

Final Words

Dear DoorDash driver, here’s the rundown of all the benefits awaiting you. Keep in mind that DoorDash frequently introduces fresh perks, so depending on when you’re reading this article, there might be additional cool benefits to relish, all while enjoying the freedom to set your own schedule!

If you were curious about DoorDash benefits before embarking on your dashing journey, I trust this is sufficient to encourage you to dive in. Cheers!

DoorDash Driver Benefits: All Perks & Rewards Breakdown

DoorDash Driver Benefits Breakdown