To qualify, you must have at least 200 total completed deliveries, 100 completed deliveries in the last month, a customer rating of at least 4. 7, an order acceptance rate of at least 70%, and a delivery completion rate of at least 95%.

Sometimes, you might like going outside your dash zone for extra opportunities. For example, you may head over to a city 45 minutes away because there’s a special event drawing in lots of customers.

While the “Dash Now” button isn’t available all day, once it is, you can press it and immediately start accepting orders. The “Dash Now” button usually pops up when your area needs extra Dashers to help out with all the orders being put in.

The busiest areas are marked in red on your Dash “heat map. ” The darker the red tones are on the map, the busier the areas are. [5] X Research source Stick to local hotspots instead of driving far. Hotspots constantly change, so let other dashers take advantage of ones that are close to them. You can always use the “Dash Now” button at a hotspot since there’s such a high demand for dashers. Review your map for “historic hotspots” that have been really busy in the past—these zones are marked by flame icons without any red area around them.

Top Dashers can work whenever they want, regardless of how many drivers are in the area. Still, it’s best for them to schedule shifts—that’ll limit the amount of other Dashers serving one zone and keep the competition down.

Luckily, you don’t need to even search for multiple orders to stack them. DoorDash saves you time by making a batch for you, color coding them, and lining them up so you can fulfill all of them in one trip.

Any dasher can take part in a “Peak Pay” campaign—you don’t have to be a Top Dasher or even accept a minimum amount of orders to enjoy this perk. Peak Pay is added on top of both your base pay and your tips, so you’ll have a much higher payout than you usually get.

Stick around go-to spots for deliveries. Drivers who are closest to the restaurant get priority for orders, since they will be able to complete the order the fastest.

You might not only experience a surge in orders when it rains, but you may also get higher tips from customers who appreciate all the effort you went through. You may even have less competition with other dashers who might refuse orders or just won’t make room in their schedules for deliveries when there’s bad weather. Dress for the weather and go the extra mile by making sure your customers’ food is protected from the elements. For example, ask restaurant staff to put a takeout container in a plastic bag.

If you drop off take-out way before the projected cut-off time that DoorDash gives a customer, they’ll be seriously impressed. Plus, they’ll probably give you a nice tip on top of a 5-star rating.

Throw in freebies like napkins, utensils, and sauces to enhance your customer’s experience. Carefully read any instructions you’re given. For example, someone might want their curry extra spicy, while another customer might want you to ring their doorbell when you show up. Check in with your customer. Update them about any delays or changes, let them know when you’re on your way, answer any of their questions, and take a picture of their food when you drop it off.