According to a recent survey, approximately 40% of people in the country have a side hustle. This is because side hustling provides most people with increased flexibility and acts as a way to earn more money. So, if one is looking for similar opportunities, one can become a DoorDash driver. However, DoorDash has certain requirements for their dashers – the delivery agent. Continue reading this article to understand the requirements of becoming a DoorDash driver.

Who are Dashers?
DoorDash is a popular platform used by over a million people across the country to order groceries, convenience store items, and food. DoorDash drivers, also known as Dashers, aid in delivering the specified items to the correct delivery address. While a person can use any vehicle to transport the articles, the vehicle must have a valid driver’s license and insurance.

How to become a DoorDash driver?
If interested in the opportunity, one must first visit the official signup DoorDash website. There, they may come across the option of creating an account followed by a request for basic information. This may include the full name of the applicant, their residential area with zip code, vehicle type, email address, and phone number. Then comes the identification process, where interested drivers must upload a valid government ID. This must be followed by a selfie to match the image. After submitting the documents mentioned above comes the last step – consent for a background and vehicle check.

Typically, the company takes 1 or 2 days to conduct the required checks. Interested people can start going out for deliveries as soon as they are approved in the markets.

However, in rare cases, especially when there is an oversaturation of Dashers in an area, it may take DoorDash up to a week or 10 days to complete the process. In such circumstances, the company may put the applicant on a waiting list until an opening comes up.

In addition to the above, if one feels the need to update the information provided during the signup process, one can contact DoorDash support to get the job done.

If someone who has used DoorDash as a customer wants to become a new driver, they should be aware that their accounts could be combined.

What are the requirements to become a DoorDash driver?
When registering on DoorDash as a driver, one must ensure a few important requirements. Some of these are as follows.

Age
One must be aged 18 years or older to become a DoorDash driver. Additionally, the applicant must meet the minimum driving age requirement of the area of residence and have a valid driver’s license. Besides these requirements, the individual must have retained a clean driving record.

Vehicle
One can use any motor vehicle of their choice. This entails cars, scooters, and motorcycles. In addition to these, one can even utilize bicycles to make deliveries in select cities. But in the case of motor vehicles, the applicant must possess auto insurance.

Documents
When applying to become a DoorDash driver, one must have a valid Government ID. On top of this, the Dasher must have a Social Security Number and a valid driver’s license number to make it through the application process.

Smartphone
The applicant must own a smartphone – either an Android or an iPhone. This is one of the most important requirements to become a DoorDash driver, as it can help an individual run the DoorDash partner application.

As soon as one’s application is approved, one can start making the deliveries and earning within a few days. Typically during the delivery, the Dasher has to follow 3 steps that have been mentioned in the application. First, they must drive to the pick-up point or a restaurant. Then, pick up the items mentioned in the order details. The DoorDash driver then has to safely drive to the customer’s address and drop off the articles to complete the delivery.

What are the top benefits of becoming a DoorDash driver?
If one decides to become a DoorDash driver, there are several benefits that come with it. Here are a few of them:

Increased flexibility
DoorDash drivers can choose their working hours and even the days of the week they wish to work.

Weekly pay
In most cases, when one becomes a DoorDash driver, they receive weekly payment for the deliveries. Moreover, the company also provides an option to the Dasher to cash out on the day the delivery is made.

Ability to decline an order
When an order comes in on the DoorDash app, the delivery agent is provided with 2 clear options – accept and decline. This is followed by the order details that include the traveling distance and the income that can be earned for the particular order. So, after going through all the details, one can either accept the delivery or decline it according to their schedule.

For the deliveries, a Dasher can earn a base pay ranging from $2 to $10 per order. In addition to this, the Dasher also gets to keep 100% of the tip and the amount set aside for promotions. This adds up to become $15 – $25 per hour.

Whether creating digital art, recording music, or editing photos and videos, there is unique software to complete each task. However, the market is filled with hundreds of developers, each offering a range of features for a specific price. And there is always the off chance that one may not be happy with their purchase. So, if you have decided to buy software for your home system, here are ten common mistakes to avoid.

Overspending on features
Every software has numerous standard features, plus optional add-ons for an extra fee. More often than not, the developer’s website will give you several reasons why buying the fully-loaded version is the ideal choice. But you will likely never use some add-on features despite paying more money to unlock them. So, if you are beginning to learn a particular software, spend only on the standard variant. You could eventually pay for additional features as you become more familiar with the tool.

Buying from spurious websites
Every software has a price tag that may occasionally drop during the festive season or on particular sale days. But you may come across a few websites that continually advertise a price too good to be true. These websites may accept your payment but never deliver the software activation code or send one that does not work. So, always check the authenticity of the websites you visit to buy computer programs and avoid those that look suspicious.

Picking the first option
Many people use their search engines to look for the software they need and purchase the first option that shows up on their screens. Remember, links at the top of the results page are often sponsored. So, you might be buying something that does not give you complete value for money. Instead of buying the first product you see, list all the top online retailers selling the software and compare them. Then choose the one that offers the best features for the price.

Rushing the purchase
Just like picking the first option that pops up on the screen, some rush their software purchase because of a time crunch. Doing so may cause you to pay a lot more than you should. So, take enough time to pick software for your needs to ensure you do not overpay for the product. If possible, wait until the holiday season, when retailers drop prices on computer software by a high margin.

Not reading reviews
People often buy software without reading a single review, which is one of the biggest mistakes they could make. Hundreds of customers post ratings and reviews on the internet about their experience with particular software. These posts could cover several factors, including the product’s usability, value for money, and benefits or drawbacks. Reading these online reviews could help you make a more informed decision when buying the software.

Skipping the trial
Another error people make when buying software is not signing up for the trial. Most computer programs offer at least a seven-day trial for users to familiarize themselves with the interface before making a monthly or annual payment. So, do not pay for the tool until you use its trial version to ensure it is the right choice for the tasks you need to complete.

Not checking compatibility
While a particular software may have all the necessary bells and whistles you require, your money might go in vain if you do not check its system compatibility. Each product has different requirements in this aspect. For instance, some may require a certain amount of storage space and RAM to function efficiently, while others may need a specific chipset. So, check if your computer has the basic requirements before buying the software. Doing so will ensure you have the right product.

Making long-term commitments
Many users sign long-term contracts when purchasing software to reduce their subscription fees. However, they fail to consider that their needs might change with time. So, while the software might suit immediate needs, you must assess whether it will still be useful after a few months or a year. If you think your software requirements are temporary, sign up for a monthly package over a yearly subscription.

Going for the lowest-priced deal
You will find many software solutions for the same purpose but at different price points. To save money, users often pick the cheapest product. Doing so leaves them with software that is glitchy and full of bugs. This hampers their overall user experience and compels them to pay more for better tools. So, carefully check the features included in the software along with the price tag to avoid disappointment later.

Not reading the fine print
Besides the software’s features, developers publish terms and conditions and other legal documentation on their websites. Purchasing the program without reading this information could be problematic because many developers list the additional charges in the fine print. The terms and conditions may also mention how users can or cannot use the software and the level of privacy offered. So, you must read the documentation bundled with the software before signing a contract and making the final payment.