How Long Is the DoorDash Waitlist in 2024?

As the gig economy expands, driving apps that pay are becoming even more popular. Perhaps you’ve tried signing up for DoorDash, one of the most popular delivery gig apps, and found yourself on the DoorDash waitlist.

The DoorDash application process is pretty straightforward, and in most cases, you’re accepted within a few days. However, sometimes, due to several factors, applicants are placed on the waitlist.

Waitlists are pretty standard for jobs like DoorDash. In most cases, you end up on a waitlist because there aren’t openings available at the moment or the market is already saturated with delivery drivers.

Driving for DoorDash is a lucrative side hustle, and you can earn $15 to $25 per hour. It’s also very flexible, as you can work whenever and however much you want. These factors make DoorDash one of the most sought-after side hustles.

So, what do you do next if you find yourself on the waitlist?

In this guide, I’ll cover everything you need to know about the DoorDash waitlist, what you can do about it, and what to expect from the whole process.

What Is the DoorDash Waitlist?

The DoorDash waitlist is a measure put in place to help manage the number of applicants who sign up to become Dashers. 

Since DoorDash is a very popular delivery platform, the company is bound to have many applicants applying at the same time. 

The DoorDash sign-up process is very simple, and most Dashers don’t have complaints. However, sometimes, prospective drivers find themselves on the waitlist, which can happen for several reasons.

The main reason prospective Dashers find themselves on the waitlist is that there are already too many Dashers in their area.

If too many active delivery drivers in the market you sign up in, you’ll be put on the waitlist until more spots open up.

The second and less likely reason you ended up on the waitlist is market availability. Maybe you live in a small town or rural area, and DoorDash doesn’t operate there yet. 

This is less likely because DoorDash has seen major growth in recent years. If DoorDash doesn’t operate in your area yet, you’ll be waitlisted until it moves to your area.

How Long Is the DoorDash Waitlist?

There’s no standard length of time it takes DoorDash to get drivers off the waitlist. How long you’ll spend on the list depends on your market because DoorDash manages its pool of Dashers differently in each market.

When there’s an everyday need for Dashers, approval typically takes 3-5 days. The waitlist is shorter in large metropolitan areas with a large population because the demand and turnover rates are high.

The waitlist may be longer if you live in a smaller town or rural area, but this is not always the case.

You can try and estimate how long the waitlist in your area is by reading about other Dashers’ experiences on sites like Reddit. Here are a few comments from Dashers on Reddit:

• Divember says: “I was never on a waitlist, was able to dash right after signing up.”
• Senior-Inevitable812 says: “I live in a major city as well. Took about 2 weeks.”
• Daprangejuan says: “Was never on a waiting list when I joined on January 3^rd this year. However, my mom has been on the waiting list since February{she’s been delivering for Uber Eats in the meantime as she wants to multi-app like I do) and still has not been given the chance to work with DD yet.”

Based on the Reddit comments, the DoorDash waitlist period tends to vary. You may wait for a few weeks, or it may take months to start driving for DoorDash.

You can also use the tips some of the Dashers shared, like checking your application status regularly or calling DoorDash support.

Extra Reading: DoorDash vs Amazon Flex

Why DoorDash Drivers Get Waitlisted

DoorDash mainly waitlists applicants based on existing demand and the number of drivers in that area. There’s no evidence to suggest that DoorDash prioritizes some driver applicants over others based on their profiles.

Here are the main reasons you may find yourself on the DoorDash waitlist:

Market Oversaturation

If there are too many active drivers in your area, it increases the chances that you’ll be put on the waitlist until new spots open up.

DoorDash uses the data to determine the number of orders and Dashers available in an area to assess whether or not they need new drivers. This helps avoid situations where there are more drivers than orders.

In some areas, DoorDash has a guaranteed earnings program, which means they have to pay their drivers a delivery fee if their earnings fall below a specific threshold. So the waitlist is one of the tools to prevent oversaturation.

DoorDash doesn’t have a guaranteed minimum of work for Dashers, but the waitlist helps to manage drivers and demand. It’s better for you to wait for spots to open up rather than being accepted and finding no work.

If you live in a big city where DoorDash is popular, there might be market oversaturation, which may be why you end up on the DoorDash waitlist.

DoorDash uses the waitlist to avoid Dashers flooding the market because the competition becomes fierce, making it difficult for people to earn a decent income. 

A healthy balance between Dashers and delivery demands ensures the Dashers make a decent income.

DoorDash Availability

DoorDash is a very popular food delivery platform, but it may not be available everywhere. If the company doesn’t operate in your area now, you’ll end up on the waitlist.

DoorDash currently operates in over 7,000 cities across the U.S., Canada, Japan, and Australia, but it may not be available if you live in a small rural town.

If DoorDash is not yet available in your area, you’re put on the waitlist, and DoorDash will notify you when they expand their zip codes. 

However, there’s no way to know if or when DoorDash will become available.

Quality Control

DoorDash also uses its waitlist for quality control. 

It has specific requirements for its drivers to ensure they meet the standard. Procedures like background checks are put in place to guarantee DoorDash safety and security. 

The DoorDash waitlist allows the company to regulate the influx of drivers and verify that the Dashers who join the platform meet their standards.

How To Bypass the DoorDash Waitlist

Unfortunately, the only way to get off the DoorDash waitlist is to wait for new driver positions to open up or for DoorDash to become available in your area. 

Still, there are a few tips that Dashers share that you can try.

First, you can persistently sign up, especially during off-peak times. You may have to deactivate your account and sign up again, which means you’ll start the process again. Note that this doesn’t guarantee that you’ll be accepted.

You can also try reaching out to support. Some Dashers say they called the DoorDash support team and changed their zip code, which helped them get approved faster.

Lastly, you can reach out to Dashers you know and ask them to add you to their team or refer you. The more proactive you’re, the higher your chances of getting off the waitlist.

What To Do if You’re Stuck on the Doordash Waitlist

If you’ve found yourself stuck on the DoorDash waitlist, there are a few things you can do depending on the step you want to take next. 

Here’s what you should do if you’re on the DoorDash waitlist:

1. Check Your Application Status Regularly

DoorDash doesn’t provide a simple way to check where you are on the waitlist, so it’s not possible to see where you’re in line. However, DoorDash will notify you via email once you’re off the list.

This can be quite frustrating, but there are a few things you can do to confirm your application status:

• Confirm your background check status: The DoorDash background check typically takes approximately 5-7 days. DoorDash works with Checkr, a third-party agency, for their background checks, and you can confirm your status on their website.
• Check your emails: After you’ve completed the activation process and the background check, sometimes DoorDash needs extra details from you. This is unlikely, but check your emails so you don’t leave anything to chance.

2. Try Signing Up in Another Market

Depending on the saturation in your area, you can try reapplying using a different zip code. 

Market availability is one of the major factors considered when hiring DoorDash drivers, so applying in a different market may be the simple workaround you need.

Additionally, DoorDash allows you to dash in different areas if you’re traveling as long as DoorDash operates in that area.

Ideally, you should choose a zip code closer to home because driving to another city to work will rack up fuel and other expenses.

3. Apply for Other Gig Economy Apps

There’s no shortage of gig economy apps. You can always apply for one while waiting to get off the DoorDash waitlist.

Aside from food delivery jobs like Instacart, you can also deliver other items.

Here are a few gig economy apps you should consider:

• Amazon Flex: You can try Amazon Flex, the platform where you earn up to $25 per hour delivering Amazon Flex blocks to customers in your area.
• Uber Eats: This is one of DoorDash’s biggest competitors and is one of the major food delivery platforms that works almost globally. You can sign up to deliver meals with Uber Eats and earn up to $20 an hour.
• GoShare: You can also try GoShare, a delivery gig app where you get paid to help people move. If you have a cargo van or pick-up truck, this would be a great side hustle.
• TaskRabbit: Another massively popular gig marketplace connecting people who need help with tasks like cleaning, furniture assembly, mounting electronics, yard work, and more, with Taskers available for the job. You can also try out apps like TaskRabbit.

4. Try Other Side Hustles

Delivery platforms are not the only side hustles out there. You can always explore your options.

Here are some of the popular side hustles you should consider:

• Rent out your vehicle: If you don’t use your car often, you can try signing up for a rental service and renting it out to people who need it. This is one of the easiest ways to make a passive income. If you have a truck, you can rent it out on Fetch Truck.
• Online tutoring: If you’re an expert in a particular field, you can try tutoring people online. There are many platforms where you can make money from your knowledge.
• Blogging: While it may take some time to get off the ground, blogging is one of the best ways to make money on the side.
• Pet/babysitting: Caring for babies or pets can be a fun, easy way to make a few extra dollars. There are plenty of apps like Rover and Care.com that connect you with people looking for the service.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Does Doordash Waitlist Mean?

The DoorDash waitlist is a measure put in place to regulate the number of applicants. If there are too many active drivers in your area or DoorDash is not yet available, you may be put on the waitlist.

How Long Is the Waitlist for Doordash in My Area?

DoorDash doesn’t have an official length of time for their waitlist, so it’s hard to know how long you’ll be on the waitlist. 

All you can do is wait for Dasher positions to open up, and you can try other side hustles in the meantime.

How Do You Check Your Doordash Waitlist Status?

There’s no method you can use to check your progress while on the DoorDash waitlist. You’ll have to wait for DoorDash to email you to notify you that you can start Dashing.

How Long Is the Normal Doordash Onboarding Process?

The DoorDash application process typically takes a few minutes, but verification will take roughly 5-7 days, mainly because of the background check. 

If there’s a need for DoorDash drivers in your area, it will take at most a week to start dashing.

Final Thoughts

You may find yourself on the DoorDash waitlist for a couple of reasons. In most cases, there are too many Dashers in your market. You have to wait for new positions to become available.

There are many things you can do in the meantime, like signing up for another delivery gig or exploring other side hustles. 

If you’re set on driving for DoorDash specifically, you’ll have to wait until there’s demand for new drivers.