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Do you need a license to DoorDash on a bike

December 11, 2024

Author:

Anastasiia Chub

Working as a DoorDash delivery rider is a good way to earn that extra cash. However, not everyone has a driver’s license, which is required for most delivery businesses.

But what about delivery with a bike? Do you need a license to DoorDash on a bike, or can you do this job without this document?

The good news is that it is possible to do delivery work for DoorDash on a bike without a license!

However, you still need to fulfill all the other requirements set by the company.

Here is everything you need to know if you’re considering DoorDashing on a bike.

Do you need a license to DoorDash on a bike

No, you will not need to have a driver's license in order to DoorDash with a bike. This is because the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) doesn’t consider e-bikes to be motorized vehicles.

This means you don’t need to have a driver’s license to operate an electric bike, whether you are just commuting or using it for your delivery job.

You will still have to meet other minimal requirements set by DoorDash, however, including but not limited to:

  • Being at least 18 years old
  • Passing a background check
  • Having a government-issued ID available for verification.

You will also need to have the DoorDash app on your phone to receive and manage your orders. When you sign up, you can indicate that you use a bicycle or electric bicycle as your mode of transportation.

This link lets you learn more about starting your DoorDash delivery rider career.

Keep in mind that some states have specific requirements for electric bikes all Dashers must follow.

Biking as a mode of transportation for DoorDash

For delivery workers, biking provides a slew of advantages that make the option desirable to many. There are many DoorDash bicycle cities where using a bike is much more comfortable than delivering via car or other transportation method.

One of the biggest perks of biking is how flexible it is. A bike can help a DoorDash rider navigate packed city streets, which reduces the time taken from one place to another, particularly at peak hours.

The other advantage of biking is that one does not have to search for parking, and this saves plenty of time while making many deliveries in a short period.

Another big plus is the cost: Biking tends to be much cheaper to operate than driving. There is no fuel to pay for, the maintenance costs are minimal, and there is no need to pay any auto insurance.

In this way, biking is much more feasible for those who might not want to invest in a car or be in a financial bind every month for transportation.

Using an electric bike for delivery riding has many social benefits, some of which you might not even think about!

Ecologically, biking delivers in a much greener way. With zero emissions, it reduces the delivery service's environmental impacts and attracts nearly all people who care about the environment.

In nature, biking offers riders a chance to stay fit while working. This inbuilt work-out might be a contributing factor for people who love active living.

How much can you earn on DoorDash with a bike?

Using a bike, especially an e-bike, for Dashing can be very profitable.

It’s important to note that there are many factors that determine the hourly rate of Dashers.

This includes the distance between the restaurant and the client, the order’s cost, and whether you’ve chosen the best time to DoorDash.

Many Dashers have reported earning $150 or more a day, which is pretty good for a side gig.

While some Dashers have noted they earn more when they use a car, what they forget about is that they are the ones liable for paying for gas and car maintenance. Once all those costs are deducted, delivery drivers typically profit less than delivery riders on an e-bike.

Not to mention the convenience of not having to own a driver’s license!

Can you apply on a DoorDash bike but use the car

delivery_rider_on_rain_with_electric_bike.jpg

There is a trend among Dashers to sign up for DoorDash with a bicycle, but then use a car instead. One of the reasons why they do this is so they can avoid following laws and regulations, such as owning a driver’s license or they just want to escape bad weather - which we completely understand.

While there is no strict law that forbids you from using a car while using the app on bike mode (provided you do own a license), we would advise against it.

Delivering with the wrong vehicle is against DoorDash’s rules, and the company has its ways of discovering whether someone is abusing their registration system.

One of the methods is calculating delivery time and distance based on the method of transportation you’ve selected.

For example, if you’ve applied to deliver orders on a bike, but the app notices you are riding on the streets at 60 mph, they’ll know that something’s wrong.

If you apply as a bike rider and use a car, that could bring several issues into play, such as:

  • DoorDash insurance/liability. The app’s insurance is tailored to your vehicle type. It probably won't be valid if you choose to apply with a bike but then use a car in case something happens or an accident occurs during delivery.
  • Wrong delivery estimates: The DoorDash system does these estimates based on times and routes drawn from transportation modes. This means if you use a car but you are registered as a bike, the system sometimes may give wrong estimates to customers and dispatch you for deliveries within short distances which were supposed to have been done with bikes.

The main thing that you must consider is that DoorDash will flag your account and probably suspend or deactivate you from the system. This is because you would have breached one of their important policies, as you would be using a different vehicle type than what you had applied for.

If you used to Dash via bike but now want to start delivering orders by car, all you need to do is change your preferred vehicle type in the app and deliver the necessary documentation, such as a driver’s license.

Related: How to Doordash for the first time

Conclusion

If you’re looking to start your DoorDash career, all you need is a good electric bike, and you’re good to go.

Whizz is an e-bike rental service that designs electric bikes with the needs of delivery riders in mind. Many Dashers consider its bikes to be the best ones on the market, which is why they choose its products.

From rental options to split payments, Whizz has something for everybody.

Don’t waste any time – contact Whizz and start your DoorDash career!

Read Also: E-bike delivery jobs

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