Stuck On The DoorDash Waiting List? - Here's What Drivers Can Do!

So, you want to make money in the gig economy, you sign up to drive for DoorDash, and you end up on the DoorDash waitlist.

Unfortunately, waitlists are a common problem with many gig apps. Sometimes, there simply aren't any job openings and you're stuck waiting to make extra cash.

However, delivering for DoorDash can be very lucrative depending on your market. It's also a very flexible, beginner-friendly side hustle.

So, if you're stuck on the DoorDash waiting list, don't fret: this guide covers everything you need to know about the DoorDash waitlist and what to expect for onboarding.

What Is The DoorDash Waitlist?

The DoorDash waitlist is the waiting list you get placed on if there are currently too many Dashers in your area. This means DoorDash is at capacity and you have to wait for new spots to become available before you can start delivering.

DoorDash is one of the most popular food delivery apps out there, so usually, you can just sign up and start delivering for DoorDash as a new driver. However, you end up on the waiting list in some markets.

This can happen for two reasons:

Market Availability: You can get put on the DoorDash waiting list if DoorDash isn't available in your particular market. This isn't very likely if you live in a decently-sized city, but it can happen in very rural areas.
Market Oversaturation: While this is also rare, you can end up on DoorDash's waitlist if there are too many active drivers in your market and DoorDash doesn't want more food couriers.

When you get placed on this waitlist, you get a message that says: “Thank you for your interest in DoorDash! We’ve hit our capacity of Dashers in your area due to popularity, so we’re not accepting applications at the moment. Not to worry, you’ve been added to our waitlist, so please check back here to see when we’re ready to welcome new Dashers.”

Again, since DoorDash is so popular, this isn't as common of a problem as ending up on Instacart's waitlist or the Amazon Flex waitlist.

But, just know that it can happen when you sign up, especially if you don't live near a major city or decently sized town and are really in a rural area.

How To Get Off DoorDash Waitlist?

Unfortunately, the main way to get off the DoorDash waitlist is to wait for DoorDash to come to your market or for new driver spots to open up.

If DoorDash isn't accepting new Dashers in your area because of market saturation, you can always try delivering in different markets that are near your current market.

However, this isn't guaranteed to work, but it's worth checking a few different Zip codes nearby on the Dasher app to see if you get lucky.

Now, if you're on the DoorDash waitlist because the service just isn't available in your market, you really don't have any options but to wait for DoorDash to enter your area.

How Long Is The DoorDash Waitlist?

DoorDash waitlist times vary depending on your market and how many Dashers are ahead of you on the list. On average, expect your waitlist time to be anywhere from a few weeks to two or three months depending on current driver demand.

If you check various Reddit threads, you find real DoorDash drivers sharing their experience about how long they waited to get off the waitlist.

Here's what other Dashers had to say in this Reddit thread and another thread about the waitlist:

Runforthecube1010 says: “It all varies on area, super poppin cities you'll get in fast cuz the need for drivers is always high. Low traffic areas, longer waitlist.”
andiimx5 says: “I was on DoorDash “waiting list” for a couple months and they said they would notify me when they needed more dashers.. never got a message back until my friend told me he started Doordashing & it got me wondering why I never got called so I made a new account since my old account would still say “we don’t need dashers” & input the same zip code he used & I got accepted.”
Suna-dono says: “It took me 6 months to get off the waitlist.”
Dropthebanhammer101 says: “My wait period was about 2 weeks.”
StodgyUserName says: “I referred someone and it took them 57 days to activate him.”

As you can see, the answers vary quite a bit. However, it isn't unusual to wait several weeks or even a few months to get off the DoorDash waiting list.

But, as some Dashers note, it's still important to check back in on the Dasher app to see if you got accepted to drive but missed the notification.

One Dasher even mentions that they called DoorDash support and changed their delivery area to a way less popular area, so this strategy might work for you.

And, of course, always check your email and make sure DoorDash emails aren't getting marked as spam!

What Should You Do If You're On The DoorDash Waitlist?

If you're currently stuck on the DoorDash waitlist, you have a few options to start making extra money while you wait for open driver positions.

1. Try Other Food Delivery Gigs

DoorDash is one of the most popular food delivery gigs, but it's far from the only option. In fact, there are plenty of other companies you can consider driving for, all with similar requirements to DoorDash.

Some of my personal favorite delivery gigs include:

Instacart: The gig pays you to deliver groceries to people in your city.
Grubhub: Another food delivery gig that's similar to DoorDash.
Shipt: One of the most popular side hustles like Instacart that also pays you to deliver groceries.
Uber Eats: One of the most popular delivery and rideshare gigs in the world.
Cornershop: This gig pays you to shop for groceries and then deliver them.

The point is, you don't have to sit and do nothing if you're on the DoorDash waiting list; there are plenty of other food delivery jobs out there.

Pro Tip: If you use multiple delivery gigs, use apps like Everlance to automatically track your mileage, expenses, and income so you're ready for tax season.

Extra Reading – DoorDash vs Uber Eats – What's Best For Drivers?

2. Test Other Markets

As mentioned, one way to get off the DoorDash waitlist is to try and get lucky by signing up under a different market.

This is also quite simple to do: all you have to do is enter some nearby Zip codes to see if different areas are accepting Dashers. Plus, according to DoorDash, you can dash in different cities if you're traveling or if you move as long as DoorDash is available in that market.

New-Dashing-location

When you open the Dasher app in a new area, it should let you dash immediately if you're in a very busy area. The Zip code trick is still your best bet since you want to dash somewhere close to home ideally, so try that method first.

You can also read our post on the best places to DoorDash to learn about some of the best cities and states for this gig.

3. Try Other Gig Economy Jobs

There are plenty of other driving gigs that pay, not just food delivery jobs.

Here are some popular driving gigs you can consider:

Amazon Flex – Earn $18 to $25 per hour as an Amazon Flex Driver!
GoShare – Deliver packages to people in your city or even out of state and get paid!
Lugg – Help people move with Lugg and make extra cash on your own schedule.
Roadie – Like GoShare, Roadie lets you make money with peer-to-peer delivery gigs.
Walmart Spark – An excellent gig like Amazon Flex that also lets you deliver packages for money.

Similarly, you can also find delivery jobs and other odd jobs on apps like TaskRabbit.

TaskRabbit lets you set your own rates and availability as well, and you can find gigs like cleaning, furniture assembly, errand running, and general household tasks.

Finally, if you're quite handy, you can become a Handy Pro and get paid to help people with handyman tasks on the side.

The point is that the gig economy is ripe with money-making opportunities, so you aren't out of options if you're on the DoorDash waitlist.

Extra Reading – How To Make $400 A Day.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why Is There A Waitlist For DoorDash?

DoorDash puts drivers on its waitlist if there are too many DoorDash drivers in a market or if the service isn't available in the market you're applying in.

How Do I Remove Myself From The DoorDash Waitlist?

If you're tired of waiting around and don't want to receive emails from DoorDash anymore, you have to delete your account.

To delete your DoorDash account, click on “manage account” and then “delete account” and follow the prompts to do so.

How Long Is The Normal Onboarding Process?

If you don't get put on the DoorDash waiting list, you should receive an email confirmation from DoorDash that you're ready to drive after about 24 to 48 hours.

However, note that this comes after DoorDash completes a background check and reviews all of your information, so the whole onboarding process can take a week or two.

To speed up the process, make sure you have your driver's license and a piece of government ID when you begin your application.

Extra Reading – DoorDash vs Grubhub – What's Best For Drivers?

How Do You Check Your DoorDash Waitlist Status?

There isn't any method to check your position on the DoorDash waiting list. You have to wait for an email from DoorDash that says you're ready to start delivering before you can get on the road.