Receiving a DUI is a life changing event, and is not something that anybody enjoys going through.
The aftermath can haunt you for years into the future, and affect what you can do, and what companies you can work for.
One area where there’s a lot of uncertainty is gig economy jobs – jobs like Uber, Lyft, PostMates and Doordash, where driving with your car is a large aspect of the role.
Therefore, you may be wondering – can you do Doordash if you’ve previously been convicted of driving under the influence?
Fortunately, you may still have the opportunity. In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know about Doordash’s DUI / DWI policy, and whether or not you can still deliver for Doordash if you’ve been charged or convicted with a DUI.
Can You Do Doordash If You’ve Had A DUI?
The short answer is possibly. While some people have been accepted into Doordash even while having a recent DUI, others in similar situations have been denied completely.
We’ll go over some of the factors that Doordash looks at later in this article.
Doordash conducts a background check before anyone is able to deliver using their platform. During this background check, they look at both your driving record and your criminal record.
After the background check has been completed, Doordash will either accept or reject you. They will also continue to do background checks each year after you’ve been approved, in order for your account to remain active and eligible for deliveries.
What Factors May Influence Doordash’s Decision??
Unfortunately, the answer isn’t as simple as a clear ‘yes’ or ‘no’. Understanding Doordash’s process on how they screen drivers may help you determine your chances.
1. The Last 7 Years
Doordash thankfully doesn’t look back on your entire life – they only focus their background checks on the last 7 years.
More specifically, they are looking for the following, in addition to any DUIs / DWIs:
- Traffic offenses
- Sexual offenses
- Felonies
- Property damage
- Violent behavior
- Theft
- Previous driving license suspensions
Note that DUIs may fall off of your driving record quicker than 7 years. This depends on the state that you reside in.
Reports from other Doordash drivers suggest that the more recent the DUI is, the less likely you are to be accepted.
2. Major Felonies
One exception to the 7 year rule is if you have any major felonies on your record.
Remember that Doordash has an obligation not only to protect their brand, but to protect their customers as well.
If they deem you to be a serious risk to either, unfortunately they may decline your ability to do jobs for them even if the offense happened a long time ago.
3. Other Driving Issues
Obviously, the cleaner your driving record, the more likely that you are to be accepted.
Things like speeding tickets, running red lights, etc. may not necessarily disqualify you, but it’s a possibility.
Doordash likely looks at the whole overall picture to determine how big of a risk you are.
If there’s a pattern of repeated offenses, it is less likely you’ll be accepted – certainly if you also have a DUI on your record.
4. How You Plan To Deliver
Some people choose to Doordash without a car (for example, using a bike.)
Doordash may be more lenient if you won’t be using a car to deliver. However, I was unable to find any hard evidence supporting this in my research.
If you’re planning on delivering without using a car, please let me know how it goes so I can update this article!
I have heard some people have been accepted into Doordash, but were only allowed to use a bike or walk.
If you have a DUI on your record, this may be a possible compromise.
You Should Apply Regardless
Because you can’t know for certain whether or not you’ll be accepted, I recommend simply trying it out if becoming a Doordash driver is important to you.
The whole process of signing up as a Doordash driver doesn’t take very long, and you don’t really risk anything by doing so.
At the most, all they can do is deny you. At least then, you’ll know for sure.
I’ve read stories about people being accepted even when they were almost certain they wouldn’t be, so it’s worth a shot.
What If You’ve Already Been Accepted, But Recently Received A DUI?
If you’ve already been accepted as a Doordash driver and you’ve recently been charged with a DUI, you may be wondering if Doordash will terminate you.
We already know that Doordash runs yearly background checks, and the DUI is going to appear when Doordash investigates.
Unfortunately, there is a very real possibility that your time left with Doordash is limited.
While not a guarantee (other drives have mentioned that Doordash hasn’t seemed to notice, or care), DUIs on your record are obviously something Doordash wants to avoid.
This is especially true if they are recent, and happened while you were working for Doordash.
Other delivery jobs like Postmates, Grubhub and Uber Eats also pay attention to DUIs, so I would start looking into alternative work options if you’ve recently had a DUI or DWI. Start preparing now, and it will hurt less later.
Conclusion
Can you drive for Doordash if you have a DUI on your record? Unfortunately, there is no clear answer.
While some people have been accepted even with recent DUIs, others have been denied with as little as a traffic ticket on their driving record.
Although background checks only go back 7 years and having an otherwise clean record improves your chances, the only way to know for sure is to actually take the time to apply.
It would be wonderful if you’d share your experience with us here in the comments, so I can continue to update this article with new information as time goes on.
Wishing you the best! Stay safe and stay sober!
– James McAllister
Disclaimer:
Doordash is a registered trademark of its owner. We are not affiliated with or endorsed by Doordash in any way. We cannot guarantee accuracy of this information and facts may change at any time. For the most up-to-date information, contact Doordash directly or visit their official website. Doordash’s name is used only for nominative fair use.
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