Can I use someone else’s DoorDash account? The short of it is that, technically, you cannot use someone else’s DoorDash account. That doesn’t mean it isn’t possible – there are ways you could use someone else’s DoorDash account if you wanted to – but it could lead to deactivation and would also create some logistical and tax issues for whoever’s account you’re using.
In this post, we’ll take a deeper dive into the question of whether you can use someone else’s DoorDash account, why it’s technically possible, and why – even though it is possible – I wouldn’t recommend it.
Can I Use Someone Else’s DoorDash Account?
To start, let’s ask why you would want to use someone else’s DoorDash account. The most common reason is that you can’t get approved for your own DoorDash account. Maybe you have an issue with your background check. Or perhaps you have a DUI in your driving history, which likely disqualifies you from driving for DoorDash. Whatever the reason, if you can’t get approved for a DoorDash account, you might consider using someone else’s DoorDash account.
Unfortunately, DoorDash does not permit people to use other people’s DoorDash accounts. Everyone delivering for DoorDash is required to have their own Dasher account.
However, DoorDash makes it clear that Dashers are permitted to subcontract their services. For instance, on the DoorDash website, they state the following:
As an independent contractor, you are free to choose the method by which you perform the delivery. It is entirely up to you to complete the delivery service yourself or to delegate the tasks to your employee or subcontractor. Someone else may drive for you or help you drop off deliveries, however, they must have a valid Dasher account as well. (Source: DoorDash).
The independent contractor agreement that all Dashers are required to accept states the same thing. In Section IX of the independent contractor agreement, it states:
CONTRACTOR is not required to perform any Contracted Services personally, but may, to the extent permitted by law and subject to the terms of this Agreement, hire or engage others (as employees or subcontractors of CONTRACTOR) to perform all or some of the Contracted Services, provided any such employees or subcontractors meet all the requirements applicable to CONTRACTOR including, but not limited to, accepting the terms of this Agreement, separately completing the process to receive Delivery Opportunities, and being eligible to provide the Contracted Services in the geographic location. (Source: DoorDash).
While Dashers are explicitly permitted to subcontract their services, it’s unlikely many people would make use of this provision. Any subcontractors are still required to have their own Dasher account and have to pass the DoorDash background check. Given this, it’s unclear why anyone would subcontract their services if they had their own Dasher account anyway.
How You Could Use Someone Else’s DoorDash Account
Even though DoorDash doesn’t let you use someone’s DoorDash account, you could still, in theory, use someone else’s DoorDash account.
To do this, you’d first have to find someone willing to let you use their DoorDash account. Most likely, it’d have to be a close friend or family member. From there, you’d simply use their login information to sign into the Dasher app, then do deliveries under their account.
Customers don’t see a picture of their Dasher, so as long as you have a name that looks like it could belong to you, most customers will have no idea that you aren’t the same person in the account you’re using. Even if a customer knew you were someone else, it’s unlikely they’d care. And these days, many customers opt for no-contact deliveries, which means it’s even easier to use someone else’s account without the customer knowing.
Why You Shouldn’t Use Someone Else’s DoorDash Account
While it’s not too difficult to use someone else’s DoorDash account, I generally recommend against doing so. There are two main reasons to not do this. The first is that you risk deactivation. DoorDash does not allow Dashers to use other people’s DoorDash accounts. If a customer reports you, it’s likely the account you’re using will get deactivated.
The second is primarily tax-related. If you’re using someone else’s account, DoorDash is going to send them a tax form at the end of the year detailing the earnings they made. While this isn’t necessarily a dealbreaker and can be handled, it is going to mean more work when it comes to filing your taxes.
The only time I’d consider using someone else’s DoorDash account is if I’m using an account for someone in my household – ideally your spouse. This will likely have the least impact when it comes to filing your taxes, especially if you file jointly.
Final Thoughts
You can theoretically use someone else’s DoorDash account. It’s not technically permitted by DoorDash, so there are inherent risks if you do so. The primary risk is that you could get deactivated if a customer were to report you.
There are also issues with taxes since DoorDash will generate a tax form for the account that you’re using. This would be something you’d need to figure out in advance so that the person whose DoorDash account you’re using isn’t saddled with a large tax bill at the end of the year.
At a minimum, I would never let anyone use my DoorDash account unless it was a very close family member (like my wife or someone else in my family). You’ll have to judge the risks yourself to determine if it’s worth it, but most of the time, I don’t recommend it.
Jason says
What if you know of a dasher that is letting another dasher use there account because one dasher hasn’t put in the time to in to dash yet .