Does DoorDash Pay For Gas?

If you’re working as a DoorDash driver, you might be asking yourself, does DoorDash pay for gas?

The short answer to that question is this – no, DoorDash does not pay for gas. If you’re delivering for DoorDash, you are an independent contractor. That means you’re responsible for your own expenses, including paying for your own gas.

But that doesn’t mean there aren’t things you can do to reduce your gas costs. If you use the right strategies, you can earn some money on the gas you buy too. Or if you are willing to try something different, you may even avoid paying for gas altogether.

In this post, we’ll take a closer look at the question of whether DoorDash pays for gas and tips and strategies you can use to save on gas costs.

Does DoorDash pay for gas? It’s a simple question with a simple answer. No, DoorDash does not pay for gas.

Dashers are responsible for all of their vehicle and fuel costs because they are independent contractors. Unlike employees who do get their gas expenses reimbursed by their employer, as independent contractors, Dashers are essentially acting as their own small delivery business. I’ll go into more detail about the nature of being an independent contractor in the next section, but the gist of it is that when you’re Dashing, you should think of yourself as a small business.

What makes Dashing different than a regular job is that Dashers are paid on a per delivery basis. So, rather than trading time for money like an employee would, Dashers are trading tasks for money. As a Dasher, you get an assignment, decide whether you want to accept it, then complete it. In return, you get paid for completing the task, regardless of how long it takes you to complete it.

Every DoorDash payment consists of three parts: (1) the base pay, (2) peak pay bonuses if applicable, and (3) tips left by the customer for the Dasher. Whether or not you want to accept a delivery request should take into account whether the payment is worth the costs you’ll incur.

An example of a typical DoorDash payout.

So, while DoorDash does not directly pay for gas, in a sense, Dashers cover their gas costs with the payments received from DoorDash. If the payout for a delivery isn’t enough, then you should reject those orders. After all, you don’t want to do work where you aren’t making a profit.

DoorDash Drivers Are Independent Contractors

If you’ve never owned your own business or worked as an independent contractor, it can be a bit confusing as to the nature of your work relationship with DoorDash when you are Dashing. The fact is, that DoorDash drivers are independent contractors. When you’re an independent contractor, you should think of yourself as your own small business.

The payouts you receive for each delivery can be considered your gross revenue. This is the total amount of money you earn before expenses. After you pay your expenses, what’s left is your profit. In theory, the profit you earn is what really matters because that’s the money that you’ll actually be able to use.

So what are some common expenses you might have to deal with? There are a few you can think about, it the main one is likely going to be your vehicle costs. In general, this will include the maintenance you have to perform on your vehicle and the gas you have to use to operate your vehicle.

After you pay your expenses, you’re left with your profit. This is the amount that you pay taxes on. Remember, as an independent contractor (and business), you pay taxes on the profit you earn.

Just remember the following equation and you won’t have any issues:

Revenue – Expenses = Profit

How To Save Money On Gas When Delivering For DoorDash

Even though gas prices are expensive and will hurt your bottom line when delivering with DoorDash, you can still take steps to reduce your gas expenses. Here are some ideas that you can use to keep your gas costs as low as possible.

1. Use Ebikes or Electric Scooters

Of course, the easiest way to reduce your gas expenses is to not use gas at all. That’s exactly what I do. From the very beginning when I first signed up to be a Dasher, I’ve always done my deliveries using a bike. Not only does it save me money because I don’t have any fuel expenses, but it also gives me added health benefits since I’m able to get outside on a bike and get some exercise.

A few years ago, I transitioned over to using ebikes and electric scooters to do my deliveries. It’s been a complete game-changer. I can cover huge distances now. I don’t get tired when I’m biking or scooting. And I can move as fast as a car most of the time without having to worry about parking or gas prices.

If there’s one thing you can do to reduce your gas expenses, it’s to get yourself an electric bike or scooter. It’s well worth it.

himiway escape bike review — One of the ebikes I use when I’m out doing DoorDash.

2. Use a Fuel-Efficient Vehicle

If you can’t make the move to an electric bike or scooter, then your next best bet is to be sure you’re using a fuel-efficient vehicle. You don’t want to be driving a pickup truck or SUV when you’re doing DoorDash.

For conventional cars, a hybrid vehicle like a Toyota Prius is a good option. The nice thing about the Toyota Prius is that it’s not that expensive compared to some cars. You can get a solid used Prius at a very good price.

If you’re willing to make a bigger jump, going to an electric can make a big difference. You’ll have less maintenance and you won’t have to pay for gas anymore. The downside is whether the range is going to be enough for what you’re trying to do, but you’ll have to look at your situation and determine if an electric car makes sense for you. I’m personally considering getting a used Nissan Leaf as a second vehicle at some point.

3. Track Your Miles

The IRS allows you to deduct the mileage you drive when you’re doing DoorDash. It’s a bit confusing if you don’t understand what this means, but basically, every mile you drive costs you something in gas, maintenance, and depreciation of your vehicle. The IRS understands this, so they’ve come up with what they think every mile costs you to drive.

In 2022, the IRS has put the mileage deduction at 58.5 cents. So, the IRS is saying that every mile you drive costs you 58.5 cents.

Tracking your mileage is important because these are expenses you incur, which means they should be deducted from your revenue. For example, if you drive 50 miles in a day doing DoorDash, under the 2022 mileage deduction rate, that would cost you $29.25 (50 miles x 58.5 cents). if you made $100, after deducting your mileage, you’d be taxed on $70.75. In other words, your profit for the day after expenses would be $70.75.

Long story short, you should always track your mileage whenever you’re doing DoorDash. I use Gridwise, which is an excellent free app that you can use to track your mileage. I highly recommend it.

4. Use Cashback Apps

Cashback apps are a great way to get some money back for the purchases you’re already making. There are a few apps that are geared specifically towards gas purchases, where you can earn cashback for the gas you’re buying.

Two good apps you can use are Trunow and Upside. You can use both apps to earn a small amount of cashback whenever you buy gas.

5. Use Credit Cards So You Can Earn Points and Miles

The final strategy you should use is taking advantage of credit cards to earn points and miles. Even a basic 2% cashback card will at least get you something back for the purchases you’re already making.

If you want to get more advanced, it’s worth taking a deeper dive into credit card points and miles. I haven’t had to pay for a flight or hotel in over 5 years because I’m able to utilize points and miles for all my travel. The caveat is you should only use credit cards if you’re responsible with them and never carry a balance. Otherwise, you’ll lose more than you gain.

If you want more information on good cards to get, you can check out my best credit card offers page.

Final Thoughts

DoorDash does not pay for gas. It’s an expense you have to pay yourself if you’re working as a Dasher for DoorDash. Whenever you’re working, you need to think like a business and make sure that you’re making enough money to cover your vehicle and gas costs.

But even though DoorDash doesn’t pay for gas, that doesn’t mean you’re at the mercy of gas prices either. With the right strategies, you can do things to reduce or eliminate your gas costs completely.

I hope this info helps!

More Recommended Ebike/Scooters

Check out these other ebikes/scooters I've had the chance to do a review for:

GEN3 Outcross Bike – The GEN3 Outcross is a solid, affordable fat tire ebike that does a good job of doing what I need it to do. It works great for city riding, giving me a smooth ride in all conditions. It’s works really well as a winter ebike since the fat tires give it good traction over snow and ice. Check out my GEN3 Outcross Review.
Himiway Escape Bike – The Himiway Escape is an interesting bike for anyone looking for a moped-style ebike. If you’re a gig economy worker, the Himiway Escape is particularly interesting and it’s possible to think of it as an investment, especially if you can opt to do deliveries with the Himiway versus using a car. It’s not cheap, but you can definitely make your money back when you compare the mileage you’ll put on your car versus using an ebike. Check out my Himiway Escape Bike Review.
Espin Sport Bike – The Espin Sport is a good ebike for someone who is looking for an ebike that feels and rides more like a regular bike. There are many ebikes that are really only bikes in name. In reality, they’re basically electric mopeds. The Espin Sport, by contrast, is a bike you could probably ride without the battery and you’d feel like you’re just riding a regular bike. Check out my Espin Sport Review.
Varla Eagle One Scooter – The Varla Eagle One is an excellent scooter that can make sense for a lot of people. It can work as a primary mode of transportation. You can use it to work on gig economy apps like DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub. And it can also be a recreational vehicle if you’d prefer to use it for that. Check out my Varla Eagle One Review.
Fucare H3 Scooter – The Fucare H3 is a fun scooter and I’ve enjoyed testing it out. For a daily commuter or quick trips or errands, the Fucare H3 is probably the scooter I’ll use. It’s portable and easy to maneuver, so it’s just easier to take on the road when I need it. Check out my Fucare H3 Scooter Review.

More Recommended Investing App Bonuses

For additional investing app bonuses, be sure to check out the ones below:

M1 Finance ($10) – This is a great robo-advisor that has no fees and allows you to create a customized portfolio based on your risk tolerance. You also get $10 for opening an account. Check out my M1 Finance Referral Bonus – Step-By-Step Guide.
SoFi Invest ($25) – SoFi Invest is an easy brokerage account bonus that you can earn with just a few minutes of work. Use my SoFi Invest referral link, fund your SoFi Invest brokerage account with $100 and you’ll get $25 of free stock. I also have a step-by-step guide for the SoFi Invest referral bonus.
Moomoo (5 free stocks) – Moomoo is a free investing app currently offering 5 free stocks (usually worth around $75-$100) if you open an account using a referral link and deposit $2,000. Read my Moomoo referral bonus guide for more information.
Webull (5 free stocks) – Webull also gives you 5 free stock valued between $3-$3,000 each if you open an account using my referral link. Here’s a guide I wrote about how to earn your free stocks using Webull.
Robinhood (1 free stock) – Robinhood gives you a free stock valued between $2.50-$225 if you open an account using my referral link.
Public (1 free stock) - Public gives you a free stock valued between $3-$70 if you open an account using my referral link.

More Recommended Bank Account Bonuses

If you’re looking for more easy bank bonuses, check out the below options. These bonuses are all easy to earn and have no fees or minimum balance requirements to worry about.

Chime ($100) - Chime is a free bank account that offers a referral bonus if you use a referral link and complete a direct deposit of $200 or more. In practice, any ACH transfer into this account triggers the bonus. This bonus is easy to earn and posts instantly, so you’ll know if you met the requirements as soon as you move money into the account. I wrote a step-by-step guide on how to earn your Chime referral bonus that I recommend you check out.
Digital Federal Credit Union ($100) – Digital Federal Credit Union (DCU) is a free, nationwide credit union that I recommend to readers for two reasons. First, DCU has a $100 referral bonus if you open a free DCU checking account with a referral link. Second, DCU has a saving account that gives you 6.17% interest on your first $1,000. Check out my in-depth post on how to set this account up.
Upgrade ($100) – Upgrade is a free checking account that’s currently offering a $100 referral bonus if you open an account and complete three debit card transactions. These bonus terms are easy to meet, so it’s well worth doing this bonus as soon as you can. Importantly, this bonus says that it’s now scheduled to end on January 31, 2023. As long as you get your account opened before January 31st, you should be eligible. Here’s a post I wrote with more details: Upgrade $100 Referral Bonus – Step By Step Directions.
SoFi Money ($275) – SoFi Money is a free checking account from SoFi. They’re currently offering a $25 referral bonus if you open a SoFi account with a referral link and deposit $10. You can also make an additional $250 as well if you complete a direct deposit. This is a good bank that is also 100% free, so you won’t have to worry about managing this account. Here’s a post I wrote with instructions on how to earn your SoFi Money bonus: SoFi Money Referral Bonus: Step By Step Guide.
Current ($50) – Current is a free fintech bank that’s offering new users a $50 referral bonus after signing up for an account using a referral link.Current is an easy bonus to earn and also gives you access to three savings accounts that pay you 4% interest on up to $2,000. That means you can put away up to $6,000 earning 4% interest. That’s very good and makes Current an account I recommend to everyone. Check out my step-by-step guide on how to earn your Current Bank bonus.
Fairwinds Credit Union ($100) – Fairwinds Credit Union is offering a referral bonus for users that sign up using a referral link. Fairwinds has no fees or minimum balance, so this is a particularly easy bonus to earn. Since this is a smaller credit union, my gut instinct tells me this offer won’t be around long, so if you’re in a position to meet the bonus requirements, grab this bonus before it’s gone. Here is my step-by-step guide on how to earn your Fairwinds Credit Union bonus.
OnJuno ($60) – OnJuno is a fintech/neobank that is currently offering a $10 referral bonus if you open an account using a referral link and make a deposit of $50 or more. You will also get 1000 JCOIN. The 1000 of JCOIN is cryptocurrency. At the time I'm writing this, it'll be worth about $50. Check out my OnJuno referral bonus guide here.
Varo ($30) – Varo is a free fintech banking app similar to Chime or Current. It’s currently offering a $30 bonus to new users that open a new Varo account with a referral link. The bonus for this bank is very easy to meet, all you need to do is spend $20 within 30 days of opening your Varo account. Check out my step-by-step guide to learn how to earn this bonus.
Novo Bank ($40) - Novo bank is a free business checking account that’s currently offering a $40 bonus if you open a Novo business checking account using a referral link. In addition to being a good bank bonus, Novo is also a good business checking account. It has no monthly fees or minimum balance requirements and operates a good app and website. Indeed, it’s the business checking account I currently use for this blog. Check out my post on how to easily open a Novo account.
Albert ($150) – If you can manage to do a real direct deposit, Albert is an easy account you can use to earn a referral bonus. Here’s a review about Albert I wrote. And here’s a step-by-step guide on how to earn your Albert referral bonus.
Netspend ($20 + 5% Interest Savings Account) – Netspend is a company that provides 5% interest savings accounts. If you sign up using my referral link, you’ll get a $20 signup bonus once you make your first deposit into your Netspend account of $40 or more. That means you get a 5% interest savings account and a free $20 to start! Make sure to check out my in-depth guide on how to set up these accounts.

Kevin is an attorney and the blogger behind Financial Panther, a blog about personal finance, travel hacking, and side hustling using the gig economy. He paid off $87,000 worth of student loans in just 2.5 years by choosing not to live like a big shot lawyer.

Kevin is passionate about earning money using the gig economy and you can see all the ways he makes extra income every month in his side hustle reports.

Kevin is also big on using the latest fintech apps to improve his finances. Some of Kevin's favorite fintech apps include:

SoFi Money. A really good checking account with absolutely no fees. You'll get a $25 referral bonus if you open a SoFi Money account with a referral link, and an additional $250 if you complete a direct deposit.
DCU. Digital Federal Credit Union (DCU) is a free, nationwide credit union that I recommend to readers for two reasons. First, DCU has a $100 referral bonus if you open a free DCU checking account with a referral link. Second, DCU has a savings account that gives you 6.17% interest on your first $1,000.
Novo Bank. Novo bank is a free business checking account that’s currently offering a $40 bonus if you open a Novo business checking account using a referral link. It’s the business checking account I currently use for this blog.
M1 Finance. This is a great robo-advisor that has no fees and allows you to create a customized portfolio based on your risk tolerance. You also get $10 for opening an account.
Personal Capital. One of best free apps you can use to monitor your portfolio and track your net worth. This is one of the apps I use to track my financial accounts.