The DoorDash activation kit is a set of items that DoorDash sends you after you sign up to be a DoorDash driver. Your activation kit includes most of the things you’ll need to start Dashing.
I first signed up for DoorDash way back in 2016, and back then, you didn’t get an activation kit in the mail. Instead, you had to go to an in-person orientation where a DoorDash employee would walk you through how the DoorDash app works, then give you a delivery bag and a DoorDash red card before manually activating your account.
A lot has changed since I signed up to be Dasher all those years ago. These days, you no longer have to do an in-person orientation. Instead, DoorDash walks you through how to use the app online, then mails you a DoorDash activation kit. It makes signing up to be a Dasher much easier than it used to be – you don’t even have to leave your couch to sign up anymore.
You might be wondering what exactly is the DoorDash activation kit. In this post, we’ll look at what the DoorDash activation kit is and answer a few questions related to it.
What Comes In The DoorDash Activation Kit?
The DoorDash activation kit typically comes with three things: (1) a DoorDash delivery bag, (2) a DoorDash red card, and (3) a welcome manual that gives you basic directions on how to download the Dasher app and set up your account.
During the pandemic, DoorDash also started sending new Dashers a DoorDash branded face mask and a small tube of hand sanitizer. I’m not sure if DoorDash still includes those items in the DoorDash activation kit, so if anyone has recently received the activation kit, please feel free to let me know in the comments.
Let’s take a closer look at each item in the DoorDash activation kit:
1. DoorDash Delivery Bag
The DoorDash delivery bag is a red insulated bag with the DoorDash logo on it. It’s a good beginner bag if you just need something to hold food.
If you use a bike to do deliveries as I do, eventually you’ll need to upgrade to a delivery backpack, but if you do your deliveries using a car, you can probably stick with using the included DoorDash delivery bag (and if you deliver with other apps like Uber Eats or Grubhub, you can also use this bag to deliver with those apps too).
Getting the delivery bag for free is a nice benefit because you’d otherwise have to pay a few dollars to get an insulated food delivery bag.
2. DoorDash Red Card
The DoorDash Red Card is a company debit card that DoorDash provides to Dashers. Most orders on DoorDash are prepaid, so you won’t need to use the Red Card, but there are a few restaurants where you may have to place the order yourself or pay for the order using your Red Card.
If you get an order like this, DoorDash will automatically load the required amount onto the card, which you then use to pay for the order. It’s important to note that the Red Card can only be used when you have a delivery that requires the card, so don’t think you can start using it to buy things for yourself.
You’ll also need to activate the Red Card in the Dasher app before you can log in and accept deliveries. You’ll find some sources online that seem to suggest you can start Dashing without a Red Card, but I don’t think this is right. That’s because a few years ago, I had an issue where my Red Card expired and I wasn’t able to log into the Dasher app until my new Red Card arrived. It didn’t seem to matter that I wouldn’t need the Red Card for the vast majority of my deliveries – DoorDash simply wouldn’t let me log into the app until I had activated my new Red Card.
That being said, maybe things have changed over the past year. I know that in the past, DoorDash made you confirm that you had your Red Card before you could start a dash, but it no longer makes you do that anymore. This change may mean you no longer need to have an active Red Card to start dashing.
3. DoorDash Welcome Manual
The last thing that comes in the DoorDash activation kit is a welcome manual (it’s really more of a welcome pamphlet). This manual provides basic information about how to use the app and how to activate your Red Card. It also gives you information on how to link your bank account so you can get paid.
Can I Start DoorDash Without The Activation Kit?
I’ve found conflicting reports about whether you can start DoorDash without the activation kit. On the one hand, the DoorDash help section seems to say that you have to complete a delivery before you can even request the DoorDash activation kit, which would suggest that you can do deliveries without the activation kit.
That doesn’t make a lot of sense to me, however. First, I don’t see why DoorDash would make you complete a delivery before you can even get your delivery items. And second, I recall that when you sign up, you request the activation kit during the signup process. Indeed, elsewhere on the DoorDash website, it seems to suggest that you request your activation kit during the signup process.
Several years ago, my wife signed up to be a Dasher and she couldn’t start her first delivery until her activation kit arrived and she activated her Red Card in the Dasher app. And as I mentioned previously, I had an issue a few years ago where my Red Card expired and I had to wait for my new card to arrive before I could start Dashing again.
That being said, things might have changed, especially since the Dasher app no longer makes me confirm that I have my Red Card before I start a dash.
How To DoorDash Without The Activation Kit
As I mentioned in the previous section, there seems to be some conflicting information about whether you need to have the activation kit to start dashing. Part of the DoorDash website seems to suggest you can dash without the activation kit. My personal experience was that I couldn’t start dashing without an active Red Card.
That was a while ago though and there have been some changes in the Dasher app that suggest you could start dashing without the activation kit.
In practical terms though, it doesn’t matter. You can try to dash without the activation kit. If it works, great. If not, wait until your activation kit arrives, then start dashing.
Conclusion
Of the three big food delivery apps (DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub), DoorDash is the only one that sends new delivery people a free delivery bag. Uber Eats and Grubhub both only send you their respective company debit cards. They don’t send a delivery bag to new drivers.
Getting a free delivery bag is a fairly nice benefit. It saves you a little bit of money since you can use this delivery bag, not only for DoorDash but also for any other delivery apps you’re working for.
Hopefully, this post addresses some of the major questions about the DoorDash activation kit. If you want to share your recent experience with the activation kit, please feel free to leave them in the comments below.
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Check out these other ebikes and scooters I've reviewed:
- Urban Arrow Ebike – Last year, I made one of the largest purchases I’ve ever made – I bought a $9,000 electric cargo bike from Urban Arrow. In my Urban Arrow review, I will discuss what it is and why I decided to buy this bike, as well as discuss how impactful a bike like this can be on your journey to financial independence.
- Troxus Explorer Step-Thru Ebike – The Troxus Explorer Step-Thru is a fat-tire ebike that I’ve had the pleasure of riding for a while now. It has amazing power, great looks, and awesome range. If you’re looking for a great fat-tire ebike that offers a lot for the price, the Troxus Explorer Step-Thru is definitely one for you to consider. Check out my Troxus Explorer Step-Thru Review.
- Hovsco HovBeta Ebike – The HovBeta is a folding ebike with great specs and a lot of interesting features, and importantly, it’s sold at a good price point. I’ve had a blast commuting with it and using it to do deliveries with DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub. Check out my Hovsco HovBeta Ebike Review.
- Vanpowers Manidae Ebike – The Vanpowers Manidae is a fat tire ebike that I’ve been riding as my primary winter commuting bike and have also been using it to do food delivery with apps like DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub. After clocking in a decent number of miles with this ebike, I wanted to write a post sharing what my experience with the Vanpowers Manidae ebike has been like. Check out my Vanpowers Manidae Review.
- Sohamo S3 Step-Thru Folding EBike Review – A Great Value Folding Ebike – The Sohamo S3 Step-Thru Folding Ebike is an entry-level folding ebike that offers a lot of value for the price point. I’ve been riding the Sohamo S3 for a while now, putting the bike through its paces, and I have to say, this bike has exceeded all of my expectations. Check out my Sohamo Review.
- KBO Flip Ebike – The KBO Flip is an excellent bike. I’ve had a great time riding it and think it’s a versatile bike that can be used for a lot of purposes and can fit a variety of lifestyles. It’s worked out great for me as a general commuter bike and as a food delivery bike. Check out my KBO Flip Review.
- Hiboy P7 Commuter Ebike – The Hiboy P7 is an excellent electric commuter bike that’s offered at an affordable price point. The range and speed of this bike are both very good, so you won’t have any trouble getting anywhere you need to go with it. As a food delivery vehicle, this is also good – with how much range it offers, you’ll be able to work all day on a single charge. Check out my Hiboy P7 Commuter Electric Bike Review.
- Himiway Escape Ebike – 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 Ebike – 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.
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- 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.
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For additional investing app bonuses, be sure to check out the ones below:
- M1 Finance ($100) – 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 $100 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 just $10 and you’ll get $25 of free stock. I also have a step-by-step guide for the SoFi Invest referral bonus.
- Webull (20 free stock shares) – Webull's current promotion gives you 20 free shares 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 shares using Webull.
- Moomoo (15 free stocks) – Moomoo is a free investing app currently offering 2 different referral bonuses if you open an account using a referral link. Read my Moomoo referral bonus guide for more information.
- 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.
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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.
- SoFi Money ($325) – 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 $300 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.
- Upgrade ($300) – Upgrade is a free checking account that’s currently offering a $300 referral bonus if you open an account and complete a direct deposit. These bonus terms are easy to meet, so it’s well worth doing this bonus as soon as you can. Here’s a post I wrote with more details: Upgrade $300 Referral Bonus – Step By Step Directions.
- Fairwinds Credit Union ($175) – 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.
- 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.
- US Bank Business ($800) – This is a fairly easy bank bonus to earn, since there are no direct deposit requirements. In addition, you can open the Silver Business Checking account, which comes with no monthly fees. Check out how to earn this big bonus here.
- Fifth Third Bank ($200) – This offer is limited to customers in the following states: Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, West Virginia, and South Carolina. If you don’t live in one of those states, you won’t be able to open an account online but you can still open an account in-branch if you happen to be visiting a city that has a branch. This is a fairly easy bank bonus to earn, especially since there are plenty of data points showing what will trigger the direct deposit requirement. In addition, you can open the Fifth Third Momentum Checking bank account, which comes with no monthly fees or minimum balance requirements. Read my guide on this bonus here.
- GO2Bank ($50) - GO2Bank is an easy bank bonus that I recommend people take advantage of if they have an easy way of meeting the direct deposit requirement. I like that it’s easy to open the account and that the bonus pays out quickly. Check out my step-by-step guide on how to earn your GO2Bank $50 referral bonus.
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- Varo ($25) – Varo is a free fintech banking app similar to Chime or Current. It’s currently offering a $25 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.
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 $300 if you complete a direct deposit.
- 5% Savings Accounts. I'm currently getting 5.24% interest on my savings through a company called Raisin. Opening a Raisin account takes minutes to complete, it's free, and all of your funds are FDIC-insured. I explain how it works, why I'm now using it to store my emergency fund and any other cash savings I have, and why I recommend everyone check it out in this review.
- US Bank Business. US Bank is currently offering new business customers a $800 signup bonus after opening a new account and meeting certain requirements.
- 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 $100 for opening an account.
- Empower. 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.
Feel free to send Kevin a message here.
I can confirm that you CAN Dash now w/o a Red Card in fact when you sign up they tell you to complete 1 Dash before you will be sent the Kit. I have been Dashing for a week now and have yet to receive my starter Kit. They have not forced me to activate the Red Card yet so when I get it I may not activate it as I do not want the hassle of using it. I have been getting PLENTY of delivery offers without it.