What happens if DoorDash can’t find a driver for your order? It’s a question you might face if you place an order and find that there aren’t any drivers delivering it for you.
So what happens exactly? The short answer is that if this happens, DoorDash will cancel the order and issue you a refund. It’s rare that it happens – most of the time, DoorDash can find a nearby driver to deliver your order. But it can happen.
In the remainder of this post, we’ll look into more detail about what happens if DoorDash can’t find a driver, then go into some of the reasons why this might happen in the first place.
What Happens If DoorDash Can’t Find A Driver?
As stated at the beginning of this post, if DoorDash can’t find a driver, it’ll usually cancel the order and issue you a refund. It varies on how long it takes before DoorDash automatically cancels the order, but most people find that if DoorDash can’t find a driver after 30 minutes to 1 hour, it’ll cancel the order automatically and issue you a refund.
If it’s taking too long for your order to be automatically canceled, you can also contact DoorDash directly within the DoorDash app and ask them to cancel the order for you. It’s best to wait at least 30 minutes or so before requesting to cancel the order, as sometimes it can seem like it’s taking a while to find a delivery driver, but it’s really because the restaurant is still preparing the order.
Reasons Why DoorDash Can’t Find A Driver
1. You Didn’t Tip Your Driver
The main reason DoorDash might not be able to find a driver is that the customer didn’t tip.
Dasher payouts are made of three parts – (1) the base payment, (2) the tip, and (3) any bonuses that DoorDash is offering. Most of the time, the base payment for Dashers is only $2 to $4 per order, which means if you don’t leave a tip, Dashers will only make a few dollars for completing your delivery. That means your order will get rejected by most Dashers and accordingly, will sit there until someone is willing to take the order or until DoorDash increases the amount they pay for the delivery.
Remember, DoorDash couriers (or Dashers, as they are called), are independent contractors. That means they don’t work directly for DoorDash and they have the right to accept or reject any orders they get.
Knowing this, if you’re ordering delivery, you should tip. Not only is it the right thing to do, but it’ll also increase the odds that your order gets picked up. If you can’t tip, consider saving yourself some money and picking up your own order instead.
2. You Live Far Away From The Restaurant
As we’ve stated, Dashers are paid per order, so if you live far away from the restaurant, many Dashers might reject your order because it’s going too far away. Dashers can see where the customer is located, so that goes into the equation of whether to accept or reject a delivery request.
Unfortunately, the only real way around this problem is to make sure your order is enticing enough to get someone to accept it. That means if you live far away from the restaurant, you need to make sure to give a generous tip so that a driver will accept it and travel that long distance.
3. There Aren’t Enough Dashers Available to Pick Up Your Order
In rare circumstances, DoorDash can’t find a driver simply because there aren’t any Dashers available. Generally, this will only happen during off-hours – think late-night food or if you’re ordering food early in the morning. During those strange hours, many Dashers simply won’t be working.
If you’re ordering during normal hours and no one is picking up your order, then it’s more likely that you didn’t tip enough or your order isn’t paying enough to make it worthwhile for someone to accept it.
4. The DoorDash App Is Down.
Finally, the DoorDash app is notorious for crashing. Even worse, sometimes, the DoorDash app will work fine, but the Dasher app won’t work. When this happens, customers can place orders but the restaurant either won’t get the order or none of the delivery drivers can get the order because the app is down.
You can often check if the DoorDash app is down by searching on Twitter. The DoorDash customer service Twitter account usually keeps people updated if the app is down (and if you search for the term DoorDash on Twitter, you’ll usually find people complaining if the app is down).
If you’ve given an appropriate tip, don’t live too far away from the restaurant, and are ordering during normal hours but still are having trouble finding a driver, then it’s likely because the DoorDash app is down or has crashed.
Final Thoughts
In sum, if DoorDash can’t find a driver, you’ll get a refund from DoorDash. Most of the time, this will happen automatically. If you can’t wait for it, you can also contact DoorDash and have them issue you a refund manually.
Either way, if DoorDash can’t find a driver, you’re going to get your money back.
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More Recommended Ebike/Scooters
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.
- Varla Falcon Scooter – The Varla Falcon is an excellent scooter that offers a good amount of power at a lower price point compared to more powerful scooters. It’s not exactly an entry-level scooter, nor is it a high-powered scooter. I think it fits somewhere in-between those two categories – an intermediate scooter if I had to give it a category. Check out my Varla Falcon Review.
- Hiboy S2 Scooter – The Hiboy S2 is an excellent entry-level commuter scooter that's perfect for someone looking to save some money in transportation costs and improve their commute. Check out my Hiboy S2 Review.
- Hiboy S2R Scooter – The Hiboy S2R is one of the more interesting electric scooters I’ve been able to test out. It’s not a high-powered scooter, but for an everyday transport option, it’s very useful, especially given some of the unique features that it has. Indeed, for the price, the Hiboy S2R might be the best value scooter I’ve used. Check out my Hiboy S2R 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 ($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.
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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Well you tip before you get order so that is not easy to do. I have talked to dashers and they just won’t take order if it is not worth it. I am writing down addresses that don’t tip. So I don’t take them anymore and we are all starting to do that
**SPEAKING AS A CURRENT DOORDASH DRIVER
The only reason you won’t find a driver is if you don’t tip or tip so poorly that no driver touches your order. Doordash should make a mandatory minimum $5 tip rule and they would more than likely never run into this problem. 🙂
Nope. I tipped $11.00 for a $24.00 order. No one available. So that’s absolutely not true. I ended up having to fight to get my money back.
I can’t believe that unless it was a long drive or there was not a driver on.
It’s unfortunate that GOOD tippers get lumped in with the bad, but…yeah…it does happen that there just is not a driver available (at least in the suburbs)
Mandatory tip is absurd. A tip is gratuity paid for exceptional service. Perhaps door dash should pay you $5 more than current. Of course, you would get accustomed to the increase and still want more tip without earning it.
Tipping for delivery is not the same as tipping your server at a restaurant. When you tip at a restaurant, you’re tipping for the experience. When you tip for food delivery, you’re simply tipping for the convenience. Not only that, but delivery drivers have out of pocket costs that waiters/waitresses do not. So in the case of delivery, I think tips should be mandatory. Or they should at least include a $5 fuel&vehicle maintenance charge to the customer and pass that on to the drivers. If we were getting paid a $2 base pay, $5 extra for our gas and maintenance, occasional peak pay/promotions, plus tip, no driver would complain, most every order would get delivered, and the service customers received would be a lot better. But unfortunately Doordash will probably never do that due to fear of losing customers by tacking on that extra fee.
okboomer you want slaves so you dont even have to bother with tipping