Top Dasher Requirements - And Why Top Dasher Status Isn't Worth It

One important program that DoorDash has is its Top Dasher program. Dashers that meet the Top Dasher Requirements get certain benefits specific to Top Dashers. But what are the requirements to become a Top Dasher? And is it worth going through the trouble to get it?

In this post, we’re going to look at what the Top Dasher requirements are, what benefits you receive from being a Top Dasher, and discuss why, in my view, being a Top Dasher and meeting the Top Dasher Requirements probably isn’t worth it for most people.

Top Dasher Requirements 

To become a Top Dasher, you have to meet certain requirements. Here are the Top Dasher requirements that you need to meet if you want to be a Top Dasher:

• Customer rating of at least 4.7
• Acceptance rate of at least 70%
• Completion rate of at least 95%
• 100 completed deliveries during the last month
• At least 200 lifetime deliveries completed

Let’s address each of these requirements in turn. Keeping a high customer rating shouldn’t be a problem for most Dashers. In fact, it’s something you should strive for because a low customer rating means you can get deactivated. So long as you deliver orders on time and follow customer directions, you shouldn’t have a problem maintaining a high customer rating.

Completion rate also isn’t usually a problem. DoorDash makes it clear that you can get deactivated if your completion rate falls below 90% (DoorDash used to require an 80% completion rate, but changed it to 90%), so giving yourself a high completion rate can be beneficial. At a minimum, it gives you a buffer from falling into deactivation territory and gives you more opportunities to cancel orders when they aren’t going well. I generally aim to keep my completion rate at 95% or so.

The other requirements are fairly straightforward as well. You’ll need to complete at least 200 lifetime deliveries, which you’ll eventually reach if you’re doing DoorDash for long enough. Completing 100 deliveries in the previous month can be more difficult if you’re doing DoorDash part-time, but getting to 100 deliveries in a month isn’t a very difficult feat either. 

The main requirement that can be a problem is having an acceptance rate of 70% or more. As I’ve made clear in other posts, your DoorDash acceptance rate does not matter. DoorDash has made it clear in its documentation that you cannot get deactivated for having a low acceptance rate. However, to incentivize Dashers to accept more orders, they’ve made it so you need to have a high acceptance rate to earn Top Dasher status. 

The issue with accepting 70% of orders is that to meet that requirement, you’re likely going to have to accept orders that aren’t profitable or aren’t worth doing. Many orders will be low-paying or will take you far away from better areas to work.

So while most of the requirements for Top Dasher are straightforward to meet, the acceptance rate requirement is what holds most people back from reaching Top Dasher status. 

Top Dasher Benefits 

The Top Dasher program gives Dashers that meet the requirements enhanced benefits. The main benefit you receive as a Top Dasher is the ability to begin Dashing whenever you want. 

If you’re in a market that has a lot of Dashers, having the ability to dash anytime can be helpful. In some markets, you have to schedule your dash in advance, which can be problematic if you’re not planning ahead. But if you have Top Dasher status, you can log in to the Dasher app anytime and start Dashing immediately. 

DoorDash also used to give priority orders to Dashers that had Top Dasher status. That meant if it was slow, DoorDash would send orders to people with Top Dasher status first. However, DoorDash no longer explicitly lists this as a benefit in their Top Dasher FAQ.

Instead, DoorDash now has a program that gives eligible Dashers priority access to higher-paying orders. To get priority access to these orders, you need to have a customer rating of at least 4.5 and an acceptance rate of 50% or higher. The Priority Access Program is different from the Top Dasher Program, but in practice, if you meet the requirements to be a Top Dasher, you’ll also meet the requirements for the Priority Access Program, so in effect, getting Top Dasher status also means you’ll get Priority Access.

How To Become A Top Dasher

To become a Top Dasher, you have to maintain the Top Dasher requirements for the entire month that you meet the requirements. If you do that, then you’ll be added to the Top Dasher program on the 2nd day of the next month. 

If you meet the Top Dasher requirements in the middle of the month, you’ll still need to maintain those requirements until the last day of the month. So, even if you complete the required deliveries and have good ratings, you’ll need to make sure your ratings don’t drop that month. Otherwise, you won’t qualify for Top Dasher status. 

Is Top Dasher Worth It? (No, For Most People)

Is Top Dasher status worth it? The short answer is, no, for most people, meeting the Top Dasher requirements and getting Top Dasher status isn’t worth it. The main reason is that the main benefit of Top Dasher status – being able to Dash anytime without scheduling – isn’t worth the trade-off of meeting the high acceptance rate requirement. 

In most cities, you’ll find that you can click the Dash Now button anytime you want. I live in Minneapolis and have never had to schedule myself in advance to start working. When I’ve traveled to other cities, I’ve also never had issues Dashing whenever I want. While there may be some times when you can’t Dash because there are too many people working, for the most part, you’ll find that you can usually start Dashing anytime you want. The only exception is for people who live in certain, very saturated markets.

Meanwhile, having to meet the 70% acceptance rate requirement means you’re going to have to accept low-paying or unprofitable orders. I’m able to average $30 or more per hour by multi-apping with DoorDash and other food delivery apps like Uber Eats and Grubhub. My acceptance rate for DoorDash usually hovers around 10-30%. If I had to accept more DoorDash orders to get Top Dasher status, my earnings would undoubtedly drop. 

Some Dashers do claim they get better orders because they have Top Dasher status. While they very well might be getting better orders, all of this evidence is anecdotal and there’s little hard evidence to prove that Top Dashers receive better orders. Based on my experience and what I’ve been able to earn without being a Top Dasher, there’s nothing to suggest that Top Dashers actually receive better orders.

The one caveat is that Top Dashers would automatically qualify for the Priority Access Program, which does technically give you access to better-paying orders. But still, the trade-off of having to maintain such a high acceptance rate isn’t worth it to me and I don’t think it’s worth it for most people.

Final Thoughts

The Top Dasher program is something that DoorDash uses to entice Dashers into maintaining a high acceptance rate and accepting more low-paying orders. While the ability to be able to click the Dash Now button anytime can be useful, the Top Dasher requirements you have to meet generally make it not worthwhile to most people. In particular, having to maintain a high acceptance rate means you’re going to be accepting orders that likely aren’t worth doing and aren’t profitable. 

Of course, you can try it out yourself and see if going for Top Dasher makes sense for you. Most of the requirements aren’t difficult to meet. It’s just whether they are worth hitting that you have to think about. And as I’ve made it clear in this post, I don’t think Top Dasher is worth it for most people.

This post may contain affiliate links.

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 ($75) – 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 $75 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.
• 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.

• Ally Bank ($100) – Of all the banks out there, Ally is, without a doubt, my favorite. At the moment, Ally is offering $100 to customers who open an eligible Ally account and meet the requirements. Here are the step-by-step directions to earn your Ally Bank referral 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 ($400/$1200) – 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.
• 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 $400/$1200 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 $75 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.

Sign up below to get all the latest posts right to your mailbox.

Feel free to send Kevin a message here.