Ready to Switch From Car to Scooter/Moped for DoorDash? Here’s What You Need to Know.
Delivering on a moped can be beneficial. Just follow these tips!
I’ve been working as a food delivery independent contractor for almost 7 years with DoorDash. My first car I wore out quickly. I’m now on my second car and I bought it with 6000 miles on it. In just a couple of years that I’ve had it, I put almost 69,000 miles on it doing DoorDash full time. I now find myself in a predicament because my car has negative equity and at this rate, there’s probably no way I’ll be able to make it to the end of the car note in which it’s finally paid off. I’m unable to trade it in at this point.
I looked around at car rentals through the Uber and DoorDash programs with Hertz and Avis but they are very expensive. Over $300 a week. So I was considering getting a moped, maybe a Honda Ruckus, to use for neighborhood deliveries as a side gig and then just biting the bullet and getting a W-2 job. Although the only experience I have is working in the restaurant business.
I’m 53 and nobody really wants to hire a 53-year-old waitress (I’ve already tried IHOP, Denny’s, and House of Pies). Lately, I’ve even been turned down for fast food jobs like Domino's, McDonald’s, and Taco Bell. But enough about me. Let’s get back to what you came here for. For those who really like working for DoorDash and want to continue, but need to know their options for switching from a car to a scooter/moped, read further:
Can you Dash with a scooter?
According to DoorDash, it’s possible to use any vehicle to deliver. Drivers simply need insurance, a valid domestic driver’s license, as well as a clean driving record. It’s also possible to dash using a scooter, e-bike, bicycle, or motorcycle, in certain markets.
How to switch from a car to a scooter
Touch the Dash Icon on the lower part of the Dash Tab.
Choose the desired Dash Type.
Dashing with a bicycle
In the Dasher app, when making “Bicycle” the default vehicle type, you will receive bike-friendly deliveries from restaurant establishments close to you. This means that there won’t be any large catering orders or items such as pizza, soups, or hot drinks.
Related Reading: If you Drive for Uber Full Time Don’t Use your Own Car…Rent One!
Engine Size of Scooter
Any size engine will work, but the majority of Dashers usually choose the 125cc scooters since they are designed and tailored for city use and, typically, result in a much smaller insurance premium.
Watch this video on a day in the life of a Dasher using a Moped:
Video courtesy: Sincloth702 YouTube channel
Recommended Scooters for Deliveries
Recommended Equipment
You can find most of these items on Amazon:
Wanna know what the average salary is when biking for DoorDash? Read this helpful article: “What Is the Average Doordash Bike Salary by State.”
Need to know the moped laws by the state? Read “Moped Laws: United States.”
Whether you decide to work food delivery full-time, part-time, or as a side gig, you will probably come to a point where you will run your car into the ground or won’t have enough to make the necessary repairs, that’s when having a scooter or moped will definitely come in handy. So I hope this email helps!
⭐Kristen is a writer on Medium and editor for Word Garden and The Freedom to Write. Sign up here to catch every story when she publishes. Check out her latest article on Medium: Wanna Make $20 Per Hour Working DoorDash? Here’s how.
If you are Doordashing with a scooter or a motorcycle, please let me know your state and what insurance company you are using. I had Doordash in Houston, TX on a Honda CRF250L motorcycle and once my insurance Progressive found out, they sent me a letter notifying me that they won't renew my policy due to the fact that I'm doordashing.