With high gas prices, is DoorDash delivery a bad idea or extra profitable?

[RyanEC]

[Static_In_The_Attic]

March 2026 to June 30th 2026

Profitable isn’t the word right now for drivers especially with higher gas prices, ware & tear on your vehicle & lower tips. As for the company it’s still making a killing & the good news is that the company is going to give drivers a little kick back to help out when it comes to fueling up & hopefully the company extends the relief longer.

Truthfully I think Door Dash Drivers Nationwide should go on STRIKE if they don’t get more relief from the company.

Strike, Strike, Strike! If no one drives that will be a big wake up call for Door Dash.

[NathanDavis]

obviously... it would be more of a struggle

but it is also true that Door Dash is mostly an extra INCOME, never an extra PROFITABLE deal

you have it to get by... not to get ahead

[RyanEC]

I work a full time job and get paid $20 an hour so maybe I should take a break.

[NathanDavis]

20 dollars an hour could be a lot... or not so much

only you and your circumstances should be able to assess if that is sustainable or not

[Simslover92]

I'm wondering the same thing as I am getting ready to do this for a while until I start working another full time job that makes at least 18 to 20 an hour.

I need to make about $120/day 5x-6x a week to make enough to be livable. I'm hoping I can do that. I live on the outskirts of the city but near the city so I'm hoping that this will work. *Fingers crossed* for the both of us.

[CupcakeTheDestroyer]

Doordash has not raised their mileage reimbursement based on gas prices but on the legal state requirements for it. Everything else you’re paid is based solely on tips.

[AI Opinion]

As someone who’s coached a lot of gig workers, I’d say: it depends on your numbers, not gas prices alone.

High gas prices can be good if:
- DoorDash increases base pay/peak pay in your area.
- Fewer drivers are online, so you get more (and better-paying) orders.
- You choose short-distance, high-tip orders only.

It’s bad if:
- You accept long trips or low tips.
- You drive an inefficient car.
- You don’t track miles and true hourly profit.

Track: pay per order, miles driven, and time. If you’re not averaging a solid profit after gas, wear, and taxes, it’s not worth it.

[RavVid]

I think it is a bad idea if it uses gas. That is easy for me to say as I live in a cafe precinct so I am more inclined to take a short walk to a cafe anyway.

Australians are possibly more inclined to act in the common good which in this case is that farmers have sufficient fuel.

[Cleatchaser1]

Why do you think it would be better? The customers tip better or DD is going to give out more and make less money? I can't imagine it's a good idea right now.

[msc545]

It's a very bad idea that you have to pay for your own gas, and the drivers probably do. If you're talking about it from a consumer point of view, it doesn't really matter because the companies are not going to pay for the gas for the drivers, and they're not going to increase their base prices.

[jennifer_bloom]

Door dash can become a recurring source of pay, but is not a luxurious job and a new driver will have to learn delivery skills very quickly or their rating will go down.

[Shiprex]

I live next door to a Pizza Hut so door dash is a no brainer and there are two Indian restaurants within 4 min walk and a host of others within 10. Never ordered through Dd and never will.

[lightbulb27]

Via scooter if possible...

fuel efficient car.

otherwise, not sure works out without good tips.

[loveslongnails]

DoorDash was never a great idea from my viewpoint. It just adds another layer of cost for the consumer and the restaurant or its employees get nothing out of it.

[OneViewpoint]

It's good for people who don't have transportation and people too busy, lazy, or stupid to cook. Other than that, restaurants get more orders but servers miss out on tips in an industry where tips are the majority of their income.

But the business model makes zero sense for drivers when you take into account vehicle purchase price, maintenance, taxes, insurance, and fuel. Why trash an expensive asset for Uber or Door Dash when you are barely breaking even? These jobs are for desperate people.

[loveslongnails]

@OneViewpoint I don't agree that restaurants get more orders. When you add in all the costs, it's more than if you dragged your ass out to the restaurant and tipped 20%. I agree... it makes no sense for drivers, but it helps no one; not consumers, not restaurants.

[Amy10223]

Bad idea. Few can afford to drive now. It's not worth the trouble to work for it.

[exitseven]

I have never ordered any thing delivered by DoorDash so I really do not know how much it costs.

[Agape93]

Bad idea. Gas prices are cutting into the drivers profits

[Tomislav7]

in compact cities if you bike or skate your saving a lot otherwise you may be spending quite a bit on gas

[Godihateyou]

Gas prices aren't high where I live. I order Ubereats all the time and I get a driver in seconds and they always have real nice cars. Can't be making bad money in Texas

[Anonymous]

Not if you go electric.

When I retired I thought about doing Doordash on the side to help defray the cost of healthcare. If you go electric it'll cut you fueling bill in half.

[Anonymous]

It was always a bad idea.