DoorDash Driver Requirements (Australia)

MyCarTracks_support · May 18, 2026, 11:32am

DoorDash driver requirements in Australia are simpler than passenger rideshare, but they still create a business and recordkeeping job. Before you sign up, check your age, work rights, Australian Business Number, background check, vehicle mode, insurance, and kilometre records.

DoorDash Australia’s Dasher page says Dashers must be 18 or older, can use a car, scooter, or bicycle, and need an Australian Business Number (ABN), consent to a free background check, and rights to work in Australia. The Australian Taxation Office (ATO), the federal tax agency, also says sharing economy income from providing services through a digital platform, including delivering goods, needs to be reported in your tax return.

Quick answer

To become a Dasher in Australia, prepare:

proof that you are at least 18
basic contact and residential details
proof of identity
rights to work in Australia, with Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO), the government check used to confirm work rights, where needed
an ABN, the number that identifies your business or sole-trader activity
consent for DoorDash’s background and motor vehicle checks
access to a car, scooter, bicycle, or approved e-bike option where available
insurance and registration records for motor vehicles
a smartphone and payment details
delivery income, expense, and business kilometre records

Delivery-only work generally uses the normal goods and services tax (GST) registration rules unless another rule applies. GST is the 10% tax many Australian businesses collect from customers and report to the ATO. Do not use the rideshare GST rule for DoorDash delivery unless you also carry passengers through a ride-sourcing service.

DoorDash driver requirements in Australia checklist

DoorDash says sign-up can happen in minutes and approval can let you start within days, but that depends on documents and checks. The Australian help page says you visit the Dasher sign-up website, create an account, submit requested information, and consent to a motor vehicle and background check. You can use the platform after passing those checks.

The public Dasher page lists these requirement groups:

Requirement	What to check
Age	DoorDash says Australian Dashers must be 18 or older.
Vehicle	DoorDash says you can use any car, scooter, or bicycle; Zoomo e-bike access is presented as an option, not a universal requirement.
Documentation	DoorDash lists ABN, consent to a free background check, and rights to work in Australia.
Phone and app access	You need a smartphone that can run the Dasher app reliably while navigating and receiving offers.

DoorDash delivery is not limited to restaurant orders. DoorDash’s Shop & Deliver page says Dashers may also shop in stores, pay with a Virtual Red Card, and deliver grocery, convenience, retail, flowers, alcohol, and other orders where available.

ABN and sole trader setup

DoorDash requires an ABN for Australian Dashers. The Australian Business Register (ABR), the government register for business details, says individuals carrying on an enterprise can be entitled to an ABN as a sole trader. The ABR’s ABN application guidance says to decide your business structure before applying and have details such as your tax file number ready.

DoorDash’s own ABN guidance tells Dashers to use an Individual (Sole Trader) ABN and a food delivery business activity description. Use the official ABR application and keep your ABN records with your DoorDash account details.

If your ABN is inactive, issued to the wrong entity, or already linked to another DoorDash account, DoorDash may reject it. Fix ABN problems through the ABR rather than creating duplicate platform accounts.

GST and tax basics for Dashers

Most DoorDash-only delivery drivers start with the ATO’s general GST registration rules. The standard GST threshold is $75,000 GST turnover for most businesses, with registration required within 21 days once you are required to register.

Ride-sourcing is different. The ATO’s ride-sourcing guidance says passenger ride-sourcing drivers must have an ABN and GST registration from the first trip, regardless of earnings. If you Dash and also drive passengers for Uber or another rideshare app, keep the work types separate.

If you become GST-registered, you may need to lodge a business activity statement (BAS), the form many GST-registered businesses use to report GST to the ATO. Keep GST, income, fees, receipts, and kilometre records in a way that can be reviewed by platform and by quarter.

Vehicle and insurance checks

DoorDash says Australian Dashers can use a car, scooter, or bicycle. That does not mean every vehicle setup is risk-free. A motor vehicle still needs registration, roadworthiness, the right licence, and insurance that fits delivery work.

Compulsory third party (CTP) insurance is the injury insurance attached to vehicle registration. The Australian Government’s Moneysmart car insurance guidance explains that CTP covers injuries caused by your car but does not cover damage to cars or property. Third-party property, fire and theft, and comprehensive policies deal with property damage in different ways.

Ask your insurer whether your car, scooter, or motorbike policy covers food, grocery, or retail delivery. A personal policy may not cover paid delivery use. If you use a bicycle or e-bike, check theft, liability, battery, and safety gear risks before assuming you are covered.

Sign-up and background checks

DoorDash’s Australian help page says the sign-up process starts on the Dasher website. You create an account, submit the requested information, then consent to a motor vehicle and background check. You are eligible to use the platform after passing those checks.

During sign-up, expect to provide or confirm:

email, phone number, date of birth, and address details
identity details and photo where requested
ABN details
right-to-work information
vehicle mode
bank or payment details
consent for checks

If you are a temporary resident or international student, do not rely on forum advice about work limits. Check your visa conditions and work rights before accepting orders.

Shop & Deliver, Red Card, alcohol, and pharmacy orders

DoorDash delivery can involve more than picking up prepared meals. Shop & Deliver orders ask the Dasher to shop for listed items, pay with a Virtual Red Card, and deliver the order. That can change the time, parking, substitutions, item weight, and customer-message workload.

Alcohol, pharmacy, grocery, and retail deliveries can have extra in-app prompts or legal checks. Follow the DoorDash prompts for identification, restricted items, substitutions, and delivery completion. If you are not comfortable with a category, check your Dasher preferences and current DoorDash help guidance.

Costs and records to keep

DoorDash sign-up can be free, but delivery work still has costs. Track them from the first day:

delivery income, tips, promotions, reimbursements, and deposits
business kilometres for pickups, drop-offs, returns, and repositioning
total kilometres if you need a business-use percentage
fuel, charging, servicing, tyres, repairs, registration, insurance, parking, tolls, phone data, bags, lights, helmet, lock, and safety gear
Red Card, Shop & Deliver, reimbursement, and support records
GST registration, BAS, and GST payment records if you become GST-registered

For Australian car expense rules, use the local ATO Mileage Guide for Australia. Do not use a US mileage deduction, Canadian kilometre allowance, or platform estimate as your Australian tax method.

How MyCarTracks fits

Use MyCarTracks automatic mileage tracking before your first Dash. Tag DoorDash separately from Uber Eats, rideshare, personal driving, and errands, then review trips while the delivery route is still fresh.

Mileage tracking will not approve your DoorDash account, ABN, or background check. It gives you a cleaner kilometre record for profit review, car expenses, and tax records.