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Is It Dangerous to DoorDash at Night?

DoorDashing is a good way to make some extra money. Working nights is good because fewer people do delivery at that time. However, you might also wonder if working late nights is safe.

The good news is that there are ways to make it safer with some precautions you are probably already taking during the daytime.

Quick tip: you can get cash back every time you fill up your gas tank by using the Upside app. It's free and pays out straight to your bank.

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How Do You Stay Safe While DoorDashing at Night?

Generally, yes, doing delivery at night is safe as long as you take precautions and use some common sense. Most Dashers pick areas they are familiar with to deliver in, which is especially good practice at night. After doing DoorDashing for a few months, you get to know the neighborhoods where deliveries are done. You know which areas are easy deliveries and which areas are not. A few tips to keep in mind are:

  • Know the area you’re delivering to. If it’s an area, you’d prefer not to go to, either don’t accept the order or cancel.
  • Trust your gut instincts. If something feels off, it’s better to cancel than get into an unfortunate situation. Remember, no order is worth your safety.
  • Wear reflective clothing or a vest. This will make it easier for people to see you when going to a building or crossing a street at night. You don’t want to be mistaken for a prowler.
  • Carry a flashlight. Sometimes buildings, especially houses, don’t have the house number easy to see. This also helps you stand out, so the homeowner doesn’t think you’re a burglar.
  • Stay in your car if you ever feel uneasy getting out. You can always ask the customer to come out and pick it up.
  • Don’t carry a lot of money on you. Unfortunately, late-night deliveries might mean running into unstable people.

Some Dashers recommend asking the customer to come out and meet them, especially if all the lights are out late at night. When arriving at a house, they’ll first text the customers or call them if there is no answer. DoorDash does have a “Customer is not available” option in the app. that gives the customer time to respond.

Is It Safe to DoorDash as a Woman?

For women, the tips above apply to anyone. Some additional tips Dashers recommend include.

  • Check the area you are delivering to. While it will limit your opportunities, know the areas to avoid late at night, and you can find crime stats for neighborhoods known for assault, late-night gatherings of intoxicated revelers, and robbery at home break-ins.
  • Keep your phone fully charged, so it’s ready if needed. If you get into a situation where you need to summon the police or an ambulance.
  • Do deliveries by car at night. In case of trouble, you have a secure and swift metal box in case you need to edit a situation and contact emergency services. Do not attempt to deliver the order by walking, riding a bike, motorscooter, or motorcycle. Because you are and will continue to be a relatively slow-moving target for thieves, intoxicated people, and those looking to assault or rob you.

Is DoorDash Busy After Midnight, and How Late Does DoorDash Deliver?

DoorDash delivers 24 hours a day, so customers can order food any time, day or night. The main limiting factor will be the restaurants that are still open.

Depending on the day of the week, you might find weekends, and you might get a surge of orders around the time bars and clubs close. On the other hand, most restaurants close up sometime before midnight for two reasons: there simply aren’t enough customers to keep staff on, and secondly, some places, especially bars, don’t like dealing with late-night customers who might have already had a few drinks (and possibly already been kicked out of one establishment).

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Save on gas & groceries: the Upside app gives you cash back when you fill up your tank, buy groceries, or eat out.

As a Dasher, there are some upsides to late-night delivery. There’s less traffic to deal with when making your deliveries, and there are fewer places open, so you’ll be picking up from a lot of the same places, typically fast food restaurants, and they’re used to dealing with delivery drivers, so they’re usually pretty fast.

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