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Switching Zones on Doordash - EVERYTHING You MUST Know!!

One of the benefits of being a Doordash Driver is the flexibility of work available. The orders you can accept or decline, who you work with, time of day for the most part, and even where you work. 


You also have the ability to switch zones if you want, which some do and some don’t, but there is also some important info you should know about before doing this.


So in this article, We are talking about:

  • EVERYTHING You MUST Know about Switching Zones on Doordash

  • What they tell you vs how it ACTUALLY is

  • Everything in between!


Disclaimer: The content of this page does not contain and is never intended to be legal, business, financial, tax, or health advice of any kind, This article is for entertainment purposes only. It is advised that you conduct your own research and consult with qualified professionals before applying anything you find online. 


I also want to be clear that everything we go over on pages such as this is very market dependent, and what applies to myself and my market may not apply to you!




Doordash: Switch to a busy zone to potentially maximize your earnings and time while dashing.


When you are out dashing, we want to help you maximize your time by taking advantage of busy zones. 


So prior to this update, you would have to leave your current dash in order to start in the area where you were sent. However, with this update, you can end up going to the next zone over during a delivery and it will follow you. 


Doordash: More opportunities to earn


If you drop off a delivery outside your zone into a new zone that is busy at the time of completion, you'll be given the option to switch zones on the 'looking for offers' screen. 


This will open you up to more offers, reduce the waiting time between orders, and allow you to make the most of your time online. 


When viewing the option to switch zones, you will also be able to see the hotspots within the new zone and Peak Pay (if available).  


If you are on Earn by Time mode, you will also see the new zone’s minimum guaranteed active hourly rate.


Keep in mind the way they say this, more opportunities to earn, that doesn’t mean they are good and it doesn’t mean it is necessarily worth it to switch. 


Don’t get sucked into a bad area, or an area with more acceptance rate requirements, or sometimes even stricter Dasher Rewards requirements, for the purposes of a “slightly busier area” which isn’t even true half the time.


Doordash: Flexibility when switching zones


When the option is available, switching to a new zone is completely up to you. If you choose not to switch to a new zone, the app will look for offers that will take you back to your original zone. 


Dashers using Earn per Offer mode can only switch zones once. However, when earning by time, Dashers will be able to switch to a new zone as many times as the option to do so is available, and as long as the new zone is busy. 


Now I find the zone switching system an interesting move on their part. Obviously it makes me not want to switch at all but now I have to decide if I want to switch and NOT come back during that same shift?


That said, I wonder if it is per shift or per day. If it is per shift, and you are breaking up your schedule properly, it is kind of irrelevant because you can make a switch until your shift ends, then Dash along the way back to your original location when you finish your first location.


So it may say “once” but they aren’t 100% clear about that. 


Doordash: Updated zone


If you do choose to switch to the new zone that you entered, you can see updated hotspots nearby and start receiving offers in the new zone. 


If you are on Earn by Time mode, you will also see the new zone’s hourly rate and all offers in the new zone will be paid with that updated rate.


Which is typical, it is kind of just condensing a few steps.


Doordash:

Q: What happens if I don’t switch my zone, is there any penalty?


A: No. You will always have the option to switch and start dashing in the new zone (as long as that new zone is busy). 


If you choose not to switch, the Dasher app will still look for offers that help you earn as you drive back to your original zone.


Most Dashers will probably opt for this for the sake of keeping things consistent, like whether it is for the sake of staying home and waiting for orders, or the location in question is better for orders. 


Doordash:

Q: How do I know how busy it is going to be in the new zone?


A: When given the option to switch zones, the Dasher app will let you know the busyness level of the new zone, how long the new zone is expected to stay busy, and any Peak Pay offer available in that new zone. 


If you’re earning by time, you’ll also be able to see if there are any changes to the active hourly rate for a new zone.


I already referred to this earlier, but it is good to reiterate this point, Doordash’s definition of a “busy area” isn’t that it is busy, it is that there are outstanding orders and available slots for drivers to join, and if that is the case, it can very well mean they aren’t very good orders.


Doordash:

Q: How do I switch back to Earn per Offer mode after switching zones on Earn by Time?


A: If you would like to switch to Earn per Offer mode from Earn by Time mode, you have the option to end your dash and check if there are Earn per Offer spots available in your current zone. 


If the zone is busy, you might not be able to continue earning immediately, but you can schedule a dash for later.


If you have already ended your dash, you may continue to earn by time as long as spots are still available.


Yeah they are really repeating some of the same points throughout the article, which is always in the description by the way, but this one is a good one. 


Switching zones only apply to starting point zones, not the earning mode you are on. If you switch to a new zone with Earn by offer, you are switching into the new zone as an “earn by offer” driver, same with Earn by time. 


Doordash:

Q: Will I get Peak Pay if I switch my zone?


A: If you switch your zone, you will receive the Peak Pay offer that is available in the new zone, and no longer receive the offer from your original zone. For example:


Dan is dashing in downtown Chicago, and there is currently $1 Peak Pay there. He drops off a delivery in a different zone on the West Side of Chicago, where there is $2 Peak Pay. After he confirms to switch to the new zone, he will now receive $2 Peak Pay on every offer he completes until the Peak Pay ends, he switches to a new zone, or ends his dash.


Yeah, I can imagine that “hack” being abused so hard if they allowed for that. This also goes for areas with different Dasher Rewards minimums and in some markets where they still have Top Dasher. 


Those features are location locked!


Not the Same as Moving


Have you ever noticed that if you zoom out of your zone, you can only see a few starting points that surround your general area? Those are all the areas you can “Switch into” on a traditional method. 


That isn’t the same as moving to a new location. I moved from NY to FL in 2020 and I ended up seeing TOTALLY different zones. I know this should go without saying but I really don’t want ANY kind of confusion on this. 


State to State Taxes


So in certain locations, you might end up with starting points that have different city and state tax laws. When I lived in NY, there were some starting points that were in NJ and CT, would I travel to them? No! But if I were closer and I wanted to, I would have to study those laws first. 


Study Your Market


As I constantly say on this channel everything is market dependent, what applies to me may not apply to you. Which is why it is important for you to really study your area and what your personal market demands.


Maybe you can do gig work from home, but for some maybe your neighboring starting point is better, maybe a different gig entirely would be better suited for your market. 


I know I do pretty well with catering myself, but some may do better with package delivery. Some may do better with food delivery but grocery delivery is on the rise. Maybe they switched to medical courier or some kind of tasks, the lists can go on forever!


Either way, do some research and try new things and apps. You never know what you might discover!


If you would like to add some other perspective on Switching Zones on Doordash and how to best navigate that, feel free to email me: drivenwyld@gmail.com and who knows? Maybe your email or perspective and be featured in a post as well!

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