What Auto Insurance Do You Need for DoorDash?

Last Updated on February 16, 2026

If you drive for DoorDash, you generally need your own personal auto policy plus a delivery/business-use endorsement (or a commercial policy if you deliver full-time or your insurer requires it). DoorDash also maintains limited third-party liability coverage during certain in-app “delivery” periods, but it does not replace your own insurance and it doesn’t eliminate common coverage gaps.

Below is how DoorDash-related coverage typically works, what DoorDash’s policy may cover, and what to add so you’re protected from the time you log in to the time you log out.

1. Plan on Adding Delivery Coverage: Most Dashers need a personal auto policy plus a delivery/business-use endorsement, or a commercial policy if their insurer requires it.
2. DoorDash Coverage Is Not Full-Time Protection: DoorDash typically maintains third-party liability coverage only during certain in-app delivery periods and it’s generally excess to your own insurance.
3. The Waiting Period Is a Common Coverage Gap: Being “online” can still be considered business use, and without the right endorsement your personal insurer may deny a claim.
4. Get Confirmations Before You Deliver: Verify in writing that your insurer covers DoorDash driving, and compare quotes if your current company won’t insure delivery work at a reasonable cost.

Why Personal Auto Insurance Alone Usually Isn’t Enough

Most personal auto insurance policies are priced for personal driving, not paid deliveries. When you’re delivering for DoorDash, you’re using your vehicle for business purposes—which can trigger a “business use” exclusion in your policy. If your insurer determines you were delivering at the time of a crash, it can deny your claim or even non-renew your policy.

The fix is usually straightforward: you add a delivery/business-use endorsement, or you move to a commercial policy if that’s what your insurer requires.

What Insurance Do You Need for DoorDash?

Most Dashers fall into one of these setups:

1) Personal Auto Policy + Delivery/Business-Use Endorsement

This is the most common solution for part-time and many full-time Dashers. You keep your personal policy and add an endorsement that allows delivery driving. Some insurers label it “delivery,” “business use,” or fold it into a rideshare-style add-on.

2) Commercial Auto Insurance

If you deliver heavily, operate as a business, use a vehicle primarily for work, or your insurer won’t offer a delivery add-on, you may need commercial auto insurance. Commercial policies are designed for work vehicles and can be the cleanest way to avoid coverage disputes—though they’re often more expensive than an endorsement.

Either way, you should also carry the core protections most drivers need, starting with auto liability insurance (required in every state). If you finance or lease your car, your lender will usually require comprehensive and collision too.

When DoorDash Insurance May Apply

DoorDash maintains third-party auto liability coverage for Dashers during certain “delivery” periods in the app. The key detail is that DoorDash’s coverage is generally designed as excess (secondary) coverage and is tied to your status in the app.

In practice, your risk changes across three common phases:

• App Off (personal driving): Your personal auto policy is typically the only coverage in play.
• App On / Waiting for an order: This is where many drivers have the biggest gap. If your personal policy excludes delivery driving and DoorDash coverage doesn’t apply in your situation, you could be stuck without usable coverage.
• Accepted order / Active delivery: DoorDash’s third-party liability policy may apply as excess coverage while you’re in an active delivery period, depending on the specific policy terms and your claim’s facts.

Because app status and policy terms matter, the safest approach is to carry delivery/business-use coverage that protects you from the moment you go online until you go offline.

What DoorDash Insurance Typically Covers

DoorDash’s auto policy is generally focused on third-party liability—meaning damage you cause to other people. That includes property damage liability and bodily injury liability.

What it usually does not do (and what you should plan for):

• It doesn’t replace your personal policy. DoorDash generally expects you to maintain your own auto insurance.
• It often won’t cover your own vehicle damage. If you want repairs to your car after an at-fault crash, you typically need collision coverage under your own policy—plus a delivery endorsement so the claim isn’t excluded.
• It may not cover the “waiting” period. Many disputes happen when a driver is online but not clearly in an active delivery period.

If you want to compare how other gig platforms handle coverage windows, see this guide on whether your insurer will cover you if you start driving for Uber or Lyft.

Why Claims Get Denied (and Why Hiding Delivery Driving Is a Bad Idea)

After a crash, insurers often look for facts that determine whether the vehicle was being used for delivery work. Companies can investigate claims using statements, app activity, timestamps, and other documentation. In some cases, the police report or scene notes may also indicate delivery activity.

Misrepresenting what you were doing can escalate the situation beyond a denial. Insurance companies treat false statements seriously, and it can become a form of insurance fraud depending on the facts and jurisdiction.

How to Get the Best DoorDash Auto Insurance

The best DoorDash insurance is the coverage that keeps you protected in every phase of driving (app off, app on, and active delivery) without risking a denial. Start here:

• Call your current insurer first: Ask for a delivery/business-use endorsement and confirm it applies to food delivery platforms.
• Confirm your coverages match your needs: Liability limits, collision/comprehensive, medical coverage (MedPay/PIP), and deductibles should fit your budget and risk.
• Shop if needed: Not every company treats delivery driving the same. If your insurer won’t cover it (or prices it aggressively), compare options that routinely insure gig drivers (see: best auto insurance companies for Uber and Lyft drivers—many of the same insurers offer delivery endorsements, too).
• If you deliver as a business, consider commercial: A commercial policy can remove ambiguity, especially if you’re delivering full-time or using the vehicle primarily for work (see: small business auto insurance).

Final Word on DoorDash Car Insurance

To drive for DoorDash safely, plan on carrying your own auto insurance that allows delivery driving—usually a personal policy with a delivery/business-use endorsement, or commercial coverage if required. DoorDash’s insurance can help with third-party liability in certain delivery periods, but it doesn’t eliminate gaps (especially when you’re online and waiting) and it generally won’t protect your own vehicle damage.

Before your next shift, confirm—on the record with your insurer—that your policy covers DoorDash deliveries.

FAQs on What Auto Insurance You Need for DoorDash