What Grubhub requires before you can start delivering
Grubhub requires you to be at least 18 years old, have a valid driver's license, proof of insurance, and a vehicle registered in your name. You'll also need a smartphone with the Grubhub Driver app, a Social Security number for tax purposes, and a bank account where Grubhub can deposit your earnings. The company runs a background check that typically takes three to five business days.
Your vehicle must pass a vehicle inspection, which Grubhub arranges through a third-party service. The inspection checks that your car is roadworthy — brakes, lights, tires, and overall safety — but does not require a specific make, model, or year. You can use a car, motorcycle, scooter, or bicycle depending on what Grubhub offers in your area. Some markets limit motorcycle and scooter deliveries to certain times of day or weather conditions.
Insurance is non-negotiable. Your personal auto insurance must be active and in your name. Grubhub provides contingent liability coverage while you're actively delivering (meaning you have an order and are en route to pick it up or drop it off), but this covers only gaps in your personal policy — it does not replace it. If your personal policy lapses, you're uninsured during deliveries, and Grubhub's coverage won't help.
Key Takeaways
- You need a valid driver's license, active insurance in your name, a smartphone, and a vehicle that passes Grubhub's inspection before you can start accepting orders.
- Grubhub's background check takes three to five business days, and you cannot deliver until it clears.
- Your personal auto insurance must stay active at all times; Grubhub's coverage only fills gaps and does not replace it.
- Earnings are deposited to your bank account on a weekly schedule, typically every Monday or Tuesday depending on your region.
- You are classified as an independent contractor, which means Grubhub does not withhold taxes, and you are responsible for tracking mileage and expenses for tax purposes.
How to sign up and get approved
Start by going to the Grubhub Driver website (grubhubdriver.com) or downloading the Grubhub Driver app and selecting "Sign Up." You'll enter your name, email, phone number, and the city where you want to deliver. Grubhub will tell you when ready whether delivery is available in your area — if it's not, you cannot proceed.
Next, you'll upload documents: a photo of your driver's license (front and back), proof of insurance, and a photo of your vehicle's registration. These must be clear, legible, and match the information you entered. If any document is blurry or incomplete, Grubhub will reject it and ask you to resubmit.
Once documents are submitted, Grubhub schedules your vehicle inspection. You'll receive an email with a link to book an appointment at a third-party inspection center near you. The inspection takes about 15 minutes and costs nothing. You must bring your vehicle keys and proof of registration. After the inspection passes, Grubhub runs the background check. You'll receive an email when approval is complete, usually within a week of passing inspection.
How much you earn and when you get paid
Grubhub pays per delivery, not per hour. The payment for each delivery is shown in the app before you accept it, so you can see what you'll earn before committing. Payment includes a base amount (which varies by market and order type) plus tips from the customer. Grubhub does not may provide a minimum per delivery or per hour.
Base pay typically ranges from $2 to $5 per delivery in most markets, though this varies widely depending on distance, time of day, and local demand. Tips are separate and go directly to you. Some customers tip in the app at the time of order; others tip in cash at the door. Grubhub does not take a cut of tips.
You're paid weekly, usually on Monday or Tuesday, depending on your region. The deposit goes to the bank account you provided during signup. Grubhub does not withhold taxes, Social Security, or Medicare — you are responsible for setting aside money for taxes at the end of the year. As an independent contractor, you can also deduct mileage and vehicle expenses when you file your tax return.
Scheduling and how orders work
Grubhub operates on a scheduling system in most markets. You open the app and claim delivery blocks — usually two-hour or three-hour windows during peak hours (lunch and dinner). Once you claim a block, you're expected to stay online and accept orders during that time. If you go offline without completing your block, Grubhub may reduce your access to future blocks.
Some markets use an on-demand system instead, where you can go online whenever you want without claiming a block in advance. Check your app to see which system applies in your area. During your active block or while you're online, orders appear in your app one at a time. You see the restaurant, the pickup address, the drop-off address, and the payment before accepting. You can decline orders, but declining too many in a row may pause your access temporarily.
Once you accept an order, you drive to the restaurant, wait for the food to be prepared, pick it up, and deliver it to the customer's address. Grubhub's app provides navigation and tells you where to leave the food (at the door, with the customer, etc.). You take a photo of the delivery as proof, and the order is complete.
What affects your ability to keep delivering
Grubhub monitors your acceptance rate, cancellation rate, and on-time delivery rate. If your acceptance rate drops below 80%, you may lose access to scheduled blocks and be moved to on-demand only. If you cancel more than a small number of orders after accepting them, Grubhub will deactivate your account. On-time delivery is less strictly enforced, but consistently late arrivals can trigger a warning.
Your background check is not a one-time event. Grubhub runs periodic checks and can deactivate you if new information surfaces. Driving violations, accidents, or criminal charges can result in deactivation. Your vehicle inspection is also valid for a limited time — Grubhub will notify you when it's time to renew.
Customer ratings matter less than with some other platforms, but consistently low ratings (below 4.6 stars) can result in deactivation. You can see your rating in the app and request feedback from customers if you're unsure why your rating is dropping.
Costs you'll pay as a Grubhub driver
Grubhub does not charge you a sign-up fee or a monthly fee. However, you will pay for gas, vehicle maintenance, and insurance — all of which come out of your earnings. Your personal auto insurance may increase if you add a commercial use rider (some insurers require this for delivery work; others don't). Call your insurer to ask whether your current policy covers delivery driving or whether you need to add coverage.
You're also responsible for any traffic violations, parking tickets, or tolls you incur while delivering. Grubhub does not reimburse these. Some drivers use a mileage tracking app to record business miles for tax deductions, which can offset some costs at tax time.
If your vehicle fails inspection or needs repairs before it can pass, you pay for those repairs. Grubhub does not cover vehicle maintenance or repairs.
How Grubhub compares to other delivery platforms
Grubhub's pay structure is similar to DoorDash and Uber Eats — base pay plus tips, paid weekly, no hourly may provide. The main differences are in scheduling: Grubhub uses scheduled blocks in most markets, while DoorDash and Uber Eats are primarily on-demand. This means Grubhub requires more planning but may offer more predictable access to orders during peak times.
Grubhub's base pay tends to be lower than DoorDash in some markets and higher in others — it varies by region. Tips are typically similar across platforms. Grubhub's acceptance rate requirement (80%) is stricter than DoorDash's, which can make it harder to be selective about which orders you take.
Many drivers work for multiple platforms at once to maximize earnings and have backup income if one platform's orders slow down. You can sign up for Grubhub, DoorDash, and Uber Eats simultaneously and choose which orders to accept based on pay and location.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to get approved after I submit my documents?
Document review usually takes one to two business days. The vehicle inspection can be scheduled within a few days of approval. The background check takes three to five business days after inspection. Total time from signup to first delivery is typically one to two weeks, though it can be faster if you schedule your inspection quickly.
Can I use someone else's car to deliver for Grubhub?
No. The vehicle must be registered in your name, and you must be the primary driver. Grubhub verifies this during the vehicle inspection. If you use a borrowed or financed vehicle, the registration must still be in your name.
What happens if I get in an accident while delivering?
Report it to your personal insurance company when ready. Grubhub's contingent coverage only applies if your personal insurance denies the claim, so your personal policy is your primary coverage. If you're at fault, your rates may increase. If you're not at fault, the other driver's insurance should cover it.
Do I have to accept every order that comes through?
No, but declining too many orders will lower your acceptance rate. If your acceptance rate falls below 80%, you lose access to scheduled blocks. You can be selective, but there's a penalty for declining frequently.
Can Grubhub deactivate me without warning?
Grubhub can deactivate you for serious violations like fraud, dangerous driving, or criminal activity without warning. For other issues like low ratings or high cancellation rates, you'll typically receive a warning first. You can appeal a deactivation by contacting Grubhub support, though appeals are rarely successful.