To review a Dasher, open the order in your app, tap “Rate,” choose stars, and add comments about the delivery.
Rating a delivery driver shouldn’t feel tricky. This guide shows clear steps to rate a DoorDash courier, what each rating does, when to add comments or photos, and how your feedback is used. You’ll also see common issues and the right channel for each one so your note lands in the right place and helps the next order go smoother.
How Ratings Work On DoorDash
After a drop-off, the app prompts you to rate the person who delivered. You can also return to the order later from the “Orders” tab and leave a rating there. The star score captures your overall take on the handoff, while the comment box adds color that helps both the platform and the driver understand what went well or what needs work.
Many shoppers wonder where that score goes. DoorDash aggregates customer scores into a rolling average that drivers see in their app. Timely, specific comments carry more weight than a star alone. Short notes such as “left at door, photo attached,” “called to confirm gate code,” or “spilled drink” map to real actions a driver can repeat or avoid next time.
Rating Vs. Reporting An Order Issue
Rating a person is different from reporting a problem with the food or a missing item. If sauce leaked or fries arrived cold, that may be a restaurant or packing issue. If a bag never arrived or a driver left it in a completely wrong spot, that points to the handoff. Use the problem-report flow for refunds or credits; use the rating flow for performance feedback. Both can be submitted on the same order if needed.
Step-By-Step: How To Rate Your DoorDash Courier (App)
- Open DoorDash and tap Orders.
- Select the order you want to rate.
- Tap Rate under the driver section.
- Choose 1–5 stars. Pick the quick tags that match your experience (polite, on time, wrong address, no handoff, and so on).
- Add a short comment. Keep it factual: timing, communication, drop-off location, and packaging care.
- Submit. You can usually edit your note for a short window after posting if you spot a typo.
Desktop Or Mobile Browser
Log in on a browser, open your order history, and you’ll see a similar “Rate” action. The star scale and notes box work the same way, though the layout differs slightly by device.
What Each Star Rating Signals
Stars set the tone. Use the full scale; don’t save 5-stars only for “perfect.” A 5 means the handoff matched your expectations. A 4 means good with a small miss. A 3 signals mixed. A 2 or 1 flags a clear miss that needs attention.
Star Meanings And When To Use Them
| Stars | When It Fits | Helpful Notes To Add |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | On time or earlier, followed drop-off notes, polite, photo proof, tidy bag. | “Texted ETA,” “left at gate per notes,” “sealed bag, no spills.” |
| 4 | Good handoff with a small slip (minor delay, missed doorbell, short text). | “Arrived 6 min late,” “placed at side door instead of front.” |
| 3 | Mixed: late with notice, location confusion, or poor packing care. | “Called twice for unit number,” “bag tilted, drink lid popped.” |
| 2 | Clear miss: big delay without message, wrong address left, no photo. | “No response in app,” “photo shows different building.” |
| 1 | Severe miss: never delivered, unsafe behavior, rude messages. | “Marked delivered but not here,” “refused to follow gate code.” |
When A Comment Helps More Than A Star
Short, concrete notes guide action. A clear sentence can prevent repeats of the same snag. Mention what happened, where, and any steps taken: “Door code used, package placed inside foyer,” or “left outside building in rain, no bag cover.” If you attach a photo, keep faces and private details out of frame when possible.
Order Problems That Need The Issue Flow
Some problems tie to the order itself rather than the handoff. Use the in-app “Help” path to report missing or wrong items, spills inside the bag, or items that don’t meet quality standards. That path routes you to credits or a charge review. The rating alone won’t start that process. The in-app steps for missing items are listed on DoorDash’s order issue help page.
Why Your Feedback Matters
Drivers see a rolling average of recent scores. Clear notes help them adjust: better route planning, double-checking unit numbers, adding a quick text on delays, or snapping a solid proof photo. DoorDash also experiment with blended metrics (timeliness, completion, and quality) in some regions. You can read how these measures are described in the platform’s ratings explainer.
Where To Tap: App Paths That Lead To A Review
Immediately After Delivery
A prompt appears on the order card. Pick stars, tap tags, and submit a note. If you dismiss it, you can still rate later.
Later From Your Order History
Go to Orders → choose the order → tap the driver section → leave your star score and comment. Some prompts appear only for a limited time, so it’s best to submit within a day or two while details are fresh.
What Not To Put In A Review
- No private info or phone numbers.
- No slurs or personal attacks.
- No rumors about restaurant food prep; use the order issue path instead.
- No tip threats. Tips are your call and should reflect service, but threats never help.
Common Scenarios And The Right Action
Use the chart below to route each situation. The left column shows what happened at drop-off. The middle column suggests the right path. The last column offers wording that keeps things clear and actionable.
Scenarios, Actions, And Sample Comments
| Scenario | Your Next Step | Sample Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Late with a message | Rate 4–5 if handled well | “Texted delay, arrived as updated.” |
| Late without a message | Rate 2–3 | “20 min late, no update sent.” |
| Wrong address photo | Rate 1–2; report issue | “Photo shows next building. Not received.” |
| Missing side or drink | Report order issue | “Missing iced tea; filed issue in app.” |
| No contact at “meet at door” | Rate 2–4 based on rest | “Left at door instead of handoff.” |
| Followed complex gate steps | Rate 5 | “Entered access code and delivered to unit.” |
| Sealed bag, careful carry | Rate 5 | “Bag upright, seal intact, clean drop-off photo.” |
| Leaky container from restaurant | Report order issue | “Spill inside bag; requested credit.” |
Proof Photos And PIN Drops
Many orders finish with a photo at the door. In some cases, the app also asks you to share a short PIN with the driver at handoff. That extra step helps confirm delivery on the right porch or unit and reduces disputes later. Keep the code handy when you see it in your order screen.
How Feedback Feeds Driver Metrics
Drivers track multiple measures in their app: a customer score, completion rate, and punctuality. In some pilots, extra metrics roll into an overall view. Your clean notes steer that system: rating trends inform coaching prompts and product tweaks that aim to cut late handoffs and wrong-address drops. You don’t see those dashboards, but your words flow there in aggregate.
When You Should Also File An Order Issue
Use the issue flow if the order never arrived, contains missing items, or doesn’t meet the quality standard outlined by DoorDash. The app steps route you to credits or a charge review. Policies for grocery or quality claims sit on the platform’s quality guarantee page. You can still rate the driver on delivery behavior in the same session.
Tips For Writing Helpful Comments
- Be specific: time stamps, directions followed, and where the bag was placed.
- Be fair: separate restaurant prep problems from the handoff.
- Be concise: one or two sentences beat a long paragraph.
- Add a photo when asked: it confirms the spot and safeguards both sides.
Can You Edit Or Remove A Rating?
Edits are time-limited. If you see a prompt to update, you can adjust stars or wording shortly after posting. If a tap was accidental or the wrong order was rated, open the same order and check for an edit option. If the window has passed and the case involves a clear error (marked delivered at a distant address, for example), use the app’s help path and share details so the record reflects what took place.
How To Get Prompts If You Don’t See One
Sometimes the rating card doesn’t show right away. Reopen the app, pull down to refresh, or check your order history. Tap the driver section on that order. If a prior rating exists, you’ll see your stars and note; if not, the “Rate” action should appear. App versions vary a bit, so the label may sit under a different subsection such as “Delivery details.”
When To Contact The Help Team
Use the rating path for praise or coaching. Use the in-app help path for refunds, credits, or fraud claims. If you need live help on a safety-related drop-off, use the phone line in the app. For anything else tied to order outcomes or charge questions, the help center pages walk you through step-by-step paths, including the “Missing or incorrect items” flow linked earlier and this page on leaving feedback about your experience: feedback about your delivery or Dasher.
Fairness Tips For Star Scores
- Match the star to the handoff. Don’t pin kitchen issues on the driver.
- Use 4 and 5 when earned. Small slips happen; weigh the full handoff.
- Use 1–2 for clear misses. No-show, wrong address, rude messages, unsafe driving—these merit low stars and a brief note.
- Note great work. “Found my unit at night,” “secured bag in rain,” and “triple-checked gate code” help drivers stand out in positive ways.
Privacy And Safety Pointers
Keep messages inside the app. Avoid sharing personal phone numbers or building access cards. If you spot unsafe behavior on the road or at your door, rate the handoff and file a report in the app so the case is routed correctly. If there’s an immediate risk, contact local authorities first, then note the incident through the app channel tied to the order.
Bottom Line
Open your order, tap “Rate,” pick stars, and leave a short, factual note. Use the order-issue path for missing items or poor food quality. A few clear words guide better handoffs across the board. When you share what happened—good or bad—you help the next delivery land where and how you want it.