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Grubhub Driver Requirements 2026: Age, Vehicle, Background Check, and Sign-Up Guide
Grubhub is one of the easiest food delivery platforms to join, but there are specific requirements you need to meet before you can start earning. This guide covers everything from age and vehicle requirements to background checks and the sign-up process, so you know exactly what to expect in 2026.
Grubhub Driver Requirements Checklist
Before diving into the details, here is a quick overview of what you need to deliver for Grubhub in 2026:
- Age 18 or older (21+ in Las Vegas)
- Valid driver's license with specific experience requirements, or a state ID for bicycle delivery
- Reliable vehicle, bicycle, scooter, or motorcycle
- Smartphone with the Grubhub for Drivers app
- Social Security number for tax purposes
- Clean background check (criminal and driving record)
- Checking account for direct deposit payments
No interview, no resume, and no prior delivery experience required. Grubhub has some of the lowest barriers to entry of any food delivery platform, making it a popular choice for first-time gig workers.
Age and Experience Requirements
The minimum age to deliver for Grubhub is 18 years old. If you are in Las Vegas, the minimum age is 21.
What sets Grubhub apart from platforms like DoorDash is its license tenure requirement. You cannot just have a valid license — you need to have held it for a minimum period:
- If you are 18: You must have held your valid driver's license for at least 1 year
- If you are 19 or older: You must have held your valid driver's license for at least 2 years
This means an 18-year-old who just got their license cannot start delivering for Grubhub right away, even though they meet the age requirement. DoorDash, by comparison, does not have this license tenure rule, making Grubhub slightly stricter on this front.
If you plan to deliver by bicycle, you do not need a driver's license at all. A valid state-issued photo ID is sufficient.
Vehicle Requirements for Grubhub
Grubhub offers more delivery mode flexibility than most food delivery platforms. Depending on your market, you can deliver by car, bicycle, scooter, or motorcycle.
Delivering by Car
If you plan to deliver by car, you will need:
- A valid driver's license meeting the tenure requirements above
- A vehicle that is no older than 20 years from the current model year
- A car in safe, working condition with no major cosmetic damage
- No commercial branding or advertising wraps on your vehicle
That 20-year vehicle age limit is notably more generous than what Uber and Lyft require for rideshare. If your car is too old for rideshare, it may still qualify for Grubhub delivery.
Delivering by Bicycle
Bicycle delivery is available in select urban markets and comes with a completely different set of requirements:
- A valid state-issued photo ID (no driver's license needed)
- A reliable bicycle in good working condition
- A helmet is strongly recommended
Advantages of bicycle delivery:
- No fuel costs
- No vehicle insurance needed
- No parking headaches in busy city areas
- Lower startup costs overall
Drawbacks to consider:
- Smaller delivery radius limits your available orders
- Physically demanding, especially during long shifts
- Weather exposure can make deliveries uncomfortable or unsafe
- Earnings may be lower due to fewer and shorter-distance deliveries
Delivering by Scooter or Motorcycle
In some markets, Grubhub allows delivery by motorized scooter or motorcycle. You will need a valid driver's license with the appropriate endorsement for your vehicle type, and your vehicle must meet the same 20-year age limit as cars.
Required Documents
When you apply to deliver for Grubhub, you should have these documents ready:
- Valid driver's license (or state ID for bicycle couriers)
- Social Security number for identity verification and tax reporting
- Checking account details for setting up direct deposit
- Smartphone running a current operating system (iPhone or Android)
Smartphone and App Requirements
Your phone is your primary work tool as a Grubhub driver. Here is what you need:
- Operating system: The latest iOS or Android version is recommended, though Grubhub supports recent prior versions as well
- Data plan: A reliable cellular data connection is essential — you will use data constantly for receiving orders, GPS navigation, and communicating with customers
- GPS: Location services must be enabled at all times while you are active on the platform
- Storage: Enough space to run the Grubhub for Drivers app smoothly
A phone mount and car charger are not required by Grubhub, but experienced drivers consider them essential gear for safe and efficient deliveries.
Background Check and Screening
Grubhub runs a background check on every applicant. This includes:
- Criminal background check covering federal, state, and county records
- DMV record check reviewing your driving history
- Social Security number verification confirming your identity
No resume, interview, or prior experience is needed. The background check is the primary screening tool Grubhub uses.
What Disqualifies You from Grubhub?
While Grubhub does not publish an exhaustive list of disqualifying offenses, the following will generally prevent you from being approved:
- Serious criminal offenses such as violent crimes or sexual offenses
- Major driving violations including DUIs, reckless driving, or a pattern of moving violations
- Failed identity verification where your SSN or personal information does not match records
- Recent offenses within the past seven years carry more weight than older records
Grubhub uses a lookback window when evaluating criminal records, so older offenses may not automatically disqualify you.
How Long Does Grubhub Approval Take?
The approval timeline varies, but here is what to expect:
- Best case: Approval within 1 to 2 days if your background check comes back clean quickly
- Typical timeline: 2 to 7 business days for the background check to complete
- Possible delays: Incomplete documents, common names requiring additional verification, or records in multiple states can slow the process
You will receive a notification in the app or via email once your background check clears.
Insurance Requirements
If you deliver by car, you must carry personal auto insurance that meets your state's minimum coverage requirements. Grubhub verifies that you have active insurance during the application process.
Grubhub provides limited commercial liability coverage while you are on an active delivery. This covers third-party claims during the time you are transporting food from the restaurant to the customer. However, it does not cover damage to your own vehicle, personal injuries, or incidents that happen while you are waiting for orders.
A delivery or commercial endorsement on your personal policy is recommended but not required by Grubhub. Adding this endorsement typically costs $10 to $30 per month and ensures you have no coverage gaps.
Bicycle couriers do not need vehicle insurance, though personal health insurance and a good helmet are strongly recommended.
How to Sign Up for Grubhub Step by Step
Getting started with Grubhub is straightforward. Here is the process:
- Step 1: Visit driver.grubhub.com or download the Grubhub for Drivers app from the App Store or Google Play
- Step 2: Enter your personal information, including your name, email, phone number, and delivery zone preference
- Step 3: Select your delivery mode — car, bicycle, scooter, or motorcycle
- Step 4: Upload your driver's license (or state ID for bike couriers) and enter your Social Security number
- Step 5: Consent to the background check and identity verification
- Step 6: Wait for approval — you will receive a notification once your background check clears
- Step 7: Set up your payment method (direct deposit to your checking account)
- Step 8: Start accepting delivery offers in your market
Do You Need to Attend an Orientation?
Grubhub no longer requires in-person orientation in most markets. The entire onboarding process is completed online through the app. You may be asked to watch a brief introductory video or complete a short tutorial, but there is no mandatory in-person session.
Once approved, download Gridwise to track your Grubhub earnings and find the best delivery hours in your area.
Ongoing Requirements to Stay Active
Getting approved is just the beginning. Grubhub has ongoing performance expectations that affect your standing on the platform:
- Acceptance rate: While you can decline orders, your acceptance rate affects your ability to schedule delivery blocks. Higher acceptance rates give you priority access to the most profitable time slots.
- Customer ratings: Consistently low ratings can lead to warnings and eventual deactivation
- Delivery completion: Dropping orders after accepting them hurts your standing
- Document currency: Your driver's license and insurance must remain valid. Grubhub will notify you when documents are approaching expiration.
Block scheduling vs. open availability: Grubhub uses a scheduling system where drivers with higher program levels (based on acceptance rate and other metrics) get first access to delivery blocks. You can also go online without a scheduled block, but you may receive fewer offers during peak times.
What can get you deactivated:
- Consistently low customer ratings
- High order cancellation rate
- Safety violations or customer complaints
- Fraud or misuse of the platform
- Expired or invalid documents
How Grubhub Requirements Compare to DoorDash
If you are weighing Grubhub against DoorDash, here is how their requirements stack up:
- Minimum age: Grubhub requires 18+ (21+ in Las Vegas). DoorDash requires 18+.
- Vehicle age limit: Grubhub allows vehicles up to 20 years old. DoorDash has no specific vehicle age limit.
- License tenure: Grubhub requires 1 to 2 years of license history depending on your age. DoorDash has no license tenure requirement.
- Delivery modes: Grubhub allows car, bike, scooter, and motorcycle. DoorDash allows car, bike, scooter, and walking in select markets.
- Background check: Both platforms run criminal and driving record checks.
- Insurance: Both require personal auto insurance for car deliverers.
- Orientation: Neither requires in-person orientation in most markets.
The biggest differences are Grubhub's license tenure requirement (stricter) and its 20-year vehicle age limit (more lenient than rideshare but more defined than DoorDash). For a deeper earnings comparison, check out our guide on DoorDash vs Grubhub.
Delivering for both Grubhub and DoorDash? Gridwise tracks all your gig earnings in one place.
FAQ
Can you do Grubhub at 17?
No. Grubhub requires all drivers to be at least 18 years old. There are no exceptions, even with parental consent. In Las Vegas, the minimum age is 21.
Do you need a car to deliver for Grubhub?
No. Grubhub allows delivery by bicycle, scooter, or motorcycle in addition to car. Bicycle delivery is available in select urban markets and does not require a driver's license.
Does Grubhub do a drug test?
No. Grubhub does not require a drug test as part of the application process. The screening consists of a criminal background check, DMV record check, and identity verification.
Can you deliver for Grubhub and DoorDash at the same time?
Yes. You are free to work for multiple delivery platforms simultaneously. Many drivers multi-app between Grubhub and DoorDash to maximize their earnings and minimize downtime between orders.
How old can your car be for Grubhub?
Your vehicle can be up to 20 years old from the current model year. For 2026, that means vehicles from 2006 and newer are eligible. This is significantly more lenient than Uber and Lyft's rideshare requirements.
Does Grubhub provide delivery bags?
Grubhub typically provides a branded insulated delivery bag to new drivers during the onboarding process, though availability varies by market. Many experienced drivers purchase their own higher-quality insulated bags for better food temperature management.
Start Earning with Grubhub
Grubhub's requirements are among the most accessible in the gig economy. With no interview, no experience requirement, and multiple delivery mode options, most adults with a clean background can get approved within a week.
The key requirements to remember: be at least 18, have a valid license with the required tenure (or a state ID for bike delivery), pass a background check, and have a reliable vehicle and smartphone.
Once you are on the road, staying active means maintaining solid customer ratings, keeping your acceptance rate healthy for block scheduling access, and ensuring your documents stay current.
For more on what you can expect to earn, check out our Grubhub earnings guide. And if you are still deciding whether the platform is right for you, read our breakdown of whether Grubhub is worth it.
Ready to start delivering? Download Gridwise to track your Grubhub earnings, compare pay across platforms, and find the busiest hours in your market.
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