DoorDash credits cannot be transferred directly to your bank account
DoorDash credits exist only within the DoorDash app and website. They are not money in a bank account—they are a balance you can spend on food orders through DoorDash. Once you have credits, your only option is to use them to pay for DoorDash orders. You cannot convert them to cash, move them to a debit card, or send them to another person's bank account.
This applies to all types of DoorDash credits: promotional credits from sign-up offers, credits from refunds on cancelled orders, credits earned through the DoorDash rewards program, and credits from gift cards you received. The platform treats all of these the same way—they stay in your DoorDash account until you spend them on food.
If you received DoorDash credits you do not want to use, your options are limited. You can give your login credentials to someone you trust so they can order food using your credits, but this is not secure and DoorDash's terms of service prohibit sharing your account. The safest path is to use the credits yourself or let them expire if the promotion had a time limit.
Key Takeaways
- DoorDash credits are account balance only and cannot be withdrawn as cash or transferred to a bank account.
- You can only spend credits on food orders placed through the DoorDash app or website.
- Refunds on cancelled DoorDash orders are returned as credits to your DoorDash account, not to your original payment method.
- If you have unwanted credits, your only realistic option is to use them for orders or let them expire.
How DoorDash credits work when you place an order
When you place a DoorDash order, the app lets you choose how to pay. If you have credits in your account, DoorDash will show them as an available payment method. You can use all your credits toward one order, or use part of your credits and pay the rest with a debit card, credit card, or other payment method linked to your account.
The credits are applied at checkout, before the order is sent to the restaurant. Once the order is placed, the credits are spent—you cannot get them back unless you cancel the order before the restaurant starts preparing it. If you cancel after the restaurant has started, DoorDash may refund the credits to your account, but this depends on how far along the order is.
Credits do not earn you any additional rewards or points. They are simply a discount on the order total. If you use a credit card to pay the remaining balance, you will earn rewards on that portion, but not on the part paid with credits.
What happens to credits if you receive a refund
If you cancel a DoorDash order and receive a refund, the money goes back as a credit to your DoorDash account, not to your bank account or credit card. This is true even if you originally paid with a debit card or credit card. DoorDash does not reverse the original transaction—instead, it adds the refund amount to your DoorDash balance.
The only exception is if you contact DoorDash support and request a refund to your original payment method. This is not automatic. You have to reach out to customer service, explain the issue, and ask them to process a refund instead of a credit. Even then, DoorDash may deny the request if the order was cancelled by you rather than by the restaurant or driver.
If the restaurant or DoorDash made an error—the order never arrived, items were missing, or the food was cold—you have a better chance of getting a refund to your original payment method. Document the problem with photos or screenshots and contact DoorDash support through the app. Be specific about what went wrong and ask for a refund rather than a credit.
DoorDash gift cards and promotional credits
If someone gave you a DoorDash gift card, the balance is loaded into your account as credits when you redeem the code. Like all other credits, these can only be spent on DoorDash orders. You cannot cash them out or transfer them to a bank account.
Promotional credits from sign-up offers or special promotions work the same way. They appear in your account as a balance and expire after a set period—usually 30 to 60 days, depending on the promotion. If you do not use them before the expiration date, they disappear from your account.
If you received a promotional credit but do not plan to use it, check the expiration date in your account. Some promotions allow you to extend the deadline by placing an order, while others do not. There is no way to convert unused promotional credits to cash.
Why DoorDash does not allow credit transfers
DoorDash credits are not transferable because they are tied to your account and your payment history. The company uses credits as a way to keep customers ordering through their platform. If credits could be cashed out or sent to a bank account, DoorDash would lose money and customers would have less reason to use the service.
From a fraud perspective, non-transferable credits also protect DoorDash. If credits could be moved to bank accounts, stolen accounts would be more valuable to criminals, and refund fraud would be easier to commit. By keeping credits locked to the DoorDash platform, the company reduces these risks.
This policy also means DoorDash does not have to handle banking regulations around money transfers. Credits are not considered money—they are a service credit—so DoorDash avoids compliance requirements that would apply if they were offering cash transfers.
Alternatives if you need cash instead of DoorDash credits
If you have DoorDash credits but need cash, you have limited options. You could order food and resell it, but this is impractical and violates DoorDash's terms of service. You could give your login to someone else to use the credits, but this exposes your account to fraud and violates the terms as well.
The most realistic option is to use the credits on orders you would normally place anyway. If you eat out regularly, using DoorDash credits is the same as getting a discount on food you were going to buy. This does not give you cash, but it frees up money in your bank account that you would have spent anyway.
If the credits are from a gift card someone gave you and you truly do not want to use them, you could ask the person who gave it to you whether they have a receipt. Some retailers allow gift card returns for cash or store credit, but DoorDash gift cards purchased directly from DoorDash cannot be refunded for cash once they are activated.
How to check your DoorDash credit balance
To see how much credit you have in your DoorDash account, open the app and tap the account icon in the bottom right corner. Select "Payments" or "Payment Methods." Your current credit balance will appear at the top of the screen. If you have promotional credits with an expiration date, the date will be shown next to the balance.
On the DoorDash website, log in and go to your account settings. Click "Payments" and you will see your credit balance there as well. The website and app show the same balance—they are linked to the same account.
If you do not see a credit balance but believe you should have one, check your email for confirmation of the promotion or gift card redemption. Sometimes credits take a few hours to appear in your account after you redeem a code or complete a sign-up offer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I transfer my DoorDash credits to someone else's account?
No. DoorDash credits cannot be transferred between accounts. They are tied to the account they were added to and cannot be moved, gifted, or shared. If you want someone else to use your credits, you would have to share your login, which violates DoorDash's terms of service and puts your account at risk.
What if I have credits and I delete my DoorDash account?
Your credits will be lost. DoorDash does not refund unused credits when you close your account. If you have promotional credits with an expiration date coming up, use them before you delete your account. Once the account is deleted, the credits cannot be recovered.
Do DoorDash credits expire?
Promotional credits and gift card balances usually expire after 30 to 60 days, depending on the offer. Credits from refunds on cancelled orders do not expire—they stay in your account until you use them. Check your account settings to see the expiration date for any promotional credits you have.
Can I use DoorDash credits to pay for a DoorDash Pass subscription?
No. DoorDash credits can only be used to pay for food orders. You cannot use them to pay for DoorDash Pass membership, which is a separate subscription service. You must pay for DoorDash Pass with a credit card, debit card, or other payment method linked to your account.
What if DoorDash gave me credits by mistake?
If you received credits you did not earn and believe they were added to your account in error, contact DoorDash support through the app. Explain the situation and ask them to review it. If they confirm it was a mistake, they may remove the credits or ask you not to use them. Do not spend credits you suspect were added in error, as DoorDash may reverse the transaction later.