Why do Grubhub drivers get deactivated, and how do you appeal?
Grubhub can deactivate a driver after three account violations within a rolling 90-day period, or right away for fraud, illegal activity or safety threats. Violations expire after 90 days. If your account is blocked, submit the appeal through Grubhub's support form (or the form emailed to you) as quickly as possible, because appeal windows vary by market; Grubhub says appeals are reviewed by a person. Seattle drivers have extra legal deactivation rights.
What counts as an account violation
Grubhub lists these behaviors:
- Unassigning orders in a way that delays or cancels a delivery.
- Marking a merchant closed when it is not.
- Delivering to the wrong place after pickup.
- Delaying pickup or drop-off of accepted orders.
- Overcharging orders on the Grubhub for Drivers card.
- Masking or falsifying your location or delivery progress (GPS spoofing).
- Submitting incorrect drop-off photos, or skipping them.
- Canceling orders without a valid reason.
Each violation arrives by email and in-app notification with the reason and date. You must acknowledge it in the app to keep receiving offers. Separately, Grubhub may terminate an account for "a material breach of contract", such as fraud, illegal activity or threats to someone's safety.
The 3-in-90-days rule
| Situation | What happens |
|---|---|
| 1 violation | Notice; acknowledge in the app. It expires after 90 days. |
| 2 violations within 90 days | Still active; one more can block the account. |
| 3 violations within a rolling 90 days | Account can be deactivated; you get an email with the appeal steps. |
Count your active violations by date. If you have two, slow down for the next few weeks: no risky unassigns, no rushed photos.
How to appeal a Grubhub deactivation
- Act fast. Use the appeal form linked from Grubhub's driver site or the one sent to your registered email. Windows vary by market.
- Ask for the specific orders and reasons if the notice is vague.
- Answer each violation with facts: order number, date, time and what happened.
- Attach evidence: drop-off photos, screenshots of chats with the customer or support, restaurant wait times, dash cam footage, a mileage log that shows your route.
- Stay calm and short. A reviewer reads many appeals; a clear one-page timeline beats a long complaint.
- Keep copies of everything you send and every reply.
Grubhub's delivery partner agreement also sets out a dispute resolution process; read the current version in the app before you go further. Do not open a second account; that breaks the terms.
Extra rights in Seattle
Seattle's App-Based Worker Deactivation Rights Ordinance (in effect since January 1, 2025) requires covered companies to give notice before most deactivations, share their deactivation policies and the records behind a decision, and run an internal challenge process. Drivers can challenge within 90 days of the notice and may later go to court. Other cities and states have their own rules; check your local labor office.
Watch: a driver on his second violation
In a short video titled "GrubHub Second Violation", HomeBaseIncome101 talks about receiving his second strike on Grubhub. It is a useful reminder of how close two violations put you to the three-in-90-days limit; the account details are his own.
4:22
Habits that prevent violations
- Take a clear drop-off photo every time: the bag, the door and the unit number in frame.
- Message the customer when you are delayed, and contact support before you cancel, so there is a record.
- Use the Driver Card only for the order amount shown.
- If the app asks for a delivery code and the customer cannot find it, follow the in-app steps instead of improvising.
- Never share your login, codes or account with anyone. Grubhub support will not ask for your password or a code sent to your phone; the same scam pattern is described in the verification-code scam guide.
Frequently asked questions
How many violations before Grubhub deactivates you?
Three account violations within a rolling 90-day period can lead to deactivation. Each violation is removed after 90 days. Fraud, illegal activity or safety threats can lead to termination without the count.
How do I appeal a Grubhub deactivation?
Submit the appeal through the support form linked on Grubhub's driver site or emailed to you after the block, as quickly as possible. Include order numbers, dates, photos and screenshots that show what happened.
Do Grubhub violations expire?
Yes. Grubhub says a violation is removed from your account after 90 days.
Can I make a new Grubhub account after deactivation?
No. Opening a second account breaks Grubhub's terms. Use the appeal process instead.
Do Seattle Grubhub drivers have deactivation rights?
Yes. Seattle's deactivation ordinance requires notice before most deactivations, access to the records behind the decision and an internal challenge process; drivers can challenge within 90 days of notice.
Go deeper. Chapter 9 of the Grubhub Driver Playbook covers scams, violations and building an appeal step by step, and chapter 8 has word-for-word support scripts for the problems that most often turn into violations. Get the Grubhub e-book or read chapters 1–2 free.
Related guides
- How do Grubhub Partner, Pro and Premier levels work?
- Which Grubhub offers are worth accepting?
- What do real Grubhub drivers show in their field videos?
Sources
- Grubhub for Drivers: Account violations and deactivation
- Grubhub for Drivers: FAQ (violations)
- Seattle Office of Labor Standards: App-Based Worker Deactivation Rights Ordinance
- Grubhub delivery partner agreement (in app)