Instacart Shopper Requirements Explained

Short answer: To become an Instacart shopper in the United States, you must be at least 18 years old, be legally allowed to work in the United States, have a smartphone that runs the Instacart Shopper app, be able to lift heavy grocery bags, and pass a background check. Full service shoppers also need a valid United States driver licence, a reliable car, and valid auto insurance, because they shop and deliver. In store shoppers work only inside a store, so they do not need a car, a licence, or auto insurance. No previous grocery or delivery experience is needed for either role.

The two shopper roles first

Instacart has two shopper roles, and picking the wrong one is the most common early mistake.

A full service shopper is an independent contractor. You shop in a store, check out with the payment card Instacart provides, and deliver the order in your own car. You choose your own hours and are paid per batch plus 100 percent of customer tips. You cover your own gas, car costs, and tax. This is the role most people mean by Instacart shopper.

An in store shopper is an Instacart employee in most markets. You shop only, inside one store. You do not drive or deliver. You are paid an hourly wage and work scheduled shifts, usually up to 29 hours a week. In store roles exist only in select markets.

The core requirements for everyone

These requirements apply to both roles.

Age: 18 or older

You must be at least 18 years old to become an Instacart shopper in the United States, with no upper age limit. You must be 21 or older to accept and deliver orders that contain alcohol.

Legal right to work in the United States

You must be legally allowed to work in the United States. Instacart verifies this and your identity during the application. Do not apply with someone else’s documents or share your account.

A smartphone that runs the Shopper app

You need a smartphone that runs the Instacart Shopper app, which is how you see batches, shop, message customers, and get paid. Guides published in 2026 report you need a recent phone, with iOS 17 or newer, or Android 8.0 or newer. Download the app on your own phone before you apply: if it installs and opens, your phone meets the test. You also need a mobile data plan, because the app needs data inside the store.

Able to lift heavy grocery bags

You must be able to lift heavy grocery items without help. Guides that checked Instacart requirements in 2026 report figures between 30 and 50 pounds, most commonly around 50 pounds, or about 23 kilograms.

Extra requirements for full service shoppers

Full service shoppers need three more things. First, a valid driver licence issued by your state, current and in good standing, to confirm your identity and check your driving record. An expired, suspended, or foreign licence will not pass. Keep it with you when you shop, for alcohol deliveries and identity checks.

Second, regular access to a reliable car with room for grocery orders. Instacart sets no maximum vehicle age and does not require a new car. It must run well, hold a full load safely, and be available when you plan to work.

Third, personal auto insurance meeting your state minimums, in your name, and current. Instacart verifies it during onboarding and does not provide commercial vehicle insurance for full service shoppers. Check with your insurer whether your policy covers delivery work.

The background check, step by step

The background check is the longest part of the application. Instacart uses third party providers, including Checkr. You must consent to it, as required by law. It covers your criminal history and, for full service shoppers, your driving record.

It usually takes a few business days. Checkr says many results arrive within one to three business days, while more detailed checks can take up to a week or longer. Guides report a typical range of 3 to 10 business days. If you have lived in several states, expect a longer wait.

Serious or recent convictions can make approval difficult, and your driving record should be free of major violations such as a DUI. A few small traffic tickets usually do not disqualify you, but Instacart makes the final decision after reviewing the report, and it publishes no list of disqualifying offences. If the check stalls for more than a week, log in to the Checkr candidate portal with the email you used to apply. If something in the report is wrong, you can dispute it with the screening provider.

How to sign up: the steps in order

You can apply online or in the app.

Step 1: Check availability in your area

Go to shoppers.instacart.com or download the Instacart Shopper app, and enter your postcode or ZIP code. This shows whether Instacart is taking shoppers in your area. If your area is full, you may join a free waitlist. Never pay anyone who offers to skip it: that is a scam.

Step 2: Choose your role

Pick full service or in store, based on the table above. With a car, choose full service. Without one, in store fits better where available.

Step 3: Fill in the application

Enter your name, address, date of birth, phone number, email address, and Social Security number. For full service, add driver licence, vehicle, and insurance details. For in store, add photo ID details and shift availability. Names and numbers must match your documents exactly: a small typing error can delay the background check by days. Have your photo ID, bank account for direct deposit, and a clear photo of yourself ready first.

Step 4: Consent to the background check

Read the consent screen and agree to it. Without consent, the check cannot run.

Step 5: Wait for approval

This is usually the longest wait. Answer quickly if the provider asks for more information, and do not accept batches until you receive the approval message.

Step 6: Get your payment card and set up the app

After approval, Instacart mails you a payment card for checkout. Guides report it usually arrives 5 to 7 business days after you finish sign up, so you cannot start the same day you are approved. While you wait, set up the Shopper app. You never pay for groceries from your own pocket.

Step 7: Accept your first batch

When the card arrives and your account is active, open the app, go online, and look for a batch. Start with a small batch close to a store you know well. Check each item and message the customer if one is out of stock. Your first few batches are for learning, not for speed.

Worked example: a sign up timeline

This timeline uses realistic waiting times. Your own timeline can be shorter or longer.

Meet Sam. Sam is 24, has a valid driver licence, a reliable car, and valid auto insurance, and applies for a full service role on a Monday morning. Day 1, Monday: Sam applies online at shoppers.instacart.com in about 20 minutes, enters personal, licence, vehicle, and insurance details, and consents to the check. The provider confirms it has started the same day.

Day 2 to Day 5: the background check runs. The check clears on Friday. Instacart reviews the application and sends approval by email and in the app. Sam can shop, but cannot start yet, because the payment card has not arrived.

Day 6 to Day 13: Sam waits for the payment card. It arrives 5 to 7 business days after sign up, as guides commonly report. On Day 13, Sam accepts a first batch, a small order of 12 items from a nearby store, taking about 70 minutes from accept to delivery.

Total time from application to first batch: 13 days, or just under two weeks. If the background check had taken 10 business days, the total would have been closer to three weeks. Apply early and answer any background check message the same day.

What to do if your application is delayed or declined

Check the basics first. Is your licence current? Does the name on your application match your ID exactly? Did you reply to every email and text from the background check provider? Did you upload a clear photo of your insurance? A small error here is the most common cause of a delay.

Then check the background check status in the Checkr candidate portal, using the email you used to apply. If it asks for more information, provide it the same day. If the check is complete but Instacart has not replied, wait a few more days.

If you are declined, read the message carefully. If the reason is a mistake in the report, dispute it with the screening provider. If it is a driving record or criminal history issue, the decision may stand. Do not create a second account to get around a decline. Instacart does not charge you to apply or for the background check, so a message asking you to pay to speed up approval is not from Instacart. Our guide to side income scams lists the warning signs. See: How Do I Avoid Side Income Scams?

Costs of starting, and your first week

Starting as a full service shopper costs little in fees, but it is not free. There is no application fee, and applicants commonly report no fee for the background check, but confirm this on the application screen, because terms can change. The real starting costs are practical: a smartphone and data plan, insulated bags, petrol for your first batches, and valid auto insurance. You do not buy groceries: the Instacart payment card covers the order at checkout. In store shoppers have lower starting costs, with no car, licence, or insurance needed.

Your first week is for learning. Start with small batches in stores you know, and note time, miles, and earnings, so you can work out your hourly figure after petrol. If you want to start with no upfront spending, our guide to starting a side income with no money explains a service-first start. See: How Can I Start a Side Income With No Money? Our guide to tracking side income for tax explains how to record each payment. See: How Do I Track Side Income for Tax in Simple Terms? If you work full time, our guide to starting side income while working full time covers protecting your day job hours. See: Can I Start Side Income While Working Full Time?

For tax, remember that full service shoppers are independent contractors, so no tax is withheld. The IRS standard mileage rate for business driving in 2026 is 76 cents per mile from July 1, and 72.5 cents per mile from January 1 to June 30. See: IRS: Standard mileage rates

You can start your application on the official Instacart shopper site at shoppers.instacart.com.

FAQ

How old do you have to be to be an Instacart shopper?

You must be at least 18 years old, and 21 or older to accept and deliver orders that contain alcohol. There is no upper age limit.

Do you need a car to work for Instacart?

For a full service shopper, yes: a reliable car, a valid driver licence, and valid auto insurance. For an in store shopper, no. In store roles exist only in select markets.

How long does the Instacart background check take?

Usually a few business days. Checkr says many results arrive within one to three business days, while more detailed checks can take up to a week or longer. Guides report a typical range of 3 to 10 business days.

Do you need experience to become an Instacart shopper?

No. No previous grocery or delivery experience is needed for either role. You need to meet the requirements above, plus a car, licence, and insurance for the full service role.

How long does it take to start after applying?

A typical timeline is one to two weeks from application to first batch, but it can stretch to three weeks if the background check is slow. In the example in this guide, approval took 5 days and the payment card took 7 more days.

Does Instacart charge a fee to apply or for the background check?

Instacart does not charge an application fee, and applicants commonly report no fee for the background check. Any message asking you to pay to speed up approval or unlock batches is not from Instacart.

Conclusion

Becoming an Instacart shopper is a clear process. You must be 18 or older, legally allowed to work in the United States, have a smartphone that runs the Shopper app, be able to lift heavy grocery bags, and pass a background check. Full service shoppers also need a valid driver licence, a reliable car, and valid auto insurance. The steps are: check availability, choose your role, apply, consent to the background check, wait for approval, receive your payment card, and accept your first batch. A realistic timeline is one to two weeks from application to first batch. Apply early, answer any background check message the same day, and start with small batches.

This article is for general information and education only. It is not legal or financial advice.