Instacart driver requirements are short on paper: a minimum age, work authorization, a bank account, a car you can use regularly and a smartphone. Instacart itself calls the delivering role a full-service shopper, because the same person shops the order and drives it to the customer, so its pages talk about shoppers, not drivers. This guide covers who qualifies, what the vehicle rule means, how to sign up and what to check before you start. It does not cover pay, which is a separate topic.
What are the Instacart driver requirements?
Instacart’s page for the full-service role lists the basics. To be eligible in the U.S., you must be at least 18 years of age, have legal authorization to work in the U.S., be able to lift up to 40 pounds without accommodation, and have regular access to a reliable car and a smartphone able to run the Instacart Shopper app. The same page lists a bank account among its five requirements, and says you need your driver’s license, Social Security number and bank details to set up direct deposit.[1]
| Requirement | What Instacart lists |
|---|---|
| Age | At least 18 |
| Work eligibility | Legal authorization to work in the U.S. |
| Physical | Able to lift up to 40 pounds |
| Phone | Smartphone that can run the Shopper app |
| Bank account | Required (direct deposit) |
| Vehicle | Regular access to a reliable car |
| Sign-up documents | Driver’s license, Social Security number, bank details |
These are Instacart’s own conditions. The pages do not say what else Instacart weighs when it approves an application, so treat approval as Instacart’s decision, not a checklist you can complete in advance. To compare services, see how to choose a grocery delivery service.
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Instacart car requirements: what counts as a vehicle?
Instacart does not publish a make, model or age list on its pages. What it says is that a full-service shopper needs regular access to a reliable car. That wording is about access, not ownership, so a car you do not own is not ruled out by it.
Two practical points follow:
- The car is yours to run. Instacart’s jobs page labels the shopper position a 1099 position (contractor), and its shopper pages say a full-service shopper uses their own vehicle and pays for their own maintenance and fuel, with some of those costs possibly deductible as business expenses.[2]
- The role covers groceries and bags, so a car that is clean, reliable and large enough for several bags is a working requirement even if no page lists a size.
Tip: Registration, license and insurance should all match the same name and the same car before you apply. Instacart’s page does not list this, but a mismatch is the easiest problem to avoid.
Which role needs a vehicle?
Instacart’s page for the full-service role describes a shopper who manages the entire order, from shopping to delivering to the customer. If you want to drive for Instacart, this is the role the requirements above describe. Instacart’s shopper pages describe a separate in-store shopper who prepares orders inside one store as an Instacart employee and does not need a car, so that role is not covered here.
What about background checks and records?
Instacart’s pages say it values giving prospective contractors a fair chance and encourages applicants with arrest and conviction records to apply. They do not describe what is checked or how long it takes, so we do not either. Read the terms shown during sign-up in the app.
How to become an Instacart driver: the sign-up steps
If you want to become an Instacart driver, the path Instacart describes has three steps, and it applies equally if you want to become an Instacart delivery driver under the full-service role.
- Create an account at shoppers.instacart.com.
- Download the Shopper app from the Apple App Store or Google Play and complete the sign-up there. Instacart says you take photos of your driver’s license and enter bank account information to get paid.
- Wait for approval. Instacart says you can start work, and see orders, once your application is approved.
Full-service shoppers who need to pay for groceries get an Instacart payment card for use at the register, and Instacart says new shoppers usually receive the card in the mail 5 to 7 business days after completing the signup process.
Does Instacart require insurance for drivers?
Instacart’s shopper pages do not list an insurance rule, which is exactly why it deserves your own check. Wisconsin’s insurance regulator advises delivery drivers to call their car insurance company before using their car for work, warning that without the right coverage you could be left paying large accident bills yourself. It also tells drivers to check what coverage the service provides and whether there is a gap between that coverage and a personal policy.[3]
The National Association of Insurance Commissioners adds that on-demand delivery workers often do not have the same insurance protections as ride-hailing drivers, such as underinsured motorist injury coverage, although some states have considered legislation to extend it.[4] Ask your insurer, in writing:
- Does my personal policy exclude delivery use?
- If it does, what endorsement or commercial policy covers it?
- If the car is financed or rented, does the lender or rental contract allow delivery work?
What do taxes mean for Instacart shoppers?
Instacart lists the position as a 1099 contractor role, so plan for your own taxes. The IRS says income from gig work must be reported on a tax return even if it is not reported on an information form such as a 1099.[5] Keep a mileage log and your receipts from day one. The details of how much you may owe depend on your own situation, and a tax professional can answer that. For pay details, see how much Instacart drivers make.
Before you apply: a short checklist
- Confirm you are 18 or older and authorized to work in the U.S.
- Check that your license is valid and that the car you will use is registered and insured for delivery work.
- Make sure your phone can run the current Shopper app and that you have a bank account.
- Read the terms in the app before accepting them.
- Plan for fuel, maintenance and taxes, since they are yours.
