You're in your driveway with the Instacart Shopper app freshly downloaded, a half-filled application on your screen, and no idea whether you'll actually get approved. That's the most common starting point, and it's easier than it looks.
To become an Instacart shopper, you download the Shopper app (or apply at shoppers.instacart.com), pick a role, enter your personal details, verify your ID, and consent to a background check. If you're 18 or older, eligible to work in the US, and (for full-service) have a license, a car, and insurance, you can usually finish the application in about 15 minutes. Approval then depends on your background check and, in some areas, on whether Instacart has open spots.
The short version gets you applied. The rest of this article covers the details that decide how smoothly it goes: which role to pick, what slows approvals down, what a realistic first week looks like, and the early mistakes that cost new shoppers money.
What you need before you apply
Instacart's own materials list the same basics: you must be at least 18, eligible to work in the United States, able to pass a background check, and able to lift a fair amount of weight. The lifting number is quoted as 40 to 50 pounds depending on where you look, so check the current wording in the app before you assume. It's not a throwaway rule. Think of a 40-item batch with two cases of water and a bag of dog food.
Instacart verifies your age, your driver's license, and your Social Security number during signup. You'll also add a profile photo, and Instacart says it checks that photo against your ID documents. Use a clear, recent shot of your face, not a filtered one.
If you want to deliver (the full-service role), you also need:
A valid driver's license from your state
A reliable car that can carry groceries
Your own auto insurance that meets your state's minimum
A smartphone that can run the current Shopper app (check the App Store or Google Play listing for the minimum OS version)
You'll want a bank account too, since weekly pay arrives by direct deposit. Instacart also offers a Shopper Rewards Card option in the US for automatic payouts after each batch.
Deliveries that include alcohol can carry a higher minimum age, often 21 depending on your state, so don't count on those orders at 18 or 19.
Full-service or in-store: pick the role that matches your life
Full-service shoppers shop and deliver. You're an independent contractor, you choose your batches and your hours, and you handle your own taxes. Pay per batch can include tips on top of the base pay.
In-store shoppers work inside one store, picking and staging orders without delivering. Outside sources describe this as a part-time, shift-based employee role with a set hourly wage, capped at around 29 hours a week. It doesn't need a car. It's also not offered everywhere, so what you see in your ZIP code may differ from what a blog post describes.
Most people searching this topic want the full-service role, and the rest of this article focuses on it. If you don't own a car or can't insure one, check whether in-store openings show up for you.
The sign-up process, step by step
Download the Instacart Shopper app, or start at shoppers.instacart.com (US). Canada has its own site.
Enter your ZIP code. This tells you whether shopping is open in your area.
Choose your role: full-service (shop and deliver) or in-store, if offered.
Enter your name, email, phone number, and address. Full-service applicants also add vehicle details.
Upload your driver's license and enter your Social Security number.
Take your profile photo.
Consent to the background check, which covers criminal and motor vehicle records and is run by third-party partners such as Checkr.
Wait for the approval email and push notification, then finish any in-app onboarding.
You don't have to finish in one sitting. Your progress is saved, so a flaky signal or a missing document doesn't mean starting over.
The background check is the slow part, and nobody can promise you a date. Instacart's own video says it usually takes one to four days. Independent guides report anywhere from a day to about ten business days, longer if you've lived in several states or have a common name. If you're past two weeks, contact support through the app.
A sample first week (hypothetical example)
None of the numbers below are real pay data. They're here so you can see how the pieces fit together.
Say you apply on a Sunday night. You spend 15 minutes on the application, upload your license, and consent to the check. Nothing happens Monday. Tuesday afternoon an approval email lands.
You open the app and find the batch list nearly empty at 2 p.m. That's normal for a lot of markets. Wednesday, you check the peak earning times page (not available in every area, so look in your app) and see that early evening and weekends look busier where you live.
Thursday evening you take one small batch from a store you already know, a grocery run of 12 items with no heavy stuff. You're slow, and that's fine. You're learning where the app wants you to scan, how to handle a replacement, and how to message a customer.
By Saturday you're picking up a larger order and noticing something useful: the batch screen tells you the payout, miles, item count, and whether it carries a heavy pay tag. Heavy pay applies when items weighing 8 pounds or more add up to 50 pounds or more, and it adds at least $2. After the week, you pull up your earnings page and note what you were paid, how long each batch took, and how far you drove.
That last habit matters more than any single batch. It's how you find out which stores and hours actually work for you.
Early mistakes that cost new shoppers money
Skipping the insurance call is the big one. Instacart doesn't provide commercial insurance for you, and some personal policies treat delivery work differently. Ask your insurer before your first batch, not after a fender bender in a parking lot.
Another common one is treating the first paycheck as all yours. Full-service shoppers are 1099 contractors, so taxes aren't withheld. Set a portion aside from day one, and track your miles. A tax pro in your state can tell you the right percentage.
Some other early slip-ups:
Grabbing every batch because you're afraid there won't be another. A 9-mile trip for a low payout can leave you in the red after gas.
Ignoring the item count and weight until you're standing next to six cases of seltzer.
Forgetting insulated bags. Frozen items in a hot car are a quick way to earn a bad rating.
Assuming the waitlist is permanent. If your area shows no spots, you'll be notified when one opens, and reports on timing vary widely.
Cashing out instantly every time. Instant cashout carries a small fee, while weekly direct deposit (paid between Wednesday and Friday for the previous Monday through Sunday) doesn't.
Pay, fees, and availability vary by market and change often. Treat anything a blog post says about numbers as a starting point and confirm it in your app.
Your pre-application checklist
Save this and check it off before you start the application.
| Item | Why it matters | Ready? |
|---|---|---|
| Valid driver's license | Uploaded and verified during signup | Yes / No |
| Social Security number | Needed for identity check and background check | Yes / No |
| Proof of auto insurance | Required for full-service; confirm delivery use with your insurer | Yes / No |
| Phone with current OS | Older phones may not run the Shopper app | Yes / No |
| Clear photo of your face | Checked against your ID | Yes / No |
| Bank account | Weekly direct deposit | Yes / No |
| Insulated bags | Cold and frozen items stay safe | Yes / No |
| Tax plan | No withholding on 1099 income | Yes / No |
| 15 uninterrupted minutes | Faster than redoing a half-finished form | Yes / No |
Where ShopperBoost fits once you're approved
Once you're shopping, the next problem is usually the batch list itself. Good offers don't sit there long, and refreshing the screen for hours is tiring.
ShopperBoost distributes ShopperX, an iPhone-only automation tool for Instacart shoppers in the US and Canada. You set filters like minimum payment, maximum distance, and which stores you'll accept, and it accepts batches that match your criteria while running in the background. You can still accept batches yourself in the Instacart app at any time.
It works on iOS only, and it needs both ShopperX and Instacart open on the phone. Because it's an automation tool, no one can promise zero risk to your account, and results depend on your market, hours, and filter settings. There's a free 5-day trial for new users, with no credit card required. It makes the most sense after you've done enough batches by hand to know what a good offer looks like for you.
FAQ
How long does it take to become an Instacart shopper?
The application takes about 15 minutes. Approval depends on your background check, which Instacart says usually takes one to four days, though some applicants report waiting longer. A waitlist in your area can add more time.
Do I need a car to shop for Instacart?
For the full-service role, yes. You need a license, a reliable vehicle, and your own insurance. In-store shopper roles don't need a car, but they aren't offered in every market.
Is Instacart shopping W-2 or 1099?
Full-service shoppers are independent contractors who get a 1099 and handle their own taxes. In-store shoppers are described as part-time employees, so the company handles their tax withholding.
When do Instacart shoppers get paid?
Direct deposit arrives weekly, between Wednesday and Friday, for the previous Monday through Sunday. You can also use instant cashout for a small fee, or the Shopper Rewards Card for automatic payouts after each batch in the US. Check your app for current fees.
Getting approved is the easy part: have your documents ready, call your insurer, and apply in one sitting. The habit that pays off after that is tracking every batch's payout, time, and miles so you know which ones are worth your gas.
This site is not affiliated with Instacart.
