Instacart Shopper Requirements (2026): Do You Qualify?

Before applying to Instacart, confirm you qualify. Requirements differ between full-service shopper (the typical 1099 role) and in-store shopper (a W-2 employee role at specific stores). The full-service role is what most prospective Instacart shoppers sign up for and what this guide focuses on. Beyond standard age/license/vehicle requirements, Instacart also requires shoppers to be able to lift 50 lbs — groceries get heavy. This guide walks through every requirement and compares with the alternatives.

If you’re earlier in the journey, see How to Become an Instacart Shopper.

What’s in this guide

• Quick eligibility check
• Full-service vs in-store requirements
• Age requirement
• Driver’s license and vehicle (full-service only)
• The 50 lb lifting requirement
• Smartphone requirements
• Background check criteria
• Insurance requirements
• How Instacart compares to DoorDash and Uber Eats
• FAQ

Quick eligibility check

For full-service shopper:

• ✅ I’m 18+ years old
• ✅ I have a valid U.S. driver’s license
• ✅ I have a vehicle in working condition
• ✅ I have current vehicle insurance in my name
• ✅ I have a Social Security Number
• ✅ I’m physically able to lift 50 lbs
• ✅ My driving and criminal records are reasonably clean
• ✅ I have a smartphone
• ✅ I’m authorized to work in the U.S.

If yes to all, you’re likely eligible for full-service.

Full-service vs in-store requirements

The two roles have different requirements:

Full-service shopper:

• 1099 independent contractor
• Vehicle required (you’re driving to deliver)
• Driver’s license and insurance required
• Set your own hours
• Most signups end up here

In-store shopper:

• W-2 employee (in some markets)
• Vehicle NOT required (you stay at one store)
• Driver’s license still required for ID, but driving record matters less
• Scheduled shifts at specific stores
• Limited availability — fewer markets, fewer slots

This guide focuses on full-service unless noted.

Age requirement

Instacart requires shoppers to be at least 18 years old in most markets. This matches DoorDash’s typical minimum and is more lenient than Grubhub (19+).

A few markets have higher age minimums for legal reasons (alcohol delivery markets sometimes require 21+).

Driver’s license and vehicle (full-service only)

For full-service shoppers:

Driver’s license:

• Valid U.S. driver’s license
• Typically less stringent on years-of-experience than Grubhub (which requires 2+ years)

Vehicle:

• Working car in good condition
• Typically able to fit groceries (most sedans, SUVs, hatchbacks, minivans qualify)
• Year requirements vary by market

Insurance:

• Active vehicle insurance in your name
• State-required minimum coverage

For DoorDash’s parallel requirements, see DoorDash Driver Requirements.

The 50 lb lifting requirement

This is unique to Instacart vs food delivery:

• You’ll lift heavy groceries. Cases of water, bags of dog food, multiple grocery bags at once. Total weight per order can easily exceed 50 lbs in larger orders.
• You’ll do this multiple times per shift. Loading the cart, loading the car, unloading at the customer’s door.
• Physical condition matters. Back issues, mobility limitations, injuries — these may make Instacart difficult.

If lifting 50 lbs repeatedly is a concern, food delivery (DoorDash, Uber Eats, Grubhub) is much lighter physically. Most restaurant orders are under 5 lbs.

Smartphone requirements

The Instacart Shopper app requires:

• iPhone: iOS 14 or higher
• Android: Android 8.0 (Oreo) or higher
• Reliable cellular data — the app uses location, item-search, and customer-communication constantly
• Functional GPS
• Working camera — for selfies during identity verification, and possibly for receipt scanning

Wi-Fi-only doesn’t work. Cellular data plan is mandatory.

Background check criteria

Instacart’s background check covers:

Criminal history:

• Federal, state, county-level records
• Felonies and certain misdemeanors

Driving history (MVR):

• Recent at-fault accidents
• DUI/DWI (varies by lookback window)
• Reckless driving, hit-and-run
• License suspensions

Identity verification:

• SSN trace
• Address history match

Additional vetting specific to Instacart:

• Some states require additional vetting because shoppers handle payment cards and customer-facing interactions for grocery shopping. This can extend the background check timeline.

For deep coverage, see Instacart Background Check Guide.

Insurance requirements

Standard auto insurance requirements:

• Active vehicle insurance in your name
• State-required minimum coverage
• Insurance card or declaration page as proof

Same caveat as other delivery platforms: personal auto insurance often doesn’t cover delivery work. Consider a delivery rider on your policy. See DoorDash Driver Insurance Guide for the broader insurance discussion (most principles apply to Instacart).

How Instacart compares to DoorDash and Uber Eats

Where Instacart is more restrictive:

• 50 lb lifting requirement (food delivery doesn’t have this)
• Stricter scrutiny in some states due to handling payment cards

Where Instacart is more flexible:

• In-store option in some markets eliminates vehicle requirement
• Lower age requirement than Grubhub

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FAQ

Do I need to be a U.S. citizen? You need to be authorized to work in the U.S. — citizenship, permanent residency, or work authorization (H-1B, etc.). Instacart verifies via I-9 documentation for in-store W-2 roles; less paperwork for 1099 full-service.

What if I can’t lift 50 lbs reliably? Choose a different platform. DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub don’t have meaningful lifting requirements (orders are typically lightweight).

Will my driving record matter for in-store shopper? Less so — in-store shoppers don’t drive for work. Some criminal background standards still apply.

Can I do Instacart in multiple cities? Yes — but each city has its own market profile. Your shopper account is national.

Are there age requirements for alcohol delivery? Yes, in alcohol-delivery markets, you typically need to be 21+ to handle alcohol orders. May affect eligibility for those specific orders rather than your overall account.

Can I use any car? Most cars qualify if in good working condition. Specific year requirements vary by market.

Do I need a separate insurance for Instacart deliveries? Standard insurance is required. Adding a delivery rider is recommended given personal auto policies often exclude commercial activity.

Will Instacart accept my international driver’s license? Generally no — U.S.-issued license required.

What if I have a felony from 10 years ago? Most states’ lookback windows are 7 years. Felonies older than that are often passable, depending on state and offense type.

How does Instacart’s eligibility compare to Spark (Walmart)? Spark has similar age and vehicle requirements but is platform-specific to Walmart deliveries. See Spark Driver Requirements — coming soon.

Related reading:

• How to Become an Instacart Shopper
• Instacart Background Check Guide
• How Instacart Shopper Pay Works
• Is Instacart Worth It as a Shopper?
• DoorDash Driver Requirements
• Uber Eats Driver Requirements
• How to Become a DoorDash Driver