Instacart setup checklist: mistakes new users should avoid

By FastBuySale Newsroom · 9 Nov 2026 · 19m ago

Before you start

Instacart connects customers with shoppers who pick groceries and household items from local stores and deliver them. It can be a flexible way to earn, but new shoppers often lose time and money through avoidable mistakes in setup and their first weeks. This checklist covers the key steps and the mistakes to avoid. Rules change and differ by location, so check the shopper help centre for current details.

Checklist item 1: pick the right role

Full-service shoppers shop and deliver orders, working as independent contractors who choose when to work. In-store shoppers have worked in a single store preparing orders for pickup or delivery by others, in roles that carried set shifts. Decide which suits you. Full-service offers more flexibility but involves driving costs. Mistake to avoid: choosing full-service without considering vehicle costs.

Checklist item 2: confirm eligibility

You must meet the minimum age requirement, be eligible to work in the United States, have a compatible smartphone and, for full-service, a reliable vehicle, valid driving licence and proof of insurance. Some areas allow bike or walking delivery in dense neighbourhoods. Mistake to avoid: applying without the documents ready, which slows approval.

Checklist item 3: complete the background check

Applicants consent to a background check, which can include identity verification, criminal history and driving records. It may take several days or longer. Use your legal name exactly as it appears on your documents. Mistake to avoid: entering details that do not match your licence.

Checklist item 4: set up the shopper app

Download the shopper app, complete your profile and enable location and notifications. Learn how to scan items, mark items as found or replaced, chat with customers and complete checkout. Mistake to avoid: going live without learning the app, which causes delays on your first batch.

Checklist item 5: activate the payment card

Shoppers use an Instacart payment card to pay for orders at checkout. The card is loaded with the order amount when you reach the register. Activate it in the app before your first batch and keep it secure. Mistake to avoid: losing the card or leaving it at home. Report a lost card immediately.

Checklist item 6: check your insurance

Personal auto insurance may not cover accidents during delivery work. Ask your insurer whether you need a delivery endorsement. Mistake to avoid: assuming your personal policy covers you, which could leave you paying for damage yourself.

Checklist item 7: understand batch pay

Each batch shows estimated earnings, including the batch payment and customer tip, plus the number of items, stores and distance. Larger orders take longer to shop. Mistake to avoid: accepting batches based only on the headline amount without considering time and miles.

Worked example: is this batch worth it?

A batch offers 24 dollars, including a 10 dollar tip, for 35 items and a 9 mile round trip. Shopping takes 40 minutes and driving 25 minutes, so 65 minutes in total. If driving costs about 0.30 dollars a mile in fuel and wear, the 9 miles cost 2.70 dollars, leaving 21.30 dollars. Over 65 minutes, that is about 19.66 dollars an hour before tax. A second batch paying 15 dollars for 60 items and 14 miles would earn far less per hour. The salary calculator on this site helps convert batch pay to hourly rates.

Checklist item 8: tips and protection

Customers can tip in advance and adjust tips for a short time after delivery. Instacart has introduced protections for shoppers in some cases when tips are removed without a reported issue. Mistake to avoid: ignoring customer messages, which can lead to tip reductions.

Checklist item 9: replacements and chat

When an item is out of stock, follow the customer's replacement preference or message them with options and photos. Respond quickly. Mistake to avoid: substituting without checking, which leads to complaints.

Checklist item 10: alcohol and age checks

Some orders include alcohol, which requires checking the customer's ID and confirming they are of legal age and not intoxicated. If you cannot verify, return the alcohol following the app's process. Mistake to avoid: handing alcohol over without checking ID.

Checklist item 11: delivery and photos

Follow delivery instructions, take a photo of the drop-off where requested and keep cold items together. Mistake to avoid: leaving items in unsafe places.

Checklist item 12: cash out

Earnings can be transferred through instant cash out, which may carry a fee, or standard deposits. Mistake to avoid: paying instant cash out fees every day without need.

Checklist item 13: taxes

Full-service shoppers are independent contractors, so taxes are not withheld. Track mileage and expenses, set aside money for income and self-employment tax and check whether you need quarterly estimated payments. You may receive a tax form summarising earnings. Mistake to avoid: spending everything and facing a large tax bill.

Checklist item 14: safety

Park safely, keep your phone charged, avoid entering customer homes and report unsafe situations through the app.

Scams to avoid

Scammers pose as Instacart support and ask for login codes or card details, or sell batch grabbing tools that break the terms and can lead to deactivation. Never share codes or use unofficial apps.

Checklist item 15: learn the store layouts

Speed matters, because the faster you shop, the better your hourly earnings. Spend time learning the layouts of the stores you shop most often, including where produce, frozen goods, bakery items and household products are kept. Shop in an order that keeps cold and frozen items for last. Mistake to avoid: zigzagging around the store, which adds minutes to every batch and can lead to melted frozen goods.

Checklist item 16: pick produce and fragile items carefully

Customers notice the quality of fruit, vegetables, meat and eggs. Choose produce you would buy yourself, check use-by dates, open egg cartons to check for broken eggs and bag heavy items separately from soft ones. Mistake to avoid: grabbing the first item on the shelf, which leads to complaints, lower ratings and lost tips.

Checklist item 17: track your mileage

Use a mileage tracking app or a simple log to record every mile driven for work, including driving to stores and between deliveries where allowed. Mileage records support tax deductions and help you understand your real earnings. Mistake to avoid: estimating mileage at the end of the year, which is unreliable and hard to support if questioned.

Checklist item 18: manage ratings and metrics

Customer ratings and reliability metrics can affect your access to batches and promotions. Communicate clearly, deliver on time and handle problems politely. If a rating seems unfair, check whether the app allows you to contact support. Mistake to avoid: cancelling accepted batches frequently, which can harm your standing.

Checklist item 19: handle problems at checkout

Sometimes the payment card is declined, prices differ from the app or the store has issues. Follow the in-app help steps and contact support through the app if needed. Do not pay with your own money unless the app instructs you to and explains how you will be reimbursed. Mistake to avoid: leaving the store with an unpaid or partly paid order.

Checklist item 20: plan your hours

Demand often rises at weekends, evenings and before holidays. Watch when batches appear in your area and plan your time around busy periods. Mistake to avoid: driving around waiting for batches, which adds fuel costs without earnings.

A first week review

After your first week, review your total earnings, hours, miles and costs. Work out your real hourly rate after vehicle costs and set-aside tax. Compare busy and quiet periods, and adjust when and where you work.

Checklist item 21: prepare your car kit

Keep insulated bags for cold and frozen items, a few sturdy reusable bags, a phone mount, a charger and a small cart or trolley for heavy orders. These inexpensive items speed up deliveries, protect groceries from heat and reduce the risk of damaged goods, which helps your ratings and tips.

Checklist item 22: protect your account

Use a strong password, turn on two-step verification and never let anyone else shop under your account, which breaks the terms and can lead to permanent deactivation.

Reader questions

Have a question about delivery work? Send it through the Ask page on this site.

Disclaimer

This article is for general information only and is not legal or tax advice. Rules change; check the official shopper help centre. No income is guaranteed.

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