With Instacart, you can make money shopping and delivering other people’s groceries.
Enrolling as a driver is super easy and worth trying out. Besides, delivering groceries for Instacart is a great way to make extra money.
Everyone loves that extra cash that can be gotten from doing menial duties.
So, if you have a car and extra time during the week, why not put both to work to make more money?
Relax and read on to learn how Instacart works for drivers, how to apply, and other things you need to know working with Instacart.
But before we continue, you can go through the table of content below for an overview of what to expect in this article.
Table of contents
What Is Instacart?
According to Wikipedia, Instacart is a fast-growing online American company that operates a grocery delivery and pickup service in the United States and Canada.
They offer their services via a website and mobile app, which allows customers to order groceries from participating retailers with the shopping being done by a personal shopper.
Also, the service allows you to choose a delivery timeframe–usually the same day and possibly within hours of ordering.
You can check this: 20 Best Delivery Services to Work for in 2023
Who Are Instacart Drivers?
Instacart drivers are also known as Instacart shoppers. Full-service shoppers are delivery drivers who shop for (or pick up) orders at local stores and deliver them straight to the customer’s doorstep.
Shoppers (drivers) in this role don’t just work behind the scenes. They play more of a customer service role.
Let’s continue to see how Instacart works for drivers.
How Does Shopping As An Instacart Driver Work?
Once the Instacart driver receives and accepts the orders, then he/she heads to the designated store to fill the order.
The Shopper app will display your shopping list, and you’ll mark each item as fulfilled as you find it. This updates customers in real time so they can track the order.
Note if something changed in the order or if something wasn’t available. Customers will be refunded for items that aren’t available, and you can text customers to figure out suitable substitutions if needed.
How Can Items Be Paid For?
The company gives Instacart Shoppers a special debit card to pay for customer orders. All you have to do is to swipe the card and hit enter when prompted to input a pin number.
While some stores have a designated pin code for Instacart Shoppers, just let the cashier know if that’s the case.
Furthermore, the company loads the debit card with funds based on the order you received. That means you must stick very close to the requested weights on any produce.
It could be declined if you go above the allotted amount on the card. This is one of the ways Instacart works for drivers.
What Are The Requirements Of Instacart Drivers?
Although you can pick whatever orders you want to work on, you still need to meet some requirements before joining Instacart as a driver.
So, before you begin the application process, meet a few requirements.
- You must be 18 or older and eligible to work in the US (or local market).
- You’ll need a decent smartphone with service (iPhone 5 / Android 4.4 or newer).
- Drivers must have a valid driver’s license, a reliable vehicle, and car insurance.
- You must be able to lift between 30-40 lbs.
- Also, be able to pass a comprehensive background check.
Note: Full-Service Drivers are independent contractors, while In-Store Shoppers are part-time employees.
How Can I Apply To Drive For Instacart?
To apply as a driver for Instacart is a simple process and takes few minutes to complete.
Step1: First click our referral link that will take you to the driver sign up page on the Instacart website. Enter your first name, last name, email address, zip code, and referral code if you have one.
Step2: The application will prompt you to download the Instacart Shopper app. Enter your phone number in the box and appears, and a download link will be sent to your mobile device.
Step3: Fill in the form with your first name, last name, email, cell phone number, and ZIP code. You can also enter a referral code if another Instacart Shopper referred you to drive for Instacart. Then, tap “Create an account.”
Step4: You’ll then receive a verification code via text. Enter the code in your app. Enter that into the screen that says “Enter SMS Code.” Confirm you meet the Instacart Shopper requirements.
Step 5: The next thing is to confirm you have a car. Then you select the “Shop & Drive” gig, read through the details about the gig, and tap “Choose this role.”
Step 6: Tap “Start” to begin the questionnaire. It will ask about your experience working at grocery stores or in customer service roles and what you would do in relevant situations.
Step 7: Once you’ve finished the questionnaire, tap “Take Photo” to submit images of the front and back of your driver’s license.
Step 8: Follow the remaining prompts to submit the required personal information and authorize a background check.
The company will perform a background check on you, adding time to the sign-up process. The company approves most shoppers within 1-2 weeks. Once approved, you can schedule your hours and start working.
How Can You Schedule Hours With Instacart?
One good thing about working for Instacart is that you must choose your hours and sign up for as many or as few hours as you want to work any given week. Drivers only receive potential orders through the app during their scheduled time.
You can mark yourself unavailable on those days you don’t want to work. Normally orders will pop up at least 30 minutes before their scheduled start time. You can choose to accept them or pass on them.
People who read this content end up reading 10 Ways To Make Money Renting My Car Out | Full Guide Check it Out.
How Much Do Instacart Drivers Make?
Actually, the amount of money Drivers make with Instacart depends on different factors like hours you work, the number of orders you fill, the types of orders you receive, and the weight of items in the order.
You’ll see an estimate for earnings with each order that pops up on your phone. The app also tracks your total earnings for the week.
So, as an Instacart shopper, you can make between the average of $482 to $665 a week based on the average of $14-18 an hour. According to Glassdoor, the average pay for an In-Store Shopper is $14/hour.
In addition, your location and the time of day will factor into how much you make.
What Are The Benefits For Instacart Drivers?
Here are the benefits for Instacart drivers
- Flexible schedule and chance to make decent money.
- Health and insurance benefits
- Nice co-worker
- Instant cash out
- No micromanagement.
Conclusion
It’s clear that becoming an Instacart Shopper isn’t going to make you rich, but is certainly an interesting option to make extra money on the side with hard work. So, try it out.
I hope this article on how Instacart works for drivers helps enrich you. You can leave us a comment in the box below.
References
- sidehustlenation.com – Instacart Shopper Review: $10,000 as a Part-Time Instacart Driver
- ridester.com – Become an Instacart Shopper: Apply to Shop or Drive
- indeed.com – Instacart Pay & Benefits reviews
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