How Long Does Instacart Background Check Take? (2025 Update)

Michelle Wilson - December 5, 2021

If you’re looking to start driving for Instacart, you’re probably familiar with the delivery service. Individuals apply for the delivery position, visiting grocery and department stores on behalf of customers to collect their orders. After filling the orders, drivers travel to the customer’s location and drop off the delivery. It’s a relatively new service that is helping connect people with expedited orders, delivering within hours of ordering.

Attracting Drivers to the Position

Instacart offers all drivers that work for their company a set rate for delivery, including all tips on the orders they pick. Most drivers can collect multiple orders at the same location before delivering, making the earning opportunities like a traditional full-time job. Hours and shifts remain flexible, giving drivers the capability to set their hours.

Qualifications for Instacart Drivers

Interested candidates are required to apply to the company online, submitting their personal information and driver’s license details for consideration. The terms of the application indicate that all drivers interested in working with Instacart must consent to a background check to ensure all drivers are suitable for the position.

While many individuals are excited to get started, the background check isn’t a quick process. If you’re looking for employment urgently, you’ll need to understand how long the background check takes and what they consider when reviewing your report. Instacart works diligently to confirm all drivers are licensed and capable of the work they provide, keeping the platform safe for everyone involved.

Timeframes for Background Checks

Individuals wanting to become shoppers for the platform will need to pass a background check to get started. According to Instacart’s official website, the background check takes approximately ten days to complete. This process can take longer in some unforeseen circumstances. US applicants will receive their background check results within ten days, under normal circumstances. Should there be an influx of applications or court issues, these results may take longer.

Canadian applicants will also have to submit a background check before working for the platform. Like the US service, Canadian applicants should receive their report within the same time frame – approximately ten days maximum.

Understanding the Background Check Process

Instacart is an equal opportunity employer, meaning anyone can apply for a position. This qualification also allows individuals with a criminal background to apply for a job. Individual applications will be reviewed according to local, state, and federal laws before deciding on an application.

Instacart needs written permission to run a background check on any applicant, meaning anyone applying has to give authorization. Instacart will carefully review any report before approving an application. This individual consideration occurs because of state-level laws, including the basic requirements needed for the background check.

What do Background Checks Verify?

To confirm the qualifications needed for the position, investigate the rules and regulations for your state. Some jurisdictions check for guilty convictions when reviewing a background check. In contrast, others require a rigorous screening before hiring—clarifying the criminal disqualifications before the application process can alleviate the frustration of having your application denied.

What Criminal Information is Disclosed to Instacart?

Most state guidelines have a limitation of reporting on criminal charges. For most states, a statute of seven years is mandated by officials. This statute means databases will not report anything over seven years old to your background check.

All criminal charges will report on your file if you haven’t had them expunged. This activity includes previous charges and convictions, misdemeanors, fines, or felonies. Any juvenile records are not disclosed as they remain sealed records.

Review Your History Before Applying

If you’re unsure of what’s on your report, consider purchasing an independent report from a third-party website. This report will highlight anything found under your identification, giving you the chance to clear wrong information before a professional check occurs. Most third-party companies offer an instantaneous response, offering individuals a PDF file of anything found on the screening.

Basic Requirements for the Background Check

A background check will include comprehensive details about your life, including your verifications (your name, address, and SSL), financial information, driver’s abstract, and criminal history.

Eligibility to Work

These verifications ensure the applicant’s information matches the details on the report (according to the name, birthdate, and SSL). Confirming these details ensure your identity matches the facts on file. After these details are confirmed, the background check will pull all relevant information, including the status of your license, any infractions you’ve had (like DUIs, tickets, or charges), along with previous criminal issues.

Driver’s License

To drive for Instacart, you’ll need to have a current driver’s license. You’ll also need to have a reliable vehicle and insurance for the car. Ensure that you inform your insurance carrier about the new position, as some providers require additional liability to cover the vehicle for commercial use.

What If Wrong Information Displays?

In the event your application is denied, you’ll have the opportunity to review the details of the report. Should there be anything wrong with the report, you’ll have the chance to correct them with the appropriate agency. For example, an individual that has had a criminal charge expunged but is still showing on the report will have the opportunity to have it removed by contacting the local, state, or federal agency.

Checking the Status of Your Background Check on Instacart

The background check process is a hands-on experience, allowing interested candidates the opportunity to check the status and results of their application at any time. The Help Center offers valuable insight into background screening. Users can sign in and access articles on motor vehicle records, the general process behind background screening, and the different types of screenings performed before applications. Applicants can review the final hiring decision on the website, including a dispute functionality.

The Perks of Being an Instacart Shopper

While ten days may seem like a long waiting period, there are several perks to working with the Instacart platform. Full-service shoppers on the website can keep 100% of the tips from customers. Additionally, referral bonuses and incentives can increase the earning potential too.

The Instacart program also allows individuals to set their schedule, allowing registered drivers the option to sign in, choose the deliveries they’d like to collect and work the hours that fit their daily routine.

Conclusion

Instacart offers interested candidates the opportunity to choose their hours, collect orders, and deliver products to subscribing customers. It’s a decent earning opportunity for anyone wanting to earn extra cash without sitting in an office or regimented schedules. While the background check isn’t an instantaneous process, it’s a mandatory component to working with the company.

With the ability to monitor the progress, applicants remain informed of the process, from the initial application to the final hiring decision. Interested individuals should expect the review to take approximately ten days, assuming no backlogs or servicing issues. At the end of the screening process, candidates will receive approval or a denial of their application.