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Can Someone Ride With You While Doing Instacart?

By: Author Jeff Campbell

Posted on  - Last updated:

Categories Grocery Delivery & Pickup

Working for Instacart as an in-store shopper or full-service shopper is a cool way to make money either as a full-time gig or a side hustle. But what if you want some help or just have someone along? Can someone ride with you while doing Instacart?

It is against Instacart’s terms of service for a Shopper to have other people with them while doing their job. One person applied for the job, had their background checked, was engaged, and received training on how to get the job done. Thus, no one else can ride with you while you are working for Instacart.

To violate any of Instacart’s regulations is a surefire way to get fired. But how would they know? And what if the other person also works for Instacart?

Read on to get the lowdown on whether it’s okay to have someone ride with you while doing Instacart.  

Ready to get started as a Shopper with Instacart?

Just CLICK HERE to sign up now right on their website.

Teenager in car with driving instructor

Can I do Instacart with my husband?

One cannot drive for Instacart with one’s husband unless the husband is also an Instacart employee. It is against Instacart regulations to shop with anyone who is not an Instacart employee with their own Instacart shopper account.

It’s understandable why a person would like to have a spouse help them while they work. It would probably make the work faster and more enjoyable, which can translate into higher earnings.

Working faster could lead to more money. 

But other ways to speed up how long it takes would be to not have to wait to check out once you’ve done the shopping. So, are Instacart shoppers allowed to skip lines?

Check out the facts in a recent article of mine. I explain exactly how checkout works for those that shop and drive, or for those who are just in-store Shoppers. But I also cover how Shoppers can get into membership places like Costco.

Just click the link to read it on my site.

I get why you would like to have your husband with you. Maybe, it would be nice to have help with heavy packages or feel safer in certain neighborhoods if your spouse were with you.

It’s understandable.

But it’s not done in any organization on earth, that one party is engaged to work, and then they come with their spouse to work! 

If one looks at the issue of taking a spouse to work from the company’s perspective, it’s a lot easier to understand why it’s not allowed. 

From a legal and safety point of view, the company could suffer immense damage when a person it has no contractual agreement with acts on its behalf. What happens if they do what’s wrong and hurt the customer’s experience of the Instacart brand?

Or if they were to get hurt while working on a gig for which there’s no contractual agreement.

Ready to make more money than with Instacart? Consider DoorDash!

DoorDash is a great alternative to working for Instacart, and generally speaking, they pay better!

See how much you could be earning. Available in over 4,000 cities in the U.S., Canada, and Australia. All you need is a mode of transportation and a smartphone to start making money.

CLICK HERE to learn more about working for DoorDash!

Can I take my kid with me to do Instacart?

A child cannot ride in the delivery vehicle of an Instacart Shopper doing deliveries or while shopping in a store. The company would not want to be liable in the event of a car accident where the child was injured or if the child was somehow injured during the delivery.

But you could say: “I am an independent contractor and should be free to do my job the way I want.” In fact, you might still recall what I shared below ( a part of the Instacart contract) and think it supports your claim.

Actually, it doesn’t. 

Simply read the whole paragraph, bearing in mind that one single sentence can be loaded. (Why do you think we often have to pay lawyers?)

While your kid may help with some errands, or maybe you simply wanted them with you for a day, know that if Instacart management finds out, they’ll warn you to stop. If you persist, you may lose the contract! 

“Per the Instacart platform: 4.1 Subject to compliance with this Agreement, you will have sole discretion over whether to engage subcontractors or use employees, assistants, or helpers (collectively “Personnel”) to assist in the provision of Services, and you will be solely responsible for the direction and control of your Personnel. Notwithstanding the foregoing, you remain liable for the performance of the Services by your Personnel, and the engagement of Personnel will not release you from any of your obligations under this Agreement.”

(source)

One of the key parts to pay attention to is the section that started with the phrase: “notwithstanding the foregoing.”

It’s also worth noting that Store Shift leaders always frown on the idea of having someone with you while you’re shopping.

So if you like your job and want to keep doing it, don’t risk it by bringing someone with you!

Now and then, you read about someone complaining about how little money they’re making from Instacart. But, on forums, I also see a lot of people claiming to be making a lot!

You’re probably wondering if Instacart is a good full-time income?

Check out a recent article of mine. In it, I shared the average income levels. But I also shared some of the minuses of working for Instacart, including the 1 thing that would definitely keep me from doing it.

Just click the link to read it on my site. 

Can 2 Instacart Shoppers shop together?

Instacart Shopper accounts are approved on an individual basis. A single shopper is expected to serve the customer, and it is this single Shopper that is paid for that order. Thus, it is against Instacart’s rules for 2 Instacart shoppers to shop together on a single order.

But they could technically each shop their own orders side by side.

One of the best ways to have a positive experience with Instacart or with any company is to stick to the terms of service, rather than trying to find some “loopholes” that one believes could help one make money faster. 

Granted that it’s conceivable that two shoppers working together could make more.

But, it could also be complicated. First, it’s against the provision that no one else should be granted access to one’s Instacart shopper account.

And, who will be held responsible if shopper B were to do something that’s harmful to the brand while shopper A’s account was used?

Or, what if shopper B’s account were used? But the customer gave B a poor rating because of something that shopper A did.

It’s actually complicated when more than a person is involved in shopping for the customer. It’s not as simple as one would like to believe.

Should I leave my child in the car doing Instacart deliveries?

One is never expected to have a child with them when they go to work for Instacart. Thus, a child should not be in the car while Instacart deliveries are being made. Additionally, it’s never safe to leave a child unattended in a car.

Apart from the fact that it’s against Instacart’s regulation, it’d be hard for you to be fully devoted to your work when you’re also worried about your child’s safety.

And, let’s face it. You’d be worried. 

The implication is that you’d be torn between doing excellent work and providing the utmost care for your child. And both might suffer. 

Your performance would ultimately suffer, and you know how that’d affect your ratings and earnings. 

It’s likely that you’d also be showing up with your child as you make deliveries. Trust me, it doesn’t project a professional image and won’t help the Instacart brand. 

After all, we don’t want people showing up with members of their family when they’re doing some work for us. In fact, there are folks that’d give you a poor rating if you’re with your child as you shop and deliver.

So don’t do it!

Ready to make more money than with Instacart? Consider DoorDash!

DoorDash is a great alternative to working for Instacart, and generally speaking, they pay better!

See how much you could be earning. Available in over 4,000 cities in the U.S., Canada, and Australia. All you need is a mode of transportation and a smartphone to start making money.

CLICK HERE to learn more about working for DoorDash!

How would Instacart know if someone else is driving your car?

Instacart would not know if someone is driving or riding in your car. During the application and onboarding process, you are not required to provide details about your vehicle. 

Instacart has no formal details about your car.

And there’s no tech device for connecting your Instacart shopper account and your car details, it won’t know when others use your car. Having said that, a store shift leader might notice someone unfamiliar in your car if they are used to seeing you in it.

And that’s a surefire way to get yourself fired from the Instacart platform.

It’s also vital to recall that you, the car owner, are jointly liable if something unpleasant were to occur while someone else is driving your car. (There are a few exceptions). 

The average income Shoppers make is not a lot. But, there’s flexibility and some ways for making a lot more than the average. So, the last thing a smart person wants is to look for loopholes that might come back to hurt you later.

What’d happen to your unemployment benefits if you were to start doing Instacart? 

Find out in a recent article of mine, where I shared the key facts you need to know. After all, many turn to the so-called GIG economy jobs after being laid off from a more traditional job. And if you are collecting unemployment benefits from that, will working for Instacart end that??

Just click the link to read it on my site.

Final Thoughts

We all want to make more money. 

So, it’s understandable that we might be tempted to look for “smart” ways to increase our earnings. As long as it’s done in line with the company’s terms of service, we’ll be fine. 

In the article, we learned that it is against Instacart’s regulations to have others with us while we are working. 

It doesn’t matter if they are our husbands, wives, kids, guardian angels…  It’s also wrong to leave a child in a car while you shop and deliver.

You won’t be able to really focus on the work. That’s the honest truth.

We wrapped up by considering the fact that Instacart has no formal means of knowing when you allow others to use your car. 

But, there could be potential negative consequences.

Ready to get started as a Shopper with Instacart?

Just CLICK HERE to sign up now right on their website.

The Grocery Store Guy, part of the Middle Class Dad family of websites, is reader-supported and when you make a purchase through some of my links, I  may earn a small commission from the sale, which in no way increases the cost to you. Learn more HERE.

Jeff Campbell
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