If you are applying to work with Shipt, the background check is one of the main approval gates between signup and your first order. The fastest way to make it harder on yourself is to treat it like a black box and fail to save the notices, document requests, status emails, mileage tracking setup notes, and tax records tied to the application.
This guide answers the screening question directly and shows you what to prepare, what can slow approval, and how to set up cleaner mileage logs and tax records once you are activated.
If you want to keep the driving side organized from your first approved batch, MyCarTracks automatic mileage tracking can be set up before activation, and Shipt’s background-check guidance explains the main official screening components.
What the Shipt background check reviews
Shipt’s background-check guidance says the platform obtains:
- a motor vehicle report
- a criminal background check
- checks tied to key registries used for independent-contractor screening
The same guidance says the screening is performed through Checkr and includes searches of multiple federal databases.
That means the review is not limited to one simple identity check. Your driving record and your broader screening file both matter.
What to have ready before the check starts
The safest move is to have your core signup records ready before you begin:
- Legal Name
- Current Contact Information
- Valid Mailing Address
- Valid US Driver’s License
- Social Security Number
- Auto Insurance Information
- Vehicle Information
- Smartphone Access For The Shopper App
Those are the same kinds of records that support the broader Shipt shopper requirements, and they also make it easier to resolve a hold if your application needs follow-up.
What can slow approval
The background-check step does not always fail when it moves slowly. Delays can also come from:
- identity details that do not match exactly
- document uploads that are incomplete or unclear
- insurance or driver-license information that needs review
- queue delays with the screening vendor
That is why it helps to keep every application email, upload confirmation, and status notice in one place instead of relying on memory.
What can stop you from moving forward
The public screening guidance does not list every possible outcome, but it does make two practical points clear:
- your motor-vehicle report matters
- your criminal background screening matters
If there is a serious issue in either area, it can affect approval. If the result is unclear or unexpected, keep the notice, the date, and any support instructions so you can follow the case accurately.
What happens after you pass the background check
Passing the check is not the end of the setup process. You still need the rest of your onboarding file to be clean, including your app access, driver documents, and payout setup.
Before your first order or route, it helps to set up:
- mileage tracking
- receipt storage
- weekly payout review
- a clean Shipt tag for trips and expenses
If you want the broader earning side next, use Shipt Pay Guide. If you want the trip records behind it, use Shipt Mileage Guide.
Why mileage tracking still belongs in your setup
Mileage tracking is not part of the formal screening itself, but it does belong in your first-day setup. If you wait until after your first few orders, your mileage logs start with avoidable gaps and your first tax deduction review is already weaker than it should be.
That is why many applicants prepare the trip system, receipt storage, and basic tax file before the first approved order rather than after the first payout arrives.
What can still affect app access later
Shipt’s app-access guidance says shoppers and drivers can lose access because of:
- violations of the Shopper Agreement
- violations of the Driver Agreement
- violations of the Shopper App Access Guidelines
- account security reasons
That distinction matters because a later app-access problem is not the same thing as a failed background check, even if both events stop you from working.
What to save if your application gets delayed
If approval takes longer than expected, keep a single file with:
- document-upload confirmations
- status emails
- support replies
- dates of each application step
- any request to re-upload license or insurance details
That file makes it easier to explain what already happened and what still needs review if onboarding support asks you to confirm the timeline.
US-first market note
This article is US-first because the strongest public Shipt screening and signup pages are US-facing. For Canada and Europe, use local delivery-platform screening rules instead of assuming the US Shipt approval flow applies the same way.
MyCarTracks workflow
Once your application clears, use MyCarTracks automatic mileage tracking before the first driving trip so your Shipt records do not start with a gap. For the broader product overview, use MyCarTracks.
FAQ
Does Shipt check both your driving record and criminal history?
Yes. The public Shipt background-check page says the screening includes both a motor vehicle report and a criminal background check.
Who handles the Shipt background check?
Shipt’s published screening page says the background check is performed through Checkr.
Can you lose access later even after you pass the background check?
Yes. Shipt’s app-access guidance says shoppers and drivers can still lose access for agreement violations or account-security reasons.
What to read next
- Shipt Shopper Requirements
- Shipt Shopper and Driver Guide
- Shipt Pay Guide
- Shipt Mileage Guide
- Shipt Tax Guide
- Walmart Spark Background Check
- Instacart Background Check