If you want to apply for Shipt, check the requirements before you start the signup flow. You need the right age, documents, vehicle access, insurance, and background-check file, and it also helps to prepare mileage tracking before your first order so the tax deduction records and mileage logs do not start with a gap.
This guide answers the signup question directly and gives you the practical value behind it: age and eligibility, license and vehicle rules, background screening, insurance, equipment, physical demands, scheduling, the application path, and what helps you stay in good standing after approval.
If you want the driving side ready before your first delivery, MyCarTracks automatic mileage tracking can be set up before activation, and Shipt’s official shopper requirements page is the best platform reference for the approval file.
Age and eligibility requirements
The core Shipt shopper requirements are US-focused. To qualify, you generally need to:
- be at least 18 years old
- have a valid mailing address
- have a valid US driver’s license
- have a Social Security Number
- be able to use a smartphone that supports the shopper app
Shipt’s shopper FAQ also keeps a few practical points visible, including vehicle access, produce-selection knowledge, and current smartphone expectations.
Driver’s license and vehicle requirements
To shop and deliver, you need a valid US driver’s license and access to a reliable, operable vehicle. The requirement pages do not frame this as an optional detail. It is part of the core approval file.
The broader platform also includes package-delivery routes in selected markets, which means your vehicle needs to be realistic for both store deliveries and, where available, multi-stop route work.
Background check
The approval file also includes a background check. If you want the screening step broken out further, use Shipt Background Check, but at the requirement level the main point is simple: your driving record, criminal background screening, and identity details all matter before activation.
Vehicle insurance and liability
You also need valid auto insurance. Keep the current policy records ready before you apply, and keep them current after approval.
That matters because your document file does not end when the signup screen closes. If your license or insurance expires, your ability to keep working can be affected.
Equipment and supplies
The work also depends on basic equipment. In practical terms, that usually means:
- insulated bags or cooler bags for perishable items
- a phone charger and navigation-ready device
- shopping totes, bins, or similar organization tools
These costs are part of the job setup, and many of them later belong in your Shipt tax deductions file.
Physical requirements
The public requirements also make the physical side clear. You should expect to:
- lift up to 50 pounds
- walk and stand while shopping
- load and unload grocery orders
- handle apartment stairs, large-item carries, or long hallways
That does not make the platform a bad fit, but it does mean the work is more physical than a simple pickup-and-drop app.
Scheduling and availability
Shipt shopping work is flexible, but flexibility still needs reliability behind it. You can choose when to work, but missed orders, repeated cancellations, or weak customer-service patterns can still hurt your standing.
If you want the pay side behind that same schedule choice, use Shipt Pay Guide.
Application process
The basic application path usually looks like this:
- Start from the Shipt shopper signup page.
- Create the account and enter the required details.
- Upload the driver and insurance documents.
- Complete the background-check step.
- Finish any onboarding or account-setup steps shown in the app.
- Wait for approval before accepting orders.
How to stay in good standing after approval
Once you are approved, staying in good standing usually comes down to a few basic habits:
- keep your license and insurance current
- keep your vehicle reliable
- communicate clearly with customers
- follow the shopper and app-access rules
- keep records clean from the first order forward
The record side matters more than many applicants expect. If you want cleaner mileage logs and a stronger tax deduction file later, set up MyCarTracks automatic mileage tracking before the first driving day.
Why mileage tracking matters before you apply
Mileage tracking is not part of the approval test itself, but it belongs in your setup plan because the first accepted order can already create deductible miles. If you wait too long, your first mileage logs are weaker and the tax file is harder to rebuild later.
US-first market note
This article is US-first because the strongest public Shipt requirement pages are built around US signup, US documents, and US shopper operations. For Canada and Europe, use local grocery or package-delivery platform rules instead of assuming the same Shipt workflow applies.
MyCarTracks workflow
Use MyCarTracks business mileage reports after setup so your Shipt work starts with cleaner mileage tracking and stronger order-by-order documentation.
FAQ
How old do you have to be to work for Shipt?
You generally need to be at least 18 years old to qualify.
Do you need your own car and insurance for Shipt?
Yes. The public requirement pages center the shopper workflow around a reliable vehicle and valid auto insurance.
Is mileage tracking worth setting up before your first Shipt order?
Yes. If you wait until later, your first mileage logs and tax deduction records already start with missing trips.
What to read next
- Shipt Background Check
- Shipt Shopper and Driver Guide
- Shipt Pay Guide
- Shipt Mileage Guide
- Shipt Tax Deductions
- Walmart Spark Driver Requirements
- Instacart Shopper Requirements