Instacart Shopper referral code FAQ

It's a new-shopper referral code for the Instacart Shopper program. When you type it in during sign-up, it links your application to a referral, and that's how the bonus gets tracked. It works for Full-Service and In-Store roles across the US and Canada.

Start your application at shoppers.instacart.com or inside the Instacart Shopper app. Somewhere in the sign-up flow you'll hit a field marked "Referral code," "Invite code," or "Promo code." Type BEAN85579C exactly, no spaces. Don't panic if it's not on the very first screen. It usually shows up a step or two in.

We won't quote a dollar figure on purpose. The referral bonus swings by city, by season, and by whatever promotion happens to be running. The number that actually applies to you shows up in the Shopper app when you sign up, and again in your bonus tracker. If you see a fixed amount promised somewhere else, be skeptical.

Usually it pays out after you finish a set number of batches within a window that starts once you activate. Think a certain count of deliveries in your first few weeks. Hit the target and the bonus gets added to your earnings on Instacart's regular payout schedule. Your app keeps a running tally so you know where you stand.

Only for Full-Service. That role means you shop and deliver, so you need a reliable vehicle and a valid driver's license. In-Store is shop-only. You put orders together inside a partner store and never leave with them, so no car needed. Pick the role that matches what you've got.

It depends. After you submit and agree to the background check, approval runs anywhere from a few days to a couple of weeks. Your market, how fast the check clears, and local demand all play into it. Getting your ID, personal details, and banking info right the first time saves you from the annoying delays.

You need to be at least 18, or the age of majority where you live. You'll want a fairly recent smartphone, a bank account for direct deposit, and valid government ID. You have to be able to lift around 50 lbs and pass a background check. Full-Service shoppers also need a car and a license.

It's a shopper referral code, not a grocery coupon. It won't knock money off your groceries. All it does is tie your new shopper application to a referral so the new-shopper bonus can be tracked and paid once you meet Instacart's requirements.

Codes are built to go in at sign-up, and they usually can't be applied after your application is already submitted. Still filling things out? Enter BEAN85579C now while you can. Already started without it? Check the app or message Instacart shopper support and ask, but don't bank on being able to add it later.

In-Store shoppers work scheduled shifts inside one store, picking and staging orders. No driving. Full-Service shoppers grab batches on their own schedule, shop across different stores, and deliver to customers, which is why they need a car. Full-Service gives you more flexibility. In-Store gives you a more predictable routine.

Your money comes from per-batch pay plus 100% of customer tips. It swings a lot based on your market, the time of day, and how busy things are. A rough, not-guaranteed ballpark is somewhere around $10 to $25 per active hour, but honestly it differs person to person, so treat that as a loose estimate. Our Earnings guide gives you the hedged, real version instead of hype.

Yes. Shoppers are independent contractors, so what you make is generally self-employment income. In the US you might get a 1099. In Canada, a T4A. This is just general info, not tax advice. Set money aside for taxes and talk to a tax professional about your own situation and what you can deduct, mileage included.

The code is a real referral code for real new-shopper sign-ups. But this site is an independent guide. We're not Instacart, and we're not affiliated with it. We may earn a referral reward if you sign up with the code and qualify. Always apply through the official shoppers.instacart.com and confirm the terms in the app.

Sign-up screens get redesigned, and they vary by region. If there's no referral or promo field anywhere, just finish the application as prompted, then check the bonuses or promotions section of the Shopper app once you're in. Not sure it registered? Reach out to shopper support before you assume the bonus is on.

Yes. Code BEAN85579C is meant for new shopper sign-ups in both countries. The batch target and the bonus amount still hinge on your local market and whatever promotion your app is showing at the time.

No. A shopper referral code like BEAN85579C doesn't expire, and it isn't limited to a single person, so any number of new shoppers can enter it. There's no "used up" to worry about. The only clock is on the bonus itself: once you sign up, you have a set window, often around 30 days, to finish the batch target and lock in the offer. Enter the code at sign-up whenever you're ready.

Generally no. The new-shopper bonus is a referral offer, so the code is what connects your application to it. Finish sign-up with no code in the field and there's usually nothing to redeem later, and it can't be added after the fact. So put BEAN85579C in before you submit.

The bonus is tied to hitting a batch target inside the window Instacart sets, which is often something like 30 batches in 30 days. Miss that count in time and the bonus generally doesn't pay. Your app's tracker shows how many batches are left and how much time you have, so watch it once you activate.

Yes. You keep 100% of tips on top of your per-batch pay. Customers can change a tip for a short stretch after delivery, which is exactly why good service and clear updates pay off. Our note on tip baiting covers how to protect yourself.

Your rating comes from recent customer star ratings, and the lowest ones usually get forgiven, so one rough day won't tank you. Stay somewhere near a 4.7 average and you're in good shape. We walk through the actual math in the cart star rating guide.

The Checkr check usually clears in about three to ten business days. It can drag longer if something needs a manual look. Read how long the background check takes for what tends to slow it down.

Quiet batches usually trace back to a saturated market, the time of day, or a dipped rating, not a glitch. Picture the app going dead silent at 2pm on a Tuesday. That's normal. Our guide on why you're not getting batches walks you through diagnosing and fixing it.

Yes, through the In-Store role where it's offered, since that job is shop-only. Full-Service still needs a vehicle. Check doing Instacart without a car for the specifics and which markets support it.