When you place an order, Instacart will put a hold on your payment method for more than the amount shown at checkout to cover potential additions or changes to your order. The exact amount of this higher hold is disclosed during checkout.
This analysis describes what Instacart's agreement states, permits, or reserves. It does not constitute a legal determination about enforceability. Regulatory applicability and practical outcomes may vary by jurisdiction, enforcement context, and individual circumstances. Read our methodology
The provision establishes the operational mechanism for managing variable-cost orders where final amounts cannot be determined at checkout. By authorizing a higher hold amount, the service reduces the operational risk of declined transactions when post-delivery charges occur.
Instacart rewrote its entire Terms of Service, adding 367 new sentences including sections on AI-powered services, updated arbitration procedures, and revised data handling practices. The restructuring makes it harder to compare what changed because the entire document was reorganized.
View change record →Instacart will temporarily freeze more money on your payment method than your checkout total shows, which can impact your available balance for other purchases until the hold is resolved — this is particularly significant for debit card users with limited funds.
Cross-platform context
See how other platforms handle Pre-Authorization Hold Exceeding Order Total and similar clauses.
Compare across platforms →"Your payment instrument will be temporarily authorized for an amount greater than the total amount of the purchase appearing in the original check out. This higher authorized amount will be disclosed during the purchase process and is a temporary authorization charge on your order, to deal with situations where your total purchase amount turns out to be higher than the original amount due to special requests, added items, replacement items, weight adjustments, or tips that you may elect to add after delivery.Excerpt from Instacart's Terms of Service
(1) REGULATORY FRAMEWORK: Implicates the Electronic Funds Transfer Act (EFTA, 15 U.S.C.
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The provision establishes the operational mechanism for managing variable-cost orders where final amounts cannot be determined at checkout. By authorizing a higher hold amount, the service reduces the operational risk of declined transactions when post-delivery charges occur.
Instacart will temporarily freeze more money on your payment method than your checkout total shows, which can impact your available balance for other purchases until the hold is resolved — this is particularly significant for debit card users with limited funds.
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