Instacart · Instacart Terms of Service

Third Party Provider Disclaimer

Medium severity
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What it is

Instacart says it is not responsible for the actions of the shoppers and delivery drivers who fulfill your orders, because it claims they are independent contractors — not Instacart employees.

Consumer impact (what this means for users)

This provision limits your ability to hold Instacart accountable for problems caused by the people who shop for and deliver your orders, as the company disclaims responsibility for their conduct and performance.

Cross-platform context

See how other platforms handle Third Party Provider Disclaimer and similar clauses.

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Why it matters (compliance & risk perspective)

If a shopper or delivery driver causes harm, makes an error, or provides poor service, Instacart's Terms limit its legal responsibility by disclaiming any employment or control relationship with those workers.

View original clause language
You acknowledge that Instacart does not supervise, direct, or control the performance of services provided by Third Party Providers, and that Third Party Providers are neither employed by, nor in any partnership or joint venture or agency relationship with, Instacart.

Institutional analysis (Compliance & legal intelligence)

(1) REGULATORY FRAMEWORK: Implicates worker misclassification law under California AB5 (Lab. Code §2750.3) and similar state statutes; FTC Act Section 5 regarding potentially deceptive characterization of platform liability; and common law agency doctrines (apparent authority, respondeat superior) that may override contractual disclaimers. Federal and state employment tax law (IRS Form SS-8 analysis) is also implicated by the independent contractor classification. (2)

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Applicable agencies

  • FTC
    The FTC has authority to investigate deceptive practices, including contractual disclaimers of platform responsibility for service quality where consumers may reasonably expect accountability from the platform brand.
    File a complaint →
  • State AG
    State Attorneys General have authority over worker misclassification enforcement and consumer protection claims arising from third party provider liability disclaimers under state UDAP and labor statutes.
    File a complaint →

Provision details

Document information
Document
Instacart Terms of Service
Entity
Instacart
Document last updated
April 29, 2026
Tracking information
First tracked
April 18, 2026
Last verified
April 27, 2026
Record ID
CA-P-003413
Document ID
CA-D-00135
Evidence Provenance
Source URL
Wayback Machine
SHA-256
30a1ef722ca2f269aa634194339403244ed9043a7522c96cae21a5329951e4c8
Verified
✓ Snapshot stored   ✓ Change verified
How to Cite
ConductAtlas Policy Archive
Entity: Instacart | Document: Instacart Terms of Service | Record: CA-P-003413
Captured: 2026-04-18 12:44:42 UTC | SHA-256: 30a1ef722ca2f269…
URL: https://conductatlas.com/platform/instacart/instacart-terms-of-service/third-party-provider-disclaimer/
Accessed: May 2, 2026
Classification
Severity
Medium
Categories

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