Instacart Mileage Pay: What They Don't Tell Shoppers

When gas prices climb and delivery distances stretch, understanding how Instacart pays for mileage becomes crucial for shoppers looking to protect their bottom line. 

With recent changes to Instacart's pay structure and ongoing fuel price volatility, knowing exactly how distance affects your earnings can make or break your profitability.

Official Instacart Shopper Payment Structure

Instacart shoppers get paid per batch rather than hourly. 

Each batch payment consists of multiple components that work together to create your total earnings.

Overview of Instacart Pay Model

The basic Instacart payment has three main components:

• Batch pay (base fare): This is calculated based on several factors including number of items, weight, distance driven, and estimated shopping time. Instacart doesn't publish an exact per-mile rate in their help center, but distance is definitely one key factor in determining your base pay.

• Tips: 100% of tips from customers go directly to you, the shopper, on top of your batch pay. Tips often make up a significant portion of total earnings and can greatly affect whether a long-distance order is worth accepting.

• Promotions: Instacart may offer various promotions like peak pay bonuses or heavy-order bonuses (for example, an extra $2 for orders containing heavy items over 50 lbs). These are added on for qualifying batches.

How Mileage Factors In

Mileage pay is built directly into Instacart's batch pay. 

Instacart's algorithm includes a distance component of about $0.60 per mile for the driving distance from the store to the customer. 

This was confirmed in an official 2019 update, where Instacart defined batch pay as "Batch Incentive + $0.60 per mile."

It's important to understand that Instacart does not separately reimburse gas or mileage as an expense. 

As shoppers are independent contractors, you're responsible for covering your own fuel and car costs. 

The mileage component is meant to partially compensate for driving, but it's bundled into the overall pay offer.

Batch Payment Breakdown

To illustrate how this works, let's look at a sample batch:

You might see "Batch earnings: $7.50," which could be composed of $6.18 for shopping effort and $1.32 for mileage (2.2 miles). 

If the delivery were 12 miles away instead, an extra ~$7.20 (12 × $0.60) would be added, significantly increasing the batch pay.

A key point to note: Instacart no longer shows shoppers the exact mileage pay versus other pay components on the offer screen. 

Until early 2022, the app displayed a breakdown including a "distance" pay line item, but that's no longer shown, making it harder for shoppers to know exactly how much of their payment is for mileage.

Remember that driving distance from the store to the customer is the only mileage Instacart pays for. 

Any driving you do before picking up the order (like driving from your home to the store) is not included in the mileage calculation. 

This is why positioning yourself and choosing which zone to wait in is so important for maximizing your earnings.

Recent Updates to Instacart's Pay Rates & Algorithms

Instacart has made several notable changes to how mileage and base pay are calculated in recent years. 

Understanding these changes helps you grasp why your earnings might look different now compared to the past.

2022–2025 Pay Changes

Base Pay Reduction (2023): In mid-2023, Instacart slashed the minimum base pay from $7 to $4 per batch for small orders. 

This major update (announced in a July 2023 "Creating New Ways to Earn" blog post) means some small, quick deliveries now pay as little as $4 base. 

Instacart claimed this is still "2× higher than the minimum of other platforms," but shoppers were understandably upset at effectively getting paid less, making them more reliant on tips.

After this change, shoppers reported seeing base pays like $4–$5 on short batches, whereas previously $7 was the floor. 

Larger or more complex orders can still have higher batch pay (Instacart says complex batches "may pay $10 or more" base), but the guaranteed minimum for small orders dropped significantly.

Fuel Surcharge (Spring 2022): In March 2022, when gas prices spiked to record highs, Instacart introduced a temporary $0.40 fuel surcharge per order. 

Every customer order had an extra 40¢ fee that went directly to the shopper as a small fuel assistance. 

This was a short-term measure similar to what DoorDash and Uber Eats did, and was later discontinued as gas prices stabilized.

This temporary surcharge underscores that Instacart's standard $0.60/mile compensation doesn't automatically adjust for fuel price inflation. 

The surcharge was an exceptional step, and since it ended, shoppers have had to handle rising fuel costs on their own again.

Batch Assignment Algorithm Tweaks: Instacart has been refining its batch-matching and distance algorithms. 

In 2021, Instacart's engineering team noted they moved from using straight-line ("as-the-crow-flies") distance to more accurate Mapbox driving distances in their logistics engine. 

This reduced distance calculation errors from approximately 33% (with Haversine) to around 5%.

The implication is that the app's estimates of miles (and thus mileage pay) are more precise now, but Instacart may still use shortest-route assumptions. 

If you must take a longer detour, the pay might not account for that extra mileage.

Removal of Detailed Breakdown: Also worth noting is the removal of the mileage pay display in the app around early 2022. 

Shoppers can no longer see a line-by-line breakdown of how much of their batch pay was for distance. 

Now, the app just shows one combined Instacart pay figure (plus tip). 

This lack of transparency has been controversial – some shoppers suspect that Instacart quietly adjusted or reduced mileage-based pay in certain instances, which is hard to verify without the breakdown visible.

Why These Updates Matter

These changes directly affect shopper behavior: the base pay cut means shoppers must be more strategic, focusing on batches with good tips or multiple orders to make up for the lower per-order pay. 

The temporary fuel aid highlighted that mileage pay didn't fully cover fuel when gas prices surged – which remains a concern if fuel prices rise again. 

And the algorithm improvements mean route distances are closer to reality, but shoppers should still be aware of any gap between paid miles versus actual miles driven.

Regional Differences in Mileage Compensation

Depending on where you shop for Instacart, you might see different mileage compensation structures due to local laws and regulations.

California (Prop 22)

California Instacart shoppers have a different pay guarantee thanks to Proposition 22 (enacted in 2021). 

Under Prop 22, gig companies must ensure drivers earn at least 120% of local minimum wage for active time, plus $0.30 per engaged mile driven.

"Engaged miles" means miles driven while picking up or delivering orders (similar to Instacart's store-to-customer distance, but Prop 22 also counts the mileage driving to the store after accepting a batch).

As a result, Instacart in California provides a weekly adjustment payment if a shopper's earnings (batch pay + tips) don't meet that guaranteed minimum. This effectively reimburses around 30¢–34¢ per mile in California (Prop 22's rate has adjusted to ~$0.34/mile in 2023 due to inflation). 

Note that this is about half the IRS rate and doesn't cover non-engaged miles, but it's something.

California shoppers also get a health stipend and other benefits via Prop 22. 

While Prop 22's mileage rate is lower than Instacart's built-in $0.60, Prop 22 guarantees a fallback mileage reimbursement to reach the required level if Instacart's normal batch pay + tips isn't high enough.

Other States/Regions

For the rest of the US, there is no legal mandate for mileage reimbursement. Instacart's standard model ($0.60/mi in batch pay) applies nationwide. 

However, earnings minimums can vary by zone – Instacart historically set different base pay minimums ($7 to $10) in different cities. 

In high-cost-of-living cities, the base might be on the higher end of that range.

While the mileage rate generally does not vary by city ($0.60/mi is standard), the guaranteed minimum batch pay could be a bit higher in some urban zones.

Canada

Canadian shoppers also saw changes; an early 2023 CBC investigation noted Canadian Instacart shoppers were confused by pay drops and that Instacart wasn't showing mileage breakdowns. 

There's no Prop 22 equivalent in Canada, so no additional mileage guarantees.

Other Gig Laws

Some cities (e.g. Seattle) have passed local ordinances requiring a minimum pay per mile for gig deliveries. 

Seattle's law (2022) guarantees a formula for gig couriers that includes mileage, effectively ensuring drivers there get compensated for distance in line with local standards.

Summary

Outside of specific regions like California (and a few city laws), Instacart itself dictates mileage pay. 

Shoppers should be aware of local regulations: if you're in California, you have that extra Prop 22 layer of pay. 

If you're elsewhere, your mileage pay is purely whatever Instacart's algorithm includes.

Instacart Mileage Pay vs. IRS Standard Rate

A key question for many shoppers is whether Instacart's mileage pay actually covers the true cost of driving. Let's compare it to the official IRS standard mileage rate.

Comparing 60¢ vs 67¢

The IRS standard mileage rate (the rate at which you can deduct business miles on your taxes) is 65.5¢ per mile for 2023, and 67¢ per mile in 2024. Instacart's built-in ~$0.60 per mile falls below this. The IRS rate is designed to reflect the full cost of operating a vehicle – not just gas, but also maintenance, depreciation, insurance, etc.

This means that Instacart's mileage pay (60¢) is a bit less than the IRS estimate of actual cost. In other words, if you drive a mile for Instacart, the IRS assumes it costs you ~$0.66–$0.67, but Instacart is only adding about $0.60 to your pay for that mile. Over many miles, that gap accumulates as an unreimbursed expense (which you then deduct on taxes – see next section).

The gap is even more stark if gas prices spike: The IRS raised the rate mid-2022 (from 58.5¢ to 62.5¢) because of high fuel costs; Instacart's per-mile formula did not automatically change (they did the flat $0.40 bonus instead). The IRS rate for 2025 is set at 70¢, reflecting higher costs – Instacart's rate has not risen in tandem.

IRS Rate as Benchmark

Using the IRS rate as a benchmark for what mileage really costs a driver, if Instacart offers $0.60 and IRS is $0.67, Instacart covers roughly 89% of the cost per mile. That suggests if you only got mileage pay without tips or item pay, you'd be losing money on each mile when you factor in wear-and-tear.

However, Instacart also pays for shopping labor and items – those ideally cover your time. The mileage portion is specifically for vehicle use, and it's a bit under true cost.

Frame for Shoppers

This comparison highlights why smart shoppers track their miles and consider the real profitability of orders. 

If an order is very far away, even with $0.60/mi, you're putting extra wear on your car that might not be fully paid for.

In simple terms:

• Instacart: ~$0.60/mi in pay

• IRS Standard: $0.655/mi (2023)

• Shortfall: ~5¢ per mile

Over 100 miles, that's ~$5 in vehicle costs not covered by Instacart pay (which you'd have to cover but can deduct later).

Tax Implications: Mileage Pay vs. Mileage Deductions

As an Instacart shopper, understanding the tax implications of mileage can significantly impact your actual net earnings.

Mileage is Tax-Deductible

As independent contractors, Instacart shoppers can deduct their driving miles on taxes using the IRS standard mileage rate (or actual expenses method). 

This is a crucial benefit – it means even though Instacart doesn't reimburse gas, you can reclaim some vehicle costs by paying less tax on your income.

For every mile you drive for Instacart, you can deduct ~$0.655 (2023) or $0.67 (2024) from your taxable income. 

In practice, if you drove 1,000 miles for Instacart in a year, you could knock about $655–$670 off your taxable income for the year. This can save you maybe $100–$200 in taxes (depending on your tax bracket).

The mileage that Instacart "pays" you (the $0.60) is still considered part of your income, but you get to deduct the miles regardless. 

So you're effectively not taxed on the portion of income that was to cover driving (up to the IRS rate). 

This is why tracking your mileage is vital – to maximize your deductions. I recommend using a mileage tracking app (Stride, Everl

No Double Dipping

Since Instacart's mileage pay is not a separate reimbursement but part of your pay, it does not reduce your deduction. 

Some might wonder, "Instacart gave me $0.60/mi, do I subtract that from the IRS rate when deducting?"

The answer is no – you still deduct the full 65.5¢/mi because Instacart's payments are income.

Had Instacart reimbursed mileage separately like an employer, you wouldn't deduct those reimbursed miles. 

But that's not the case here.

Effect on Taxes

Mileage deductions can make a big difference in your net earnings. 

Example: If you made $500 in a week and drove 300 miles to do it, you can deduct ~$196 (300×$0.655). 

If you're in a ~15% tax bracket, that saves about $29 in taxes. It's like recouping ~9.6¢ per mile via tax savings. 

Combined with Instacart's ~60¢, that effectively gets you close to the IRS rate. 

So tax deductions help bridge the gap between Instacart pay and actual costs.

Record-Keeping Tip

Use a dedicated app or notebook, save fuel receipts if using the actual expense method, and distinguish between personal and work miles. 

Commuting around waiting for batches might not count unless you're actively seeking orders in some interpretations.

Remember that as contractors, you may need to pay quarterly taxes, and taking those mileage deductions will reduce those estimated payments.

Shopper Satisfaction and Concerns with Mileage Compensation

After talking with many Instacart shoppers and monitoring online forums, I've found that opinion among shoppers on mileage pay is decidedly mixed.

General Sentiment

Instacart's own surveys (unsurprisingly) show positive sentiment – they've reported nearly 90% of shoppers have a favorable view of Instacart overall. 

However, independent forums tell a more nuanced story.

Many shoppers appreciate that distance is paid, but believe the rate doesn't fully cover costs, especially after the 2023 pay cut.

Complaints on Forums

On Reddit, I've seen numerous posts analyzing the economics of Instacart's mileage pay. 

One user calculated that Instacart pays $0.60/mi when they should be paying ~$1.30/mi to cover round-trip driving (to store and back) and fuel. 

Another shopper shared an instance where the app only paid them for 8 miles on a 20-mile trip until they complained and got it corrected – suggesting occasional discrepancies in mileage calculations.

On Twitter/X, gig worker advocates have called out Instacart for "shorting" shoppers on mileage pay. 

For example, a viral tweet showed a batch where Instacart's mileage portion was $5.50 less than it should have been, with the user tagging Instacart asking why.

Shoppers vs. Instacart's Stance

Instacart tends to emphasize how their pay model "accounts for mileage" and that shoppers see the distance before accepting an order. 

But shoppers counter that knowing the distance doesn't always equal fair pay for that distance.

Long-time Instacart shoppers often compare it to other gigs: "At least Instacart gives something for mileage, but it's not as much as what my car actually loses in value." There's also frustration that unpaid mileage (to the store, or between batches) isn't addressed.

Positive Perspective

Not all is negative – some shoppers note that Instacart involves less driving per hour than food delivery. 

One forum comment pointed out that because you spend time shopping in-store, Instacart can mean fewer miles driven for the same work time, saving gas.

For example, doing a 1-hour Instacart batch might only be 10 miles of driving (5 to store, 5 to customer), whereas doing DoorDash for an hour could be 20+ miles of driving around. 

From that angle, some shoppers feel mileage pay is okay because they drive less overall on Instacart. This is a silver lining for those worried about wear-and-tear.

Key Worry – Transparency

A recurring theme is that shoppers want transparency. 

If Instacart clearly stated "we pay $0.60/mi from store to customer" and always calculated it accurately, most would accept it. 

The removal of the breakdown and instances of miscalculation (and the fact that the app doesn't count the miles to the store) make some shoppers uneasy. 

They fear they might be losing out on pay for extra miles they drive, especially if an address is wrong or a route is longer.

In summary, many Instacart shoppers are grateful that distance is considered at all (some gig jobs in the past paid a flat rate regardless of miles), but they question if it's enough.

Competitor Analysis: Mileage Compensation on Other Platforms

If you're considering other delivery platforms besides Instacart, understanding how they handle mileage pay can help you make better decisions about where to spend your time.

DoorDash

DoorDash does not explicitly pay per mile in a transparent way – instead, they have a base pay that ranges from $2 to $10+ per delivery, which is determined by distance, estimated time, and order desirability. 

Longer deliveries should have higher base pay, but many Dashers find that DoorDash's base pay caps out around $4–$5 for most orders, unless the delivery is very far.

In practice, DoorDash might add as little as ~$0.25–$0.50 per mile to the base after the first few miles. 

For example, an order 1 mile away might get $2.50 base, while a 10-mile trip might get around $5–$6 base – clearly not 60¢ per mile.

Like Instacart, DoorDash drivers (Dashers) are independent contractors and receive no separate gas or mileage reimbursement. 

All vehicle costs are on the driver. 

DoorDash did add a temporary gas bonus in 2022 (a few dollars extra for completing a certain number of deliveries in a week), but that's long gone.

Overall, DoorDash's effective mileage compensation is generally lower than Instacart's on a per-order basis.

Instacart guaranteeing ~$0.60/mi within base pay is relatively generous; DoorDash's $2 base for short trips is only sustainable because most customers tip on food delivery.

Uber Eats

Uber Eats uses a more formula-driven pay: typically a pickup fee + dropoff fee + per-mile rate + per-minute rate (exact amounts vary by city). 

For example, an Uber Eats driver might get something like $1.00 pickup + $0.80 dropoff + $0.50 per mile + $0.25 per minute (illustrative example).

Uber's per-mile rates in many markets have been around $0.50-$0.80/mile, which can be comparable to Instacart's $0.60, but remember Uber also pays per minute of delivery time, which can add more on longer trips.

It's worth noting Uber (and DoorDash) calculate distance pay based on the expected route (or sometimes straight-line distance). 

Historically, Uber's navigation might undercount actual miles if a driver has to deviate. This is similar to the earlier Instacart method.

Again, there's no direct fuel pay. 

Uber did a temporary fuel surcharge in 2022 (typically $0.45 per delivery) when gas prices were high, quite similar to Instacart's $0.40 – showing industry-wide response. 

That too was temporary.

Shipt

Shipt (Target's delivery platform) used to have a very transparent formula: $5 base + 7.5% of the order subtotal, and occasionally plus a small per-mile amount. 

In 2020, Shipt switched to a black-box algorithm similar to Instacart's, which considers "effort" (items, weight, distance, store location, etc.).

According to Shipt shoppers, mileage is not explicitly broken out in most markets. 

In fact, one Shipt forum post noted that except in California (due to Prop 22), Shipt's pay "doesn't consider mileage" directly – it's mostly based on estimated time. 

This means a long drive might not always yield significantly higher pay on Shipt unless it also presumably takes longer (time = more pay).

Like others, Shipt does not reimburse gas or give a per-mile stipend. 

Their support FAQ bluntly states: "At this time, Shipt does not reimburse for mileage." So any compensation for distance is purely baked into the offer amount. 

California Shipt shoppers do get the Prop 22 mileage adjustments like Instacart's CA shoppers, though.

Shipt shoppers often complain that the algorithmic pay sometimes underestimates effort – e.g. you might shop and deliver a large order 10 miles away and only see $8 payout if the order total was low. 

In comparison, Instacart in that scenario would at least give ~$6 extra for 10 miles.

Comparative Wrap-up

Instacart is relatively upfront in accounting for mileage in its pay model (with a set per-mile component), whereas DoorDash and Shipt are more opaque. 

None of these services reimburse fuel directly or pay the full IRS mileage rate to drivers.

Some experienced drivers actually prefer Instacart for fewer miles driven per hour and a clear per-mile add-on, while others prefer food delivery because quick shorter trips can yield more tips. 

It ultimately depends on strategy and personal preference, but Instacart's mileage pay is considered one of the more generous among gig apps (at least pre-2023 pay cut).

If you're trying to decide whether to drive for DoorDash or Instacart, the mileage compensation is just one factor to consider among many.

Strategies for Maximizing Earnings per Mile

Let's talk about practical ways to make the most money for the miles you drive as an Instacart shopper.

1. Be Selective with Batches (Optimize $ per Mile)

The most important strategy is choosing the right batches. 

Don't just look at dollar amount – consider the dollar-to-mile ratio. 

Many top shoppers set a personal cutoff, such as at least $1.00 per mile (including tip) before they'll take a batch.

For example, if a batch is 10 miles total one-way and shows $15 pay + tip, that's $1.50/mi – likely good. 

If it's 10 miles for $10, that's $1.00/mi – borderline, perhaps only take if it's slow. 

If it's 10 miles for $6, that's $0.60/mi – probably reject, since that barely covers car costs after tax deductions.

The Instacart app shows the miles upfront, so use that intel.

Some seasoned shoppers even sort available batches mentally by $/mile. Focus on high-pay, low-distance orders for maximum efficiency. 

An order with lots of items but a short drive can be great (more pay for shopping effort, little spent on gas).

A good tip is to look at orders going in the same direction. 

If you see two separate batches both heading to the same suburb 5 miles away, you might grab one and hope another pops up on the way. 

Or prefer multi-customer batches that Instacart has already grouped (two orders, one route). 

They often increase your $/mile if the customers live near each other.

2. Schedule Smart & Cluster Deliveries

Work during busy periods and in dense areas so you can do more batches with fewer "empty" miles. 

Instacart's peak hours (e.g., weekends midday for Costco, evenings 4-8pm for grocery stores) mean you're more likely to go straight from finishing one batch to starting another, rather than driving around idle.

"Batch chaining" (finishing one and immediately getting another nearby) dramatically reduces wasted miles. 

The app's heatmap and peak hours guide can help plan this.

Also, if you notice a particular store often has multiple batches, try to hang around that store. 

For example, if a certain Costco is sending out orders continuously, staying in its parking lot (or nearby) means minimal driving between batches. 

Being close to the store at batch acceptance also saves you the unpaid drive to the store.

3. Minimize Unpaid Miles

As discussed, you don't get paid to drive back after a delivery. 

So one strategy is positioning: Once you deliver, consider staying in that area if it has stores that get Instacart orders. 

This way your next batch might originate near where you just dropped off, eliminating the deadhead return.

For example, if you deliver in a neighborhood that also has a popular supermarket with Instacart, wait a bit near that store to see if you get an order there. If not, then relocate.

Conversely, avoid chasing batches far out of your normal zone unless you're okay with the return trip. 

Many shoppers set a radius they'll stick to (e.g., "I won't take customers more than 15 miles away"). 

That keeps you within an area where you can cycle batches without long repositioning drives.

4. Use a Fuel-Efficient Vehicle (if possible)

Not everyone can choose their car, but if you have access to a fuel-efficient car, use it for Instacart. 

The less you spend on gas, the more of that $0.60/mile you keep.

For example, a hybrid getting 50 mpg essentially cuts fuel cost per mile in half compared to a 25 mpg car. 

Over hundreds of miles, that's significant. 

Some shoppers even switch cars depending on the gig: use the sedan for Instacart, save the pickup truck for other work, etc.

5. Leverage Gas Rewards and Cash-Back

Instacart doesn't pay your gas, but you can reduce your gas expense by using reward programs:

• Join gas station loyalty programs (Shell, BP, etc.) to save a few cents per gallon

• Use cash-back apps like Upside which often give $0.05–$0.25 back per gallon at participating stations

• Consider credit cards with high gas cashback (e.g., 3-5% back on gas purchases)

These small savings add up over the year when you're driving thousands of miles.

6. Track Your Mileage Diligently

Using a mileage tracking app is crucial. 

Not only for taxes, but also for personal analysis – you can calculate your earnings per mile after each week. 

If you find you're making, say, $0.80 per mile net one week and only $0.60 the next, you can investigate why (did you take more long orders? did gas go up? etc.).

Plus, having a clear record ensures you don't miss out on any Prop 22 mileage payouts if you're in CA, and that you maximize your tax write-offs.

7. Utilize Batch Stacking (when available)

Instacart sometimes allows shoppers to pick up a second batch while finishing one (stacking two separate batches, not just two orders in one batch). 

This is relatively rare and only offered in certain circumstances via the app.

But if it happens, it can be a big win: you're already out driving, so adding another batch that maybe starts near your current route is efficient. 

By doing two batches in one outing, you maximize miles with income.

8. Maintain Your Vehicle

A strategy often overlooked – keep your car well-maintained (proper tire pressure, regular oil changes). 

A healthy car gets better gas mileage and avoids costly breakdowns. 

Blowing a tire or having engine trouble can erase weeks of profit.

Think of this as protecting your mileage earnings: every mile you drive on well-maintained tires and engine is a bit cheaper. It's not directly "pay" but it avoids negative payouts (repair bills).

9. Communicate & Use Shortcuts

This might seem minor but can save time (and time is money!). 

For example, if delivering to an apartment far into a complex, politely ask the customer if there's a shortcut or a closer entrance. 

Sometimes a customer can direct you to a back gate that saves a mile of driving around.

Similarly, plan your store parking – park near the cart return or exit if you can, to get out faster and drive off. 

It sounds trivial, but over dozens of batches the little bits of time and distance do add up.

10. Multi-app When Appropriate

While doing Instacart, some shoppers also sign on to DoorDash or Uber Eats in the background (only if they can manage it without compromising either service).

For instance, on the drive back from a far Instacart delivery, maybe turn on DoorDash to see if there's an order picking up near your route back. 

This way that return trip isn't "empty."

Caution: This requires experience and careful time management to never be late or mess up an order. 

But many gig workers do it successfully – it's about filling gaps. 

If you can grab a quick food delivery on your way back to the store area, you effectively got paid for what would've been unpaid miles.

11. Consider an Electric or Bike Option

If you live in an urban area, Instacart does allow bicycle shoppers in some cities. 

If feasible, doing nearby deliveries by bike or on foot means no fuel cost at all.

Similarly, if you have an EV and there are plenty of charging opportunities, you can treat $0.60/mile as mostly profit (after a small electricity cost, which might be ~10-15% of what gas would cost).

These are more lifestyle changes, but they are ultimate strategies to maximize earnings per mile by drastically reducing the cost per mile.

Maximizing pay per mile is about working smarter: choose the right orders, minimize waste, and take advantage of every tool to reduce costs. 

By applying these strategies, you can significantly boost your net hourly earnings and ensure that the mileage pay Instacart provides truly goes into your pocket.

If you need more ideas on how to get more Instacart batches, check out our dedicated guide.

In Conclusion

Instacart's mileage pay system isn't perfect, but it's actually better than many competing platforms. 

At approximately $0.60 per mile, it covers a significant portion (though not all) of your vehicle expenses.

The key to making good money on Instacart is understanding exactly how this mileage pay works, then developing strategies to maximize your earnings per mile. 

This means being selective about which batches you accept, positioning yourself strategically, minimizing empty miles, and taking advantage of tax deductions.

The bottom line is this: mileage pay is just one piece of the Instacart earnings puzzle.

By combining smart batch selection with efficient driving patterns and proper expense tracking, you can ensure those miles add to your profit rather than subtract from it.

Whether gas prices are high or low, understanding and optimizing around Instacart's mileage pay will help you keep more of what you earn in your pocket.