CVS Instacart Deliveries: Pricing, How It Works, and More

If you work from home, need to watch the kids, or just don’t feel like going out, grocery delivery services can look really tempting.

You and the kids want cookies, and you need some household items, but you just don’t have the time to go out and get them yourself.

The Instacart platform is a great option, but you might be wondering if you can get all of your CVS Pharmacy favorites through this convenient app.

The great news is that you can!

Here, we’ll go through the ins and outs of having your CVS order delivered through Instacart.

Does CVS Work With Instacart?

The short answer is, yes!

CVS offers delivery services through Instacart.

CVS Instacart delivery offers same-day services, often within one hour of ordering.

If you don’t need same-day delivery, you can choose another date and time.

Does CVS Work With Any Other Delivery Services?

Yes!

CVS works with a whole host of delivery services besides Instacart.

If you live in an area that does not offer CVS Instacart, there are several other delivery options that can fill the gap.

Presently, CVS delivery is offered through various companies like Shipt, DoorDash, and PostMates, in addition to Instacart.

How Long Does CVS Instacart Delivery Take?

For the fastest delivery, you can opt for one-hour delivery.

There is, however, a separate fee for one-hour delivery.

Otherwise, you can choose from a wide selection of dates and times to have your order delivered.

You’ll find these options during the checkout process.

How Much Does CVS Instacart Delivery Cost?

With delivery services, you’ll often see a whole host of small charges on your bill that might be hard to understand.

Let’s break it all down.

Instacart rates work on a tiered basis, starting with a minimum fee and subsequent additional fees depending on your order’s contents, your location, and other applicable factors.

The base Instacart fee for CVS Pharmacy is $3.99 for same-day deliveries over $35.

If your order is a one-hour order, is coming from a club store, or is under $35, fees might be a little different.

In addition to the base fee, there is a separate fee for orders that contain items weighing over 50 pounds.

You most likely won’t run into this at CVS seeing as these items are usually products like pet food and cases of water, but it’s a good thing to keep in mind.

The heavy fee will pop up as you’re putting your order together, so you can reconfigure or change your order to avoid these fees if you’d like.

Next is the service fee.

This fee goes to a host of operating costs on Instacart’s end, not your shopper.

It might look like a tip seeing as it’s labeled “service fee” but it is not for your personal shopper.

These fees vary depending on several factors and might change between order placement and order delivery.

If you’re an Instacart Express member, your service fee might be less.

Alcohol fees are applied to orders to make sure that all alcohol purchases comply with federal law.

Like the service fees, if you’re an Instacart Express member, your alcohol fee might be less.

Long-distance fees apply to orders that are to be delivered to locations 30 to 60 minutes away from the CVS location.

This also applies to deliveries that require a route that includes a toll.

Priority fees usually cost only a few dollars more and allow you to choose from shorter delivery time windows.

Bottle deposit and Instacart’s bag fees might also apply depending on your order and location.

If you don’t have time to shop, but you do have time to pick up your order, you can skip the service fee.

However, there is a pickup fee that is equivalent to the delivery fee.

Are CVS Prices Higher on Instacart?

It really depends on the location.

Individual retailers set the prices on Instacart, so there might be some variation between CVS Instacart locations and in-store prices.

It’s simple to check the pricing policy of your local CVS Instacart location.

You can find this information in the “More Info” link on your location’s Instacart storefront, both on the website and in the app.

Another thing to keep in mind is that CVS Instacart only takes coupons that are listed on Instacart itself.

Some in-store CVS promotions might also not apply to your Instacart order.

Do You Have to Tip Instacart Shoppers on CVS Deliveries?

While it’s not required, it’s good practice to tip your Instacart shopper.

Instacart shoppers are paid for the work they do, but tips are an important part of their income.

Think of it like a pizza delivery person or a waiter.

They’re not making a lot, and their work is a huge convenience for you, so it’s always a great idea to tip them for their help.

Generally, your tip should be at least 5% (this is the default amount) or the percentage you choose for your order, whichever is higher.

Instacart suggests a minimum tip of $2 per store your shopper stops at.

A great feature of Instacart is that you can change the tip amount.

You can change it from when you place your order, all the way up to 24 hours after your order is delivered.

If your shopper did something especially nice or helped you with a last-minute addition to your order, you can always give them a few extra dollars after they deliver your order.

The best part is, unlike some other delivery services, your shopper gets 100% of the tip you give them.

Where is CVS Instacart Available?

All of this is great, but the most important factor is whether or not CVS Instacart is actually available in your area.

Let’s find out where you can get CVS Instacart near you!

Instacart is currently available in these cities:

• Los Angeles, CA
• East Haven, CT
• Danbury, CT
• Washington DC
• Miami Beach, FL
• Atlanta, GA
• Naperville IL
• Polk City, IA
• Louisville, KY
• Peaks Island, ME
• Chevy Chase, MD
• Kensington, MD
• Boston, MA
• Ann Arbor, MI
• Eden Prairie, MN
• Saint Peters, MO

And many more!

How to Order CVS From Instacart

Let’s go over how exactly to place a receive an order from CVS through Instacart!

Step by Step Guide

Ordering on Instacart is very simple and similar to other online ordering platforms.

First, start your order by adding an item to your cart.

You can find the items you want by browsing the various categories in the app or the website.

If you can’t find something you want, you can try the search bar – you might have just overlooked it while browsing.

If you know exactly what you want, you can search each item individually instead of browsing to save some time.

Next, review your cart.

Make sure you have everything you want and review any order minimums and delivery time windows by checking your cart.

Then, hit that checkout button!

You’ll find the green button on your cart page.

Choose a delivery time, pay, and a shopper will soon fulfill your order.

Make sure you’re home to receive your order, and that’s all there is to it!

Can You Get CVS Prescriptions Through Instacart?

Unfortunately, Instacart does not offer prescription delivery.

Instacart is only cleared to pick up and deliver prescription drugs through Cosco and Wegman’s at the moment.

For prescription delivery, CVS uses Shipt, which is another delivery service.

You can set up deliveries via Shipt for your prescriptions through the CVS website.

You can also check out Uber pharmacy delivery as an alternative as well.

Instacart Pharmacy Pick Up

If you’re looking for non-prescription over-the-counter products like cough drops, painkillers, or allergy medication, just add those products to your regular order.

Returning a CVS Item Through Instacart

Returns can be a hassle, but CVS Instacart returns are very simple.

All you need to do is return the item to the CVS Instacart location you ordered from with your digital Instacart receipt and the return will be taken care of.

You will receive an Instacart refund for the items returned.

Frequently Asked Questions

Let’s go over some frequently asked questions about CVS Instacart!

Wrapping Up

With services available in many cities, a user-friendly ordering platform, and simple returns, Instacart is a great way to get everything you need from CVS Pharmacy delivered right to your door.

If you need a personal shopper to help you get things done, Instacart is there to help!