The Spark Driver app connects independent delivery drivers with orders from Walmart stores and other retailers. You download the app, sign up as an independent contractor, and receive offers to pick up and deliver groceries, general merchandise, or shop-and-deliver orders. You choose which offers to accept, complete the delivery, and get paid after each trip. Here’s how each part of the process works in practice.
What You Need to Sign Up
To drive for Spark, you need to be at least 18 years old and have a clean, reliable vehicle. The signup process happens inside the app and involves identity verification, insurance documentation, and a background screening.
For identity verification, you’ll provide your Social Security number, upload a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license (or a standard driver’s license plus a copy of your Social Security card), and take a selfie when prompted. You also need to upload proof of valid auto insurance for the vehicle you’ll use. The insurance document must show your name, the expiration date, and the vehicle information.
During enrollment, you’ll review and sign several agreements, including a background check disclosure and motor vehicle records consent. The background screening checks your driving record and criminal history in accordance with applicable laws. Processing times vary, but most applicants hear back within a few days to a couple of weeks depending on how quickly the screening clears.
How You Receive and Accept Orders
Once you’re approved, you open the Spark Driver app and tap “Spark Now” to signal that you’re available. The app sends you offers based on your location and proximity to stores that need deliveries. Each offer shows you the type of order, the pickup and delivery timeframe, and the estimated earnings amount before you decide anything.
Accepting an offer is entirely your choice. You’re an independent contractor, so there’s no obligation to take every order that comes in. If the payout, distance, or timing doesn’t work for you, you can decline and wait for the next one. Once you accept, the app walks you through each step: navigating to the store, picking up (or shopping for) the items, and delivering to the customer’s address.
Types of Orders You’ll See
Not every Spark delivery looks the same. The app offers three main order types, and understanding the differences helps you decide which ones are worth your time.
- Grocery deliveries are pre-picked orders containing food items like produce and packaged goods. You drive to the store, load the order into your vehicle, and deliver it. On a single trip, you can carry up to three separate grocery orders by using your front seat, back seat, and trunk to keep them apart.
- Shopping and delivery orders require you to go into a Walmart store, shop a list of items yourself, check out, and then deliver the order. These are marked “Shopping” in the app and take longer than a standard pickup since you’re doing the in-store work.
- Dotcom (general merchandise) deliveries contain non-grocery items like shampoo, cleaning supplies, or household goods. These orders don’t require a customer signature, are often batched together (meaning you’ll deliver multiple stops in one trip), and pre-tipping is not currently available on this order type.
Grocery and shopping orders tend to include tips from customers, while dotcom orders rely more heavily on the base pay offered by the platform. Keep that in mind when evaluating which offers to accept.
How the Delivery Process Works
After you accept an offer, the app gives you turn-by-turn navigation to the pickup location. For standard grocery and dotcom orders, store associates bring the items to your vehicle at a designated pickup area. You confirm the order in the app, load your car, and head to the customer.
For shopping orders, the process is more hands-on. The app displays a shopping list with item locations inside the store. You scan each item as you pick it up, substitute items if something is out of stock (the customer gets notified and can approve or reject substitutions), and check out using the Spark app’s built-in payment method. Then you deliver like any other order.
At the drop-off, you follow the customer’s delivery instructions, which might say to leave the order at the front door, hand it directly to them, or place it in a specific spot. You take a photo to confirm delivery, mark the order complete in the app, and you’re done.
How and When You Get Paid
Spark pays drivers through OnePay (formerly called One), a digital account linked to the app. For new drivers, trip earnings deposit instantly into your OnePay Cash balance after every completed delivery. Tips from customers arrive 24 to 48 hours after the trip, and any incentive bonuses deposit weekly on Tuesdays.
Your earnings for each order combine a base pay amount (shown when the offer appears) with any customer tip. Some orders also include incentive pay during busy periods or for less popular delivery windows. The base pay factors in the estimated distance, time, and effort involved. Shopping orders typically pay more than simple pickups because of the extra in-store work.
From your OnePay account, you can transfer funds to an external bank account or use a linked debit card. Since you’re classified as an independent contractor, no taxes are withheld from your earnings. You’re responsible for setting aside money for self-employment taxes and reporting your income when you file.
What Affects the Offers You Receive
Several factors influence how many offers you see and how good they are. Your physical location matters most: being close to a busy Walmart or retail hub means more frequent offers. Time of day plays a role too, with morning grocery slots and evening windows often generating the most activity.
Spark also uses a driver rating system. Customers rate their delivery experience, and your acceptance rate, on-time delivery percentage, and customer feedback all contribute to your standing on the platform. Drivers with stronger metrics generally see offers before drivers with lower ratings in the same area. Consistently declining offers or dropping accepted orders can lower your priority over time.
Demand in your area is the other big variable. Markets with fewer active drivers relative to order volume naturally generate more offers per driver, while saturated markets mean more competition for the same pool of deliveries.
Costs to Keep in Mind
Spark doesn’t charge drivers a fee to use the platform, but the costs of operating as an independent delivery driver add up. Gas, vehicle maintenance, and insurance are all your responsibility. You’ll also want to track your mileage carefully, since the IRS allows you to deduct business miles driven when you file your taxes. Using a mileage tracking app from day one saves a lot of headaches later.
Wear and tear on your vehicle is real, especially if you’re driving 100 or more miles on a busy day. Factor in oil changes, tire replacement, and general upkeep when calculating whether the earnings from a particular offer are worth the trip.