Spark Driver

Is Spark Driver worth it for delivery drivers?

Spark Driver pays per delivery offer plus tips, and Walmart puts every new enrollee on a waitlist before final verification. Whether it fits depends on how soon you need to start and how you want to be paid.

How much Spark Driver takes from your pay

Walmart doesn't publish a commission or fee percentage. Its earnings page says trip earnings depend on distance, order size and extras, and its FAQ says each offer shows an estimated amount before you accept. Walmart doesn't say whether it keeps part of what customers pay in delivery fees, so the offer amount is the only number you can weigh against your own costs.

Walmart says drivers keep 100% of confirmed customer tips. The FTC alleged that advertised tips were not preauthorized, so drivers would not receive them if the customer's charge failed, and that Walmart did not tell drivers tips would be split across drivers on split deliveries. Those are allegations from the settlement described below.

How and when Spark Driver pays you

How fast you're paid depends on the earnings account you link, not on the delivery. Walmart says payout methods come from third-party providers under separate terms. It describes ONE as a checking account for eligible drivers, and OnePay says it is a fintech, with banking provided by Coastal Community Bank or Lead Bank. Walmart doesn't publish a minimum payout or a fee for instant pay. The ONE account needs its own application, phone verification and approval, and OnePay advertises no monthly fees.

Spark Driver requirements and how long approval takes

Walmart gives no total approval time, only a range for the background check, and the waitlist comes first. Walmart says the app is available in all 50 states, but a full zone means it isn't adding new drivers there, and it says it sends a text when openings occur. Walmart's enrollment page says a zone chosen at sign-up can't be changed until you're approved and have completed three deliveries.

How much you can make on Spark Driver

Walmart doesn't publish typical earnings, a per-trip range or an hourly figure. Its only published example is an incentive, shown below as an illustration. The independent figures come from two tracking-app vendors, Gridwise and Solo, not from a government or academic study, and both are gross pay before your costs.

These are rates for hours of active work, not monthly income, and the drivers behind them chose to use tracking apps, so they may not match your zone. Solo says drivers cover about 25.8 miles per hour worked, which is why its car-cost calculation leaves so little. Gridwise says order flow can be inconsistent in smaller markets and off-peak hours, which is vendor commentary and not measured by zone. Solo says Walmart doesn't release driver pay figures. For your own numbers, see how to calculate your actual hourly earnings.

Can Spark Driver deactivate your account?

Yes. Walmart's help page says deactivations are typically permanent, and that appeals are reviewed in 5 to 7 days. It also says third-party apps that automate or bypass the platform can affect your account status, and its enrollment page says not linking an earnings account can cause deactivation. With a permanent outcome as the usual result, keep your earnings account linked and avoid automation tools.

Is Spark Driver legit?

Spark Driver is a Walmart program, and Walmart says drivers are independent contractors who may drive for other apps. The record includes a large regulatory case. The FTC and 11 states alleged that Walmart deceived drivers about base pay, incentive pay and tips, and Walmart agreed to a judgment to settle the charges. That is a settlement, not a trial finding.

The complaint and stipulated order were filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, and the FTC alleged violations of the FTC Act and the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act plus state laws. The FTC says the order requires an earnings verification program for 10 years and bans misrepresenting earnings. Under the proposed order, Walmart also can't change base pay, incentive pay or tips on an offer after it is made, except in limited cases such as a customer cancelling. The FTC says stipulated orders have force of law only once a court approves and signs them, and its page doesn't report court approval.

The FTC says the relief is nationwide, not limited to the 11 states, that not every driver will get a payment, and that accepting a payment doesn't waive other claims. Walmart began paying drivers in mid-2025, and those payments counted in the settlement. Separately, the CFPB's December 2024 case against Walmart and Branch Messenger is an allegation, not a finding.

Scams that use Spark Driver's name

Drivers get targeted by people posing as Walmart or Spark. Walmart's statement, reported in April 2023, says the Spark Driver platform doesn't call or text drivers asking for personal information or passcodes. For more patterns, see how to spot side-hustle scams.

Taxes on Spark Driver income

Walmart says taxes aren't withheld from Spark earnings, so you set money aside yourself. Its tax page for the 2025 tax year says drivers get a 1099-NEC or 1099-INT with earnings of $600 or more per year, and that Walmart reports earnings and tips to the IRS at that threshold. The form is available in the app by January 31 (Jan 31, 2026 for tax year 2025), and Walmart mails a paper copy if you don't consent to e-delivery. It is issued under your Social Security number, since a company name or FEIN can't be used at this time, and Walmart doesn't provide mileage summaries.

Spark Driver vs other delivery driving apps

Spark Driver delivers Walmart orders, and Walmart says you may drive for other apps. See food delivery driving for restaurant apps and package delivery driving for route-based work.